Jeb Corliss – Grinding The Crack
An evening pause: Helmet cam during one of Jeb Corliss‘ wingsuit flights.
Tag: engineering
It appears that Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Georgia are all competing to be the location of SpaceX’s proposed private commercial spaceport.
The competition heats up: It appears that Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Georgia are all competing to be the location of SpaceX’s proposed private commercial spaceport.
The competition heats up: It appears that Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Georgia are all competing to be the location of SpaceX’s proposed private commercial spaceport.
Germany announced yesterday that it has approved funding for the design of an in-orbit test of a robot satellite servicing mission.
Germany announced yesterday that it has approved funding for the design of an in-orbit test of a robot satellite servicing mission.
The DEOS project will for the first time demonstrate technologies for the controlled in-orbit disposal of a defective satellite. In addition, DEOS will practice how to complete maintenance tasks – refueling in particular – that extend the service life of satellites. DEOS consists of two satellites, a ‘client’ and a ‘servicer’. The client acts as the satellite requiring maintenance or disposal. The servicer carries out the necessary work on the client. The two satellites will be launched together and brought into orbit at a height of 550 kilometers. According to current planning, DEOS will be ready for launch in 2018.
Germany announced yesterday that it has approved funding for the design of an in-orbit test of a robot satellite servicing mission.
The DEOS project will for the first time demonstrate technologies for the controlled in-orbit disposal of a defective satellite. In addition, DEOS will practice how to complete maintenance tasks – refueling in particular – that extend the service life of satellites. DEOS consists of two satellites, a ‘client’ and a ‘servicer’. The client acts as the satellite requiring maintenance or disposal. The servicer carries out the necessary work on the client. The two satellites will be launched together and brought into orbit at a height of 550 kilometers. According to current planning, DEOS will be ready for launch in 2018.
Scaled Composites, having finished glide tests of SpaceShipTwo, is now installing the rocket motor for powered flight tests.
The competition heats up: Scaled Composites, having finished glide tests of SpaceShipTwo, is now installing the rocket motor for powered flight tests.
The competition heats up: Scaled Composites, having finished glide tests of SpaceShipTwo, is now installing the rocket motor for powered flight tests.
Scaled Composites has successfully performed another test of the rocket motor that will be used on SpaceShipTwo.
Scaled Composites has successfully performed another test of the rocket motor that will be used on SpaceShipTwo.
Scaled Composites has successfully performed another test of the rocket motor that will be used on SpaceShipTwo.
Watch 127,141 Dominoes fall
An evening pause: July 6, 2012: Watch as 127,141 out of 128,000 dominoes fall, setting two world records.
Using space junk and 3D printers to build spaceships in space.
Using space junk and 3D printers to build spaceships in space.
Using space junk and 3D printers to build spaceships in space.
SpaceX today signed a contract to launch three satellites for the European company SES.
The competition heats up: SpaceX today signed a contract to launch three additional satellites for the European company SES.
SpaceX already has a contract to launch one SES communications satellite next year.
The competition heats up: SpaceX today signed a contract to launch three additional satellites for the European company SES.
SpaceX already has a contract to launch one SES communications satellite next year.
At the AIAA meeting this week in Pasadena, NASA officials admitted that the Space Launch System (SLS) will likely cost half a billion dollars per launch
It’s only money! At the AIAA meeting this week in Pasadena, NASA officials admitted that the Space Launch System (SLS) will likely cost half a billion dollars per launch.
That means that after only two flights this rocket will have cost about the same as the entire manned commercial program, from which three different space companies are building three different methods for getting humans into space. After three missions it will cost more, and after four missions it will have cost double. And this is assuming that the half billion dollar “target” number ends up correct.
We can’t afford this. We never could, which is why the Saturn 5 rocket was abandoned, and why the shuttle never fulfilled its stated goal of lowering the cost of access to space and after thirty years was abandoned as well. Instead, we have got to find a cheaper way to do this, and to my mind, competition and private enterprise is the only hope.
It’s only money! At the AIAA meeting this week in Pasadena, NASA officials admitted that the Space Launch System (SLS) will likely cost half a billion dollars per launch.
That means that after only two flights this rocket will have cost about the same as the entire manned commercial program, from which three different space companies are building three different methods for getting humans into space. After three missions it will cost more, and after four missions it will have cost double. And this is assuming that the half billion dollar “target” number ends up correct.
We can’t afford this. We never could, which is why the Saturn 5 rocket was abandoned, and why the shuttle never fulfilled its stated goal of lowering the cost of access to space and after thirty years was abandoned as well. Instead, we have got to find a cheaper way to do this, and to my mind, competition and private enterprise is the only hope.
