Tag: quick space links

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Chang’e-6’s orbit was raised to an altitude of 246km sometime between June 11th and 12th

It will likely send its sample return capsule back to Earth in about a week.

 

• China’s new Long March 10 rocket successfully completed a three-engine static fire test on June 14, 2024

The rocket is to be used for China’s planned manned lunar missions.

 

• On this day in 1967, Mariner 5 launched to do the second fly-by of Venus

NASA had built it as a backup for its Mariner 4 Mars fly-by mission, and repurposed it for Venus, adding a sunshield. It zipped past Venus on October 19, 1967, one day after the Soviet Venera lander made the first attempt to soft land there. Both confirmed that Venus was a hot hellhole with an atmospheric temperature of 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Another test LIFE inflatable test module passes preliminary tests

Built by Sierra Space, the flight version of LIFE will be used first on the Orbital Reef station, but will also be made available for purchase by others.

 

• Blue Origin gets FCC communications license for its first New Glenn launch

This is not a launch license. It provides the company a window for communications on that launch lasting until October 31, 2024.

 

• ULA accepts delivery on what appears to be the fifth BE-4 engine provided by Blue Origin

ULA’s CEO says in the tweet that they need just one more engine for their 2024 launch manifest, which optimistically hopes to launch three times (2 engines for each launch). It took two months for this new engine to arrive after delivery of the last two.

 

• Chinese pseudo-company Space Pioneer readies first stage of its Tiangong-3 Falcon 9 copy for 9-engine static fire test in July

If successful, it is now targeting a September maiden orbital launch, marking a two month delay from previous announcements.

 

• China’s X-37B copy does very close proximity maneuvers near object it released on May 24th

It is at present unclear whether the object was retrieved and then re-released.

 

• ESA’s partnership with China on its Moon missions appears about to end

The break-up is because of China’s partnership with Russia, and ESA has broken all ties with Russia due to its Ukraine invasion. The article at the link also notes that Turkey has applied to joint China’s moonbase alliance.

 

• Virgin Galactic announces 1 to 20 reverse stock split

This action means 20 shares will suddenly be worth only one, even as the stock price tumbles to under a dollar per share. This company is dying, and Wall Street know it.

 

• Soviet cosmonaut Vyacheslav Zudov dies at 82

He commanded Soyuz 23 in 1976, which because of a failed antenna was unable to dock with Salyut-5 and returned to Earth after only two days in space, crashing through the ice on Lake Tengiz and thus becoming the USSR’s first and only manned splashdown.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• ULA CEO marks the last Atlas-5 rocket moving through its factory

There are only 16 Atlas-5 launches left, with all the rockets now built and ready, leaving room for the assembly of Vulcan rockets.

 

• Scientist discovers another type of aurora

This phenomenon is similar to another new aurora type that scientists claim to have discovered in 2017 and stupidly dubbed “Steve,” a name so asinine I have found it impossible to take the whole thing seriously.

 

• SpaceX celebrates the 100th country that has approved Starlink for use by its citizens

The tweet does not say the country, but Jay says it is Sierra Leone.

 

• Chinese company OneLinQ launches civilian satellite internet terminal for high-speed connectivity via Asia-Pacific 6D satellite

Jay notes that their subscription price is $4,000 a month, gigantic compared to Starlink or any other similar service.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Instrument for China’s Chang’e-7 lunar orbiter to be developed jointly by Egypt and Bahrain

While Egypt is a partner in China’s lunar base project, Bahrain is not, and has instead signed the Artemis Accords to partner with the U.S. Bahrain’s participation here suggests the U.S. alliance isn’t doing much for Bahrain.

 

• China picks its fourth class of astronauts

Ten candidates were chosen.

 

• Two French citizens tried to sneak into Baikonur, with one dying of dehydration

Jay notes, “They were too cheap to pay for an unofficial or official guide. You need to pay for a special tourist permit to visit that part of the country.” I wonder about what really happened, as it is dangerous to take any report from a state-run press outlet at face value.

 

• The first service module for India’s Gaganyaan manned capsule has been completed

The three-day orbital mission is still targeting a 2025 launch.

