July 18, 2024 Quick space linksCourtesy 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.
- Vaya and Scorpius sign deal to work together to build cryogenic oxidizer tank
Lots of blather in the press release, with little concrete information.
- Blue Origin releases video of test deployment of New Glenn’s first stage landing legs
Unlike the Falcon 9’s four legs, New Glenn will have six, and they are stored inside the stage until deployment.
- Rocket Lab touts the production line of HASTE, the suborbital version of its Electron rocket
The picture shows at least seven stages, but only two have the “HASTE” logo, so it isn’t clear how many are for suborbital or orbital flights.
- China touts test success of “key cabin segment” of Lijiuan-2 (Kinetica-2) liquid-fueled rocket
I have no idea from this tweet what exactly they did or tested.
- Today in 1966 John Young and Michael Collins launched on Gemini 10
This mission completed the first entirely successful docking, followed by a rendezvous with a second target spacecraft. Gemini 8 had docked but had to abort shortly thereafter due to out-of-control thruster, and Gemini 9 couldn’t dock because the shroud did not release properly from the target spacecraft.
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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. 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.
- Vaya and Scorpius sign deal to work together to build cryogenic oxidizer tank
Lots of blather in the press release, with little concrete information.
- Blue Origin releases video of test deployment of New Glenn’s first stage landing legs
Unlike the Falcon 9’s four legs, New Glenn will have six, and they are stored inside the stage until deployment.
- Rocket Lab touts the production line of HASTE, the suborbital version of its Electron rocket
The picture shows at least seven stages, but only two have the “HASTE” logo, so it isn’t clear how many are for suborbital or orbital flights.
- China touts test success of “key cabin segment” of Lijiuan-2 (Kinetica-2) liquid-fueled rocket
I have no idea from this tweet what exactly they did or tested.
- Today in 1966 John Young and Michael Collins launched on Gemini 10
This mission completed the first entirely successful docking, followed by a rendezvous with a second target spacecraft. Gemini 8 had docked but had to abort shortly thereafter due to out-of-control thruster, and Gemini 9 couldn’t dock because the shroud did not release properly from the target spacecraft.
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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. 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
In that Rocket Lab photo, I count nine first stage and 6 second stage parts. It looks like in the back of the photo they have components for two complete rockets lined up for integration. Lots of work going on in that not very large production floor.
From the way those Blue Origin legs kind of flapped down and then stiffened during the last stage of their deployment, it looks like they’ve made them relatively complex. Good for getting them into a small spot for stowage out of the air stream, but I bet it comes back to bite them on reliability and/or speed of re-use.
Those legs do look overly complex and I can not see a point of shock absorbing in the design.
But I was thinking that those big covers could double as a form of guidance for the craft. Sort of like the grid fins on the Falcon 9.
It would take individual control of each leg but it might save on engine tilt/gimbaling.
It takes 8 to 9 seconds to get them deployed. Falcon looks like 4 to 5.
It may not seem important, but Falcon only deploys them in the final few hundred feet.
I have always assumed they wait for when legs will have minimal aerodynamic effect and not create as a small change the direction of the rocket on final approach. A small change higher from the ground could have big results. And, also, because at faster speeds, the leg shrouds would have to fight the air pressure to deploy. Again, these are assumptions. If someone has more data or documentation, I would love to see it.
In some ways the BO system looks closer to aircraft landing gear. That stiffening at the end looks (appearance only) like it happens when the hydraulic ram in the lower half fills, acting as a lock. Depending on speed at deployment, I hope those little top flats are resilient for the air they are going to catch air.
great info