June 27, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Virgin Galactic announces the passengers on its first commercial suborbital flight scheduled for June 29, 2023
This flight is only about two decades later than promised by the company’s founder Richard Branson, who very successfully pumped and dumped his stock before the price crashed. It certainly doesn’t rate a full post, since suborbital flights so relatively boring compared to the increasing number of orbital passenger flights taking place these days.
- The modifications to Vulcan’s upper stage due to the test explosion in March
They will have to destack the first Vulcan to make the changes, which will delay the first Vulcan launch an undisclosed amount, possibly months.
- Egypt and China partnership delivers first jointly built satellites
The two satellites, built in China, will be assembled, integrated, and tested in Egypt, using facilities built with Chinese funding. More here.
- ESA and European companies endorse “zero debris” policy for satellites and orbital spacecraft
According to this commitment, by 2030 no European satellites or spacecraft will launch without a plan to de-orbit or be removed by an orbital removal company.
- Astronomers think they have discovered the heaviest black hole ever, 30 billion times the mass of the Sun
All together now: “The uncertainty of science!”
- PLD delays its next suborbital launch attempt until the fall to avoid the risk of forest fires at its Spanish launch site
The last launch aborted less than a second before launch because the umblical lines did not detach as planned.
- India names its Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover Vikram and Pragyan, due to launch in mid-July
These are the same names given to the lander and rover on the failed Chandrayaan-2 mission.
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.
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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.
- Virgin Galactic announces the passengers on its first commercial suborbital flight scheduled for June 29, 2023
This flight is only about two decades later than promised by the company’s founder Richard Branson, who very successfully pumped and dumped his stock before the price crashed. It certainly doesn’t rate a full post, since suborbital flights so relatively boring compared to the increasing number of orbital passenger flights taking place these days.
- The modifications to Vulcan’s upper stage due to the test explosion in March
They will have to destack the first Vulcan to make the changes, which will delay the first Vulcan launch an undisclosed amount, possibly months.
- Egypt and China partnership delivers first jointly built satellites
The two satellites, built in China, will be assembled, integrated, and tested in Egypt, using facilities built with Chinese funding. More here.
- ESA and European companies endorse “zero debris” policy for satellites and orbital spacecraft
According to this commitment, by 2030 no European satellites or spacecraft will launch without a plan to de-orbit or be removed by an orbital removal company.
- Astronomers think they have discovered the heaviest black hole ever, 30 billion times the mass of the Sun
All together now: “The uncertainty of science!”
- PLD delays its next suborbital launch attempt until the fall to avoid the risk of forest fires at its Spanish launch site
The last launch aborted less than a second before launch because the umblical lines did not detach as planned.
- India names its Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover Vikram and Pragyan, due to launch in mid-July
These are the same names given to the lander and rover on the failed Chandrayaan-2 mission.
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.
Perhaps this is Virgin Galactic’s response to the recent tragedy with the Titan submersible as the space industry’s equivalent of getting back on the horse. Blue Origin is not yet ready for another flight, but Virgin Galactic is.