A dispute over launch pricing between ArianeSpace, the launch company, and Globalstar, the satellite company.
A dispute over launch pricing between Arianespace, the launch company, and Globalstar, the satellite company.
The article only quotes an executive from Arianespace, who suggests Globalstar has been having troubles making payments. I wonder instead if maybe Globalstar has been balking at Arianespace’s prices (knowing there are other companies that can do it cheaper) and has been holding out for a price cut.
A dispute over launch pricing between Arianespace, the launch company, and Globalstar, the satellite company.
The article only quotes an executive from Arianespace, who suggests Globalstar has been having troubles making payments. I wonder instead if maybe Globalstar has been balking at Arianespace’s prices (knowing there are other companies that can do it cheaper) and has been holding out for a price cut.
An experimental vertical take-off and landing rocket crashed during its most recent test on Tuesday.
An experimental vertical take-off and landing rocket crashed during its most recent test flight on Tuesday.
The Xaero had already flown more than 100 test flights, so this crash does not make it a failure. Like all engineering tests, the flight will only be a failure if they cannot figure out what went wrong.
This update says they have located the problem, the failure of a valve.
An experimental vertical take-off and landing rocket crashed during its most recent test flight on Tuesday.
The Xaero had already flown more than 100 test flights, so this crash does not make it a failure. Like all engineering tests, the flight will only be a failure if they cannot figure out what went wrong.
This update says they have located the problem, the failure of a valve.
Whiskey in space?
Whiskey in space? Not really, just some chemicals taken from a distillery up to ISS to test the effects of gravity on “the maturation process.”
Nonetheless, the distillery has issued a limited edition whiskey to celebrate the experiment.
Whiskey in space? Not really, just some chemicals taken from a distillery up to ISS to test the effects of gravity on “the maturation process.”
Nonetheless, the distillery has issued a limited edition whiskey to celebrate the experiment.
The Russian space agency has ordered the recall and inspection of every Briz-M upper stage used in their Proton rocket.
The Russian space agency has ordered the recall and inspection of every Briz-M upper stage used in their Proton rocket.
This is part of the on-going shake-up of the Russian rocket industry following the recent failures of the upper stage during several commercial launches. One interesting and positive note is that they expect to resume launches in October, which is extremely fast.
The Russian space agency has ordered the recall and inspection of every Briz-M upper stage used in their Proton rocket.
This is part of the on-going shake-up of the Russian rocket industry following the recent failures of the upper stage during several commercial launches. One interesting and positive note is that they expect to resume launches in October, which is extremely fast.
The Japanese solar sail experiment IKAROS is apparently still alive, years after launch.
The Japanese solar sail experiment IKAROS is apparently still alive, years after launch.
The Japanese solar sail experiment IKAROS is apparently still alive, years after launch.
Three super weird homes
India’s space agency celebrated its 100th launch today.
The competition heats up: India’s space agency celebrated its 100th launch today.
It is unclear whether the numbers include their failed launches. Regardless, India has a vibrant space program, modeled somewhat after the Russian system, a government space agency focused on gaining commercial market share. Whether that model can successfully compete in the commercial world remains unknown. Russia has had success, but only during a period when they were faced with few competitors. Now that the competition is heating up it is unclear whether Russia’s model will be flexible enough to compete.
What is clear about India, however, is that they are passionate about space exploration. Historically, even the Russian government model has worked when the country using it was the new kid on the block.
The competition heats up: India’s space agency celebrated its 100th launch today.
It is unclear whether the numbers include their failed launches. Regardless, India has a vibrant space program, modeled somewhat after the Russian system, a government space agency focused on gaining commercial market share. Whether that model can successfully compete in the commercial world remains unknown. Russia has had success, but only during a period when they were faced with few competitors. Now that the competition is heating up it is unclear whether Russia’s model will be flexible enough to compete.
What is clear about India, however, is that they are passionate about space exploration. Historically, even the Russian government model has worked when the country using it was the new kid on the block.
Fun with 9 volt batteries
Sign the LunarCOTS petition.
Do you think the commercial space program led by SpaceX is the fastest and cheapest way for the U.S. to get humans back into low Earth orbit? Then why not do it for missions beyond Earth orbit?
The LunarCOTS petition is a campaign to have NASA subsidize private companies to design and build the United States’ future interplanetary missions rather than have NASA do it in big government programs like SLS. Makes sense to me, and so I signed the petition immediately.
Do you think the commercial space program led by SpaceX is the fastest and cheapest way for the U.S. to get humans back into low Earth orbit? Then why not do it for missions beyond Earth orbit?
