Tag: spaceflight
A private space station by 2016
NASA’s chief technologist admits it will be a decade before Orion flies
This is why I call it pork and a waste of money: NASA’s chief technologist admits it will be a decade before Orion and the heavy-lift rocket mandated by Congress flies.
This is why I call it pork and a waste of money: NASA’s chief technologist admits it will be a decade before Orion and the heavy-lift rocket mandated by Congress flies.
Space tourism poised to blast off in the next two years
So what the shuttle is being retired! Space tourism is poised to blast off in the next two years.
So what the shuttle is being retired! Space tourism is poised to blast off in the next two years.
Launch of Glory postponed again
More launch news: The launch of the climate satellite Glory was postponed again today. No new launch date is set.
More launch news: The launch of the climate satellite Glory was postponed again today. No new launch date is set.
The shuttle Discovery has lifted off
More station news: The shuttle Discovery has lifted off on its last mission.
More station news: The shuttle Discovery has lifted off on its last mission.
Europe’s Kepler cargo vehicle has docked with ISS
Europe’s Kepler cargo vehicle has docked with ISS.
Europe’s Kepler cargo vehicle has docked with ISS.
The European Kepler freighter is set to dock with the space station tonight
The automatic docking of the European Kepler freighter to the space station is now set for 10:47 pm (Eastern) tonight.
The automatic docking of the European Kepler freighter to the space station is now set for 10:47 pm (Eastern) tonight.
Want to go to space? Come to the Isle of Man
Want to go to space? Come to the Isle of Man.
Want to go to space? Come to the Isle of Man.
The second X-37B has arrived in Florida
The second X-37B has arrived in Florida in preparation for a March 4th launch.
The second X-37B has arrived in Florida in preparation for a March 4th launch.
Final liftoff for Discovery set for Thursday, Feb 24
The final launch for the space shuttle Discovery has now been set for Thursday, February 24.
The final launch for the space shuttle Discovery has now been set for Thursday, February 24.
Robot arm on ISS shifts Japanese freighter to different port to clear path for shuttle
The robot arm on ISS shifted the Japanese freighter docked there to a different port today to clear a path for the shuttle.
The robot arm on ISS shifted the Japanese freighter docked there to a different port today to clear a path for the shuttle.
More Webb budget troubles
According to its manager, the budget troubles of the James Webb Space Telescope will likely keep it on the ground until 2016.
This is terrible news for space-based astrophysics. Until Webb gets launched, NASA will have no money for any other space telescope project. And since all the space telescopes presently in orbit are not expected to be operating at the end of the decade, by 2020 the U.S. space astronomy program will essentially be dead.
Then again, there is the private sector, as Google Lunar X Prize is demonstrating.
According to its manager, the budget troubles of the James Webb Space Telescope will likely keep it on the ground until 2016.
This is terrible news for space-based astrophysics. Until Webb gets launched, NASA will have no money for any other space telescope project. And since all the space telescopes presently in orbit are not expected to be operating at the end of the decade, by 2020 the U.S. space astronomy program will essentially be dead.
Then again, there is the private sector, as Google Lunar X Prize is demonstrating.
U.S. military turns to private sector for its satellite communications needs
Now, was that so hard? The U.S. military is turning to the private sector to fill its satellite communications needs.
Now, was that so hard? The U.S. military is turning to the private sector to fill its satellite communications needs.
How hibernating bears could help man get to Mars
How hibernating bears could help man get to Mars.
How hibernating bears could help man get to Mars.
The Great Moonbuggy Race
The future ups and downs of government spending in space
A new report says that government spending on space will flatten worldwide over the next five years. Some key quotes from the news story however suggest all is not going downhill:
A total of 692 satellites will be launched by governments in the coming decade, up 43% from the previous decade. This is a direct reflection of the increasing number of new space-capable countries across the globe. Civil agencies will launch roughly 75% of these satellites, a significant increase compared to the last decade during which they accounted for 67% of all government satellites launched.
Also, while certain areas will show a decline (the U.S. manned program) others appear robust.
Access to space (launch capability) investments reached $4.6 billion in 2010, and should be sustained in the coming years as more governments see independent access to space as a top priority of their space programs.
In both of the above examples, the areas where space activity will increase is because of the arrival of new space-faring nations (India, Japan, China to name only the most obvious), what I have been calling the new colonial movement. I also believe that as these new countries begin to show their stuff in space, their success will further fuel the competition, and the older space-faring nations will come back to life in order to stay in the game.
