January 16, 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.
- Voyager announces minor name change and major re-organization
The company has divided itself into three divisions, only one of which is focused on its space station project. The goal is to try to get business in other areas.
- A review of Starliner’s unknown status months after the capsule returned to Earth
No new information, which in itself bodes badly for Starliner. It appears Boeing is increasingly reluctant to move forward if it will cost it any more money.
- Berger claims multiple sources confirm the arrival of David Limp as CEO of Blue Origin last year saved the company
No news here either. The change was obvious from day one.
- Hubble faces budget cuts
To translate: Give us more money! I’d be more sympathetic if NASA was more willing to consider a rescue mission. If not, then there is every reason in the world to begin winding down operations.
- China touts its lunar rover concepts
The video is in Chinese, has great dramatic background music, but shows nothing but very simple concepts.
- India’s government approves third launchpad at its main spaceport at Sriharikota
They need more redundancy as their gear up for their first manned missions.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
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.
- Voyager announces minor name change and major re-organization
The company has divided itself into three divisions, only one of which is focused on its space station project. The goal is to try to get business in other areas.
- A review of Starliner’s unknown status months after the capsule returned to Earth
No new information, which in itself bodes badly for Starliner. It appears Boeing is increasingly reluctant to move forward if it will cost it any more money.
- Berger claims multiple sources confirm the arrival of David Limp as CEO of Blue Origin last year saved the company
No news here either. The change was obvious from day one.
- Hubble faces budget cuts
To translate: Give us more money! I’d be more sympathetic if NASA was more willing to consider a rescue mission. If not, then there is every reason in the world to begin winding down operations.
- China touts its lunar rover concepts
The video is in Chinese, has great dramatic background music, but shows nothing but very simple concepts.
- India’s government approves third launchpad at its main spaceport at Sriharikota
They need more redundancy as their gear up for their first manned missions.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
I think I might play devil’s advocate here, kinda: It is the STScI which is surging against cuts, and STScI did not make the call on the rescue mission.
That said, there’s a new sheriff in town on Monday (OK, it may be a few weeks before Isaacman gets his vote in the Senate), and once he’s in place, I think it’s reasonable to assume the whole thing gets a new look. Though obviously I can’t imagine the NASA Administrator is going to have the time to do the mission — at least, not before 2029!
There’s still a lot of good science to be had out of Hubble. I hope a boost/rescue mission does get approved. And that Hubble keeps getting funded after that.
Agreed
“Today, Norway and the U.S. signed a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA), which will facilitate the launch of U.S. launchers and satellites from Andøya Spaceport.”
(https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/norge-undertegner-romavtale-med-usa/id3084042/)
The Berger article on Starliner is dated November 1. There has been no update from Boeing since then?
Thank you Surly. The tweet that I saw emphasizing Boeing’s stance on Starliner was from yesterday and linked to that article. I used that instead of the tweet. I will look at the dates more closely.