Antares is on the launchpad, being readied for its first launch in about 10 days.
The competition heats up: Antares is on the launchpad, being readied for its first launch in about 10 days.
Tag: capitalism
More successful glide tests today for SpaceShipTwo, now with its engine attached.
The competition heats up: More successful glide tests today for SpaceShipTwo, now with its engine attached.
They are testing the flight characteristics of the spaceship with the additional engine weight. Once satisfied, they will then move on to powered flights.
Legislatures in New Mexico and Texas move forward with bills clarifying future spaceport legalities.
The competition heats up: Legislatures in New Mexico and Texas move forward with bills clarifying future spaceport legalities.
The roll out of Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket to the launchpad will occur on Saturday, with the test first launch scheduled between April 17-19.
The competition heats up: The roll out of Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket to the launchpad will occur on Saturday, with the test first launch scheduled between April 17-19.
States dominated by conservatives are more likely to have lower unemployment, while in liberally dominated states are more likely to have higher unemployment.
Surprise, surprise! States dominated by conservatives are more likely to have lower unemployment, while liberally dominated states are more likely to have higher unemployment.
Want to own and drive a car faster than 265 miles per hour? You can!
Want to own and drive a car able to go faster than 265 miles per hour? You can!
“The SLS program should be canceled now to free up approximately $10 billion programmed for this decade.”
I’m both glad and not surprised that some heavy hitters are beginning to say this. As I noted last year, as the commercial space program begins to show success the politics will increasingly favor it over the very expensive and not very productive NASA-built Space Launch System.
Be prepared for SLS to steadily lose political support in the coming years.
India has successfully tested a homebuilt engine to be used in its more powerful geosynchronous launch rocket, set for launch in July.
The competition heats up: India has successfully tested a homebuilt engine to be used in its more powerful geosynchronous launch rocket, set for launch in July. More here.
Previous launches of the GSLV rocket used a Russian-built engine on a second stage. They also ended in failure, not because of the Russian equipment but because of other problems.
There astronauts were successfully launched today from Russia and are expected to dock with ISS later tonight.
Three astronauts were successfully launched today from Russia and are expected to dock with ISS later tonight.
They are the first crew to use the fast route to ISS, only six hours, rather than the more traditional two day rendezvous path.
Elon Musk confirms that on future Falcon 9 launches they will do tests of a powered return of the first stage.
The competition heats up: Elon Musk confirms that on future Falcon 9 launches they will do tests of a powered return of the first stage.
For the upcoming flight, after stage separation the first stage booster will do a burn to slow it down and then a second burn just before it reaches the water. In subsequent flights they will continue these over-water tests. He repeatedly emphasized that he expects several failures before they learn how to do it right. If all goes well with the over-water tests, they will fly back to launch site and land propulsively. He expects this could happen by mid-2014.
These tests are an extension of the Grasshopper tests, only this time they will take place during an actual launch.
A Proton rocket has successfully launched a Mexican communications satellite today.
The competition heats up: A Proton rocket has successfully launched a Mexican communications satellite today.
ILS, the company that launches the commercial Proton rocket, needed this success badly, considering the recent problems they have had with the Proton’s Briz-M upper stage.