Comments on: November 14, 2024 Quick space links

By: Dick Eagleson

Dick Eagleson — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 02:40:22 +0000

Vast is also following SpaceX’s lead in being quite vertically integrated. No surprise given how many of its senior techies are SpaceX alumni.

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 17:03:10 +0000

Vast’s fast pace at building its Haven-1 single module space station is a good thing. It shows that the company is following SpaceX’s example of rapid development and early revenue service. Beating the other space stations gives it an advantage over the other space station companies and consortia, similar to Starlink’s advantage. Plus, fast development means they don’t spend money slow marching, so they are less likely to run out of money before they can start generating revenue. Doing it without NASA money means that NASA won’t slow down development by directing Vast’s methods and demanding unnecessary changes.

I did not expect the qualification unit to look different in shape and length than the Haven 1 flight unit or different even than the proposed Haven 2 modules.

By: mkent

mkent — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:40:55 +0000

”Let’s help ESA save billions of Euros and encourage them to ask Mr. Musk if his newfangled rocket has a licensed manufacturing option…” That misses the entire point. Starship is not European. ”If someone in authority at ESA hasn’t at least explored this option with SpaceX, the core of ESA leadership there needs to walk away.” If anyone in authority made any such official inquiry, he’d likely be fired.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:32:43 +0000

Let’s help ESA save billions of Euros and encourage them to ask Mr. Musk if his newfangled rocket has a licensed manufacturing option. This way, they don’t have to re-invent any wheels, they receive engineering updates at a rapid pace, their timeline is compressed tremendously, and they can share in the use of compatible launch and recovery facilities in far flung places.

If someone in authority at ESA hasn’t at least explored this option with SpaceX, the core of ESA leadership there needs to walk away.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:11:33 +0000

Today’s APOD is a 3D anaglyph of Pete Conrad inspecting Surveyor 3.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241115.html