January 24, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Arnhem spaceport in Australia hopes to have its first orbital rocket customer launch before the end of 2023
It appears no deal as yet been signed, but it is pushing hard to get customers. In ’22 NASA did three suborbital launches from this site.
- Boeing’s Starliner capsule mated to its service module
Boeing and NASA are still targeting April for that first manned demo mission to ISS.
- NASA and DARPA form partnership to fly and test a nuclear thermal engine in space by 2027
Whether this promised demo mission will happen is certainly uncertain, as NASA has promised such nuclear engine projects now for decades, none of which ever got past the planning stages. If it happens, however, the technology has the potential to cut travel times to the planets significantly.
- Video describing new Japanese startup rocket company
Mostly in Japanese, as is the company’s website. However, the images and some text suggests the company wants to create a range of rockets comparable to the rockets offered by SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either. IMPORTANT! If you donate enough to get a book, please email me separately to tell me which book you want and the address to mail it to.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. 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:
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Arnhem spaceport in Australia hopes to have its first orbital rocket customer launch before the end of 2023
It appears no deal as yet been signed, but it is pushing hard to get customers. In ’22 NASA did three suborbital launches from this site.
- Boeing’s Starliner capsule mated to its service module
Boeing and NASA are still targeting April for that first manned demo mission to ISS.
- NASA and DARPA form partnership to fly and test a nuclear thermal engine in space by 2027
Whether this promised demo mission will happen is certainly uncertain, as NASA has promised such nuclear engine projects now for decades, none of which ever got past the planning stages. If it happens, however, the technology has the potential to cut travel times to the planets significantly.
- Video describing new Japanese startup rocket company
Mostly in Japanese, as is the company’s website. However, the images and some text suggests the company wants to create a range of rockets comparable to the rockets offered by SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either. IMPORTANT! If you donate enough to get a book, please email me separately to tell me which book you want and the address to mail it to.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. 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.
Has there been any further speculation or explanation as to why only two astronauts are scheduled to fly on the first Starliner manned flight? It seems initially the crew size was three!
Ray,
This is the manned demo flight so there are only two astronauts going up. SpaceX’s two manned demo flights only had two astronauts as well. Funny that Boeing only gets to do one demo flight and SpaceX had to do two. If all goes well with the Starliner, the next flight will have three astronauts scheduled in 2024. That is quite a gap between the two flights.
Jay: SpaceX only did one manned demo flight. It also only did one unmanned demo flight.
Boeing had to do two unmanned demo flights because of serious problems with the first, followed by serious problems prior to the launch of the second that caused more than a year delay.
After the second mostly successful second demo flight (it did have issues with its attitude jets), NASA approved flying the next manned.
The crew for this Starliner flight changed along the way, likely because of the delays and possibly some astronauts’ lack of confidence in the vehicle.
I must add that the reason for the long gap between the demo flight and the first operational flight is that SpaceX has the contracts for all the manned flights in between. NASA needed to fly, Starliner wasn’t ready, so SpaceX got the business.
You are right, I was looking up the stats and saw Crew-2 Demo which was the first manned flight. I saw Crew-1 and thought that was the Crew-1 Demo, but Crew-1 was the first flight with four astronauts which was after.
Jay: Don’t you know that the best source of information is right here, on BtB? :) All you had to do is run a searches for “demo” “ISS” “Starliner” “Boeing” for one set, and “demo” “ISS” “Dragon” “SpaceX” for the other.
The big news items of the day come from phys.org:
“Plasma thrusters used on satellites could be much more powerful than previously believed”
and…
“Device transmits radio waves with almost no power without violating the laws of physics.”
Ray: “Has there been any further speculation or explanation as to why only two astronauts are scheduled to fly on the first Starliner manned flight? It seems initially the crew size was three!”
Jay: “This is the manned demo flight so there are only two astronauts going up. ”
I think Ray is thinking of Chris Ferguson, who *was* originally planned to fly as a third crewmember, on behalf of Boeing. It is not clear why Boeing wanted its own astronaut on the mission; but the terms of the Commercial Crew contract with NASA allowed them to do so. (The same was true for SpaceX, which never showed any interest in flying one of its own employees on the Crew Dragon demo flight, however.)
Ferguson, however, withdrew from the mission, citing family reasons. NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore replaced him in the third seat on 7 October 2020. Last year, however, NASA clarified that it would only fly two astronauts on the demo mission (Wilmore and Sunita Williams), and Boeing apparently decided not to to put one of their people on the flight after all. So, it’s only going to be two crew on board.
Another interesting, related Commercial Crew development from Joey Montalbano, relayed by Jeff Foust of SpaceNews: Work is now underway on a crew tower at SLC-40 to support crew and cargo Dragon missions; should be ready to support missions, starting with cargo, in the fall.