A potential landing site for next Mars rover
This week’s release of cool images from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter included the color image below of a region on the floor of Holden Crater, one of the four possible landing sites for Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory planned for launch later this year. (If you want to see the entire image at higher resolution, you can download it here.)
Two things that immediately stand out about this image (other than this looks like an incredibly spectacular place to visit):
A Private Space Shuttle Replacement
Google Lunar X Prize has announced the final roster of teams competing for its $30 Million prize
The Google Lunar X Prize has announced the final roster of teams competing for its $30 Million prize.
The Google Lunar X Prize has announced the final roster of teams competing for its $30 Million prize.
Thousands of previously unknown tombs in Saudi Desert spotted from space
Thousands of previously unknown ruins in Saudi Desert spotted from space.
Thousands of previously unknown ruins in Saudi Desert spotted from space.
Russian spacewalk finishes early
Meanwhile, up on ISS two Russians have successfully completed a five hour spacewalk, getting all their work done early.
Meanwhile, up on ISS two Russians have successfully completed a five hour spacewalk, getting all their work done early.
Europe’s ISS freighter launches successfully
Europe’s second ISS freighter, dubbed Johannes Kepler, launched successfully today.
Europe’s second ISS freighter, dubbed Johannes Kepler, launched successfully today.
The next flight of the Chinese manned spacecraft could last three weeks
China on the march! The next flight of their Shenzhou manned spacecraft could be a three week unmanned mission designed to test rendezvous and docking with their soon-to-launch Tiangong 1 space laboratory.
China on the march! The next flight of their Shenzhou manned spacecraft could be a three week unmanned mission designed to test rendezvous and docking with their soon-to-launch Tiangong 1 space laboratory.
The delay in the launch of the European cargo ship could delay the next Shuttle launch
The delay yesterday of the launch of the European cargo ship to ISS might also delay the next Shuttle launch.
The delay yesterday of the launch of the European cargo ship to ISS might also delay the next Shuttle launch.
Australian space beer ready for micro-gravity test
Australian space beer ready for micro-gravity test.
Australian space beer ready for micro-gravity test.
The launch of Europe’s freighter to ISS delayed one day
The launch of Europe’s freighter to ISS was scrubbed today. They will try again tomorrow.
The launch of Europe’s freighter to ISS was scrubbed today. They will try again tomorrow.
First images from Stardust of Comet Tempel 1
The first images from Stardust of Comet Tempel 1 have been released. More to come later today.
Update: some glitch is delaying the download of the images. Instead of arriving as programmed, they are arriving in the order taken.
The first images from Stardust of Comet Tempel 1 have been released. More to come later today.
Update: some glitch is delaying the download of the images. Instead of arriving as programmed, they are arriving in the order taken.
How to Watch NASA’s Comet Tempel 1 Flyby
How to watch Stardust’s Comet Tempel 1 flyby tonight.
How to watch Stardust’s Comet Tempel 1 flyby tonight.
A victory for aerospace pork
Update: See my partial retraction here.
The NASA budget announced today by the White House proves how right I was when I stated back on July 8, 2010 that I had no faith in Obama’s new-found commitment to private commercial space. The new budget reduces the funds for private commercial space while putting the bulk of its support behind the unbuildable program-formerly-called Constellation. First read what I wrote in July:
The problem is that I simply do not believe the Obama administration. Everything I have learned about the current President, including the specifics (or lack thereof) of his proposal, tells me that none of his promises are going to be fulfilled. » Read more
Astronauts simulate Mars landing
Astronauts on the Russian Mars500 simulated Mars mission simulated a Mars landing on Saturday. Key quote:
Three astronauts on the Mars500 simulated mission will make a simulated walk on the Mars “surface” Monday. After working 30 days on the simulated planet, the crew will then embark on a simulated 240-day return trip to Earth. Officials said the 520-day Mars500 mission is designed to test how humans cope with the physical and mental stresses of a long space flight.
Astronauts on the Russian Mars500 simulated Mars mission simulated a Mars landing on Saturday. Key quote:
Three astronauts on the Mars500 simulated mission will make a simulated walk on the Mars “surface” Monday. After working 30 days on the simulated planet, the crew will then embark on a simulated 240-day return trip to Earth. Officials said the 520-day Mars500 mission is designed to test how humans cope with the physical and mental stresses of a long space flight.