September 11, 2024 Quick space links
As BtB’s stringer Jay is on a work trip this week, reader Gary volunteered to send me some links. 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.
- Chinese pseudo-company Landspace completes 10-kilometer vertical take-off and landing of a first stage prototype
The test rocket is a single engine smaller version of its Zhuque-3 orbital rocket’s first stage, and like SpaceX’s Grasshopper test vehicle, provides the engineers the test data needed to build the full scale reusable rocket. This video indicates the pseudo-company is getting close to success.
- Stennis makes deal with Sidus Space to continue operations of its test payload in orbit
Sidus has a smallsat in orbit, and Stennis’s payload is part of it.
- Video of on-going tests of SpaceX’s tower chopsticks intended to catch Superheavy at landing
The tweet notes that this test was “the fastest the chopsticks have closed in the catch position on the tower so far.”
- Blue Origin official says it will do a static fire test of New Glenn’s upper stage this week
The official also said the first static fire test of New Glenn’s first stage, with all seven BE-4 engines, will happen “in the near future.”
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
As BtB’s stringer Jay is on a work trip this week, reader Gary volunteered to send me some links. 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.
- Chinese pseudo-company Landspace completes 10-kilometer vertical take-off and landing of a first stage prototype
The test rocket is a single engine smaller version of its Zhuque-3 orbital rocket’s first stage, and like SpaceX’s Grasshopper test vehicle, provides the engineers the test data needed to build the full scale reusable rocket. This video indicates the pseudo-company is getting close to success.
- Stennis makes deal with Sidus Space to continue operations of its test payload in orbit
Sidus has a smallsat in orbit, and Stennis’s payload is part of it.
- Video of on-going tests of SpaceX’s tower chopsticks intended to catch Superheavy at landing
The tweet notes that this test was “the fastest the chopsticks have closed in the catch position on the tower so far.”
- Blue Origin official says it will do a static fire test of New Glenn’s upper stage this week
The official also said the first static fire test of New Glenn’s first stage, with all seven BE-4 engines, will happen “in the near future.”
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
Joe Rogan Experience #2201
Dr. Robert Epstein (9-11-24)
https://youtu.be/Azu8XnZdxeA
(2:38:55)
a new task for SpaceX’s chopsticks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeLuUyAl6kY
SpaceX now controls two-thirds of all active satellites in orbit
And Elon’s highlighting of this just happened to precede this development today: “In calling for more competition in the space economy, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel takes issue with SpaceX controlling about two-thirds of the satellites in Earth’s orbit.”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-chair-encourages-satellite-internet-competition-hints-starlink-is-a
Rosenworcel is, of course, a Biden appointee.
All of us here favor competition, of course; that is the whole point of having a free market. But one does wonder if this newly found zeal for a competitive market in low latency satellite internet would have been found so quickly if the man with the nascent monopoly had not suddenly become a large and vocal donor to the Trump campaign.
“SpaceX now controls two-thirds of all active satellites in orbit”
But, are other constellation operators about to accomplish similar results with fewer satellites? It is the finding of efficiencies that brings profits, and those profits are the reward for finding efficiencies.
______________
“… the fastest the chopsticks have closed in the catch position on the tower so far.”
It looked like 4 seconds to close and an additional four seconds to stop the major vibration. I would recommend a slower closure rate at the end of the stroke, a little like modern door closers. It may take five or six seconds to close the chopsticks, but the reduced transient vibration may be worth the additional time.
How wide open do the chopsticks need to be, because if the rocket is too far away from the targeted region, the chopsticks are going to hit hard and bat the rocket around like a baseball off a bat.
Polaris Dawn astronauts out and about…
Edward:
how about—
“SpaceX Has Built & Launched 2/3’s of all Satellites Currently in Orbit”
-We should give Musk a Medal,
Jeff–
watching the replay right now.
Question: What sort of temperatures are they being subjected to? Inside and outside.