September 16, 2022 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who trolls Twitter so I don’t have to.
- UAE signs deal with China to do joint Moon mission
No details as yet released, but expect more by next week.
- Ariane 6 core stage test model completes test program in French Guiana
This is not a real Ariane 6, but a mock-up used to test roll-out, assembly, and launch procedures in advance of the arrival of the real thing.
- Elon Musk gives Jay Leno a tour of Boca Chica
The link includes a short clip. The full tour will air on Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC on September 21st.
- Video from UK startup Black Arrow showing its proposed smallsat launch rocket, launched from a ship at sea
The concept is brilliant. Since smallsat rockets are designed to ship in containers or trucks and launch from simple concrete pads, bringing everything with them, there really is no reason they couldn’t also launch from the deck of a ship.
- Assessment of the objects remaining from Russia’s November 2021 anti-satellite test
Generally good news. According to this analysis, of the 1,785 objects catalogued, only 585 remain in orbit, and of those 547 are expected to burn up within the next three years. This will leave only 38 pieces of debris threatening ISS and other satellites.
- Federal military-industrial complex discussing ways to compensate private satellite constellations if attacked by foreign powers
The level of corruption I smell from this story sickens me. There might be good reasons to do this, but I am certain in the end none of those reasons will drive this new policy. Instead, it will be designed as a way to suck more money from the taxpayers for private companies who are friends of politcians and donate to their campaign coffers.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who trolls Twitter so I don’t have to.
- UAE signs deal with China to do joint Moon mission
- Ariane 6 core stage test model completes test program in French Guiana
- Elon Musk gives Jay Leno a tour of Boca Chica
- Video from UK startup Black Arrow showing its proposed smallsat launch rocket, launched from a ship at sea
- Assessment of the objects remaining from Russia’s November 2021 anti-satellite test
- Federal military-industrial complex discussing ways to compensate private satellite constellations if attacked by foreign powers
No details as yet released, but expect more by next week.
This is not a real Ariane 6, but a mock-up used to test roll-out, assembly, and launch procedures in advance of the arrival of the real thing.
The link includes a short clip. The full tour will air on Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC on September 21st.
The concept is brilliant. Since smallsat rockets are designed to ship in containers or trucks and launch from simple concrete pads, bringing everything with them, there really is no reason they couldn’t also launch from the deck of a ship.
Generally good news. According to this analysis, of the 1,785 objects catalogued, only 585 remain in orbit, and of those 547 are expected to burn up within the next three years. This will leave only 38 pieces of debris threatening ISS and other satellites.
The level of corruption I smell from this story sickens me. There might be good reasons to do this, but I am certain in the end none of those reasons will drive this new policy. Instead, it will be designed as a way to suck more money from the taxpayers for private companies who are friends of politcians and donate to their campaign coffers.