Orbital Sciences restarts engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket
Orbital Sciences has resumed engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket.
While many have doubts about SpaceX, SpaceX has at least flown two successful flights of its Falcon 9 rocket. Orbital needs the Taurus 2 to supply ISS, and this rocket remains untested and as yet incomplete, with the schedule bearing down on them.
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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. 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
Orbital Sciences has resumed engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket.
While many have doubts about SpaceX, SpaceX has at least flown two successful flights of its Falcon 9 rocket. Orbital needs the Taurus 2 to supply ISS, and this rocket remains untested and as yet incomplete, with the schedule bearing down on them.
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 or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. 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
Space X is now about two years behind schedule for delivering payload to the ISS (under the COTS program) with their next test flight scheduled for January (Remember – unlike the much maligned Constellation Systems – the COTS program got every penny promised it by the government).
I guess that their only remaining COTS competitor is even further behind schedule could be construed as good for Space X. However, I do not see how it can be considered good news for the United States, NASA, the ISS and especially ‘Commercial Space’.
joe, obviously you are consumed by the fairy book story presented by the higher-ups that the once scheduled Constellation Program and the sponsoring of private interests along with the now proposed Liberty Program. These birds will never fly. Ever. they are an avenue for the funneling of tax dollars into a project that the public Has Not Seen. each of these programs have a project window of 7-10yrs from now.
Yes Wade, that is me Fairy Tales all the way (why do you guys always feel you have to resort to insults to try to make your points?)
If you do not believe that Space X is running two years behind schedule (while having received all the money they were promised) you can find the COTS scheduling documents on line. The next Falcon 9/Dragon test flight (now tentatively scheduled for December 2011) was originally set for November 2009.
If you do not believe that Constellation Systems got less than originally promised look up the original planning and authorization documents and then look at the actual appropriations.
The difference is that SpaceX does’nt get more money if they split from their schedule. They have to come up with there own money to complete what they signed up for.
They also got an order of magnitude less money than Constellation. ISS cargo resupply was not prioritized greatly, and it would be a challenge to come up with a more promptly timed resupply system for the amount of money allocated to COTS and under its terms, which was to create a redundant domestic supply line.
“The difference is that SpaceX does’nt get more money if they split from their schedule.”
Neither did Constellation Systems. They got cancelled.
“They have to come up with there own money to complete what they signed up for.”
Here is hoping they eventually live up to what “they signed up for”. They are more than two years behind schedule and they have not yet.
Under the COTS program they also got a smaller task, delivery of cargo to the ISS. Constellation Systems had:
– Delivery of Cargo to the ISS.
– Delivery of Crew to the ISS.
– Delivery of Cargo to the Moon.
– Delivery of Crew to the Moon.
– Eventual support of crewed Martian missions.
At least SpaceX contract is not cancel, so there still hope they will succeed. Unlike Constellation.