September 20, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, trolling Twitter so I don’t have to.
- Hollywood taps Blue Origin Orbital Reef project for movie of the future in space
Seems about Blue Origin’s speed, doing things in fantasy instead of reality.
- Bridgestone joins Sierra Space team designing lunar vehicle for astronauts
The team also includes Nissan, and is competing for a NASA contract.
- Launch for next Rocket Lab launch changed to October 6, New Zealand time
In the U.S. that launch will still occur on October 5th.
- Axiom awards contract to MDA for robotic parts for Axiom’s space station
I was under the impression that MDA had changed its name to Maxar, but I might be confusing different companies.
- Firefly delays launch dateof its Alpha rocket to September 30th, due to weather concerns
Weather has forced several delays. Hopefully all will work out for this date, and the company will get its first successful orbital launch.
- SLS tank test tomorrow
Engineers are still unsure what caused the hydrogen leak during the last launch attempt. In replacing seals they think a “mark” on one seal might have been the cause, but that theory is not certain. For this test and the later launch they will load hydrogen at a lower pressure to hopefully reduce the chance of another leak.
The actual launch date remains unconfirmed.
- Russia signs agreement with the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean to keep weapons out of space
Russia has apparently made this agreement with about 30 nations, most of which have no space program at all. Thus, it is all propaganda, an attempt to distract from Russia’s actual use of weapons in space to destroy a satellite in November 2021.
- Russia confirms Luna-23, part of its Glob planetary program, will not launch until July 2023
Luna-23, a quarter century in the making! Great work if you can get it.
- Space Force unveils its theme song
Hat tip to John Batchelor for this story. It illustrates how unserious a people we have become.
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 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
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, trolling Twitter so I don’t have to.
- Hollywood taps Blue Origin Orbital Reef project for movie of the future in space
- Bridgestone joins Sierra Space team designing lunar vehicle for astronauts
- Launch for next Rocket Lab launch changed to October 6, New Zealand time
- Axiom awards contract to MDA for robotic parts for Axiom’s space station
- Firefly delays launch dateof its Alpha rocket to September 30th, due to weather concerns
- SLS tank test tomorrow
- Russia signs agreement with the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean to keep weapons out of space
- Russia confirms Luna-23, part of its Glob planetary program, will not launch until July 2023
- Space Force unveils its theme song
Seems about Blue Origin’s speed, doing things in fantasy instead of reality.
The team also includes Nissan, and is competing for a NASA contract.
In the U.S. that launch will still occur on October 5th.
I was under the impression that MDA had changed its name to Maxar, but I might be confusing different companies.
Weather has forced several delays. Hopefully all will work out for this date, and the company will get its first successful orbital launch.
Engineers are still unsure what caused the hydrogen leak during the last launch attempt. In replacing seals they think a “mark” on one seal might have been the cause, but that theory is not certain. For this test and the later launch they will load hydrogen at a lower pressure to hopefully reduce the chance of another leak.
The actual launch date remains unconfirmed.
Russia has apparently made this agreement with about 30 nations, most of which have no space program at all. Thus, it is all propaganda, an attempt to distract from Russia’s actual use of weapons in space to destroy a satellite in November 2021.
Luna-23, a quarter century in the making! Great work if you can get it.
Hat tip to John Batchelor for this story. It illustrates how unserious a people we have become.
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 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
Readers: the rules for commenting!
No registration is required. I welcome all opinions, even those that strongly criticize my commentary.
However, name-calling and obscenities will not be tolerated. First time offenders who are new to the site will be warned. Second time offenders or first time offenders who have been here awhile will be suspended for a week. After that, I will ban you. Period.
Note also that first time commenters as well as any comment with more than one link will be placed in moderation for my approval. Be patient, I will get to it.