September 20, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, trolling Twitter so I don’t have to.
- Hollywood taps Blue Origin Orbital Reef project for movie of the future in space
Seems about Blue Origin’s speed, doing things in fantasy instead of reality.
- Bridgestone joins Sierra Space team designing lunar vehicle for astronauts
The team also includes Nissan, and is competing for a NASA contract.
- Launch for next Rocket Lab launch changed to October 6, New Zealand time
In the U.S. that launch will still occur on October 5th.
- Axiom awards contract to MDA for robotic parts for Axiom’s space station
I was under the impression that MDA had changed its name to Maxar, but I might be confusing different companies.
- Firefly delays launch dateof its Alpha rocket to September 30th, due to weather concerns
Weather has forced several delays. Hopefully all will work out for this date, and the company will get its first successful orbital launch.
- SLS tank test tomorrow
Engineers are still unsure what caused the hydrogen leak during the last launch attempt. In replacing seals they think a “mark” on one seal might have been the cause, but that theory is not certain. For this test and the later launch they will load hydrogen at a lower pressure to hopefully reduce the chance of another leak.
The actual launch date remains unconfirmed.
- Russia signs agreement with the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean to keep weapons out of space
Russia has apparently made this agreement with about 30 nations, most of which have no space program at all. Thus, it is all propaganda, an attempt to distract from Russia’s actual use of weapons in space to destroy a satellite in November 2021.
- Russia confirms Luna-23, part of its Glob planetary program, will not launch until July 2023
Luna-23, a quarter century in the making! Great work if you can get it.
- Space Force unveils its theme song
Hat tip to John Batchelor for this story. It illustrates how unserious a people we have become.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either. IMPORTANT! If you donate enough to get a book, please email me separately to tell me which book you want and the address to mail it to.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. 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, trolling Twitter so I don’t have to.
- Hollywood taps Blue Origin Orbital Reef project for movie of the future in space
- Bridgestone joins Sierra Space team designing lunar vehicle for astronauts
- Launch for next Rocket Lab launch changed to October 6, New Zealand time
- Axiom awards contract to MDA for robotic parts for Axiom’s space station
- Firefly delays launch dateof its Alpha rocket to September 30th, due to weather concerns
- SLS tank test tomorrow
- Russia signs agreement with the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean to keep weapons out of space
- Russia confirms Luna-23, part of its Glob planetary program, will not launch until July 2023
- Space Force unveils its theme song
Seems about Blue Origin’s speed, doing things in fantasy instead of reality.
The team also includes Nissan, and is competing for a NASA contract.
In the U.S. that launch will still occur on October 5th.
I was under the impression that MDA had changed its name to Maxar, but I might be confusing different companies.
Weather has forced several delays. Hopefully all will work out for this date, and the company will get its first successful orbital launch.
Engineers are still unsure what caused the hydrogen leak during the last launch attempt. In replacing seals they think a “mark” on one seal might have been the cause, but that theory is not certain. For this test and the later launch they will load hydrogen at a lower pressure to hopefully reduce the chance of another leak.
The actual launch date remains unconfirmed.
Russia has apparently made this agreement with about 30 nations, most of which have no space program at all. Thus, it is all propaganda, an attempt to distract from Russia’s actual use of weapons in space to destroy a satellite in November 2021.
Luna-23, a quarter century in the making! Great work if you can get it.
Hat tip to John Batchelor for this story. It illustrates how unserious a people we have become.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either. IMPORTANT! If you donate enough to get a book, please email me separately to tell me which book you want and the address to mail it to.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. 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.
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