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April 11, 2025 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Ispace signs deal with nuclear energy startup Zeno Power
Zeno is to develop radioisotope power systems for future Ispace lunar landers.
- Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
One of several such sob-story articles today in the propaganda press. As usual, cutting any government program will cause disaster and death. What the truth is however is unclear, since all of these stories were based on anonymous sources and reek of political lobbying. I will have more to say on Monday.
- On this day in 1970 Apollo 13 launched, the third American manned lunar mission
It instead became one of the most challenging rescue missions ever.
- On this day in 2019 astronomers released what the claimed was the first image of a black hole
The data was real and the knowledge gained was wonderful, but to call it a real image is an exaggeration, as the data was compiled from multiple telescopes worldwide and massaged into place using computer modeling.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Ispace signs deal with nuclear energy startup Zeno Power
Zeno is to develop radioisotope power systems for future Ispace lunar landers.
- Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
One of several such sob-story articles today in the propaganda press. As usual, cutting any government program will cause disaster and death. What the truth is however is unclear, since all of these stories were based on anonymous sources and reek of political lobbying. I will have more to say on Monday.
- On this day in 1970 Apollo 13 launched, the third American manned lunar mission
It instead became one of the most challenging rescue missions ever.
- On this day in 2019 astronomers released what the claimed was the first image of a black hole
The data was real and the knowledge gained was wonderful, but to call it a real image is an exaggeration, as the data was compiled from multiple telescopes worldwide and massaged into place using computer modeling.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon, any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Is the Democratic Party even losing ground in their hardcore strongholds?
Click for original.
The graph to the right was posted today at a aggregate conservative website that I frequently check for news. The post asked with puzzlement, “What is going on in Colorado and Utah?”, both of which appear to be moving leftward to support the Democratic Party.
I however saw something far more significant in the voting trends nationwide, especially in almost all hardcore Democratic Party strongholds, such as California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and all of New England. I hope you notice it too.
In all these very hardcore blue states, where violence, censorship, and blacklisting against conservatives is routine and pervasive (suggesting leftwing politics dominate), the voting trends have moved to the right since 2020. The trends in both California and Massachusetts are especially stunning, with practically every single county, even in urban areas, shifting to the right. Only one county in these states, in California, showed any leftward trend, but that county shifted less than 1%.
In other words, the left’s violence, censorship, and blacklisting has been doing exactly the opposite of its intended goals. Leftists do this to intimidate and make others agree with them. Instead, their bullying is turning off ordinary people, and causing their votes to shift rightward.
This is merely one data point. Moreover, I was unable to locate the source for the map, so its data should be viewed with some skepticism. Nonetheless, this data fits with other trends, including the election victory of Trump whereby he won all of the so-called battleground states.
It seems ordinary low-information voters nationwide (except in Utah and Colorado) are beginning to notice the bankruptcy of the Democratic Party, and respond at the voting booth appropriately.
Click for original.
The graph to the right was posted today at a aggregate conservative website that I frequently check for news. The post asked with puzzlement, “What is going on in Colorado and Utah?”, both of which appear to be moving leftward to support the Democratic Party.
I however saw something far more significant in the voting trends nationwide, especially in almost all hardcore Democratic Party strongholds, such as California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and all of New England. I hope you notice it too.
In all these very hardcore blue states, where violence, censorship, and blacklisting against conservatives is routine and pervasive (suggesting leftwing politics dominate), the voting trends have moved to the right since 2020. The trends in both California and Massachusetts are especially stunning, with practically every single county, even in urban areas, shifting to the right. Only one county in these states, in California, showed any leftward trend, but that county shifted less than 1%.
In other words, the left’s violence, censorship, and blacklisting has been doing exactly the opposite of its intended goals. Leftists do this to intimidate and make others agree with them. Instead, their bullying is turning off ordinary people, and causing their votes to shift rightward.
This is merely one data point. Moreover, I was unable to locate the source for the map, so its data should be viewed with some skepticism. Nonetheless, this data fits with other trends, including the election victory of Trump whereby he won all of the so-called battleground states.
It seems ordinary low-information voters nationwide (except in Utah and Colorado) are beginning to notice the bankruptcy of the Democratic Party, and respond at the voting booth appropriately.
New Trump executive order requires Pentagon to “prioritize commercial solutions”
A new Trump executive order signed on April 9, 2025 now requires the space divisions in the Defense Department to “prioritize commercial solutions” in all its future space projects.
The executive order, called “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base,” referenced commercial technology multiple times, including call to utilize existing authorities to “expedite acquisitions throughout the Department of Defense, including a first preference for commercial solutions” and “the restructuring of performance evaluation metrics for acquisition workforce members to include the ability to demonstrate and apply a first consideration of commercial solutions.”
According to Pentagon officials, this order simply underlines what they have been doing. Maybe so, but the reason the Pentagon has been moving in this direction is not because it wanted to, but because of two factors in the past decade that forced action. First, for the past three decades the Pentagon has increasingly failed to get much accomplished in space. Under Air Force leadership (before the creation of the Space Force) the military focused on designing its own big satellites, creating projects that generally went overbudget and behind schedule. That general failure demanded change.
Second, to institute change Trump created the Space Force in his first term with the express desire to shift the military from building its own gold-plated satellites to buying them from the private sector. And despite the four years when Biden was president, the Pentagon maintained that shift, which is why this new Trump executive order will do little to disturb its present space plans.
A new Trump executive order signed on April 9, 2025 now requires the space divisions in the Defense Department to “prioritize commercial solutions” in all its future space projects.
The executive order, called “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base,” referenced commercial technology multiple times, including call to utilize existing authorities to “expedite acquisitions throughout the Department of Defense, including a first preference for commercial solutions” and “the restructuring of performance evaluation metrics for acquisition workforce members to include the ability to demonstrate and apply a first consideration of commercial solutions.”