This is intended chiefly to provide SpaceX (and thus, NASA) with a backup for access to ISS, if anything bad happens to LC-39A during Starship operations.
Obviously once Starliner becomes operational, that will be another backup alternative, albeit only for crew access; SpaceX will still need a way to launch the Dragon for cargo deliveries. But once SLC-40 is upgraded to handle it, that will not be a problem.
This is the (other) nice thing about using commercial vendors: you have options. You have fallbacks.
Space
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-milky-big-cosmological-wall.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-earlier-geomagnetic-storm.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-nasa-small-asteroid-earth-week.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-rubble-pile-asteroids-impossible-destroy.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mercury-earth-massive-extinction-event.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-galaxies-early-universe.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-nasa-fermi-gamma-ray-eclipses-spider.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-solar-poorly-cake-batter-isotope.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-astronomers-technique-starspots.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-astronomers-peculiar-cataclysmic-variable-star.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-webb-spies-chariklo-high-precision-technique.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-approach-mystery-dark-energy.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-dark.html
Propulsion
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-nasa-pentagon-nuclear-powered-rocket-mars.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-plasma-thrusters-satellites-powerful-previously.html
Stress in fluids
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-stresses-complex-fluids.html
New chemistry
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-technique-hydrogen-peroxide-emitting-carbon.html
Hydropower
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-emission-energy-conflict-smart.html
Bugs
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-influenza-virus-universal-vaccine.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-propionic-acid-nerve-cells-regenerate.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-measles-virus-cooperates-fatal-encephalitis.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-uv-lamps-disinfection-impair-indoor.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-covid-vaccine-based-technology-clinical.html
Plants
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-twin-legalizing-recreational-cannabis-substance.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-uncover-potential-ancient-mint.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-bryophytes-reveals-evolution-genetic-pathways.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mutant-disability.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-farming-seaweed-food-fuel.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-friend-foe-bacteria-algal-hosts.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-alien-species-rapidly-mountainous-areas.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-secret-recipe-limonoids-door-bee-friendly.html
AI
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ai-bot-wharton-professor-exam.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-machine-vision-capable-king-apple.html
Tech news
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-device-transmits-radio-powerwithout-violating.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-metal-alloys-nuclear-fusion-energy.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-scientists-neutrons-behavior-alloys.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-recyclable-mobile-batteries-closer-rust-busting.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-images-shadow-sample.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-combining-classical-quantum-optics-super-resolution.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-physical-surface-mica-atomic-scale.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-rainbow-force-activated-pigments-stress.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-scientists-tweak-synthesis-high-entropy-carbides.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-shield-blocks-electromagnetic-wireless-optical.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-coating-barrier-perovskites-space-elements.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-scalable-method-thin-transistors-ultra-clean.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-detector-enable-high-speed-quantum-communication.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-coherent-electron-silicon.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ultrafast-laser-generate-shortest-electron.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-physicists-riddle-two-dimensional-quasicrystal-formation.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-highly-lithium-sulfur-batteries-based.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-harvesting-big-energy-small-movement.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-demo-carbon-nanotube-yarn-harvests.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-scientists-quasiparticles-classical.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-stability-perovskite-solar-cells-milestone.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-quantum-physicists-sources.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-team-quantum-sensors-reveal-weyl.html cool graphics
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-salt-rejecting-microchannels-seawater-drinkable-power.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-temperature-sensing-material-energy.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-graphene-long-term-memory-2d-nanofluidic.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-chemists-catalyst-carbon-hydrogen-bonds.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-geothermal-battery-repurposes-abandoned-oil.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-harvesting-energy.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-farewell-destroying-pfas-additive.html
The anti-laser
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-anti-laser-device.html
Glass
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-scientists-window-physics-glass-formation.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-centimeter-glass-sphere-scientists-space.html
The speed of physics
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-derive-topological-limit-evolution-physical.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-law-entanglement.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-lays-chirality-flipping-theory.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-atoms-space.html
Underground river
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-nasa-underground-sierra-central-valley.html
Robots
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-person-shaped-robot-liquify-power-magnets.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-continuum-robot-elephant-trunks.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-raibo-versatile-robo-dog-sandy-beach.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-framework-four-legged-robots-leader-daytime.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-magnetic-microrobot-cell-stiffness-traction.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-click-beetle-inspired-robots-elastic-energy.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-soft-robots-harness-viscous-fluids.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-rotational-multimaterial-helical-filaments-soft.html
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-method-enable-robotic-paper-based.html
Movement and Force
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-movement-critical-visual-cues.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-links-nano-macro-aspects-everyday.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-evidence-mesoatom-symmetries-special-twin.html
anti-bubbles
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-rapid-production-antibubbles-jet.html
Oil spill max
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-oil-disrupt-global-energy.html
