SpaceX about to break ground on launchpad and hanger for Falcon Heavy
SpaceX is about to break ground on launchpad and hanger for Falcon Heavy.
Tag: engineering
China launched second data relay satellite, expanding space communications network before first docking attempt
On Monday China successfully launched its second data relay satellite, expanding its space communications network in preparation for before its first unmanned rendezvous and docking attempt later this year.
wings in space
James McLane points out that the shuttle shape is not the only way to build a spaceship.
In an email to me Jim noted that he “is still trying to save NASA.” My response to him was that trying to save NASA right now is more hopeless than Don Quixote chasing a windmill. However, the engineering ideas he outlines in his essay are just the kind of innovative thinking required by the new private companies. And the more ideas the merrier!
Shuttle mission extended one day
The shuttle mission has been extended one day.
3D printing
An evening pause:
“We’re building spacecraft, not bizjets.”
The real future: “We’re building spacecraft, not bizjets.”
The space shuttle docks with ISS, for the last time
The space shuttle docks with ISS, for the last time.
The last space shuttle has reached orbit
After a very short hold at 31 seconds, the space shuttle Atlantis has launched and reached orbit without any obvious hitches.
Highest Water in a Decade Expected at Lake Powell
The highest water level in a decade is expected at Lake Powell by August.
Lake Powell’s rising water level is a result of the long and wet winter this year. An above-average snowpack, with late snows and unseasonably cold weather has lead to a slower melt than usual. As of May, the snowpack that feeds Lake Powell was 30 percent higher than average, with only 50 percent of the accumulated snowpack melted. [emphasis mine]
I thought Al Gore told us this wasn’t going to happen anymore.
A new image of Vesta from Dawn
Dawn continues to approach the large asteroid Vesta. Below is an image taken July 1st from about 62,000 miles. The image has a resolution of 5.8 miles per pixel.
Despite Vesta’s large size, 330 miles in diameter, it is nonspherical. This fact, combined with data that says it is differentiated with a core and mantle, suggests that it is the remains of a larger object that subsequently broke up.
The billion pixel camera of Gaia
Private company hires former NASA engineers and astronauts
The transition to private space: Sierra Nevada hires former NASA engineers and astronauts.