According to Pentagon officials, this order simply underlines what they have been doing. Maybe so, but the reason the Pentagon has been moving in this direction is not because it wanted to, but because of two factors in the past decade that forced action. First, for the past three decades the Pentagon has increasingly failed to get much accomplished in space. Under Air Force leadership (before the creation of the Space Force) the military focused on designing its own big satellites, creating projects that generally went overbudget and behind schedule. That general failure demanded change.
Second, to institute change Trump created the Space Force in his first term with the express desire to shift the military from building its own gold-plated satellites to buying them from the private sector. And despite the four years when Biden was president, the Pentagon maintained that shift, which is why this new Trump executive order will do little to disturb its present space plans.
Now available in hardback and paperback as well as ebook!
From the press release: In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.
Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space, is a riveting page-turning story that documents how slavery slowly became pervasive in the southern British colonies of North America, colonies founded by a people and culture that not only did not allow slavery but in every way were hostile to the practice.
Conscious Choice does more however. In telling the tragic history of the Virginia colony and the rise of slavery there, Zimmerman lays out the proper path for creating healthy societies in places like the Moon and Mars.
“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.” —Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.
All editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors, with the ebook priced at $5.99 before discount. All editions can also be purchased direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
Autographed printed copies are also available at discount directly from the author (hardback $29.95; paperback $14.95; Shipping cost for either: $6.00). Just send an email to zimmerman @ nasw dot org.
Indian satellite thruster manufacturer opens American factory
Capitalism in space: The Indian satellite company Bellatrix, which up-to-now has manufactured electrical attitude thrusters for satellites built by India’s space agency, has now opened a factory in Delaware in order to attract business from American satellite companies.
Bellatrix hired Chris MacDonald, a former business development director at rocket developer Astra and satellite provider Terran Orbital, to lead its recently created U.S. subsidiary, headquartered in Delaware. The manufacturing facility would support localized production, testing and delivery of propulsion systems to enable faster turnaround times and closer collaboration with U.S.-based customers, MacDonald said via email.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix’s electric hall effect thruster has been used in a handful of missions for India’s space agency in recent years.
Bellatrix is not the only foreign space company to open offices in the U.S. for similar reasons. The Japanese startups Astroscale and Ispace have done the same, as well as several other companies listed in the article at the link. It appears the new American launch industry, which has significantly lowered the cost to orbit, is attracting orbital business from across the world.
Capitalism in space: The Indian satellite company Bellatrix, which up-to-now has manufactured electrical attitude thrusters for satellites built by India’s space agency, has now opened a factory in Delaware in order to attract business from American satellite companies.
Bellatrix hired Chris MacDonald, a former business development director at rocket developer Astra and satellite provider Terran Orbital, to lead its recently created U.S. subsidiary, headquartered in Delaware. The manufacturing facility would support localized production, testing and delivery of propulsion systems to enable faster turnaround times and closer collaboration with U.S.-based customers, MacDonald said via email.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix’s electric hall effect thruster has been used in a handful of missions for India’s space agency in recent years.
Bellatrix is not the only foreign space company to open offices in the U.S. for similar reasons. The Japanese startups Astroscale and Ispace have done the same, as well as several other companies listed in the article at the link. It appears the new American launch industry, which has significantly lowered the cost to orbit, is attracting orbital business from across the world.
Vast signs three more customers to fly payloads on its first space station
Haven-1 with docked Dragon capsule
The space station startup company Vast has now signed up three more customers to fly payloads on its first space station, Haven-1, due to launch now in the spring of 2026 on a 30-day-long private commercial manned mission.
Vast announced April 8 that Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS), Interstellar Lab and Exobiosphere will fly research payloads on the Haven-1 station launching no earlier than May 2026. They join Redwire and Yuri as payload partners for the station.
JAMSS, which has supported research on Japan’s Kibo module on the International Space Station, will provide a multi-purpose payload facility for microgravity research on Haven-1. Interstellar Lab, a French company, will provide an advanced life sciences research facility called Eden 1.0 that will be used for experiments such as plant growth. Exobiosphere, based in Luxembourg, will fly a biotechnology payload to perform pharmaceutical and healthcare experiments.
The company says it still has one or two payload racks available for additional customers, suggesting that it is finding enough demand to justify profitable commercial operations.
Below are the four private space stations presently under development, with those I consider the most advanced in development ranked first:
- Haven-1, being built by Vast, with no NASA funds. The company is moving fast, with Haven-1 to launch and be occupied in 2026 for a 30 day mission. It hopes this actual hardware and manned mission will put it in the lead to win NASA’s phase 2 contract, from which it will build its much larger mult-module Haven-2 station..
- Axiom, being built by Axiom, has launched three tourist flights to ISS, with a fourth scheduled for this spring, carrying passengers from India, Hungary, and Poland. Though there have been rumors it has cash flow issues, development of its first module has been proceeding more or less as planned.
- Orbital Reef, being built by a consortium led by Blue Origin and Sierra Space. Though Blue Origin has apparently done little, Sierra Space has successfully tested its inflatable modules, including a full scale version, and appears ready to start building the station’s modules for launch.
- Starlab, being built by a consortium led by Voyager Space, Airbus, and Northrop Grumman. It recently had its station design approved by NASA.
Haven-1 with docked Dragon capsule
The space station startup company Vast has now signed up three more customers to fly payloads on its first space station, Haven-1, due to launch now in the spring of 2026 on a 30-day-long private commercial manned mission.
Vast announced April 8 that Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS), Interstellar Lab and Exobiosphere will fly research payloads on the Haven-1 station launching no earlier than May 2026. They join Redwire and Yuri as payload partners for the station.
