June 13, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Some cumulative statistics for SpaceX’s various smallsat Transporter and rideshare launches
The total launches is 17, which have put up 676 satellites in total. To get a sense of the increasing pace of SpaceX launches, see this animation.
- ULA CEO Tori Bruno claims the root cause of the Centaur test explosion has finally been identified
He says in a followup tweet that “the super thin, high performance steel skin needs to be a little thicker near the top of the dome.” They plan to retest, which I suspect is going to impact the first Vulcan launch date.
- China breaks ground on third launchpad at its Wenchang coastal spaceport for its pseudo-companies
This pad is aimed at servicing “small solid rockets”, essentially former missiles that China has allowed its pseudo-companies to adapt for satellite launches.
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.
- Some cumulative statistics for SpaceX’s various smallsat Transporter and rideshare launches
The total launches is 17, which have put up 676 satellites in total. To get a sense of the increasing pace of SpaceX launches, see this animation.
- ULA CEO Tori Bruno claims the root cause of the Centaur test explosion has finally been identified
He says in a followup tweet that “the super thin, high performance steel skin needs to be a little thicker near the top of the dome.” They plan to retest, which I suspect is going to impact the first Vulcan launch date.
- China breaks ground on third launchpad at its Wenchang coastal spaceport for its pseudo-companies
This pad is aimed at servicing “small solid rockets”, essentially former missiles that China has allowed its pseudo-companies to adapt for satellite launches.
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
Down right inexcusable having too thin a skin on the Centaur tank.
How the heck did that happen?
That’s the real root cause.
Some good news for your “cancelled” series.
White Starbucks manager fired after arrest of two black men wins $25M lawsuit
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/white-starbucks-manager-fired-after-arrest-of-two-black-men-wins-25m-lawsuit/ar-AA1cypJG
Pawn–the Centaur–like the (original) Atlas–uses balloon tanks:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_tank
These things cannot even support their own weight unless pressurized:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imkdz63agHY
SLS doesn’t. It has to be very strong to withstand SRBs. The tank itself–like the shuttle ET, is load bearing. It is why I want a wet workshop out of it.
Starship is sort of half-and half.