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.
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.
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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.
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.
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