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.
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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from 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
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.
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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from 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
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
mkent & Jeff Wright,
Thanks for the links. Jeff’s third one reminds me of a guy I used to know who would host parties he, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, called “Bismuth Booster Banquets.” He was of the opinion that bismuth, as an element, was criminally underutilized in industry.
I wish I could have met him.
Folks with passions like that are treated as curiosities or distractions by governments and businesses both.
Let me guess–the folks over him indulged him only a tad–with some amusement–but never fully backed him on anything major.
These are the folks Gates and Buffett need to give their billions to–not overseas.
It is rare to see folks with a passion have any kind of bank. Elon might be a one off.
Had I wealth, I would “collect” people like your friend…fund them.
If something works–fine–if it doesn’t–fine.
More on Bismuth (that isn’t Pepto-Bismol)
https://phys.org/news/2025-05-bismuth-based-hybrid-materials-enable.html
New power source
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-scientists-gen-energy-storage-technologies.html