February 17, 2025 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.
- Stoke Space touts video of static engine test fire of its radical upper stage rocket engine
The test lasts about 30 seconds, and is very impressive.
- NASA certifies Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket
This decision is a big deal, as it allows Blue Origin to bid on many NASA launch contracts. It does appear competition to SpaceX is finally on the horizon.
- Photo of what the poster claims is debris from the first launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket
There is no further information, such as where the picture was taken, and whether this claim is confirmed. For all I can tell, the pieces could be paneling from anywhere.
- Rocket Lab touts its next Electron launch, scheduled for February 18, 2025
It does appear the company is pushing hard to get close to two launches per month this year.
- China touts the names it has given to its lunar spacesuits and lunar manned vehicle
The names are “Wangyu” (Stargazing) and “Tansuo” (Exploration) respectively.
- On this day in 1961 an American Scout rocket became the first solid-fueled rocket to place a satellite in orbit
It was also the first orbital launch from Wallops Island. The satellite was Explorer 9, a NASA 12-foot-wide balloon to study the density of the atmosphere at orbital elevations.
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.
- Stoke Space touts video of static engine test fire of its radical upper stage rocket engine
The test lasts about 30 seconds, and is very impressive.
- NASA certifies Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket
This decision is a big deal, as it allows Blue Origin to bid on many NASA launch contracts. It does appear competition to SpaceX is finally on the horizon.
- Photo of what the poster claims is debris from the first launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket
There is no further information, such as where the picture was taken, and whether this claim is confirmed. For all I can tell, the pieces could be paneling from anywhere.
- Rocket Lab touts its next Electron launch, scheduled for February 18, 2025
It does appear the company is pushing hard to get close to two launches per month this year.
- China touts the names it has given to its lunar spacesuits and lunar manned vehicle
The names are “Wangyu” (Stargazing) and “Tansuo” (Exploration) respectively.
- On this day in 1961 an American Scout rocket became the first solid-fueled rocket to place a satellite in orbit
It was also the first orbital launch from Wallops Island. The satellite was Explorer 9, a NASA 12-foot-wide balloon to study the density of the atmosphere at orbital elevations.
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
Yes, the New Glenn certification is a big deal.
It certainly came sooner than I think most of us expected.
Granted, it’s only for Category 1, so that limits the NASA missions that can go on it. ESCAPADE can go, but Europa Clipper could not.
But I am sure they’ll get Cat 2 and Cat 3 within the next year or two.
They certified it after ONE sorta successful launch that may not have been running the first stage at 100% and the payload left a bunch of debris in orbit. Great!
Eh. They got the payload to the planned orbit.
I think that’s sufficient for a Cat 1 certification. I mean, those are the highest risk NASA payloads.