November 30, 2023 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.
- OneWeb says it is about to provide broadband services to South Africa
The story at the link is unclear about when this will begin, and whether OneWeb has gotten government approval.
- Space Force touts its fleet of two X-37Bs, with one about to take off on the program’s 7th flight
The launch is presently scheduled for December 10, 2023 on a Falcon Heavy.
- Progress has undocked from ISS in preparation for new freighter launching tomorrow
The old Progess was sent to burn up over the Pacific today.
- Video by a spectator of a Long March 3B launch, from amazingly nearby
From the videographer: ” I could literally taste the hypergolic fuel.”
And I believe him.
- Environmental testing of Sierra Space’s Shooting Star cargo capsule has begun
The tests are designed to make sure it can survive launch and space. It will launch as part of the first launch Sierra’s Tenacity Dream Chaser mini-shuttle, set to launch next year.
- Today is the anniversy of the last manned mission of the 20th century, a shuttle flight to ISS
The mission delivered new upgraded solar panels to the station.
- Former shuttle astronaut Mary Cleve has passed away at 76
She flew two missions, in 1985 and 1989.
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.
- OneWeb says it is about to provide broadband services to South Africa
The story at the link is unclear about when this will begin, and whether OneWeb has gotten government approval.
- Space Force touts its fleet of two X-37Bs, with one about to take off on the program’s 7th flight
The launch is presently scheduled for December 10, 2023 on a Falcon Heavy.
- Progress has undocked from ISS in preparation for new freighter launching tomorrow
The old Progess was sent to burn up over the Pacific today.
- Video by a spectator of a Long March 3B launch, from amazingly nearby
From the videographer: ” I could literally taste the hypergolic fuel.”
And I believe him.
- Environmental testing of Sierra Space’s Shooting Star cargo capsule has begun
The tests are designed to make sure it can survive launch and space. It will launch as part of the first launch Sierra’s Tenacity Dream Chaser mini-shuttle, set to launch next year.
- Today is the anniversy of the last manned mission of the 20th century, a shuttle flight to ISS
The mission delivered new upgraded solar panels to the station.
- Former shuttle astronaut Mary Cleve has passed away at 76
She flew two missions, in 1985 and 1989.
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.
The Chinese are as proud of that as we were of Titan…they are the polar opposite of ESG Hound.
Good on em’.