SpaceX launches spy satellite using new first stage
Capitalism in space: SpaceX today successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base a National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite .
What made this launch unusual was that it used a new first stage, only the third time SpaceX has done so since the beginning of 2020. Last year, of 31 launches all but two used a used first stage. This new first stage landed successfully at Vandenberg.
5 SpaceX
2 China
1 Virgin Orbit
1 ULA
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX today successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base a National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite .
What made this launch unusual was that it used a new first stage, only the third time SpaceX has done so since the beginning of 2020. Last year, of 31 launches all but two used a used first stage. This new first stage landed successfully at Vandenberg.
5 SpaceX
2 China
1 Virgin Orbit
1 ULA
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID 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. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four 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 or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed 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 or shown in the menu above.
They mentioned on the webcast that this booster will be used next for another NROL launch. Wonder if they are ‘booking’ a fleet of their own, for their own launches. Not sure what that would add or help, but whatever.
Bet SpaceX would paint it a custom colour if they asked for it as well.
Starlink launch today at 6:11 pm (Eastern). This will be the first ever back-to-back launches in one day, for the US. (Russians have done this three times, back in Soviet days.)
Makes me wonder what’s going on in Hawthorne. Lots of Raptor parts in the pipeline I’m sure.
I think the Starlink launch has been pushed back a day, Diane. Would have been cool, though!
OT but I’m not seeing much on the space sites about the discovery of a 1 km wide asteroid at L4. This is potentially huge.
https://phys.org/news/2022-02-team-earth-trojan-asteroid.html
The Starlink 4-7 launch has indeed been kicked back to tomorrow (Feb 3) afternoon – at 1813 GMT, looks like.
Mike you are quite right. I hope it is a nickle iron. Perfect for JASON OF STAR COMMAND!
If Space X is really going to Mars or even the Moon they will have to manufacture all the environmental support systems they will ever need.
I bet they at least have everything on paper. No final designs but good ideas being worked out.
They might do what almost all other companies have done and just buy out a smaller company that can do it already.
Sorry wrong thread
Diane E Wilson: back in the Gemini program, on more than one occasion US launched Atlas/Agena followed 90 min later by Titan/Gemini. So it’s been done before.
Still, kudos to SpaceX for rapid response!
If SpaceX can get the Starlink launch off today, it will still be 3 launches over 4 days, which is still mighty impressive by any existing standard.
Some (many?) astronomers have declared war on SpaceX and Musk
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/astronomers-create-new-global-force-to-stop-elon-musk-s-internet-satellites-hiding-killer-asteroids/ar-AATyB1U?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531
Comments online are almost universally anti-Musk (mainly objecting that his wealth allows him to do as he wants in space. Envy, much, people?)
Of course, there’s the obvious solution staring them in the face – astronomy needs to go to space. Yes, it will be disruptive and will render most ground based observatories obsolete museum pieces, but that’s the cost of progress. Sorry if it disrupts your nice comfortable life – but that’s the Tech Paradigm, “Move fast and break things” Why should you be any better than thousands upon thousands of other people (brick and mortar stores, for example) whose lives have been disrupted by tech innovation?
Col Beausabre: You remind me that I need to cover this effort by astronomers to use force and government to continue to live in the past. I will likely post today.
And Lex Luthor ain’t doin’ much better
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/nearly-3-000-dutch-people-vow-to-throw-rotten-eggs-at-jeff-bezo-s-mega-yacht/ar-AATzgxs?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531
Of course, how many people earned their pay checks from building the big floaty thing seems to be ignored. It’s also a bit odd that there’s no anger at the shipyard that bid on the contract knowing it wouldn’t fit under the bridge. It seems the ship builder thought they could steam roll the local people and government – wrongo, Buffalo Breath!
There is an obvious solution. Bezos gets his mega-yacht and it stays in Rotterdam. He can stay on board any time he visits that lovely city.