March 6, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- Branson pumps another $5 million into Virgin Orbit
Branson has now invested $60 million in Virgin Orbit since November 2022 in order to keep the company above water because delays with licensing at the UK bureaucracy prevented it from doing further launches in 2022. No launches, no revenue. And we now know for sure this is his reason, because his investment deal allows him to pull that money out at any time. Expect him to do so once Virgin Orbit begins flying again and making money.
- The Ukraine disputes ESA’s finding that its nozzles caused Vega-C launch failure
The Ukrainian space agency says ESA’s finding was premature and require further investigation. This conclusion might even be correct, in that ESA desperately needs to get its Vega rockets flying again with Ariane 6 not yet ready and Ariane 5 about to be retired.
- Ispace touts new liquid-fueled engine and new rocket variations
Since this company has had three straight launch failures with its solid-fueled rocket, it seems there is a lot of fantasy in this PR.
- China officially approves Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission
After dropping off its sample return capsule to Earth the spacecraft will then head to visit a comet.
- Agreement not yet reached between NASA and Roscosmos on additional astronaut barter flights
The original agreement covered only two flights, two Americans on two Soyuz flights and two Russians on two Dragon flights, and has now been completed. It is expected however that this deal will be extended.
- NASA shifts away from flying astronauts on suborbital flights of Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic
This decision is for lots of reasons, many related to safety and training needs. For example, these suborbital companies do not require flight suits, something NASA astronauts must wear. Thus, doing flights without the suits is somewhat pointless.
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.
- Branson pumps another $5 million into Virgin Orbit
Branson has now invested $60 million in Virgin Orbit since November 2022 in order to keep the company above water because delays with licensing at the UK bureaucracy prevented it from doing further launches in 2022. No launches, no revenue. And we now know for sure this is his reason, because his investment deal allows him to pull that money out at any time. Expect him to do so once Virgin Orbit begins flying again and making money.
- The Ukraine disputes ESA’s finding that its nozzles caused Vega-C launch failure
The Ukrainian space agency says ESA’s finding was premature and require further investigation. This conclusion might even be correct, in that ESA desperately needs to get its Vega rockets flying again with Ariane 6 not yet ready and Ariane 5 about to be retired.
- Ispace touts new liquid-fueled engine and new rocket variations
Since this company has had three straight launch failures with its solid-fueled rocket, it seems there is a lot of fantasy in this PR.
- China officially approves Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission
After dropping off its sample return capsule to Earth the spacecraft will then head to visit a comet.
- Agreement not yet reached between NASA and Roscosmos on additional astronaut barter flights
The original agreement covered only two flights, two Americans on two Soyuz flights and two Russians on two Dragon flights, and has now been completed. It is expected however that this deal will be extended.
- NASA shifts away from flying astronauts on suborbital flights of Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic
This decision is for lots of reasons, many related to safety and training needs. For example, these suborbital companies do not require flight suits, something NASA astronauts must wear. Thus, doing flights without the suits is somewhat pointless.
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
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