January 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.
- Ingenuity’s use of off-the-shelf commercial products will be a game-changer for space engineering
The article provides a nice summary of Ingenuity’s overall future impact, but notes that its use of such products might be its biggest legacy. Their use would significantly reduce the cost of future government space probes, and based on its experience with the helicopter NASA might be more willing to accept their use in the future.
- Explosion heard yesterday in Shanghai was due to a test-to-failure tank test by a Chinese pseudo-company
At least, that is what China is telling us.
- China ignites and operates its first 50-kilowatt nested Hall thruster, proving the ability of two-ring ignition
Jay notes that the University of Michigan tested a 3-channel ion thruster some years ago, suggesting that though China has done good work here, it is still years behind.
- Weather looks good for Rocket Lab’s next launch tomorrow
Right now the launch is targeting a 1:15 am (Eastern) launch tonight. Live stream available here.
- On this date in 1964 Ranger 6 was launched, hitting the Moon as planned but failing to transmit any images during its plunge to the surface
It was the third spacecraft to impact the Moon, and the first in the Ranger program to do so. It wasn’t until Ranger 7 six months later that a mission succeeded in sending pictures back before crashing.
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.
- Ingenuity’s use of off-the-shelf commercial products will be a game-changer for space engineering
The article provides a nice summary of Ingenuity’s overall future impact, but notes that its use of such products might be its biggest legacy. Their use would significantly reduce the cost of future government space probes, and based on its experience with the helicopter NASA might be more willing to accept their use in the future.
- Explosion heard yesterday in Shanghai was due to a test-to-failure tank test by a Chinese pseudo-company
At least, that is what China is telling us.
- China ignites and operates its first 50-kilowatt nested Hall thruster, proving the ability of two-ring ignition
Jay notes that the University of Michigan tested a 3-channel ion thruster some years ago, suggesting that though China has done good work here, it is still years behind.
- Weather looks good for Rocket Lab’s next launch tomorrow
Right now the launch is targeting a 1:15 am (Eastern) launch tonight. Live stream available here.
- On this date in 1964 Ranger 6 was launched, hitting the Moon as planned but failing to transmit any images during its plunge to the surface
It was the third spacecraft to impact the Moon, and the first in the Ranger program to do so. It wasn’t until Ranger 7 six months later that a mission succeeded in sending pictures back before crashing.