July 17, 2024 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.
- SpaceX touts an artist’s illustration of its proposed ISS de-orbit spacecrat
The tweet notes the vehicle will have ” 6x more propellant and 4x the power of today’s Dragon spacecraft.”
- Rocket Factory Augsburg releases video of full duration static fire test of its rocket’s third stage engine
The test duplicated the two firings that would occur on the flight, with a 40 minute coasting phase in between. It is now ready for launch.
One thing I found fascinating was that the engineers doing the test did it in English, even though this is a German company working in Germany.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the 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. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
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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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.
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.
- SpaceX touts an artist’s illustration of its proposed ISS de-orbit spacecrat
- Rocket Factory Augsburg releases video of full duration static fire test of its rocket’s third stage engine
The tweet notes the vehicle will have ” 6x more propellant and 4x the power of today’s Dragon spacecraft.”
The test duplicated the two firings that would occur on the flight, with a 40 minute coasting phase in between. It is now ready for launch.
One thing I found fascinating was that the engineers doing the test did it in English, even though this is a German company working in Germany.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the 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. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
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.
I wonder if that hoss’ could make it to Gateway
You may already have seen this, but last evening, NASA announced it was cancelling VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover). Official reason: Cost overruns.
NASA press release: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/
Jeff Foust story at Space News: https://spacenews.com/nasa-cancels-viper-lunar-rover/
A lot of people in the lunar science community (and beyond) are deeply unhappy this morning. Homer Hickam, for example : “Of the awfulest ideas NASA has lately come up with, this is one of the awfulest.” https://x.com/realhomerhickam/status/1813625948299804904
One other item: “Space Policy in a Second Trump Term” with a number of observations from Greg Autry.
https://payloadspace.com/space-policy-in-a-second-trump-term/
English is what Europeans typically speak to one another when people from multiple European nations are involved in a project. RFA is a German company, but it won’t be launching exclusively for German clients. Also, RFA will be doing launches from Saxavord which is in Scotland where the natives speak a sort of English too.