October 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.
- Eutelsat-Oneweb changes name to Eutelsat Network Solutions
The OneWeb name now only refers to that constellation, which had merged with Eutelsat in 2022.
- Video and description of Lockheed-Martin’s fourth successful test-to-failure of its own inflatable module design
This prototype included what they called a “penetration plate”, which simulated a hatch or access point into the module to see if that access point would meet specifications. Lockheed is part of the consortium building the Starlab station, so this module will likely be an addition to that giant single module station launched on Starship.
- Axiom Space appoints Dr. Jonathan Cirtain as CEO and president
A former NASA guy at Marshall with additional experience in the private sector. I have no idea if he is a plus or a minus for the company.
- Roscosmos decides its future station will be in the same orbit as ISS, rather than the previously proposed near-polar orbit
This of course assumes it gets launched. Based on Russia’s track record for the past three decades, don’t expect it before 2035, at the earliest. And I am being optimistic.
- Has JWST found an exomoon?
Interesting, though there remains a lot of uncertainty about these conclusions.
- Uranus And Neptune may not be “ice giants” but the solar system’s first “rocky giants”
Also interesting, but less so, as it is based entirely on modeling and theories. I suspect most planetary scientists will not take this very seriously.
- First stage of LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 upgraded rocket is on launch pad with land legs
This Chinese pseudo-company is hoping to launch before the end of the year. Though the first launches of this Falcon 9 copy will not land and reuse the first stage, they plan to begin recovery attempts soon thereafter.
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.
- Eutelsat-Oneweb changes name to Eutelsat Network Solutions
The OneWeb name now only refers to that constellation, which had merged with Eutelsat in 2022.
- Video and description of Lockheed-Martin’s fourth successful test-to-failure of its own inflatable module design
This prototype included what they called a “penetration plate”, which simulated a hatch or access point into the module to see if that access point would meet specifications. Lockheed is part of the consortium building the Starlab station, so this module will likely be an addition to that giant single module station launched on Starship.
- Axiom Space appoints Dr. Jonathan Cirtain as CEO and president
A former NASA guy at Marshall with additional experience in the private sector. I have no idea if he is a plus or a minus for the company.
- Roscosmos decides its future station will be in the same orbit as ISS, rather than the previously proposed near-polar orbit
This of course assumes it gets launched. Based on Russia’s track record for the past three decades, don’t expect it before 2035, at the earliest. And I am being optimistic.
- Has JWST found an exomoon?
Interesting, though there remains a lot of uncertainty about these conclusions.
- Uranus And Neptune may not be “ice giants” but the solar system’s first “rocky giants”
Also interesting, but less so, as it is based entirely on modeling and theories. I suspect most planetary scientists will not take this very seriously.
- First stage of LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 upgraded rocket is on launch pad with land legs
This Chinese pseudo-company is hoping to launch before the end of the year. Though the first launches of this Falcon 9 copy will not land and reuse the first stage, they plan to begin recovery attempts soon thereafter.
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
“”Uranus And Neptune may not be “ice giants” but the solar system’s first “rocky giants.”. Also interesting, but less so, as it is based entirely on modeling and theories.”””
Everything, EVERYTHING about the Globull Warming, Globull Cooling, Climate Change, Climate Crisis Hoax is “”based on modeling and theories.””
Before President Trump, I believe that the most lucrative “theory” was something close to: if I ignore real science, and write extensively about how humans will destroy the Earth unless they return to the stone age, I will receive many years of funding.
Uh-oh. My wife, unbeknownst to me, has been reading BTB. She’s read one of my posts. Wish me luck.
@Patrick Underwood…
I am currently about 12 years happily divorced…. But I’m sure my ex wife would have given me a severe ear bending had she read some of my ranting around the interwebs. Swedes are famously conflict adverse, except when it comes to spouses!
Anyway… The reason I am here. A question for you guys. I just heard that Artemis 2 could be launched as soon as February … ( I’m not holding my breath! ) , now, I’m sure I’m not the only one here that has a bad feeling about this mission. Should the very worst occur, what do you think would it mean to the private space industry? Obviously it would be the end of the NASA human space program, at least for the foreseeable future, but would it have “knock on” effects on private enterprise, and for better or worse? I know you guys have much less interference from the government than we do over here, but then there is public opinion to take into account also.
I am just genuinely interested in hearing what the good folks here think.
I am not worried. Don’t let the folks who slime MSFC get under your skin.
Now, CFD models will have to be looked at, since the return of SuperHeavy in IFT-10 flummoxed the code monkeys.
Some recent findings
https://phys.org/news/2025-10-behavior-precise.html
“Shock waves should not be shocking—engineers across scientific fields need to be able to precisely predict how the instant and strong pressure changes initiate and dissipate to prevent damage. Now, thanks to a team from Yokohama National University, those predictions are even better understood.:
“In work published on Aug. 19 in the Physics of Fluids, the researchers detailed how computational models used to simulate shock wave behavior represent the very weak shock waves in a way that is distinctly different from both theoretical predictions and physical measurements.”
More:
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/spacex.13774/page-238#post-836274