Brain atlas
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-unveil-human-brain-atlases-postnatal.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-pop-up-electrode-device-3d-brain.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-chronic-stress-neurons-behavioral-problems.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-abnormal-hour-cyclic-gene-schizophrenic.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-injury-mortality-long-term.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-memory.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-ai-people-empathetic-mental-health.html
Medicine
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-tool-ultrasound-tornado-blood-clots.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-scientists-drug-lifespan.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-anti-aging-gene-shown-rewind-heart.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-spray-infections-antibiotic-resistance.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-hypertension-drug-repurposed-delay-aging.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-low-cost-sensor-heavy-metals.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-characterizing-soft-biological-tissue-biomechanical.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-blood-accurate-osteoarthritis.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-ultrafast-fmri-technique-brain.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-reveals-mechanical-skeletal.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-approach-cancer-evolving-resist-treatment.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ants-cancerous-tumors-mice.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-antidepressants-bacterial-resistance-antibacterial-drugs.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-everyday-stresses-mental-well-being.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-collateral-cell-function-mutations-play.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-cells-extra-dna.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-potential-hidden-dementia.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-brain-molecule-halt-ms.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-bioprinted-artificial-skin-cosmetics-drugs.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-french-aristocrat-golden-dental-secret.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-reveals-protein-plaques-alzheimer-stickier.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-open-source-stopwatch-interactions-molecules-cells.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-artificial-human-skin-paves-cancer.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-cancer-cells-die-scientists-explore.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-tiny-ion-crucial-hiv-replication.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-enzyme-drugs.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-method-bone-producing-cells-bone.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-insufficient-good-quality-teenage-years.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-glimpse-previously-unknown-vexas-syndrome.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-neuronal-molecule-prostate-cancer-aggressive.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-wearable-sensor-ultrasound-cardiac-imaging.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mimicking-enigmatic-property-circadian-rhythms.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-year-old-medical-mystery-baby-deaths.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-dna-biosensor-powerful-low-cost-clinical.html MEDICAL tricorder
Uh…
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ai-tool-speedy-gene-editing.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-ai-technology-generates-proteins.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-reveals-dynamics-dna-ligation-genome.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-software-incorporates-dendritic-properties-neural.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-strategy-root-nodule-symbiosis-important.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-boosting-efficiency-genome-procedures-inaccessible.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-covid-vaccine-clinical-trials-treasure.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-micellesthe-boosting-reactions-interactions.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-california-insulin-curb-prices-health.html
History
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-obsidian-handaxe-making-workshop-million-years.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-egypt-unveils-ancient-secret-keeper.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-golden-boy-mummy-precious-amulets.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-scientists-evolutionary-secret-animal-life.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-tonga-eruption-chances-global-temperature.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-solid-earth-atmosphere-interaction-hunga-tonga-hunga.html
Carbon capture
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-01-scientists-unveil-carbon-capture-date.html
cats and mutts, etc.
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-cat-egorizing-play-genuine-cats.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-camera-trap-evidence-pumas-ecological-impact.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-pill-diabetic-cats-daily-insulin.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-dogs-difference-unable-simply-unwilling.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-economics-trump-environment-large-carnivores.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-abilities-domesticated-dogs-pigs-human.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-humans-chimpanzee-bonobo-gestures.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-polygamous-birds-shown-mutations.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-pterosaur-species-hundreds-tiny-teeth.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-sea-spiders-regrow-body-limbs.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-neurons-threat.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-mosquito-repellents-deet.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-split-second-evolutionary-cellular-mammals-hypothesis.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-elephant-extinction-major-impact-atmospheric.html
Politics
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-high-temperatures-boost-biodiversity-arctic.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-decolonizing-global-health-checklist-equity.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-kids-outdoors-negative-effects-screen.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-urban-elites-seize-benefits-big.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-uk-sugary-taxes-cases-obesity.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-rural-residents-higher-heart-failure.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-uncovers-widespread-unethical-assigning-authorships.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-economist-debt-limit-impact.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-conspiracy-theories-simple.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-qa-bug-quinine-habanero.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-college-student-teachers-kind-gender.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-tracking-online-speech-real-world-events.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-multipronged-approach-combat-intimate-partner.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-key-weathering-rapid-sea-level-massachusetts.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-strong-political-action-millionaires-enormous.html LOOK OUT ELON
How to talk science
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-uk-survey-potential-pitfalls-science.html
Cool 3D prints
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-chaos-3d.html
language as sculpture
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-endangered-languages-3d.html
https://phys.org/news/2023-01-yall-slow-speaking-states-survey-language.html
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-music-stressful-boost-mood-stress.html