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.
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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.
The support of my readers through the years has given 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. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in this year has the propaganda mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
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. Even today NASA and Congress refuse to 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.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five 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:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
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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.