October 17, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who trolls twitter so we don’t have to.
- Ariane-6 mock-up fully-stacked on its launchpad in French Guiana for tests
They are testing operations for stacking the rocket on the pad.
- Rocket Lab to provide solar panels for NASA’s next generation of shoebox-sized lunar rovers
The goal is to launch a group of these to cover a wider area of exploration, for less money. Launch date is ’27 at the earliest.
- Video of astronaut CAI Xuzhe’s living quarters in Wentian Laboratory Module
China it appears wisely included tiny closet-sized cubicles in its station modules, something that — as far as I know — was left out of ISS. Good for China in this at least! It is treating its astronauts with some respect.
- Astra wins contract to provide engines for Astroscale’s ELSA-M orbital tug
Good news for Astra, since it has left the launch market — temporarily it claims — and its stock has plummeted in value.
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:
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who trolls twitter so we don’t have to.
- Ariane-6 mock-up fully-stacked on its launchpad in French Guiana for tests
They are testing operations for stacking the rocket on the pad.
- Rocket Lab to provide solar panels for NASA’s next generation of shoebox-sized lunar rovers
The goal is to launch a group of these to cover a wider area of exploration, for less money. Launch date is ’27 at the earliest.
- Video of astronaut CAI Xuzhe’s living quarters in Wentian Laboratory Module
China it appears wisely included tiny closet-sized cubicles in its station modules, something that — as far as I know — was left out of ISS. Good for China in this at least! It is treating its astronauts with some respect.
- Astra wins contract to provide engines for Astroscale’s ELSA-M orbital tug
Good news for Astra, since it has left the launch market — temporarily it claims — and its stock has plummeted in value.
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.
I’m glad Rocket Lab is providing solar panels on these projects. Kinda wish they’d answer my emails asking about them for my company’s satellites. Guess they don’t need the business.
Joe: This does NOT reflect well on Rocket Lab. Ignoring any potential customer is utterly stupid, and suggests something is very wrong somewhere within the company.
“Good for China in this at least! It is treating its astronauts with some respect.”
Oh, this is way too easy. Fish in a barrel ain’t in it.
Insert observations on Chinese citizens, and anyone downrange of a Chinese rocket launch.
ISS has several sleeping cubicles/crew cabins.
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_sleeping