May 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.
- Long video reviewing Boeing’s Starliner capsule history
I have not watched it. Jay says it provides a good and detailed overview, but nothing new.
- European Space Agency (ESA) touts proposals for its proposed “reusable tugs” for “low-cost missions to Mars”
So far this appears mostly governmental fantasy, as the project has not yet gotten budget approval from the ESA.
- Space junk removal startup ClearSpace completes ground-testing of technology for removing defunct satellites from orbit
Now they need to actually fly it.
- Video describing the history of the many astronauts who got stuck in space longer than planned
From cosmonauts to astronauts, the Starliner crew’s experience has hardly been unique.
- On this day in 1992 the space shuttle Endeavour launched on its first mission
Endeavour was the fifth shuttle, and was built to replace Challenger after it was destroyed in the 1986 launch failure.
- Ten years ago today SpaceX completed its first launchpad abort test of Dragon
The success made possible the first manned flights using the capsule.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID 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. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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.
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.
- Long video reviewing Boeing’s Starliner capsule history
I have not watched it. Jay says it provides a good and detailed overview, but nothing new.
- European Space Agency (ESA) touts proposals for its proposed “reusable tugs” for “low-cost missions to Mars”
So far this appears mostly governmental fantasy, as the project has not yet gotten budget approval from the ESA.
- Space junk removal startup ClearSpace completes ground-testing of technology for removing defunct satellites from orbit
Now they need to actually fly it.
- Video describing the history of the many astronauts who got stuck in space longer than planned
From cosmonauts to astronauts, the Starliner crew’s experience has hardly been unique.
- On this day in 1992 the space shuttle Endeavour launched on its first mission
Endeavour was the fifth shuttle, and was built to replace Challenger after it was destroyed in the 1986 launch failure.
- Ten years ago today SpaceX completed its first launchpad abort test of Dragon
The success made possible the first manned flights using the capsule.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID 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. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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.
Folks here may also want to check out Spaceflight Now’s fairly in-depth article on Vast and their Haven space stations.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/05/07/vast-to-complete-haven-1-primary-structure-in-july-2025-ahead-of-target-may-2026-launch-date/
The dates were already known, but the article goes into quite a bit of detail on Vast’s current plans.
Some articles of interest
“Alloy design model offers faster, more accurate predictions by factoring in material defects.”
by Moneesh Upmanyu at Northeastern University
“A printable aluminum alloy system that can balance strength and cost in the automotive industry.”
“Revolution in friction A way to make super-smooth materials” out of the University of Lodz.
Bismuth slides in straight lines on carbon..
“Tiny thermal sensor shows how molecules can mute heat like music.”
All at phys,org