September 30, 2024 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. 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.
- Kennedy spaceport preparing new launchpad for “small-lift launch vehicles”
The launchpad is being designed to have common use infrastructure for multiple companies.
- Australian rocket startup Gilmour Space completes dress rehearsal countdown of its Eris rocket
The countdown stopped at T-10 seconds. They are getting ready for the first test orbital launch off the eastern coast of Australia.
- Honeybee Robotics completes thermal testing of its vertical solar panel system
The concept is to deploy on the lunar surface to provide a power grid for all operations.
- NASA inspector general to conduct an investigation into the agency’s commercial crew program
In a sane world you would assume this investigation is prompted by the problems with Starliner, but we don’t live in a sane world. It is just as likely that the knives are also out for SpaceX.
- China holds a conference to discuss lunar rover “off-road technologies”
Consider it a workshop for the people designing the manned rovers China will deploy on the lunar surface when it begins landing people there in the 2030s.
- This week in 2022 Juno did the closest fly-by of the Jupiter moon Europa in two decades
See this 2022 post for details of the fly-by. See this 2023 post and this 2024 post for what the scientists learned, and this second 2024 post for a contrary conclusion.
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. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
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. 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.
- Kennedy spaceport preparing new launchpad for “small-lift launch vehicles”
The launchpad is being designed to have common use infrastructure for multiple companies.
- Australian rocket startup Gilmour Space completes dress rehearsal countdown of its Eris rocket
The countdown stopped at T-10 seconds. They are getting ready for the first test orbital launch off the eastern coast of Australia.
- Honeybee Robotics completes thermal testing of its vertical solar panel system
The concept is to deploy on the lunar surface to provide a power grid for all operations.
- NASA inspector general to conduct an investigation into the agency’s commercial crew program
In a sane world you would assume this investigation is prompted by the problems with Starliner, but we don’t live in a sane world. It is just as likely that the knives are also out for SpaceX.
- China holds a conference to discuss lunar rover “off-road technologies”
Consider it a workshop for the people designing the manned rovers China will deploy on the lunar surface when it begins landing people there in the 2030s.
- This week in 2022 Juno did the closest fly-by of the Jupiter moon Europa in two decades
See this 2022 post for details of the fly-by. See this 2023 post and this 2024 post for what the scientists learned, and this second 2024 post for a contrary conclusion.
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. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. 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
That “common use” launch pad seems like a good idea at first, but as you pointed out with ESA doing the same thing, the devil will be in the details on just how adaptable those standard interfaces are. If, for example, the fuel and support gantries are somewhat adjustable for where they attach, and have the possibility of the parts that actually come into interface with the rocket being swapped out quickly, then this is a good thing. But if it is instead “your rocket must be this tall, this wide, and have mating points of this type at this location”, well then, not so much.
The 15 minute burn of a Raptor means you could do stage-and-half.
“Persia, Say Goodbye”
https://youtu.be/XSl0W-NsL98
(3:10)
“Trump says he’s spoken to Musk about getting Starlink for areas damaged by Helene”
“Trump visited Valdosta, Ga., where he toured storm damage and expressed support for those dealing with the aftermath. The former president indicated he would also visit North Carolina, which was battered by the hurricane in recent days as well.”
“‘I just spoke to Elon … we want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. Elon will always come through. We know that,’ Trump added.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4907620-trump-musk-starlink-hurricane/
WRT the 15 minute Raptor test, I wonder if it broke or if they simply rran out of fuel to keep going?
Arrow-3 Missile Defense System
(range: 1000 KM,)
https://youtu.be/JXz85MNVQ6o
8:13
No private company would base a business on a common infrastucture launch pad but it is an idea that is so crazy it just might work. If there are people with cash to burn and a desire to build a rocket the NASAPAD might just push them to scratch that itch.
Having a common strap on abort destruct system would be nice to help wildcat devices get a chance.