May 8, 2025 Quick space links
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.
This is late because I was stuck in a doctor’s office for an extra two hours because the idiots misplaced my file. (Ain’t it great how Obamacare digitized all medical records so they would never get lost?)
- Startup Interlune unveils fullscale prototype of its planned lunar excavator
The company also announced it has a contract with the Department of Energy to deliver lunar helium-3 to the agency by April 2029. Exciting, but it all relies on Starship getting built and flying.
- French article [translated by Google] says China has abandoned its plan to send Tianwen-4 to Uranus after flying past Jupiter; Instead it will focus on Jupiter’s moon Calisto
Target launch date is 2030.
- Long March 12 launch scrubbed, rocket rolled back to assembly building
Jay says there are rumors it had “failures during fueling.”
- Updated prediction for uncontrolled re-entry of 1972 Soviet Venera lander now targets May 10th
The margin of error is still large, almost 9 hours before or after, which essentially means there is as yet no way to predict where it will fall.
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. 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.
This is late because I was stuck in a doctor’s office for an extra two hours because the idiots misplaced my file. (Ain’t it great how Obamacare digitized all medical records so they would never get lost?)
- Startup Interlune unveils fullscale prototype of its planned lunar excavator
The company also announced it has a contract with the Department of Energy to deliver lunar helium-3 to the agency by April 2029. Exciting, but it all relies on Starship getting built and flying.
- French article [translated by Google] says China has abandoned its plan to send Tianwen-4 to Uranus after flying past Jupiter; Instead it will focus on Jupiter’s moon Calisto
Target launch date is 2030.
- Long March 12 launch scrubbed, rocket rolled back to assembly building
Jay says there are rumors it had “failures during fueling.”
- Updated prediction for uncontrolled re-entry of 1972 Soviet Venera lander now targets May 10th
The margin of error is still large, almost 9 hours before or after, which essentially means there is as yet no way to predict where it will fall.
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
Caterpillar used to have some lunar art–back before everything went Komatsu
On Thursday U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a new U.S. air traffic control system.
“Overview
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces a rapidly growing, complex and demanding aviation sector, with commercial air travel returning to pre-COVID levels and new entrants, including drones, advanced air mobility, and commercial space. The air traffic control system is based on outdated technologies that are unable to meet these demands. The system is showing its age – which leads to delays and inefficiencies.”
“This proposal seeks to transform the United States’ air traffic control system from its antiquated system to a modern system capable of meeting the demands of today and the future. This proposal will build a new, state of the art, air traffic control system that will enhance the safety and efficiency of our national airspace. ”
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2025-05/Brand%20New%20Air%20Traffic%20Control%20System%20Summary.pdf
*
“The plan is comprised of four infrastructure components:
1. Communications
2. Surveillance
3. Automation
4. Facilities”
“Critical actions include:
• Replacing antiquated telecommunications: with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at over 4,600 sites, 25,000 new radios and 475 new voice switches.
• Replacing 618 radars which have gone past their life cycle.
• Addressing runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) to 200.
• Building six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s and replacing towers and TRACONs.
• Installing new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities to create a common platform system throughout towers, TRACONs and centers.
• Addressing the challenges that face Alaska by adding 174 new weather stations. ”
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-plan-build-brand-new-state-art-air
Other space links
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/astronomy-and-planetary-science-thread.36194/page-50#post-782115