May 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.
This is late because I was stuck in a doctor’s office for an extra two hours because the idiots misplaced my file. (Ain’t it great how Obamacare digitized all medical records so they would never get lost?)
- Startup Interlune unveils fullscale prototype of its planned lunar excavator
The company also announced it has a contract with the Department of Energy to deliver lunar helium-3 to the agency by April 2029. Exciting, but it all relies on Starship getting built and flying.
- French article [translated by Google] says China has abandoned its plan to send Tianwen-4 to Uranus after flying past Jupiter; Instead it will focus on Jupiter’s moon Calisto
Target launch date is 2030.
- Long March 12 launch scrubbed, rocket rolled back to assembly building
Jay says there are rumors it had “failures during fueling.”
- Updated prediction for uncontrolled re-entry of 1972 Soviet Venera lander now targets May 10th
The margin of error is still large, almost 9 hours before or after, which essentially means there is as yet no way to predict where it will fall.
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.
This is late because I was stuck in a doctor’s office for an extra two hours because the idiots misplaced my file. (Ain’t it great how Obamacare digitized all medical records so they would never get lost?)
- Startup Interlune unveils fullscale prototype of its planned lunar excavator
The company also announced it has a contract with the Department of Energy to deliver lunar helium-3 to the agency by April 2029. Exciting, but it all relies on Starship getting built and flying.
- French article [translated by Google] says China has abandoned its plan to send Tianwen-4 to Uranus after flying past Jupiter; Instead it will focus on Jupiter’s moon Calisto
Target launch date is 2030.
- Long March 12 launch scrubbed, rocket rolled back to assembly building
Jay says there are rumors it had “failures during fueling.”
- Updated prediction for uncontrolled re-entry of 1972 Soviet Venera lander now targets May 10th
The margin of error is still large, almost 9 hours before or after, which essentially means there is as yet no way to predict where it will fall.
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.
Caterpillar used to have some lunar art–back before everything went Komatsu
On Thursday U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a new U.S. air traffic control system.
“Overview
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces a rapidly growing, complex and demanding aviation sector, with commercial air travel returning to pre-COVID levels and new entrants, including drones, advanced air mobility, and commercial space. The air traffic control system is based on outdated technologies that are unable to meet these demands. The system is showing its age – which leads to delays and inefficiencies.”
“This proposal seeks to transform the United States’ air traffic control system from its antiquated system to a modern system capable of meeting the demands of today and the future. This proposal will build a new, state of the art, air traffic control system that will enhance the safety and efficiency of our national airspace. ”
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2025-05/Brand%20New%20Air%20Traffic%20Control%20System%20Summary.pdf
*
“The plan is comprised of four infrastructure components:
1. Communications
2. Surveillance
3. Automation
4. Facilities”
“Critical actions include:
• Replacing antiquated telecommunications: with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at over 4,600 sites, 25,000 new radios and 475 new voice switches.
• Replacing 618 radars which have gone past their life cycle.
• Addressing runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) to 200.
• Building six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s and replacing towers and TRACONs.
• Installing new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers.
• Addressing the challenges that face Alaska by adding 174 new weather stations. ”
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-plan-build-brand-new-state-art-air