July 18, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who acts as a second pair of eyes to make sure we don’t miss anything.
- Insurance rep says Viasat’s $420 million claim for satellite failure will impact other customers
In plain English, insurance companies might have to raise rates to satellite companies to cover Viasat’s claim, an entirely ordinary situation when it comes to satellite insurance.
- Video of NASA press conference in advance of the last Antares/Cygnus launch using Russian engines
The launch date is presently August 1, 2023 at 8:30 pm (Eastern). After this launch Northrop Grumman will not be able to launch an Antares rocket until it gets new engines and first stage from Firefly. In the meantime it will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to launch three Cygnus capsules to ISS.
- Another Chinese pseudo-company, Nayuta Space, proposes a methane rocket dubbed “Space Chaser-1”
The company also claims it will have a reusable suborbital launcher that sounds awfully like New Shepard, with variations.
- A new “ultra-high-speed” wind tunnel in China
It appears designed above all to simulate conditions needed for the hypersonic testing.
- Video of first test of SpaceX’s Superheavy launchpad deluge system
It was a partial test, but indicates again that SpaceX will be ready for another Starship/Superheavy orbital test launch in August, as promised. Will the FAA? I remain doubtful.
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, who acts as a second pair of eyes to make sure we don’t miss anything.
- Insurance rep says Viasat’s $420 million claim for satellite failure will impact other customers
In plain English, insurance companies might have to raise rates to satellite companies to cover Viasat’s claim, an entirely ordinary situation when it comes to satellite insurance.
- Video of NASA press conference in advance of the last Antares/Cygnus launch using Russian engines
The launch date is presently August 1, 2023 at 8:30 pm (Eastern). After this launch Northrop Grumman will not be able to launch an Antares rocket until it gets new engines and first stage from Firefly. In the meantime it will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to launch three Cygnus capsules to ISS.
- Another Chinese pseudo-company, Nayuta Space, proposes a methane rocket dubbed “Space Chaser-1”
The company also claims it will have a reusable suborbital launcher that sounds awfully like New Shepard, with variations.
- A new “ultra-high-speed” wind tunnel in China
It appears designed above all to simulate conditions needed for the hypersonic testing.
- Video of first test of SpaceX’s Superheavy launchpad deluge system
It was a partial test, but indicates again that SpaceX will be ready for another Starship/Superheavy orbital test launch in August, as promised. Will the FAA? I remain doubtful.
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
I searched for articles with more detail on the Viasat problem, especially to see any mention of a repair robot. Probably too early for that and maybe too expensive, although it would be a cool kind of x prize.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/07/viasats-new-broadband-satellite-could-be-a-total-loss/