 

• Rocket Factory Augsburg touts video of first stage static fire engine test

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• ABL gets cubesat payload for its RS1 rocket

The cubesat will fly on the launch following the next launch attempt, set for June 2024. RS1 has had one failed launch attempt so far, in January 2023.

 

• Boeing releases audio of crew during Starliner launch

Only a minute long, showing just a few snippets.

 

• Video showing Blue Origin’s effort to make a reusable 2nd stage, based on its patents

What is most interesting is that it appears Stoke Space is doing similar stuff, but is farther long in actual development and testing.

 

• NASA awards seven companies $1.5 million each for 90-day studies to come up with new concepts for recovering Perseverance’s core samples on Mars

The companies are Aerojet Rocketdyne, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Quantum Space, SpaceX and Whittinghill Aerospace.

 

• ESA will pay Arianespace 340 million euros per year to operate Ariane-6

ESA will also give Arianespace 21 million euros to operate the Vega family of rockets. Why ESA is giving Arianespace anything is beyond sensible, since ArianeGroup supposedly builds and owns Ariane-6 and Avio supposedly now builds and owns the Vega rocket family. France meanwhile has retaken ownership of the French Guiana spaceport. Arianespace really has nothing left for it to do.

 

• ISRO planning third flight landing test of its X-37B copy for first half of June

This would be another drop test from a helicopter, with the prototype then gliding to a runway landing.

 

• Chinese pseudo-company postpones vertical hop test of its first stage prototype

The hop was supposed to go up to 10 kilometers.

 

• China’s next unmanned lunar probe, Chang’e-7, will go to the south pole, and release a hopper

Launch is targeting 2026.

 

• Rocket/satellite startup Phantom Space signs Arizona company to build communications payloads for its satellites

• On this day in 2003 the Mars rover Spirit was launched

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• China completes construction on first commercial launchpad at its Wenchang coastal spaceport

They dub this “Pad 2,” even though it will be where the first commercial launch will take place at Wenchang, presently scheduled for August 28, 2024.

 

• NASA inspector general issues report on agency’s commercial unmanned lunar lander program

The report can be downloaded here [pdf]. It is generally critical of the entire program, suggesting that NASA’s management has been inconsistent even as it also micromanaged the building of some commercial landers, thus causing delays and budget overruns despite the contracts being fixed price (If NASA demands a change, the company has an equal right to bill NASA for it).

 

• On this day three years ago Juno flew within 645 miles of the Jupiter moon Ganymede, the closest since the Galileo mission fly-by in 2000

See this post for some pictures.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below. Sorry this is late. Life got in the way.

• Axiom, NASA, and SpaceX tout the completion of a simulated test using Axiom’s spacesuit

The test included working with Starship components (though not a full Starship).

 

• China touts images of Mars’ north and south poles, taken by its Tianwen-1 orbiter

Nothing ground-breaking in terms of science, but in terms of engineering this orbiter remains a feather in China’s cap.

 

• Russian astronaut Oleg Kononenko has now accumulated more than 1,000 days in space over five missions to ISS

He is presently on a year-long mission, due to return in September.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• DARPA awards small contract to startup Momentus to study how to build large structures in space

Momentus will fly small experiments that will be flown the company’s Vigoride orbital tugs.

 

• Video of the docking on June 1st of a Progress to ISS

• Chinese pseudo-company Deep Blue touts video of leg deployment and drop test of the first stage of its proposed Nebula-1 rocket

The drop was from about 3-5 feet off the ground.

 

• Another Chinese pseudo-company touts a proposed new rocket

The company is called Fancy Space, and it apparently has nothing at this point but a cool video.

 

• On this day in 1965, Ed White performed the first American spacewalk during the Gemini-4 mission

White died in the Apollo-1 launchpad fire in 1967.

 

• On this day in 1966, the Gemini-9 mission launched, crewed by Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan

The goal was to achieve the first completely successful docking in space, but the shroud on the target spacecraft only partly released, preventing the docking. Instead, Stafford and Cernan flew in formation, taking great pictures of that spacecraft, looking like “an angry alligator.”

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Video of SpaceX Raptor engine exploding during test today at McGregor facility

This could have been a test-to-failure, or an unexpected engine failure. No further information is known.

 

• New Glenn engineering dummy rolled to launchpad for more fueling tests

These tests suggest the scheduled launch later this year is actually getting real.

