April 26, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Interesting Twitter discussion about the Hakuto-R1 lunar landing failure
The most interesting comment, based on inconclusive and confusing data, is this: “From the Doppler profile, it looks like it descended, landed, then something went badly wrong and it accelerated back off the surface – just speculation based on radio obs.”
- ULA CEO Tory Bruno publishes paper outlining his thoughts on maintaining U.S. space assets agains attack
Bruno’s approach is very thoughtful and clearly presented. He concludes that the best approach is the one with the most variety, with both low and high orbit constellations providing communications and data. Why am I not surprised?
- The spacewalk plan to shift two solar panels on China’s Tiangong-3 space station to better locations
This effort is reminiscent of similar things the Russians did on both its Salyut and Mir stations.
- Rocket Lab says its preparations for two launches in New Zealand of NASA’s TROPICS satellites are on schedule
The first is scheduled for May 1, 2023 (New Zealand time), with the second on May 16th.
- Russia official extends its partnership on ISS until at least 2028
No surprise. What this really tells us is that Russia’s own space station is continuing to fall behind schedule, and will not be ready for launch by 2027, as previously predicted.
- Russia touts strength of Chinese-Russian space partnership by citing visit by official to China
Yeah, right. And I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. The Chinese will make nice noises, but they know that they can expect nothing from Russia. If something shows up, great, but it would be dangerous to depend on it.
- For the first time since 2021, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo (VSS Unity) completes a glide test flight
Their next goal is a powered flight with six crewmembers, targeting the second quarter of this year.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. 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
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Interesting Twitter discussion about the Hakuto-R1 lunar landing failure
The most interesting comment, based on inconclusive and confusing data, is this: “From the Doppler profile, it looks like it descended, landed, then something went badly wrong and it accelerated back off the surface – just speculation based on radio obs.”
- ULA CEO Tory Bruno publishes paper outlining his thoughts on maintaining U.S. space assets agains attack
Bruno’s approach is very thoughtful and clearly presented. He concludes that the best approach is the one with the most variety, with both low and high orbit constellations providing communications and data. Why am I not surprised?
- The spacewalk plan to shift two solar panels on China’s Tiangong-3 space station to better locations
This effort is reminiscent of similar things the Russians did on both its Salyut and Mir stations.
- Rocket Lab says its preparations for two launches in New Zealand of NASA’s TROPICS satellites are on schedule
The first is scheduled for May 1, 2023 (New Zealand time), with the second on May 16th.
- Russia official extends its partnership on ISS until at least 2028
No surprise. What this really tells us is that Russia’s own space station is continuing to fall behind schedule, and will not be ready for launch by 2027, as previously predicted.
- Russia touts strength of Chinese-Russian space partnership by citing visit by official to China
Yeah, right. And I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. The Chinese will make nice noises, but they know that they can expect nothing from Russia. If something shows up, great, but it would be dangerous to depend on it.
- For the first time since 2021, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo (VSS Unity) completes a glide test flight
Their next goal is a powered flight with six crewmembers, targeting the second quarter of this year.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. 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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