Tag: spaceflight
Russia is accelerating construction of its new spaceport in Vostochny.
The competition heats up: Russia is accelerating construction of its new spaceport in Vostochny.
The schedule doesn’t appear to have been pushed up, with the first launch still set for 2015, but they are going to initiate a second shift, and will have monthly meeting with the government to monitor progress. Under the top-down Russian way of doing things, this is how they make sure their high priority projects get finished on time and successfully.
Sierra Nevada is planning additional glide tests in the fall. using its Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle.
The competition heats up: Sierra Nevada is planning additional glide tests in the fall. using its Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle.
This is the same test vehicle that crashed last October during its first glide test when one landing gear failed to deploy properly. The glide test itself was a success however, as the vehicle did a controlled unmanned glide perfectly to the runway, and the failed landing gear was one that the spacecraft will not use once completed.
Note also that these announced flight tests will occur after NASA eliminates one of the companies competing for the final crew ferrying contract to ISS. This suggests that Sierra Nevada plans to continue development of Dream Chaser, regardless of whether they get the contract or not.
Crowd-funding the engineering and money to bring a 1970s NASA space probe back to life.
Crowd-funding the engineering and money to bring a 1970s NASA space probe back to life.
More here.
The idea is brilliant. The probe, ISEE-3, has functioning instruments. It just hasn’t been operated since the 1980s. If they can get the funds to pay for the effort, they will provide scientists a space probe for pennies.
NASA has officially handed control of launchpad 39A to SpaceX, where the company intends to launch its Falcon Heavy.
NASA has officially handed control of launchpad 39A to SpaceX, where the company intends to launch its Falcon Heavy.
The agreement turns over control of Launch Complex 39A to the commercial space transportation firm, which plans to use the launch pad for the the initial flights of the Falcon Heavy, a mega-rocket featuring 27 first stage engines generating nearly 4 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
Pad 39A was the starting point for many historic Apollo and space shuttle missions, including the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 and the first and last shuttle launches in 1981 and 2011.
“We’ll make great use of this pad, I promise,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, in remarks to the media moments after signing the lease. “We’ve had architects and our launch site engineering [team] working for many months on the sidelines. We will launch the Falcon Heavy from here first — from this pad — early next year.” [emphasis mine]
The highlighted quote reveals a key fact. Until recently SpaceX had been claiming that it will do its first demo launch of Falcon Heavy in 2014. This quote confirms that this schedule is not happening.
China’s president calls for the increased military use of that country’s space assets.
China’s president calls for the increased military use of that country’s space assets.
The article itself is not very informative, other than noting these comments. In fact, it has some errors that suggest the writer knows very little about China’s space effort, both civilian or military.
Nonetheless, China’s president did make this statement, which tells us that it is definitely Chinese policy. Not good.
SpaceX has positioned recovery crews in the Atlantic in an effort to retrieve the Falcon 9 first stage after its upcoming launch, now set for Friday.
SpaceX has positioned recovery crews in the Atlantic in an effort to retrieve the Falcon 9 first stage after its upcoming launch, now set for Friday.
European satellite operators are pressing Arianespace to find ways to immediately reduce the cost of launching satellites on now Ariane 5 and in the future on Ariane 6.
European satellite operators are pressing Arianespace to find ways to immediately reduce the cost of launching satellites on now Ariane 5 and in the future on Ariane 6.
And why are they doing this? To quote them:
“What is sure is that Europe deserves and requires a [reorganized launcher sector] ahead of 2019, the letter says. “[C]onsiderable efforts to restore competitiveness in price of the existing European launcher need to be undertaken if Europe is [to] maintain its market situation.
“In the short term, a more favorable pricing policy for the small satellites currently being targeted by SpaceX seems indispensable to keeping the Ariane launch manifest strong and well-populated.” [emphasis mine]
It seems that they take very seriously the competitive challenge being presented by SpaceX.
Today’s launch of Dragon to ISS has been scrubbed due to “a helium leak in Falcon 9’s first stage.”
Today’s launch of Dragon to ISS has been scrubbed due to “a helium leak in Falcon 9’s first stage.”
SpaceX also says they will be ready to launch by April 18, their next launch window.
The backup computer that helps operate ISS’s robot arms is not responding to commands.
The backup computer that helps operate ISS’s robot arms is not responding to commands.
The timing could not be worse.. Though the number one computer is functioning fine, this unit is essential for controlling the robot arm that will berth Dragon to ISS this week.
Side note: The article above described this problem in its headlines as a “glitch.” I despise this word, as it is generally used by government bureaucrats to minimize the seriousness of a failure. The Soviet era bureaucrats in Russia loved it. I have noticed it popping up in American news reports relating to space more and more, and it is never a very accurate description of the situation. This computer failure is not a “glitch,” it is a serious failure of an essential piece of hardware.
Update: Because a spacewalk will be required to fix the backup computer, NASA has okayed the launch of Dragon. They need it to arrive first because it carries a new spacesuit and other parts needed to replace the suit that almost drowned an astronaut during a spacewalk last summer.
Note: I was in the back country of Arizona this past weekend, caving, which is why I am only now getting up to speed on this weekend’s news.
Scaled Composites has posted the logs for several successful engine test results on its webpage.
Some real news about SpaceShipTwo: Scaled Composites has posted the logs for several successful engine test results on its webpage.
The information is sparse, but it suggests that these tests are attempts to run the engine through a full simulated flight.
Houston yesterday signed a letter of intent with Sierra Nevada to provide the company a home at that city’s proposed spaceport.
The competition heats up: Houston yesterday signed a letter of intent with Sierra Nevada to provide the company a home at that city’s proposed spaceport.
The competition here is not from the spaceship company but from the spaceport. Houston is in a race with Colorado and Florida for the launch business. In fact, it appears that a lot of American cities are scrambling to attract the new aerospace launch companies, suggesting that they all see a new industry aborning and want their share.
Another example: The California legislature has passed a ten year tax exemption for spaceflight companies.