JAMSS, which has supported research on Japan’s Kibo module on the International Space Station, will provide a multi-purpose payload facility for microgravity research on Haven-1. Interstellar Lab, a French company, will provide an advanced life sciences research facility called Eden 1.0 that will be used for experiments such as plant growth. Exobiosphere, based in Luxembourg, will fly a biotechnology payload to perform pharmaceutical and healthcare experiments.
The company says it still has one or two payload racks available for additional customers, suggesting that it is finding enough demand to justify profitable commercial operations.
Below are the four private space stations presently under development, with those I consider the most advanced in development ranked first:
- Haven-1, being built by Vast, with no NASA funds. The company is moving fast, with Haven-1 to launch and be occupied in 2026 for a 30 day mission. It hopes this actual hardware and manned mission will put it in the lead to win NASA’s phase 2 contract, from which it will build its much larger mult-module Haven-2 station..
- Axiom, being built by Axiom, has launched three tourist flights to ISS, with a fourth scheduled for this spring, carrying passengers from India, Hungary, and Poland. Though there have been rumors it has cash flow issues, development of its first module has been proceeding more or less as planned.
- Orbital Reef, being built by a consortium led by Blue Origin and Sierra Space. Though Blue Origin has apparently done little, Sierra Space has successfully tested its inflatable modules, including a full scale version, and appears ready to start building the station’s modules for launch.
- Starlab, being built by a consortium led by Voyager Space, Airbus, and Northrop Grumman. It recently had its station design approved by NASA.
Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel, can be purchased as an ebook everywhere for only $3.99 (before discount) at amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big oppressive tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner.
Winner of the 2003 Eugene M. Emme Award of the American Astronautical Society.
"Leaving Earth is one of the best and certainly the most comprehensive summary of our drive into space that I have ever read. It will be invaluable to future scholars because it will tell them how the next chapter of human history opened." -- Arthur C. Clarke
China launches another technology test communications satellite payload
China today successfully launched a test technology satellite for doing “multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation tests, possibly for future large internet/communications constellations, its Long March 3B rocket lifting off from its Xichang spaceport in southwest China.
No word on where the rocket’s lower stages and four strap-on boosters, all using very toxic hypergolic fuels, crashed inside China.
The leaders in the 2025 launch race:
40 SpaceX
19 China
5 Rocket Lab
5 Russia
SpaceX still leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 40 to 33.
China today successfully launched a test technology satellite for doing “multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation tests, possibly for future large internet/communications constellations, its Long March 3B rocket lifting off from its Xichang spaceport in southwest China.
No word on where the rocket’s lower stages and four strap-on boosters, all using very toxic hypergolic fuels, crashed inside China.
The leaders in the 2025 launch race:
40 SpaceX
19 China
5 Rocket Lab
5 Russia
SpaceX still leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 40 to 33.
Rumpus Machine – Down to the Waterline
April 10, 2025 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- NOAA touts upcoming test to monitor radiation for Artemis astronauts on the way to the Moon
Blather. This is what they are hired to do. They aren’t doing anything special.
- France signals readiness to bail out EutelsatGroup and OneWeb
It appears investment capital from previous sources is now drying up.
- Amazon’s CEO touts the Kuiper constellation to shareholders
He also admits that it is going to require a lot of investment capital before any income comes in.
- SpaceX signs deal to offer Starlink direct-to-cell service in Japan
While OneWeb and Amazon dither, SpaceX keeps scooping up the customers.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- NOAA touts upcoming test to monitor radiation for Artemis astronauts on the way to the Moon
Blather. This is what they are hired to do. They aren’t doing anything special.
- France signals readiness to bail out EutelsatGroup and OneWeb
It appears investment capital from previous sources is now drying up.
- Amazon’s CEO touts the Kuiper constellation to shareholders
He also admits that it is going to require a lot of investment capital before any income comes in.
- SpaceX signs deal to offer Starlink direct-to-cell service in Japan
While OneWeb and Amazon dither, SpaceX keeps scooping up the customers.
Congress: Let’s throw some more astronaut lives away so we can preen for the camera!
Jared Isaacman
Here we go again: As I noted yesterday, the hearing this week of Jared Isaacman, Donald Trump’s nomination to become NASA’s next administrator, revealed almost nothing about what Isaacman plans to do once confirmed by the Senate. He very carefully kept his options open, even while he strongly endorsed getting Americans on the Moon as fast as possible in order to beat the Chinese there. When pressed by senators from both parties to commit to continuing the SLS, Orion, and Lunar Gateway projects to make that happen, Isaacman picked his words most cautiously. He noted that at the moment that plan seemed the best for getting to the Moon first. He also noted repeatedly that this same plan is years behind schedule and overbudget.
Like any smart businessman, Isaacman knows he cannot make any final decisions about SLS, Orion, or Gateway until he takes office and can aggressively dig into the facts, as administrator. He also knew he could not say so directly during this hearing, for to do so would antagonize senators from both parties who want those programs continued because of the money it pours into their states. So he played it coy, and the senators accepted that coyness in order to make believe they were getting what they want.
But what do these senators want? It appears our politicians (including possibly Trump) want NASA to launch humans to the Moon using SLS and Orion and do so as quickly as possible, despite knowing that both have real engineering issues of great concern. Instead, our elected officials want politics to determine the lunar flight schedule, instead of engineering, the same attitude that killed astronauts on Apollo 1 in 1967, on Challenger in 1986, and on Columbia in 2003. The engineering data then said unequivocally that things were not safe and that disaster was almost guaranteed, but NASA and Congress demanded the flights go on anyway, to serve the needs of politics.
With SLS and Orion it is now the same foolishness all over again. » Read more
Curiosity climbs into a new Martian canyon
Click image for full resolution panorama. Click here, here, and here for original images.
