December 13, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- NASA begins testing of more SLS rocket engines
This story is certainly connected to the decision to buy more SLS’s from Boeing. The new rockets however won’t launch for years, so I suspect this testing is partly an effort to justify the high cost of SLS.
- Sierra Space successfully blows up a subscale inflatable station module
Video at the link. The press release is here. The test was to confirm the module’s ability to survive inflation in space.
- India and Russia discussing sale of 10 Russian rocket engines to India
It would be puzzling if this deal went through, as India has made a very aggressive (and successful) effort in the past decade to replace all foreign engines on its rockets with homebuilt engines.
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- NASA begins testing of more SLS rocket engines
This story is certainly connected to the decision to buy more SLS’s from Boeing. The new rockets however won’t launch for years, so I suspect this testing is partly an effort to justify the high cost of SLS.
- Sierra Space successfully blows up a subscale inflatable station module
Video at the link. The press release is here. The test was to confirm the module’s ability to survive inflation in space.
- India and Russia discussing sale of 10 Russian rocket engines to India
It would be puzzling if this deal went through, as India has made a very aggressive (and successful) effort in the past decade to replace all foreign engines on its rockets with homebuilt engines.
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.
“The test was to confirm the module’s ability to survive inflation in space.”
I thought space had already inflated.
I’ll be here all week.