The LunarCOTS petition is a campaign to have NASA subsidize private companies to design and build the United States’ future interplanetary missions rather than have NASA do it in big government programs like SLS. Makes sense to me, and so I signed the petition immediately.
The history of Dream Chaser and its lifting body shape.
ATK and ULA yesterday successfully tested the solid rocket strap-on motor that is used by their Delta 4 rocket.
The competition heats up: ATK and ULA yesterday successfully tested the solid rocket strap-on motor that is used by their Delta 4 rocket. With video.
They are using a new manufacturer for the motor’s nozzle, and needed to test this under cold conditions.
The competition heats up: ATK and ULA yesterday successfully tested the solid rocket strap-on motor that is used by their Delta 4 rocket. With video.
They are using a new manufacturer for the motor’s nozzle, and needed to test this under cold conditions.
There is a shortage of launch-pads available for the number of rocket launches planned.
The competition heats up: There is a shortage of launch-pads available for the number of rocket launches planned.
The competition heats up: There is a shortage of launch-pads available for the number of rocket launches planned.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team today released a set of images showing Curiosity’s recent travel on Mars, as well as some fascinating closeups of the spacecraft’s heat shield, parachute, and descent stage.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team today released a set of images showing Curiosity’s first steps on Mars, as well as some fascinating closeups of the spacecraft’s heat shield, parachute, and descent stage. The image on the left shows the tracks of the rover during its first few days of travel.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team today released a set of images showing Curiosity’s first steps on Mars, as well as some fascinating closeups of the spacecraft’s heat shield, parachute, and descent stage. The image on the left shows the tracks of the rover during its first few days of travel.
SpaceX’s first official cargo flight to ISS could occur as early as October 5.
SpaceX’s first official cargo flight to ISS could occur as early as October 5.
SpaceX’s first official cargo flight to ISS could occur as early as October 5.
SpaceShipTwo is being readied for its first powered flights before the end of the year.
The competition heats up: SpaceShipTwo is being readied for its first powered flights before the end of the year.
The article also provides a good review of the last two years of glide tests, what was learned and what was done with that knowledge.
The competition heats up: SpaceShipTwo is being readied for its first powered flights before the end of the year.
The article also provides a good review of the last two years of glide tests, what was learned and what was done with that knowledge.
Engineers have now confirmed that Dawn has left the gravitational sphere of Vesta and is officially on its way to Ceres.
Engineers have now confirmed that Dawn has left the gravitational sphere of Vesta and is officially on its way to Ceres.
Engineers have now confirmed that Dawn has left the gravitational sphere of Vesta and is officially on its way to Ceres.
In a spacewalk today astronaut successfully overcame a stuck bolt to install a replacement power unit.
In a spacewalk today astronauts successfully overcame a stuck bolt to install a replacement power unit.
In a spacewalk today astronauts successfully overcame a stuck bolt to install a replacement power unit.
NASA engineers had postponed a planned midcourse maneuver of its Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft
NASA engineers had postponed a planned midcourse maneuver of its Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft due to unexpectedly high pressures seen in the previous engine burn.
NASA engineers had postponed a planned midcourse maneuver of its Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft due to unexpectedly high pressures seen in the previous engine burn.
Because of the failure to replace a power unit during last week’s spacewalk, the U.S. portion of ISS is now in a brown-out, with a 25% reduction in power.
Because of the failure to replace a power unit during last week’s spacewalk, the U.S. portion of ISS is now in a brown-out, with a 25% reduction in power.
They plan a second spacewalk tomorrow to try to fix the problem.
Because of the failure to replace a power unit during last week’s spacewalk, the U.S. portion of ISS is now in a brown-out, with a 25% reduction in power.
They plan a second spacewalk tomorrow to try to fix the problem.
In another attempt to win the $250,000 AHS Sikorsky Prize, the Gamera II human-powered helicopter successfully flew for more than sixty seconds
In another attempt to win the $250,000 AHS Sikorsky Prize, the Gamera II human-powered helicopter has successfully flown for more than sixty seconds Video below the fold.
» Read more
In another attempt to win the $250,000 AHS Sikorsky Prize, the Gamera II human-powered helicopter has successfully flown for more than sixty seconds Video below the fold.
» Read more
Two Russian companies have announced a joint plan to build a suborbital spacecraft for tourism.
The competition heats up: Two Russian companies have announced a joint plan to build a suborbital spacecraft for tourism.
Sounds great, but Clark Lindsey has a very informative review of the history of these announcements from Russia, none of which has ever born fruit.
The competition heats up: Two Russian companies have announced a joint plan to build a suborbital spacecraft for tourism.
Sounds great, but Clark Lindsey has a very informative review of the history of these announcements from Russia, none of which has ever born fruit.