ATK and NASA to announce a new commercial space agreement
ATK and NASA to announce a new commercial space agreement on Tuesday.
This is almost certainly in connection to the successful third test firing of ATK’s solid rocket yesterday.
Tag: capitalism
ATK test fires the five segment solid rocket for Ares 1
ATK today successfully test fired the five segment solid rocket originally intended for the Ares 1 rocket. More here.
This solid rocket motor has value, but ATK’s hope that NASA will use it as part of the Congressionally designed Space Launch System, what I call the program-formerly-called-Constellation, is probably a false hope. They might get a few years of funding from Congress, but the whole thing will die stillborn when the funding runs out.
Better that they packaged the motor as part of a private launch system and tried to get some commercial business with it.
Regardless, the video is fun to watch. Check it out.
Virgin Galactic hosts an industry day at New Mexico spaceport
Virgin Galactic announced today that it will co-host an industry day at Spaceport America in New Mexico on October 18 in order to locate suppliers for its space tourism business.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for companies ranging from local New Mexico firms to national corporations to understand our unique needs for goods and services, including our requirements in building and servicing multiple commercial spaceships as the market further develops,” said Virgin Galactic’s President and CEO George Whitesides. “Our intention is to establish these relationships and emphasize our desire to hire locally as much as possible.”
World’s first commercial spaceport almost complete
The world’s first commercial spaceport is about to open. Nice pictures too.
Sticker shock over Congressionally designed rocket
The Obama administration has discovered that the cost to build the program-formerly-called-Constellation, required by Congress, is going to be far more than they can stomach.
White House budget officials increasingly are concerned that some of NASA’s manned-exploration plans may be unaffordable, especially as the space agency weighs options that would raise the cost by billions of dollars by speeding up the development of rockets and spacecraft, according to people familiar with the issue.
The cost concerns are coming to a head, these people said, as the White House Office of Management and Budget ratchets up questions about NASA’s proposed program in light of the current emphasis on deficit reduction.
None of this surprises me.
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Amazon Chief’s Spaceship Misfires
Bad news for commercial space: A test of Amazon chief’s Blue Origin spaceship ended in failure on Friday.
After The Wall Street Journal reported on the failure, Blue Origin Friday posted a brief note on its website stating the spacecraft, while going faster than the speed of sound, suffered a “flight instability” at an altitude of 45,000 feet and the company’s automated “range safety system” shut off all thrust and led to its destruction. The problem appeared to stem from thrusters that didn’t respond properly to the initial commands, according to one industry official.
British company tests engine of for commercial space plane
British company tests engine of for commercial space plane.
Russians are considering reducing their participation in ISS
Uh-oh! The Russians are considering reducing their participation in ISS. Their government might also take over entirely the private portion of their space industry.
Indiana school vouchers prompt thousands to flee public schools
Competition wins: A new Indiana school vouchers program has prompted thousands to flee public schools.
An overview of the space war situation by Clark Lindsey
Clark Lindsey has written a very nice and short summary of the present political battles over NASA’s budget and its future manned space rockets.
Massachusetts State Police Shutdown Twelve-Year-Old’s Green Tea Stand
The government’s war on freedom and children: Police in Massachusetts shutdown a twelve-year-old’s green tea stand.
Both the FAA and European regulators have certified Boeing’s 787 for its first commercial flight
Both the FAA and European regulators have certified Boeing’s new 787 airplane for its first commercial flight