SpaceX launch of NASA exoplanet hunting telescope TESS scrubbed
Readers!
For many reasons, mostly political but partly ethical, I do not use Google, Facebook, Twitter. They practice corrupt business policies, while targeting conservative websites for censoring, facts repeatedly confirmed by news stories and by my sense that Facebook has taken action to prevent my readers from recommending Behind the Black to their friends.
Thus, I must have your direct support to keep this webpage alive. Not only does the money pay the bills, it gives me the freedom to speak honestly about science and culture, instead of being forced to write it as others demand.
Please consider donating by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via paypal:
If Paypal doesn't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
SpaceX today scrubbed the launch of NASA’s TESS space telescope, designed to look for transiting exoplanets orbiting the sky’s brightest stars.
The reasons for the scrub have not yet been announced, but the company says it is aiming for a new launch date on April 18.
Readers!
For many reasons, mostly political but partly ethical, I do not use Google, Facebook, Twitter. They practice corrupt business policies, while targeting conservative websites for censoring, facts repeatedly confirmed by news stories and by my sense that Facebook has taken action to prevent my readers from recommending Behind the Black to their friends.
Thus, I must have your direct support to keep this webpage alive. Not only does the money pay the bills, it gives me the freedom to speak honestly about science and culture, instead of being forced to write it as others demand.
For many reasons, mostly political but partly ethical, I do not use Google, Facebook, Twitter. They practice corrupt business policies, while targeting conservative websites for censoring, facts repeatedly confirmed by news stories and by my sense that Facebook has taken action to prevent my readers from recommending Behind the Black to their friends.
Thus, I must have your direct support to keep this webpage alive. Not only does the money pay the bills, it gives me the freedom to speak honestly about science and culture, instead of being forced to write it as others demand.
Please consider donating by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via paypal:
If Paypal doesn't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
SpaceX today scrubbed the launch of NASA’s TESS space telescope, designed to look for transiting exoplanets orbiting the sky’s brightest stars.
The reasons for the scrub have not yet been announced, but the company says it is aiming for a new launch date on April 18.
Stand down was due to “conducting additional GNC analysis.”, according to the tweeter.
Speaking of the tweeters, Elon Musk threw these teases out on the 15th.
“This is gonna sound crazy, but …”
“SpaceX will try to bring rocket upper stage back from orbital velocity using a giant party balloon”
“And then land on a bouncy house”
It sounds to me that they are going to attempt reentry with a ballute, translate to a gps guided parachute and attempt to land on a field of airbags (ala “The Fall Guy”). A fairly low-mass reentry method, but risky.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/985654333860601856
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/985655249745592320
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/985684755877265408
It’s worth noting that Mr. Musk didn’t indicate when the first upper stage recovery attempt will be, but it will certainly not be with TESS, where the upper stage will conduct a post-separation disposal burn putting it into a hyperbolic trajectory which will escape Earth orbit and enter an Earth-crossing heliocentric orbit.