 

• Short video showing grid fin working as Long March 2D first stage descends

It appears China has done these tests now on five launches, reusing the grid fins at least once. The goal is to more precisely bring the stage down within a confined target zone so that inhabited areas are not threatened by its toxic hypergolic fuels.

 

• China picks a female Hong Kong police officer as new astronaut

The choice is probably to reward her for helping to squelch pro-democracy demonstrations, while also attempting to pander to the now imprisoned Hong Kong populace.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Amazon touts the completion of its Kuiper satellite demo mission

As Jay notes, the company still has to launch more than 1,600 satellites by July 2026. So far they have launched two, but those don’t count in the total as they are being de-orbited.

 

• Astrobotic wins two NASA studay contracts for developing a lunar electrical grid

The company in 2022 proposed such a system. I guess NASA has decided to help fund its development.

 

• Intelsat and Northrop Grumman agree to an extended satellite servicing deal

The deal means Northrop’s two MEV robots will continue to serve Intelsat satellites for an additional four years, keeping them functional by providing fuel and power.

 

• ULA’s CEO claims the company is now receiving two BE-4 engines per month from Blue Origin, and expects the pace to rise to 1.5 per week shortly

No pictures included with the tweet, and as Jay notes, “I would like to see pictures.”

 

• Viasat looking to partner with LEO constellations like Starlink and OneWeb

The company thinks the capabilities of its geosynchronous satellites complement those LEO constellations, and think a partnership would be a win-win for all. We shall see if any LEO constellations agree.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Rocket Factory Augsburg touts its proposed Argo cargo capsule

Note that RFA did NOT win a contract for developing this capsule from ESA, as announced today, suggesting ESA rejected it.

 

• ULA’s CEO shows off images of 21 Vulcan rockets in production

Only one appears to have any engines. All are in various states of assembly.

 

• Dominican Republic looking into building its own spaceport

Article at the link includes a nice map of the world’s existing and planned spaceports.

 

• Video of Kuaizhou-11 launch yesterday

Only covers the first 12 seconds. Jay asks, “Anyone else notice the weird gassing at nose cone?”

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• ULA to study using blimps to transport rocket sections from factory to launchsite

It signed a deal with the airship company Aeros.

 

• RFA touts video of its first static fire test of the first stage of its RFA-1 rocket

The test went off perfectly. However, one local news report stated that the company hopes to launch “by the end of the year”, which suggests a delay, caused either by development issues or red tape from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority. Previously the word had been the launch would happen by June.

 

• China to expand its commercial launchpad facilities at its Wenchang coastal spaceport

The expansion indicates the continuing growth in China’s pseudo-private launch industry. It also illustates another way the Chinese government maintains control over those pseudo-companies, which have to launch from government-run sites.

 

• On this day 50 years ago the Soviet Union ended its Moon rocket program

The rocket was the N1, which never launched successfully.

 

• On this day in 1927 Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis near Paris, completing the first solo nonstop across the Atlantic

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Georgia governor signs law dissolving Camden spaceport plan

The spaceport had been dead due to a voter referendum, but this seals the deal.

 

• PLD team working with French Space Agency in French Guiana, planning future launches

The Spanish company plans to launch its orbital Miura-5 rocket from there. France, which owns and now runs the spaceport, apparently wants to open it to other independent European companies.

 

• Another instrument installed on Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander

The launch is presently targeting a launch this year.

 

• China’s Long March 2D launch today tested grid fins on first stage

This apparently was the third such test, aimed at simply narrowing the crash sites for these stages, not recovering the stages.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Rocket Factory Augsburg completes successful static fire test of first stage of its RFA-1 rocket

The test took place at the Saxaford spaceport on the Shetland Islands, which also suggests a launch licence from the UK bureaucracy is imminent.

 

• Eurepean company Aerospacelab breaks ground on new satellite factory in Belgium

The company says it will begin production by 2026, but it is unclear who it will be building the satellites for.

 

• China proposes mission to Jupiter and beyond by 2029

No real details, other than a single powerpoint graphic.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• China touts a proposed New Shepard suborbital copycat

Tourist flights to begin in 2028.

