August 16, 2024 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- The Exploration Company touts a picture of its first test Nyx cargo capsule
Sadly the tweet tells us nothing about the capsule and its status. For all we know, this might not even be flight model, or it might be a smaller scale test capsule (which is what I think it is).
- Sierra Space touts its Shooting Star cargo module, which will fly with its Tenacity mini-shuttle
This module is essentially Tenacity’s service module. It will carry cargo into orbit, but will not return to Earth, but burn up in the atmosphere. Still no word on an actual launch date.
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. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
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. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- The Exploration Company touts a picture of its first test Nyx cargo capsule
Sadly the tweet tells us nothing about the capsule and its status. For all we know, this might not even be flight model, or it might be a smaller scale test capsule (which is what I think it is).
- Sierra Space touts its Shooting Star cargo module, which will fly with its Tenacity mini-shuttle
This module is essentially Tenacity’s service module. It will carry cargo into orbit, but will not return to Earth, but burn up in the atmosphere. Still no word on an actual launch date.
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. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. 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
Mr. Z.,
You could be right about the pictured capsule. Previous renderings of Nyx capsules I’ve seen pictured them as conical and of moderate size, like the one behind those two guys in the photo. But the art on The Exploration Company’s current website shows quite a large vehicle that looks a lot more “gum-droppy” in shape, resembling a Cargo Dragon quite a bit. It even has a very Dragon-esque trunk.
The apparent growth in size of the vehicle might have something to do with the economics of smaller, post-ISS space stations. It will still be fairly expensive to send freight to these and get downmass back so less-frequent flights of a larger vehicle might be more optimally economical. There’s a lot about post-ISS Commercial LEO space stations that may well flummox even the best advanced planning.
Off topic.
Dick Eagleson. Is your Boeing sparring partner conspicuously absent lately?
john hare,
Not sure who you mean unless possibly mkent. I guess maybe we’ve sparred a bit about matters involving Boeing, but I’ve also agreed with him on other things. Compared to many other forums, Mr. Z’s, here, is inclined to be fairly placid, respectful and troll-free most of the time. The hard-core lefties and OldSpace partisans – many of whom, weirdly, are the same people – don’t seem to find this place very congenial. Perhaps that’s because this town actually has a sheriff who doesn’t tolerate saloon fights and gunplay.
I was referring to Bob (pilot error) Oler.