Click for interactive map.
Cool image time! The Curiosity science team has finally completed the rover’s climb up one canyon on the flanks of Mount Sharp and crossed over into a second, switch-backing up through a gap they have dubbed Devil’s Gate.
The panorama above, created from three pictures taken by Curiosity’s left navigation camera on April 9, 2025 (here, here, and here) looks south from that gap. On the horizon about 20-30 miles away can be seen the rim of Gale Crater. From this position the floor of the crater is almost out of side, blocked by the foothills on the lower flanks of Mount Sharp.
Though the ground in this new canyon (on the left of the panorama) continues to be amazingly rocky and boulder strewn, it is actually more benign that the canyon Curiosity has been climbing for the past six weeks.
The blue dot on the overview map to the right marks Curiosity’s present position, with the yellow lines indicating the approximate direction of the panorama. The rover’s next major geological goal is the boxwork to the southwest. In order to get to it quickly the science team decided to abandon its original planned route, indicated by the dotted red line, and climb upward through these canyons.
Click image for full resolution panorama. Click here, here, and here for original images.
Click for interactive map.
Cool image time! The Curiosity science team has finally completed the rover’s climb up one canyon on the flanks of Mount Sharp and crossed over into a second, switch-backing up through a gap they have dubbed Devil’s Gate.
The panorama above, created from three pictures taken by Curiosity’s left navigation camera on April 9, 2025 (here, here, and here) looks south from that gap. On the horizon about 20-30 miles away can be seen the rim of Gale Crater. From this position the floor of the crater is almost out of side, blocked by the foothills on the lower flanks of Mount Sharp.
Though the ground in this new canyon (on the left of the panorama) continues to be amazingly rocky and boulder strewn, it is actually more benign that the canyon Curiosity has been climbing for the past six weeks.
The blue dot on the overview map to the right marks Curiosity’s present position, with the yellow lines indicating the approximate direction of the panorama. The rover’s next major geological goal is the boxwork to the southwest. In order to get to it quickly the science team decided to abandon its original planned route, indicated by the dotted red line, and climb upward through these canyons.
Chinese scientists say the lunar far side appears dryer than the near side
Click for original image.
Based on a comparison of samples brought back by two Chinese unmanned lunar landers, Chinese scientists believe the lunar far side contains far less water in its mantle than the near side.
…the research team focused on analyzing water content and hydrogen isotopes in melt inclusions and apatite within [Chang’e-6] mare basalts—the first samples returned from the farside SPA Basin.
The team’s results indicate that the parent magma of these basalts contain 15–168 μg.g⁻¹ of water. Additionally, the team estimated that the mantle source of the CE6 basalts has a water content of 1–1.5 μg.g⁻¹, significantly lower than that of the nearside mantle. This disparity points to a potential hemispheric dichotomy in the Moon’s internal water distribution, mirroring many of the asymmetrical features observed on the lunar surface.
The map to the right, figure 1 in the scientists’ paper, shows the water content from the samples that have so far been brought back from the Moon. Note how the Chang’e-6 sample shows far less water content than all the near side samples.
Note however also that this is just one data point from the far side. To confirm these conclusions will require many more samples.
Click for original image.
Based on a comparison of samples brought back by two Chinese unmanned lunar landers, Chinese scientists believe the lunar far side contains far less water in its mantle than the near side.
…the research team focused on analyzing water content and hydrogen isotopes in melt inclusions and apatite within [Chang’e-6] mare basalts—the first samples returned from the farside SPA Basin.
The team’s results indicate that the parent magma of these basalts contain 15–168 μg.g⁻¹ of water. Additionally, the team estimated that the mantle source of the CE6 basalts has a water content of 1–1.5 μg.g⁻¹, significantly lower than that of the nearside mantle. This disparity points to a potential hemispheric dichotomy in the Moon’s internal water distribution, mirroring many of the asymmetrical features observed on the lunar surface.
The map to the right, figure 1 in the scientists’ paper, shows the water content from the samples that have so far been brought back from the Moon. Note how the Chang’e-6 sample shows far less water content than all the near side samples.
Note however also that this is just one data point from the far side. To confirm these conclusions will require many more samples.
Lunar Outpost unveils its proposed “Eagle” manned lunar rover
In the bidding competition to win the full NASA contract to build the manned lunar rover the astronauts will use in the Artemis program, the startup Lunar Outpost this week unveiled its proposed “Eagle” manned lunar rover at a conference in Colorado.
In the configuration shown here at the symposium, the Eagle vehicle features two seats for crew, each with its own redundant and mirrored controls, meaning either astronaut can control the rover. The steering controls on each side consist of a single handle that controls four individual motors that drive each wheel. Each wheel can turn independently of the other three, allowing the Eagle rover to turn on its center axis or “crab walk” sideways, Gerner said.
The rover can also be operated unmanned remotely, providing an method for sending it places the astronauts might prefer to avoid, for safety reasons.
Lunar Outpost is competing with Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab for the main contract.
In the bidding competition to win the full NASA contract to build the manned lunar rover the astronauts will use in the Artemis program, the startup Lunar Outpost this week unveiled its proposed “Eagle” manned lunar rover at a conference in Colorado.
In the configuration shown here at the symposium, the Eagle vehicle features two seats for crew, each with its own redundant and mirrored controls, meaning either astronaut can control the rover. The steering controls on each side consist of a single handle that controls four individual motors that drive each wheel. Each wheel can turn independently of the other three, allowing the Eagle rover to turn on its center axis or “crab walk” sideways, Gerner said.
The rover can also be operated unmanned remotely, providing an method for sending it places the astronauts might prefer to avoid, for safety reasons.
Lunar Outpost is competing with Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab for the main contract.