 

• NASA touts the future assembly of its Lunar Gateway space station

Lots of details and promises here, last updated June 2023.

 

• ISRO finalizes design of its Shukrayaan Venus orbiter

They are targeting the 2026 launch window.

 

• On this day in 2011 the space shuttle Endeavour launched on its 25th and last flight

The final shuttle flight followed two months later.

 

• On this day in 1987 the Soviet Union’s Energia heavy lift rocket launched for the first time

The launch was supposed to put a large module into orbit, but failed to do so when that module’s engines got the wrong software command.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Voyager Space to work with Marshall to develop new airlock concept

The company already has a new design working on ISS. This is to develop something even better.

 

• France’s The Exploration Company hires Blue Origin’s director of human spaceflight, Mark Kirasich, to head up its US operations

Kirasich had a 40-year career at NASA, so they are possibly hiring him to help grease the wheels with the agency.

 

• Rocket Lab wants to celebrate its up-coming 50th launch by awarding three launch photographers an all-expenses paid trip to capture it

The launch is presently targeting a June launch.

 

• The launch of China’s Xuntian Hubble-class optical telescope appears delayed until 2027

This is a two year delay. Once launched the plan is to fly it near China’s space station, so that astronauts can easily go to it to do repairs or upgrades.

 

• Managers in China propose building its lunar research station in three stages

The first stage would be short-term tech development, the second mid-term expansion and collaboration, and the third long-term leadership in lunar resource utilization.

 

• China touts a new vertical static fire test stand

• OneWeb faces regulatory delays in India

Very puzzling as the company is half owned by an Indian. Jay suggests, “They forgot to pay off someone.”

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who also tipped me off to the Starliner and Ispace stories earlier today.

This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Astrobotic touts its fully reusable suborbital rocket, Xogdor, scheduled for first flight in 2025

This is technology developed by Masten Space Systems and bought and absorbed into Astrobotic in 2022.

 

• ULA’s CEO shows off picture of upper stage for the second Vulcan flight, now being assembled

Launch date is still targeting the fall.

 

• Raw images from Juno’s 61st close fly-by of Jupiter this past weekend

It will take a week or so for citizen scientists to begin posting processed images that cull the good data from these raw pictures.

 

• Europe’s second generation Galileo GPS-type satellite design passes design review

The satellite is being built by the European company Thales Alenia.

 

• The completed hull of Northrop Grumman’s next Cygnus cargo freighter ready to final assembly and launch to ISS

Thales Alenia builds the spacecraft’s basic structure.

 

• On this day in 1973 the last Saturn-5 launched, carrying the first American space station Skylab

That was more than fifty years ago. Had we harnessed that technology then, Americans would already have viable colonies on the Moon, Mars, and the asteroids.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• GOES-East weather satellite not working, possibly due to solar storm

• Op-Ed advocates giving the UN more power over everyone in space

Jay says it best, “No. Not only no, but hell no.” Sadly, I fear that the globalists running things will get what they want.

 

• ISRO tweets some proposed details about its next Mars mission

A relay communications satellite will launch first. The lander will use a sky crane like Curiosity and Perseverance, and might include a helicopter. Targeting a 2031 launch.

 

• Four-hour video on the work of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre

Have no idea if this is worth watching. Jay writes it describes “what ISRO has accomplished and all the future programs they want to do.”

 

• On this day in 1982 the first crew to U.S.S.R.’s Salyut-7 station launched

The two astronauts would set a then record of 211 days in space.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Sierra Space’s Tenacity mini-shuttle successfully completes all pre-launch testing at NASA facility in Ohio

It is now going to be shipped to Cape Canaveral for final testing before it is stacked on ULA’s Vulcan rocket. They are still targeting a launch before the end of the year.

 

• Chinese university touts the launch yesterday of the first satellite of what it claims will be internet constellation

One wonders. The constellation is dubbed Skynet, which is the same name China uses for its ground-based video surveillance network, using 600 million cameras to record and track every Chinese citizen everywhere.

 

• Chinese-French high energy space telescope being readied for June launch on a Chinese rocket

Dubbed SVOM, working it both gamma and optical wavelengths, it will attempt to identify gamma ray bursts as they happen. It is essentially a new version of the Gehrels Swift space telescope that has been doing this work since 2004.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Vast shows off the primary interior structure of its Haven-1 space station module

This is the only one of four private American space stations being built without federal funding, and it is likely going to be the first to launch.

