Antares launches Cygnus freighter to ISS
Readers!
For many reasons, mostly political but partly ethical, I do not use Google, Facebook, Twitter. They practice corrupt business policies, while targeting conservative websites for censoring, facts repeatedly confirmed by news stories and by my sense that Facebook has taken action to prevent my readers from recommending Behind the Black to their friends.
Thus, I must have your direct support to keep this webpage alive. Not only does the money pay the bills, it gives me the freedom to speak honestly about science and culture, instead of being forced to write it as others demand.
Please consider donating by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via paypal:
If Paypal doesn't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, 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. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
Capitalism in space: Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket today successfully launched a Cygnus freighter to ISS.
This was Northrop Grumman’s first launch in 2019. The company hopes to complete 4 launches this year.
Meanwhile the leaders in the 2019 launch race remain unchanged:
4 SpaceX
4 China
4 Europe (Arianespace)
3 Russia
The U.S. however has widened its lead in the national rankings, 8 to 4.
For many reasons, mostly political but partly ethical, I do not use Google, Facebook, Twitter. They practice corrupt business policies, while targeting conservative websites for censoring, facts repeatedly confirmed by news stories and by my sense that Facebook has taken action to prevent my readers from recommending Behind the Black to their friends.
Thus, I must have your direct support to keep this webpage alive. Not only does the money pay the bills, it gives me the freedom to speak honestly about science and culture, instead of being forced to write it as others demand.
Please consider donating by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via paypal:
If Paypal doesn't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, 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. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
Capitalism in space: Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket today successfully launched a Cygnus freighter to ISS.
This was Northrop Grumman’s first launch in 2019. The company hopes to complete 4 launches this year.
Meanwhile the leaders in the 2019 launch race remain unchanged:
4 SpaceX
4 China
4 Europe (Arianespace)
3 Russia
The U.S. however has widened its lead in the national rankings, 8 to 4.
With Cygus at station this week (assuming 1-2 day orbit time, arriving today/tomorrow) and SpaceX launching CRS-17 on Friday next week, we should see both CBM ports occupied by US vehicles. Yay!
Russia usually keeps 4 vehicles on their end (2 Soyuz, 2 Progress, and previously 1 ATV from Europe) and there have been 6 vehicles (ATV, HTV, Shuttle, and 2 Soyuz, 1 progress Feb 2011 (STS 133 mission).
https://i.stack.imgur.com/VJ6bd.jpg
One day we might see as many as seven, but unlikely.