August 16, 2023 Quick space linksCourtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- ULA’s CEO says the welding to reinforce Vulcan’s upper stage is finished
He also says the first launch of Vulcan this year is “looking good.” Put no money on this promise.
- New Indian rocket company, Astrophel Aerospace, touts successfully static fire engine test
The company’s press release tied this test to India’s independence day, and added this nice touch: “Let us remember that the fire of freedom burns within us, inspiring us to keep striving, keep pushing boundaries, and keep shaping a brighter future.” Right on!
- Smallsat Alliance announces the winners of the first annual Collegiate Space Competition
The three runners-up developed concepts for removing space junk using cubesats, while first place was given to an instrument related to monitoring environmental conditions, with a nod to climate change.
- Luna-25 has officially entered lunar orbit
It took two engine burns. Next step, the landing burn, presently targeting August 21, 2023.
- According to a Coast Guard notice, SpaceX is now targeting August 31, 2023 for Starship/Superheavy orbital test flight
SpaceX always does this to pressure government paper pushers. It has now put the FAA on notice that it is ready to launch by the end of this month, and any delays thereafter will be entirely because of government intransigence. We shall now find out if (as I have been predicting) the FAA and the Biden administration intends to stall SpaceX, or instead it really wants to get Starship/Superheavy flying.
- Video of the SLS mobile launcher being rolled to launchpad today
Engineers want to test some systems while also doing crew rehearsal.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- ULA’s CEO says the welding to reinforce Vulcan’s upper stage is finished
He also says the first launch of Vulcan this year is “looking good.” Put no money on this promise.
- New Indian rocket company, Astrophel Aerospace, touts successfully static fire engine test
The company’s press release tied this test to India’s independence day, and added this nice touch: “Let us remember that the fire of freedom burns within us, inspiring us to keep striving, keep pushing boundaries, and keep shaping a brighter future.” Right on!
- Smallsat Alliance announces the winners of the first annual Collegiate Space Competition
The three runners-up developed concepts for removing space junk using cubesats, while first place was given to an instrument related to monitoring environmental conditions, with a nod to climate change.
- Luna-25 has officially entered lunar orbit
It took two engine burns. Next step, the landing burn, presently targeting August 21, 2023.
- According to a Coast Guard notice, SpaceX is now targeting August 31, 2023 for Starship/Superheavy orbital test flight
SpaceX always does this to pressure government paper pushers. It has now put the FAA on notice that it is ready to launch by the end of this month, and any delays thereafter will be entirely because of government intransigence. We shall now find out if (as I have been predicting) the FAA and the Biden administration intends to stall SpaceX, or instead it really wants to get Starship/Superheavy flying.
- Video of the SLS mobile launcher being rolled to launchpad today
Engineers want to test some systems while also doing crew rehearsal.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I haven’t seen a good answer on how, if it all, the environmental lawsuit affects this launch permit. I assume the judge has not ordered that the FAA not issue any such license until the case has been heard, since I assume I would have heard of such. But I foresee the plaintiffs making a motion to demand exactly that if it looks like the FAA is going to issue one…
Another quick space link;
Jim Cantel just signed a deal with the Bahamas hopefully to get around a lot of this regulatory paperwork.
He talks about his past briefly, his time in SpaceX, vector, and now Phantom Space in Tucson Arizona.
He hopes to have the first flight late next year, and four in 2025 before developing a new rocket that will fly back and land like SpaceX.
(I was Flipping through the a.m. channels on my way to work for a graveyard shift, I accidentally came across this podcast)
He talks about is Bahamas drug deal at about 11 minutes in. Best to hear it from his own mouth.
https://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Media/348219-2023-08-09-2023-08-09-ernest-hancock-interviews-jim-cantrell-phantom-space.htm?EdNo=001