Anti-Musk terrorists damage Musk statue in Brownsville
In another demonstration of their intolerance and willingness to commit violence and vandalism, anti-Musk terrorists have damaged a bust of Elon Musk in Brownsville that had been placed there by a French entrepreneur.
A 9-foot-tall statue depicting a bust of tech billionaire Elon Musk has been vandalized in South Texas. According to multiple posts across social media, the statue of the SpaceX CEO was vandalized not far from where the company’s Starbase facility sits near Boca Chica Beach.
“The recently installed Elon Musk statue, known as ‘Elonrwa,’ has been damaged. Visible patches of the outer layer appear to have been peeled off the face,” a Facebook user who goes by RGV.me said in an April 8 Facebook post. The Facebook post is accompanied by a photograph showing two areas where it appears a top layer of material has been stripped from the statue, revealing a white or pale gray layer underneath.
This senseless hate of Musk, almost certainly committed by supporters of the Democratic Party — which has been encouraging this violence because it sees Musk as an opponent — must end. And if the fools perpetrating this vandalism don’t come to their senses and stop voluntarily, they should be stopped by force and imprisonment. Just because you disagree with someone on policy does not give you the right to break the law.
And if you doubt this vandalism isn’t being spurred on eagerly by the leadership of the now vile and wholly evil Democratic Party, you need only watch that party’s Senate leader, Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York), practically endorse it when asked:
» Read more
In another demonstration of their intolerance and willingness to commit violence and vandalism, anti-Musk terrorists have damaged a bust of Elon Musk in Brownsville that had been placed there by a French entrepreneur.
A 9-foot-tall statue depicting a bust of tech billionaire Elon Musk has been vandalized in South Texas. According to multiple posts across social media, the statue of the SpaceX CEO was vandalized not far from where the company’s Starbase facility sits near Boca Chica Beach.
“The recently installed Elon Musk statue, known as ‘Elonrwa,’ has been damaged. Visible patches of the outer layer appear to have been peeled off the face,” a Facebook user who goes by RGV.me said in an April 8 Facebook post. The Facebook post is accompanied by a photograph showing two areas where it appears a top layer of material has been stripped from the statue, revealing a white or pale gray layer underneath.
This senseless hate of Musk, almost certainly committed by supporters of the Democratic Party — which has been encouraging this violence because it sees Musk as an opponent — must end. And if the fools perpetrating this vandalism don’t come to their senses and stop voluntarily, they should be stopped by force and imprisonment. Just because you disagree with someone on policy does not give you the right to break the law.
And if you doubt this vandalism isn’t being spurred on eagerly by the leadership of the now vile and wholly evil Democratic Party, you need only watch that party’s Senate leader, Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York), practically endorse it when asked:
» Read more
Juno enters and then recovers from safe mode
During its most recent close fly-by of Jupiter on April 4, 2025 — its 71st — the orbiter Juno went into safe mode two different times, causing its science instruments to shut down.
The mission operations team has reestablished high-rate data transmission with Juno, and the spacecraft is currently conducting flight software diagnostics.The team will work in the ensuing days to transmit the engineering and science data collected before and after the safe-mode events to Earth.
Juno first entered safe mode at 5:17 a.m. EDT, about an hour before its 71st close passage of Jupiter — called perijove. It went into safe mode again 45 minutes after perijove. During both safe-mode events, the spacecraft performed exactly as designed, rebooting its computer, turning off nonessential functions, and pointing its antenna toward Earth for communication.
Since arrival in its present Jupiter orbit in 2016 Juno has operated almost perfectly, having experienced only two other safe mode events, once in 2016 and a second in 2022. The two recent events on this most recent fly-by suggest however that the harsh environment surrounding Jupiter might be beginning to impact the spacecraft.
During its most recent close fly-by of Jupiter on April 4, 2025 — its 71st — the orbiter Juno went into safe mode two different times, causing its science instruments to shut down.
The mission operations team has reestablished high-rate data transmission with Juno, and the spacecraft is currently conducting flight software diagnostics.The team will work in the ensuing days to transmit the engineering and science data collected before and after the safe-mode events to Earth.
Juno first entered safe mode at 5:17 a.m. EDT, about an hour before its 71st close passage of Jupiter — called perijove. It went into safe mode again 45 minutes after perijove. During both safe-mode events, the spacecraft performed exactly as designed, rebooting its computer, turning off nonessential functions, and pointing its antenna toward Earth for communication.
Since arrival in its present Jupiter orbit in 2016 Juno has operated almost perfectly, having experienced only two other safe mode events, once in 2016 and a second in 2022. The two recent events on this most recent fly-by suggest however that the harsh environment surrounding Jupiter might be beginning to impact the spacecraft.
April 9, 2025 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast
Embedded below the fold in two parts.
To listen to all of John Batchelor’s podcasts, go here.
» Read more
Embedded below the fold in two parts.
To listen to all of John Batchelor’s podcasts, go here.
» Read more
Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces
April 9, 2025 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- NASA’s Deep Space Network breaks ground on new antenna dish in Australia
The event (on March 19th) also celebrated sixty years operating out of Australia.
- Mission profile for a Chinese mission to target a 30 meter asteroid
Launch is scheduled for 2027. I like Jay’s comment: “The asteroid will be deflected by a power-point presentation.”
- On this day in 1959 NASA introduced its first class of seven astronauts for its Mercury program
Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra, Deke Slayton, John Glenn, and Scott Carpenter. All but Slayton flew Mercury missions. Slayton eventually flew on the Apollo-Soyus docking mission in 1975.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- NASA’s Deep Space Network breaks ground on new antenna dish in Australia
The event (on March 19th) also celebrated sixty years operating out of Australia.
