January 30, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Construction on commercial launch tower a China’s Wenchang spaceport begins
This launchpad will apparently be reserved for use by China’s pseudo-companies.
- Europe working to develop its own system for tracking objects in orbit
For decades Europe depended on the American military’s tracking system. Based on this article, it appears it will likely be years yet before Europe’s own system is established, unless Europe decides to hire private enterprise to provide it.
- Arianespace still has three Soyuz rockets in storage in French Guiana
It appears that no negotiations are presently under way to return them, which would likely also require the return by the Russians of the OneWeb satellites it confiscated.
- Engineers at Chinese pseudo-company Landspace repurposed ultrasonic cleaning machine for crayfish for cleaning cooling channels in rocket nozzles
As much as we tend to disparage China’s ability to independently develop new technology — generally stealing ideas from others — this story illustrates that we must also never underestimate it. These are smart people, and they continue to do marvelous things in space, not all of which are copies.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Construction on commercial launch tower a China’s Wenchang spaceport begins
This launchpad will apparently be reserved for use by China’s pseudo-companies.
- Europe working to develop its own system for tracking objects in orbit
For decades Europe depended on the American military’s tracking system. Based on this article, it appears it will likely be years yet before Europe’s own system is established, unless Europe decides to hire private enterprise to provide it.
- Arianespace still has three Soyuz rockets in storage in French Guiana
It appears that no negotiations are presently under way to return them, which would likely also require the return by the Russians of the OneWeb satellites it confiscated.
- Engineers at Chinese pseudo-company Landspace repurposed ultrasonic cleaning machine for crayfish for cleaning cooling channels in rocket nozzles
As much as we tend to disparage China’s ability to independently develop new technology — generally stealing ideas from others — this story illustrates that we must also never underestimate it. These are smart people, and they continue to do marvelous things in space, not all of which are copies.