February 27, 2026 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.
- Lunar Trailblazer failed because the software pointed the solar panels *away* from the Sun
Apparently Lockheed Martin failed to test the solar panel pointing software before launch. The NPR article the tweet links to of course advocates more money for NASA, even though comparably budgeted commercial lunar missions have succeeded just fine.
- Changes in leadership at NASA’s commercial crew and space operations programs
The changes appear linked to Starliner report, which put some blame on those in charge at the time.
- The Starship header tank from test flight 9 has washed up in Madagascar
SpaceX sent out two contractors to inspect it. If SpaceX doesn’t reclaim it, the locals want to turn it into a monument.
- The January 22nd tank failure on Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket attributed to manufacturing defect by 3rd party contractor
Rocket Lab has made changes in the design, and is now building the tank in-house. Neutron’s maiden launch is now targeting the fourth quarter of this year.
- Senate version of NASA re-authorization bill bans NASA from buying more than 50% of its launches from one provider
The bill also allows NASA to seek waivers. Considering that the options other than SpaceX are presently few, expect this rule, if passed into law, to be waived frequently.
- On this day in 1966 a Saturn-1B rocket launched Apollo capsule/service module on its first unmanned test flight
The suborbital flight was a test both of the Saturn-1B rocket and the Apollo 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.
- Lunar Trailblazer failed because the software pointed the solar panels *away* from the Sun
Apparently Lockheed Martin failed to test the solar panel pointing software before launch. The NPR article the tweet links to of course advocates more money for NASA, even though comparably budgeted commercial lunar missions have succeeded just fine.
- Changes in leadership at NASA’s commercial crew and space operations programs
The changes appear linked to Starliner report, which put some blame on those in charge at the time.
- The Starship header tank from test flight 9 has washed up in Madagascar
SpaceX sent out two contractors to inspect it. If SpaceX doesn’t reclaim it, the locals want to turn it into a monument.
- The January 22nd tank failure on Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket attributed to manufacturing defect by 3rd party contractor
Rocket Lab has made changes in the design, and is now building the tank in-house. Neutron’s maiden launch is now targeting the fourth quarter of this year.
- Senate version of NASA re-authorization bill bans NASA from buying more than 50% of its launches from one provider
The bill also allows NASA to seek waivers. Considering that the options other than SpaceX are presently few, expect this rule, if passed into law, to be waived frequently.
- On this day in 1966 a Saturn-1B rocket launched Apollo capsule/service module on its first unmanned test flight
The suborbital flight was a test both of the Saturn-1B rocket and the Apollo 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
Here we go;
AS-201 Launch
Creator: Lunarmodule5 (September 2022)
https://youtu.be/4cSrUsyVW3Q
(29:43)
launch begins around the 12-minute mark
“Senate version of NASA re-authorization bill bans NASA from buying more than 50% of its launches from one provider”
Looks like we now know who might have been behind that provision in the authorization bill: Jim Bridenstine!
https://x.com/i/status/2027503513803108548
If so, Jim has definitely been earning his lobbyist paychecks. (Hey, college tuition is expensive these days.)
P.S. As you can see in the LinkedIn post screenshot by Eric Berger, Jimbo clarifies what the 50% refers to: it’s “NASA’s total launch contract value.”
Oh my.
The Senate needs to pass a bill that makes it illegal for Blue Origin and ULA to utterly fail to do anything at a competitive pace. That’ll fix everything!
Perhaps add Ford, GM, and Stellantis into that while they’re at it?