- Mission profile for a Chinese mission to target a 30 meter asteroid
Launch is scheduled for 2027. I like Jay’s comment: “The asteroid will be deflected by a power-point presentation.”
- On this day in 1959 NASA introduced its first class of seven astronauts for its Mercury program
Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra, Deke Slayton, John Glenn, and Scott Carpenter. All but Slayton flew Mercury missions. Slayton eventually flew on the Apollo-Soyus docking mission in 1975.
Isaacman’s nomination hearing reveals nothing of note
Jared Isaacman
The Senate committee on commerce, science, and transportation has just concluded its hearing on the nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator. Several take-aways:
First, there was little opposition to Isaacman on either side of the aisle. He will be confirmed easily.
Second, Isaacman was very careful to say nothing that might commit him to keeping all present Artemis programs (such as SLS, Orion, or Gateway) unchanged. He instead made it clear his goal is for NASA to attempt a parallel programs to establish a permanent American presence on both the Moon and Mars. This enthusiasm suggests he sees Starship as the vehicle capable of making those parallel programs possible.
In other words, he kept his options open. His goal is to get the Artemis program functioning more efficiently, and will do whatever is necessary to do so. He repeatedly made it clear that too many of NASA’s projects, including specifically Artemis, are routinely overbudget and behind schedule, and this must be fixed.
At the same time he said his goal is to get Americans back to the Moon ahead of the Chinese, and suggested that the present plan using SLS and Orion is likely the fastest way to do so. The technical issues that might make that program very unsafe for the astronauts however were never mentioned.
We shall see whether Isaacman as administrator will be so sanguine about sending Americans around the Moon within an Orion capsule with a questionable heat shield.
Jared Isaacman
The Senate committee on commerce, science, and transportation has just concluded its hearing on the nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator. Several take-aways:
First, there was little opposition to Isaacman on either side of the aisle. He will be confirmed easily.
Second, Isaacman was very careful to say nothing that might commit him to keeping all present Artemis programs (such as SLS, Orion, or Gateway) unchanged. He instead made it clear his goal is for NASA to attempt a parallel programs to establish a permanent American presence on both the Moon and Mars. This enthusiasm suggests he sees Starship as the vehicle capable of making those parallel programs possible.
In other words, he kept his options open. His goal is to get the Artemis program functioning more efficiently, and will do whatever is necessary to do so. He repeatedly made it clear that too many of NASA’s projects, including specifically Artemis, are routinely overbudget and behind schedule, and this must be fixed.
At the same time he said his goal is to get Americans back to the Moon ahead of the Chinese, and suggested that the present plan using SLS and Orion is likely the fastest way to do so. The technical issues that might make that program very unsafe for the astronauts however were never mentioned.
We shall see whether Isaacman as administrator will be so sanguine about sending Americans around the Moon within an Orion capsule with a questionable heat shield.
Eagles – All She Wants To Do Is Dance
April 8, 2025 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Intuitive Machines awards SpaceX the launch contract for its 4th lunar lander mission
Launch is targeting 2027, and will also carry two lunar orbiters for relaying data and communications.
- On this day in 2001 Mars Odyssey was launched
Since completing the first global mineral map of Mars it has mostly been used as a relay satellite for data and communications.
- On this day in 1964 Gemini 1 launched
Unmanned, the mission’s purpose was to test the capsule and Titan II rocket.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Intuitive Machines awards SpaceX the launch contract for its 4th lunar lander mission
Launch is targeting 2027, and will also carry two lunar orbiters for relaying data and communications.
- On this day in 2001 Mars Odyssey was launched
Since completing the first global mineral map of Mars it has mostly been used as a relay satellite for data and communications.
- On this day in 1964 Gemini 1 launched
Unmanned, the mission’s purpose was to test the capsule and Titan II rocket.
Firefly wins Space Force contract to test orbital maneuvers with its Elytra space tug
Firefly yesterday announced it has been awarded a Space Force contract to use its Elytra space tug to test orbital maneuvers designed for military purposes.
As part of the mission, Elytra will host a suite of government payloads, including optical visible and infrared cameras, a responsive navigation unit, and a universal electrical bus with a payload interface module. Firefly’s Elytra Dawn configuration will utilize common components from the company’s launch vehicles and lunar landers, including the avionics, composite structures, and propulsion systems, to enable on-demand mobility, plane changes, and maneuvers with high delta-V capabilities and reliability.
Though unstated, the inclusion of cameras suggests the Pentagon wants to test Elytra’s ability to maneuver close to other satellites and photograph them.
This contract further illustrates Firefly’s effort to diversify its space products. Like Rocket Lab, it is not relying solely on its rocket division to make money, but is also developing and selling a range of space products, from lunar landers to orbital tugs to satellite equipment.
Firefly yesterday announced it has been awarded a Space Force contract to use its Elytra space tug to test orbital maneuvers designed for military purposes.
As part of the mission, Elytra will host a suite of government payloads, including optical visible and infrared cameras, a responsive navigation unit, and a universal electrical bus with a payload interface module. Firefly’s Elytra Dawn configuration will utilize common components from the company’s launch vehicles and lunar landers, including the avionics, composite structures, and propulsion systems, to enable on-demand mobility, plane changes, and maneuvers with high delta-V capabilities and reliability.
Though unstated, the inclusion of cameras suggests the Pentagon wants to test Elytra’s ability to maneuver close to other satellites and photograph them.
This contract further illustrates Firefly’s effort to diversify its space products. Like Rocket Lab, it is not relying solely on its rocket division to make money, but is also developing and selling a range of space products, from lunar landers to orbital tugs to satellite equipment.
Astronomers: Potentially dangerous asteroid 2024 YR4 originally came from main asteroid belt
Using new data from ground-based telescopes, astronomers now believe that the potentially dangerous asteroid 2024 YR4 originally came from main asteroid belt and is a stony solid body, not a rubble pile.
