December 7, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Chinese pseudo-company Landspace now targeting a December 10th launch of its Zhuque-2 rocket
If successful, it will be the first methane fueled rocket to reach orbit, beating both SpaceX and Blue Origin.
- Cubesats launched on most recent Cygnus deployed from ISS
Nice images of the deployment at the link.
- Startup Canadian company Stells touts its goal to provide wireless charging stations on the Moon
All the company has so far is a short animation, describing their concept. Nonetheless, such private companies to provide services to future lunar colonies are coming.
- Dawn Aerospace secures $20 million in private investment capital
The company previously flew five test flights of a small reusable spaceplane prototype (only slightly larger than a model airplane). The goal now, using the funds from its New Zealand investors, is to begin development of a full scale orbital version.
- Impulse Space tests new rocket thruster
As Jay notes, “You don’t hear much from this company, but they are doing work for other rocket companies.”
- Unidentified Oumuamua interstellar object is just now leaving the Solar System
I still think a mission could reach this object, but it would have to launch very soon, and thus is almost certain not to happen.
- Northrop Grumman lead bidding team for NASA manned lunar lander
This bid is in competition with Blue Origin’s bid, also announced today. Few details for either have been so far been revealed.
- Watch a 7 minute Chinese propaganda overview of its Tiangong-7 station
Propaganda aside, China has much to brag about here. The video provides a very nice overview of the station.
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.
- Chinese pseudo-company Landspace now targeting a December 10th launch of its Zhuque-2 rocket
If successful, it will be the first methane fueled rocket to reach orbit, beating both SpaceX and Blue Origin.
- Cubesats launched on most recent Cygnus deployed from ISS
Nice images of the deployment at the link.
- Startup Canadian company Stells touts its goal to provide wireless charging stations on the Moon
All the company has so far is a short animation, describing their concept. Nonetheless, such private companies to provide services to future lunar colonies are coming.
- Dawn Aerospace secures $20 million in private investment capital
The company previously flew five test flights of a small reusable spaceplane prototype (only slightly larger than a model airplane). The goal now, using the funds from its New Zealand investors, is to begin development of a full scale orbital version.
- Impulse Space tests new rocket thruster
As Jay notes, “You don’t hear much from this company, but they are doing work for other rocket companies.”
- Unidentified Oumuamua interstellar object is just now leaving the Solar System
I still think a mission could reach this object, but it would have to launch very soon, and thus is almost certain not to happen.
- Northrop Grumman lead bidding team for NASA manned lunar lander
This bid is in competition with Blue Origin’s bid, also announced today. Few details for either have been so far been revealed.
- Watch a 7 minute Chinese propaganda overview of its Tiangong-7 station
Propaganda aside, China has much to brag about here. The video provides a very nice overview of the station.
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
For the HLS bid, it is Leidos Dynetics leading the proposal, and Northrop Grumman is partnered with them:
Leidos Dynetics Team and Northrop Grumman to Collaborate on NASA Human Landing System Bid
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leidos-dynetics-team-and-northrop-grumman-to-collaborate-on-nasa-human-landing-system-bid-301697017.html