Behind The Black – Robert Zimmerman

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.

• Rocket engine builder Ursa Major to provide engines to Vector Launch

It is unclear if this Vector is the same Vector rocket startup that failed the first time because its own engines were underpowered. If so, the new management has changed course, since previously it has said it would still build its own engines, but of a different design.

• Dream Chaser is no longer scheduled to fly on Vulcan flight #2

Rumors suggest the removal is due to delays at Sierra Space getting Dream Chaser ready for flight. Sadly this is becoming a pattern, as the mini-shuttle is well behind schedule.

• New Glenn’s first launch likely delayed until 2025

No surprise, as Blue Origin more and more seems to be an unserious company that cannot get anything done fast or on schedule.

• A new trailer for Russian movie that had scenes shot on ISS

All in Russian unfortunately. The release date is now April 20th.

• ESA’s chief reaffirms its support of the Ukraine, despite blaming its Vega-C rocket failure on Ukrainian nozzles

Josef Aschbacher essentially grovels in response to the Ukrainian government’s objection to that investigation’s conclusions.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.

• Branson pumps another $5 million into Virgin Orbit

Branson has now invested $60 million in Virgin Orbit since November 2022 in order to keep the company above water because delays with licensing at the UK bureaucracy prevented it from doing further launches in 2022. No launches, no revenue. And we now know for sure this is his reason, because his investment deal allows him to pull that money out at any time. Expect him to do so once Virgin Orbit begins flying again and making money.

• The Ukraine disputes ESA’s finding that its nozzles caused Vega-C launch failure

The Ukrainian space agency says ESA’s finding was premature and require further investigation. This conclusion might even be correct, in that ESA desperately needs to get its Vega rockets flying again with Ariane 6 not yet ready and Ariane 5 about to be retired.

• Ispace touts new liquid-fueled engine and new rocket variations

Since this company has had three straight launch failures with its solid-fueled rocket, it seems there is a lot of fantasy in this PR.

• China officially approves Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission

After dropping off its sample return capsule to Earth the spacecraft will then head to visit a comet.

• Agreement not yet reached between NASA and Roscosmos on additional astronaut barter flights

The original agreement covered only two flights, two Americans on two Soyuz flights and two Russians on two Dragon flights, and has now been completed. It is expected however that this deal will be extended.

• NASA shifts away from flying astronauts on suborbital flights of Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic

This decision is for lots of reasons, many related to safety and training needs. For example, these suborbital companies do not require flight suits, something NASA astronauts must wear. Thus, doing flights without the suits is somewhat pointless.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay.

• Video of lunar impact seen from Hiratsuka Observatory in Japan

They estimate the new crater to be about 65 feet wide.

• Russians Sergey Prokopiev and Dmitry Petelin will today move their seat harnesses into the new Soyuz capsule, while American Frank Rubio will do it on March 6th

I’m not sure why this wasn’t done immediately, by all three, immediately after the arrival of the Soyuz capsule on February 25, 2023. If there had been a major issue the three men would have either had to scramble to make the new Soyuz usable as a lifeboat, or would have been forced to use the improvised lifeboat arrangement in the Dragon Endurance capsule and the leaking Soyuz capsule, despite having a good vessel available.

• A graph showing the steady and slow decay of Hubble’s orbit

The decay was brought up because Hubble now orbits just below SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, and thus some are concerned its work will be hindered by them. I think this is a non-issue. More important is that decay. If Hubble is going to be remain in space, work on a rescue mission must begin soon.

• Chinese satellite inspecting American military satellites in geosynchronous orbit

China has launched a number of these classified inspection satellites, designed to surveil other satellites. As long as they do no harm to others, the satellites are doing nothing wrong, or different than what Russia and the U.S. do.

• Chinese pseudo-company Sepoch now plans first test launch of its stainless steel rocket in 2025

As Jay notes, “Wow stainless steel! Who would of thought of that?”

• Astra identifies the cause of its last launch failure

In reading their conclusions, I came away with the impression that this rocket had a lot of weak links, any one of which could cause a failure. No wonder the company abandoned it after this launch to focus on a new rocket.