 

• Blue Origin touts the arrival of thrusters for its Blue Moon manned lunar lander

• Video of today’s static fire test of Starship prototype #30

SpaceX continues to meet its target date of late May for the next Starship/Superheavy test flight. No word yet on if the FAA will go along.

 

• On this day in 1990 Hubble deployed from space shuttle Discovery

It was only supposed to operate in orbit for fifteen years.

 

• On this day in 1963 the private communications satellite Telstar 2 was launched on a Delta B rocket

Twas an entirely private mission, built and paid for by AT&T, with the near term goal of building in the mid-60s a satellite constellation to provide global telephone communications. That plan was shut down by Congress and President Kennedy, who restricted all American satellites for the next decade to a quasi-goverment corporation called Comsat, essentially destroying the American commercial satellite industry for about 20 years.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Rocket Lab touts its new Archimedes rocket engine

Just a picture. This methane-fueled engine will be used by its new Neutron rocket.

 

• A detailed look at the work engineers did to bring Voyager-1 back to life

• Bright light beams seen in the sky over Kansas and Oklahoma caused by Long March 6C venting fuel in orbit

• A look at two German rocket startups

An hourlong documentary on Rocket Factory Augsburg and Isar Aerospace by Tim Dodd at Everyday Astronaut.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Dick Rutan, who co-piloted the first flight around the world without refueling, has passed away at 85

His brother, Burt Rutan, who built SpaceShipOne, also partnered to design the round-the-world plane.

 

• Rocket Labs touts the on-going construction of its Neutron rocket production facility

No details except for a picture of the building’s steel frame, now built.

 

• Can India’s Space Start-ups Catch Up to Elon Musk’s SpaceX?

This is a four minute media report from India. Though somewhat superficial, it clearly is in favor of a private commercial space industry.

 

• Chang’e-6 is carrying a surprise mini-rover

The rover is very simple, and likely capable of only a few tasks and a short life span on the surface. Nonetheless, it shows that China continues to push the envelope, taking every opportunity to improve its space capabilities.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• NASA administrator Nelson begs Congress for more money

You could record his testimony and play it again for every budget hearing now and into the far future. NASA administrators, no matter which party appointed them, always beg for more money at budget hearings.

 

• NASA unhappy that others are reviewing its Artemis program

Good analysis by Eric Berger, though I think he gives the IG and other review agencies that look over NASA’s shoulders too much credit. Quite often in the past two decades these review agencies have couched their reports in ways that helped NASA hide the problems at Artemis. It is good they exist, but the press should be looking over their shoulders as well.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Chinese pseudo-company Landspace touts the installation of grid fins on its hopper test first stage

Gee, I wonder where they got that idea.

 

• Video of the disarming of the backup parachute on China’s just landed Shenzhou manned capsule

At least, that’s what I think this video shows, based on the tweet.

 

• Moon map showing the target landing zone for China’s Chang’e-6 sample return mission

The launch to the far side of the Moon is presently scheduled for May 3, 2024.

 

• Sierra Space gives an update on the development of its LIFE inflatable space station module

The key bit of new news is that the company intends to also market the module to others, outside its use on the Orbital Reef station Sierra is building in partnership with Blue Origin, including use as a module on interplanetary spaceships.

 

• On this day in 1979 the test shuttle Enterprise was rolled out of the VAB for launchpad fit tests

Enterprise was only used for engineering and glide tests on Earth. It never flew in space.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Shenzhou capsule safely returns three Chinese astronauts from Tiangong-3 space station

This completed their six month mission.

 

• Yahoo visits Firefly

Reasonably good short report, even if the reporter clearly only has a shallow understanding of all the issues.

 

• Video of the arrival of Rocket Factory Augsburg’s first stage to the launchpad at Saxavord

Still no word on when the CAA will issue the launch license.