The study reveals YR4 is a solid, stony type that likely originated from an asteroid family in the central Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter, a region not previously known to produce Earth-crossing asteroids. “YR4 spins once every 20 minutes, rotates in a retrograde direction, has a flattened, irregular shape, and is the density of solid rock,” said Bryce Bolin, research scientist with Eureka Scientific and lead author of the study.
You can read the paper here [pdf].
At present calculations suggest it has an almost zero chance of hitting the Earth in 2032, though during that close approach the chances of it hitting the Moon range from 2% to 4%, depending on which scientist you ask.
Using new data from ground-based telescopes, astronomers now believe that the potentially dangerous asteroid 2024 YR4 originally came from main asteroid belt and is a stony solid body, not a rubble pile.
The study reveals YR4 is a solid, stony type that likely originated from an asteroid family in the central Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter, a region not previously known to produce Earth-crossing asteroids. “YR4 spins once every 20 minutes, rotates in a retrograde direction, has a flattened, irregular shape, and is the density of solid rock,” said Bryce Bolin, research scientist with Eureka Scientific and lead author of the study.
You can read the paper here [pdf].
At present calculations suggest it has an almost zero chance of hitting the Earth in 2032, though during that close approach the chances of it hitting the Moon range from 2% to 4%, depending on which scientist you ask.
Ted Cruz: Isaacman in interview commits NASA to getting Americans to Moon fast
In a tweet posted yesterday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) revealed that in his private interview with Jared Isaacman, nominee for the post of NASA administrator, Isaacman “committed to having American astronauts return to the lunar surface ASAP.”
During our meeting, Mr. Isaacman committed to having American astronauts return to the lunar surface ASAP so we can develop the technologies needed to go on to Mars.
The moon mission MUST happen in President Trump’s term or else China will beat us there and build the first moonbase.
Artemis and the Moon-to-Mars Program are critical for American leadership in space!
It appears Cruz is trying to apply pressure on Isaacman and the Trump administration to not cancel SLS, as has been rumored for months. Though SLS and Orion have numerous issues, being too costly and cumbersome with risky designs that threaten the lives of any astronauts on board, cancelling them would likely delay any American manned mission to the Moon for several years, possibly allowing China to get there first.
We shall get a better idea of this situation at Isaacman’s nomination hearing, scheduled for tomorrow.
In a tweet posted yesterday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) revealed that in his private interview with Jared Isaacman, nominee for the post of NASA administrator, Isaacman “committed to having American astronauts return to the lunar surface ASAP.”
During our meeting, Mr. Isaacman committed to having American astronauts return to the lunar surface ASAP so we can develop the technologies needed to go on to Mars.
The moon mission MUST happen in President Trump’s term or else China will beat us there and build the first moonbase.
Artemis and the Moon-to-Mars Program are critical for American leadership in space!
It appears Cruz is trying to apply pressure on Isaacman and the Trump administration to not cancel SLS, as has been rumored for months. Though SLS and Orion have numerous issues, being too costly and cumbersome with risky designs that threaten the lives of any astronauts on board, cancelling them would likely delay any American manned mission to the Moon for several years, possibly allowing China to get there first.
We shall get a better idea of this situation at Isaacman’s nomination hearing, scheduled for tomorrow.
Space Force gives SpaceX launch originally contracted to ULA
For the second time in less than a year, the Space Force has taken a launch away from ULA and given the payload to SpaceX to launch.
The GPS III SV-08 satellite, the eighth in the GPS III constellation, is now scheduled to launch no earlier than late May aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, the Space Systems Command announced April 7.
This marks the second time in recent months that the Space Force has reassigned a GPS launch from ULA to SpaceX. Last year, the GPS III SV-07 satellite was moved from a planned ULA Vulcan rocket launch in late 2025 to a SpaceX Falcon 9, which successfully launched on December 16 in a mission called Rapid Response Trailblazer.
Both switches were apparently triggered because of the delay in getting ULA’s new Vulcan rocket certified by the military, resulting in all of ULA’s launches in 2025 being pushed back significantly. That certification finally occurred a few weeks ago, but it appears the Space Force has decided that ULA won’t be able to get all those launches off this year as planned. It therefore decided to shift this launch to SpaceX.
This situation once again highlights the importance of private companies to move fast in the open competition of private enterprise. SpaceX has always done this, and thus it gets contracts and business that other companies that move with the speed of molasses lose.
For the second time in less than a year, the Space Force has taken a launch away from ULA and given the payload to SpaceX to launch.
The GPS III SV-08 satellite, the eighth in the GPS III constellation, is now scheduled to launch no earlier than late May aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, the Space Systems Command announced April 7.
This marks the second time in recent months that the Space Force has reassigned a GPS launch from ULA to SpaceX. Last year, the GPS III SV-07 satellite was moved from a planned ULA Vulcan rocket launch in late 2025 to a SpaceX Falcon 9, which successfully launched on December 16 in a mission called Rapid Response Trailblazer.
Both switches were apparently triggered because of the delay in getting ULA’s new Vulcan rocket certified by the military, resulting in all of ULA’s launches in 2025 being pushed back significantly. That certification finally occurred a few weeks ago, but it appears the Space Force has decided that ULA won’t be able to get all those launches off this year as planned. It therefore decided to shift this launch to SpaceX.
This situation once again highlights the importance of private companies to move fast in the open competition of private enterprise. SpaceX has always done this, and thus it gets contracts and business that other companies that move with the speed of molasses lose.
Bangladesh signs Artemis Accords
Bangladesh today became the 54th nation to sign the Artemeis Accords, and the first to do so during Donald Trump’s second term.
The full list of nations now part of this American space alliance: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the Ukraine, the United States and Uruguay.
