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.
Tag: commercial
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.
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.