July 25, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Sierra Space used gold composite aluminum foil on interior of first Dream Chaser, Tenacity
The foil acts to prevent oxygen from leaking out.
- ULA CEO outlines planned schedule for first three Vulcan launches
He says, the first in the fourth quarter 2023, the second in the first half of 2024, and the third in second half of 2024. The first two flights are necessary before the military will certify Vulcan for its launches. Since the military is ULA’s biggest customer, it desperately needs those very delayed launches to fly as soon as possible.
- SpaceX has recently completed propellant load tests on Superheavy boosters #9 and #10
#9 is planned for the orbital test, targeting August but likely delayed by the FAA.
- Falcon Heavy passes launch readiness review, now targeting July 26th launch
Lift-off is set for 11:04 pm (Eastern).
- Kazakhstan delays any Russian Soyuz-5 launches from proposed Baiterek launchpad two years until ’25
The paperwork suggests the delay is due to “a difficult geopolitical situation in the world.” Without the launchpad Russia has no place to launch its proposed Soyuz-5, intended as a replacement for its Proton rocket.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. 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.
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Sierra Space used gold composite aluminum foil on interior of first Dream Chaser, Tenacity
The foil acts to prevent oxygen from leaking out.
- ULA CEO outlines planned schedule for first three Vulcan launches
He says, the first in the fourth quarter 2023, the second in the first half of 2024, and the third in second half of 2024. The first two flights are necessary before the military will certify Vulcan for its launches. Since the military is ULA’s biggest customer, it desperately needs those very delayed launches to fly as soon as possible.
- SpaceX has recently completed propellant load tests on Superheavy boosters #9 and #10
#9 is planned for the orbital test, targeting August but likely delayed by the FAA.
- Falcon Heavy passes launch readiness review, now targeting July 26th launch
Lift-off is set for 11:04 pm (Eastern).
- Kazakhstan delays any Russian Soyuz-5 launches from proposed Baiterek launchpad two years until ’25
The paperwork suggests the delay is due to “a difficult geopolitical situation in the world.” Without the launchpad Russia has no place to launch its proposed Soyuz-5, intended as a replacement for its Proton rocket.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. 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.
”He says, the first in the fourth quarter 2023, the second in the first half…”
quarter
”…of 2024, and the third in second half…”
quarter
”…of 2024.”
”Without the launchpad Russia has no place to launch its proposed Soyuz-5, intended as a replacement for its Proton…”
Zenit
”…rocket.”
Anyone think the CIA is behind the “difficult” situation in Kazakhstan?
SpaceX says the Falcon Heavy launch window opens at 11:04 pm.
Thanks for the update Calvin!