 

• Dragon cargo spacecraft splashes down successfully

SpaceX’s manned program, including these cargo Dragons, has become so routine much of it no longer merits a full post.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay, who has returned from a weeklong work trip in “the People’s Republic of California.” This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• SES’s O3b mPOWER satellite constellation starts providing service

That makes at least three constellations (including Starlink and OneWeb) in orbit ahead of and operational before Amazon has launched a single satelltie in its Kuiper constellation

 

• Hyimpulse’s suborbital test launch from Southern Launch in Australia is now targeting May 2, 2024

Though I saw no announcement, they apparently got their launch licence from the Australian government.

 

• Long March 5 ready to launch China’s Chang’e-6 sample return mission to the Moon’s far side

According to the article, the core stage will not reach orbit and thus not make an uncontrolled re-entry, as the core stage of the more powerful Long March 5B varient does.

 

• China touts the engines for its new Long March 12 rocket, its first launch planned for this year

• Chinese reporter notes the increase in hotel prices near the Wenchang spaceport when a manned launch is scheduled

The communists might claim they think capitalism is bad and they are building a Marxist utopia, but the invisible hand of capitalism always rules.

 

• Drop test of Gaganyaan test manned capsule now set for tomorrow

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Five engines integrated into Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA-1 first stage

Testing will take place at the Saxavord spaceport in the Shetland Islands

 

• Russians jam two commercial satellites for six days, disrupting 39 Ukrainian television channels

The jamming was from March 13th to March 19th, and involved SES’s Astra-4 and Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13E satellites. This suggests Russia (and China) could do the same to other commercial sateliltes.

 

• Virgin Galactic proposes reverse stock split

Such reverse splits raises the value of each share in a superficial manner, and are usually done to prevent the stock from being delisted for having too low a value.

 

• Anonymous sources say NASA is considering restructuring the entire Artemis lunar program

One idea is to insert an extra mission before the lunar landing flight, during which Orion and Starship would dock in Earth orbit to test out their systems prior to going to the Moon. Since the whole Artemis program has always been haphazardly planned, this change makes sense, as it should have been considered from the beginning. In fact, it should be flown before the second Artemis flight, which presently intends to take astronauts around the Moon, on the first flight using Orion’s environmental systems.

 

• JPL releases short video showing all of Ingenuity’s flights, on a map

Since yesterday NASA took down the interactive maps that show where the rovers and Ingenuity have been and are going, this video is kind a slap in the face. Unless the agency restores those maps, the public will no longer be able to travel along with the rovers.

 

• China reorganizes its space bureaucracy, claiming that because of the change “current launch sites may get more freedom with commercial activities”

More likely this change will give the ChiComs more control over those activities.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• ULA’s CEO claims Blue Origin is ramping up production of BE-4 engines
• ULA’s CEO touts the mating of a BE-4 to a Vulcan first stage

Both tweets are devoid of any real information, so who knows? It is likely the second is real and happening, but there continue to be rumors about Blue Origin’s production rate.

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Firefly installs another payload on its Blue Ghost lunar lander

The payload is an experiment to see if electromagnetic fields can be used to protect objects from lunar dust.

 

• SpaceX to build $14M rec center, sushi restaurant in Brownsville

These retail outlets are for within Brownsville itself, and are separate from the shopping center and cafe it is planning for the Boca Chica area.

 

• Musk to meet with officials from Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Bellatrix Aerospace and Dhruva Space at New Delhi during his India visit on April 22

The first two companies are the most advanced rocket startups in India. All are central to its nascent commercial space industry.

 

• Long March 2F with Shenzhou-18 manned capsule rolled to launchpad

This next manned launch to China’s space station is target April 25th.

 

• Relativity moves forward on building its Terran-R launchpad at Cape Canaveral

Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.

• Starliner now intergrated with Atlas-5 rocket

All continues to proceed to a May 6, 2024 launch.

 

• Chinese pseudo-company Deep Blue touts static fire test of its Nebula-1 test vehicle with 3 Thunder-R1 kerolox engines

Next will be a static fire test with nine engines, followed next year by hop tests and first orbital flight. Jay adds a side note: “All the pseudo-companies are showing off their engines with test footage. Are they feeling left out from the space symposium? Is it a deadline among all the pseudo-companies to show their progress to the party?” That last point could very well be true.

 

• ISRO has developed a carbon-carbon nozzle for use on its PSLV rocket

It says the nozzle is 67% lighter than the alloy nozzles presently used.