July 14, 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.
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- Sierra Space wins $798 million War Department contract to build 18 missile warning/missile tracking satellites
This contract tells us Sierra has essentially left the commercial space station field. It had been increasingly focused on defense work, and with the failure of Dream Chaser, this deal I think completes that shift. Note: The Space Force also awarded a similar 18-satellite contract to L3Harrs, for $955 million.
- Video of full duration static fire test of the second stage Archimedes engine Rocket Lab will use on its new Neutron rocket
This test is more evidence the company is making real progress towards Neutron’s first launch.
- Vast touts the food packaging, specialized utensils, and deployable table to be used on its Haven-1 station
They were designed with input from the company’s astronaut advisors, Drew Feustel and Suni Williams.
- On July 14, 1965 Mariner 4’s began its fly-by of Mars
As it was aimed at the southern cratered highlands, its 22 pictures gave everyone the false impression Mars was just like the Moon, an error that lasted for six years, until Mariner 9 arrived in orbit.
- On July 14, 2023 India launched its Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon
It carried an orbiter (still operating), and the Vikram lunar lander and the Pragyan rover (both of which successfully operated on the lunar surface for one lunar day).
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
I was 10 years old when Mariner 4 visited Mars.
Been lovin’ every minute of space since!
We’ve come a long way baby!