SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours.
Tag: capitalism
SpaceX gets another contract for its Falcon 9
SpaceX gets another launch contract for its Falcon 9.
SpaceShipTwo’s test program ramps up
Scaled Composites continues to ramp up the test flight program of SpaceShipTwo. More here.
Delta charged returning GIs $2,800 in bags fees
Another example of airline stupidity, which is why I drive whenever I can: Delta Airlines charges returning GIs $2,800 in bags fees.
Most of the GIs, it seems, had four bags. Delta only allows three for free in coach, “and anything over three bags, you have to pay for,” another soldier said, “even though there’s a contract between the U.S. government and Delta Airlines.”
Market research firm predicts over 1,600 satellites worth $250 billion will be launched in the next fifteen years
A bright future for commercial space: A market research firm predicts the launching of more than 1,600 satellites, worth $250 billion, in the next fifteen years.
The photography of the first clown in space
The photography of the first clown in space.
Copenhagen Suborbitals’ first test launch
The first test flight of the Copenhagen Suborbitals rocket, designed to carry one passenger, launched successfully today, though there were problems with the parachutes.
Oil money in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Venezuela fueling modest space dreams
Oil money in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Venezuela is fueling their modest space efforts.
The costs of space cargo
This week there was a bit of a political kerfuffle during House hearings over a House report [pdf] that stated that the cost per pound for launching cargo to ISS was much cheaper using the shuttle versus the new commercial companies under the COTS program. This is shown in this table from page 5 of the report:
The problem is that these numbers are a complete lie, as they are based on a yearly cost of $3 billion to operate the shuttle (highlighted in yellow). I have been following NASA budget battles now for decades, and the shuttle operational budget has never, ever been that low. Routinely, NASA figures the cost to operate the shuttle per year, regardless of number of flights, to be about $4 billion per year.
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Bigelow expands its space station factory
Bigelow expands its space station factory. Via Clark Lindsey.
Gasoline Prices by County
There is a pattern here: Gasoline prices by county.
NASA sting nets woman offering moon rock for $1.7M
All your Moon rocks are belong to us: A NASA sting nets a woman offering to sell a Moon rock for $1.7M.
Shell gas plant to be biggest floating object ever
Liquified gas plant to be the biggest floating object ever built.
Test drive a Peugeot, win a trip to space
Test drive a Peugeot and win a trip to space.
Judge orders Obama administration to act on offshore drilling permits
A judge has ordered the Obama administration to act on six offshore drilling permits within 30 days.
First Soyuz launch from French Guiana set for October
The first Soyuz launch from the European spaceport in French Guiana is now scheduled for October.
FAA slow to ramp up its role in regulating human space travel
The FAA: slow to ramp up in its role of regulating human space travel.
This ain’t good. It also is not a surprise. The only real question is whether the government bureaucrats at the FAA will get out of the way of those who are really trying to do the work.
The Soyuz launchsite in French Guiana has been declared ready for its first flight
The Soyuz launchsite in French Guiana has been declared ready for its first flight.
Soviet Spacesuit sold for $242,000 in NY auction
A Soviet-era spacesuit has sold for $242,000 in a NY auction.
Air Forces moves to open up rocket purchases to competition
Air Forces is moving to open up its rocket purchases to competition. I especiallly like this quote from a SpaceX official:
“We know what it takes to do this,” says Harris. “We don’t understand why others are making it cost so much.”