January 20, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Though next Soyuz capsule will be launched unmanned, astronaut Oleg Kononenko completed training to fly it alone with cargo
No surprise here. The Russians clearly want to be prepared for all contingencies.
- Another Chinese pseudo-company, Orienspace, unveils its proposed rockets
The first is a solid fueled smallsat rocket, targeting a first launch in 2023. The second appears to be a variation of a Falcon 9, targeting a first launch in 2025. The third is a Falcon Heavy copy targeting a 2030 launch.
- China shows off model of Long March 10, which appears to be a replacement for the Long March 5
It is nothing more than a display model, so there isn’t yet much reality here.
- SpaceX gets FCC license for launching Starship/Superheavy from Boca Chica
The license covers the time period from January 20, 2023 to July 20, 2023. This is not the launch license, however, which still has to be issued by the FAA. That the FCC has given the go-ahead however increases the pressure on the FAA to do so as well.
- ESA chief proposes global “zero debris” policy at World Economic Forum
How nice of him. Considering that it is government agencies like ESA, not private companies, that are the worst offenders in this matter, he might consider looking to his own glass house before throwing rocks at others.
- ESA’s Jupiter orbiter Juice ready for shipment to French Guiana for launch in April 2023
More info here.
- Florida makes believe it doesn’t care that Terran Orbital won’t build a satellite factory there
Florida’s space business might be booming, but that doesn’t mean the loss of this company is irrelevant.
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.
- Though next Soyuz capsule will be launched unmanned, astronaut Oleg Kononenko completed training to fly it alone with cargo
No surprise here. The Russians clearly want to be prepared for all contingencies.
- Another Chinese pseudo-company, Orienspace, unveils its proposed rockets
The first is a solid fueled smallsat rocket, targeting a first launch in 2023. The second appears to be a variation of a Falcon 9, targeting a first launch in 2025. The third is a Falcon Heavy copy targeting a 2030 launch.
- China shows off model of Long March 10, which appears to be a replacement for the Long March 5
It is nothing more than a display model, so there isn’t yet much reality here.
- SpaceX gets FCC license for launching Starship/Superheavy from Boca Chica
The license covers the time period from January 20, 2023 to July 20, 2023. This is not the launch license, however, which still has to be issued by the FAA. That the FCC has given the go-ahead however increases the pressure on the FAA to do so as well.
- ESA chief proposes global “zero debris” policy at World Economic Forum
How nice of him. Considering that it is government agencies like ESA, not private companies, that are the worst offenders in this matter, he might consider looking to his own glass house before throwing rocks at others.
- ESA’s Jupiter orbiter Juice ready for shipment to French Guiana for launch in April 2023
More info here.
- Florida makes believe it doesn’t care that Terran Orbital won’t build a satellite factory there
Florida’s space business might be booming, but that doesn’t mean the loss of this company is irrelevant.
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.
The FCC license is of course for the communication channels to be used in Starship testing. Given the recent assertions of regulatory power over spaceflight emanating from FCC bureaucrats, I was worried that this might be used to claim some further authority. I am happy to be proven wrong, for now.
Bob, we are at 92 consecutive LANDINGS for falcon 9 if I counted correctly. It’s incredible! Yet no fanfare. Is everyone waiting for 100 to talk about this?
“…92 consecutive LANDINGS for falcon 9…”
Not bad for a broomstick, eh Dmitry? And keep your head down.
Right under the the China twitter, I noticed this:
https://twitter.com/TheRealBuzz/status/1616600085441159168
Wow—I guess life begins at 90…..I won’t make it to 60.
Jeff.
I bet she feels he hung the Moon.
Or is she simply over the Moon for him?