Based on NASA’s press release, it appears that Trump has not yet addressed the changes created by the Biden administration to the accords’ basic goals. The release still touts the accords as being “grounded in the Outer Space Treaty,” as if the accords were created to strengthen that treaty.
This is exactly the opposite of the accords’ original goals. Trump initiated the Artemis Accords as a way to create a large international alliance strong enough to either force changes in the Outer Space Treaty’s limitations on private property, or to bypass it completely.
At some point in the next three years, expect Trump’s eye to turn to the accords, and demand changes to the Outer Space Treaty. And don’t expect those demands to be mild and gentle. Right now the Outer Space Treaty forbids any nation from claiming any territory on the Moon, Mars, or the asteroids, thus forbidding western nations that believe in private property and citizens’ rights from establishing their legal law there. Either that limitation is going to be removed, or Trump is going to use the combined strength of the Artemis Accords alliance to bypass it entirely.
Bangladesh today became the 54th nation to sign the Artemeis Accords, and the first to do so during Donald Trump’s second term.
The full list of nations now part of this American space alliance: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the Ukraine, the United States and Uruguay.
Based on NASA’s press release, it appears that Trump has not yet addressed the changes created by the Biden administration to the accords’ basic goals. The release still touts the accords as being “grounded in the Outer Space Treaty,” as if the accords were created to strengthen that treaty.
This is exactly the opposite of the accords’ original goals. Trump initiated the Artemis Accords as a way to create a large international alliance strong enough to either force changes in the Outer Space Treaty’s limitations on private property, or to bypass it completely.
At some point in the next three years, expect Trump’s eye to turn to the accords, and demand changes to the Outer Space Treaty. And don’t expect those demands to be mild and gentle. Right now the Outer Space Treaty forbids any nation from claiming any territory on the Moon, Mars, or the asteroids, thus forbidding western nations that believe in private property and citizens’ rights from establishing their legal law there. Either that limitation is going to be removed, or Trump is going to use the combined strength of the Artemis Accords alliance to bypass it entirely.
Russia launches three astronauts to ISS
Russia early on April 8, 2025 successfully launched two Russians and one American to ISS on a six month mission, its Soyuz-2 rocket lifting off from its Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan.
They will dock with ISS after only two orbits, three hours after launch.
The leaders in the 2025 launch race:
40 SpaceX
18 China
5 Rocket Lab
5 Russia
SpaceX still leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 40 to 32.
Russia early on April 8, 2025 successfully launched two Russians and one American to ISS on a six month mission, its Soyuz-2 rocket lifting off from its Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan.
They will dock with ISS after only two orbits, three hours after launch.
The leaders in the 2025 launch race:
40 SpaceX
18 China
5 Rocket Lab
5 Russia
SpaceX still leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 40 to 32.
SpaceX launches 27 more Starlink satellites using a new first stage
SpaceX today successfully placed 27 Starlink satellites into orbit, its Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Vandenberg in California.
The first stage completed its first flight, landing on a drone ship in the Pacific. In the past three years SpaceX has been launching about one to two new first stages per year in order to sustain its fleet, and this launch follows that pattern.
The leaders in the 2025 launch race:
40 SpaceX
18 China
5 Rocket Lab
4 Russia (with a manned Soyuz launch scheduled for the early morning hours)
SpaceX now leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 40 to 31.
SpaceX today successfully placed 27 Starlink satellites into orbit, its Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Vandenberg in California.
The first stage completed its first flight, landing on a drone ship in the Pacific. In the past three years SpaceX has been launching about one to two new first stages per year in order to sustain its fleet, and this launch follows that pattern.
The leaders in the 2025 launch race:
40 SpaceX
18 China
5 Rocket Lab
4 Russia (with a manned Soyuz launch scheduled for the early morning hours)
SpaceX now leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 40 to 31.
Burton Cummings and many others – No Time
April 7, 2025 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Propaganda press story using only anonymous sources says Musk and SpaceX violated security reporting rules
Could be true, but the leftist source and the lack of confirmed named sources makes me skeptical. And even if true I suspect the story is overblown for political anti-Musk reasons.
- Long detailed interview with NASA’s Voyager project scientist
No new information but as Jay notes, “A good read.”
- Sierra Space to manage on ISS Honda’s test of a “regenerative fuel cell system [to] continuously produce oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity.”
The equipment will be flown to and from ISS on Sierra’s Tenacity Dream Chaser mini-shuttle.
- Next Soyuz crew to launch to ISS at 1:47 am (Eastern) April 8, 2025 from Kazakhstan
The mission includes two Russians and one American.
- Fifty years ago a botched launch stranded two Russians near the Chinese border
Because of a failure of the first stage the Soyuz capsule never reached orbit, landing on a mountain slope 119 miles downrange from launch. This still ranks as the longest manned suborbital flight.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Propaganda press story using only anonymous sources says Musk and SpaceX violated security reporting rules
Could be true, but the leftist source and the lack of confirmed named sources makes me skeptical. And even if true I suspect the story is overblown for political anti-Musk reasons.
- Long detailed interview with NASA’s Voyager project scientist
No new information but as Jay notes, “A good read.”
- Sierra Space to manage on ISS Honda’s test of a “regenerative fuel cell system [to] continuously produce oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity.”
The equipment will be flown to and from ISS on Sierra’s Tenacity Dream Chaser mini-shuttle.
- Next Soyuz crew to launch to ISS at 1:47 am (Eastern) April 8, 2025 from Kazakhstan
The mission includes two Russians and one American.
- Fifty years ago a botched launch stranded two Russians near the Chinese border
Because of a failure of the first stage the Soyuz capsule never reached orbit, landing on a mountain slope 119 miles downrange from launch. This still ranks as the longest manned suborbital flight.