Tag: spaceflight
China Details Ambitious Space Station Goals
Some interesting comments about NASA’s future from Clark Lindsey
Clark Lindsey of www.rlvnews.com/ has posted some interesting thoughts in reaction to the successful launch of the Air Force’s second reusable X-37b yesterday and how this relates to NASA’s budget battles in Congress. Key quote for me:
Charles Bolden doesn’t seem prepared to make a forceful case against the clear and obvious dumbness of the HLV/Orion program. Perhaps he in fact wants a make-work project for NASA to sustain the employee base.
As I’ve said before, the program-formerly-called-Constellation is nothing more than pork, and will never get built. Why waste any money on it now?
Clark Lindsey of www.rlvnews.com/ has posted some interesting thoughts in reaction to the successful launch of the Air Force’s second reusable X-37b yesterday and how this relates to NASA’s budget battles in Congress. Key quote for me:
Charles Bolden doesn’t seem prepared to make a forceful case against the clear and obvious dumbness of the HLV/Orion program. Perhaps he in fact wants a make-work project for NASA to sustain the employee base.
As I’ve said before, the program-formerly-called-Constellation is nothing more than pork, and will never get built. Why waste any money on it now?
The second X-37b is in orbit
The second X-37b is in orbit. Key quote:
Similar to [Orbital Test Vehicle-1] , [Orbital Test Vehicle-2]’s actual mission duration will depend on the vehicle achieving its test objectives, but he expects it to remain on orbit for approximately 270 days. “We may extend the mission to enhance our understanding of the OTV capabilities,” Colonel Giese said, “especially since the performance data from the first flight suggest that the vehicle could have gone beyond the 270-day requirement.”
The second X-37b is in orbit. Key quote:
Similar to [Orbital Test Vehicle-1] , [Orbital Test Vehicle-2]’s actual mission duration will depend on the vehicle achieving its test objectives, but he expects it to remain on orbit for approximately 270 days. “We may extend the mission to enhance our understanding of the OTV capabilities,” Colonel Giese said, “especially since the performance data from the first flight suggest that the vehicle could have gone beyond the 270-day requirement.”
NASA to announce future museum homes of shuttles on April 12
NASA administrator Charles Bolden revealed at House hearings this week that NASA will announce the future museum homes for the retiring shuttles on April 12.
There is something terribly sad and ironic about having this announcement occur on the 50th anniversary of the first manned flight into space by Yuri Gagarin.
NASA administrator Charles Bolden revealed at House hearings this week that NASA will announce the future museum homes for the retiring shuttles on April 12.
There is something terribly sad and ironic about having this announcement occur on the 50th anniversary of the first manned flight into space by Yuri Gagarin.
Weather scrubs X-37B launch
Weather has scrubbed today’s X-37B launch. They’ll try again tomorrow.
Weather has scrubbed today’s X-37B launch. They’ll try again tomorrow.
FAA Seeks Funding for New Space Prize
The FAA is seeking funds for a new space prize, $5 million for launching a small payload into Earth orbit.
No further details are yet available. One wonders what the criteria will be, as many established companies already routinely launch payloads into orbit.
The FAA is seeking funds for a new space prize, $5 million for launching a small payload into Earth orbit.
No further details are yet available. One wonders what the criteria will be, as many established companies already routinely launch payloads into orbit.
Five hundred customers into space in the first year of operation
Five hundred customers into space in the first year of operation.
Five hundred customers into space in the first year of operation.
Glory satellite falls to Earth after launch failure
The Glory climate satellite has crashed in the Pacific when its rocket failed during launch today.
The Glory climate satellite has crashed in the Pacific when its rocket failed during launch today.
The secrets of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space project
The secrets of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space project.
The secrets of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space project.
Russia lacks enough rockets to fulfill 2011 launch plans
This is both good and bad: Russia appears to lack enough available rockets to fulfill its 2011 launch plans.
This is both good and bad: Russia appears to lack enough available rockets to fulfill its 2011 launch plans.
Leonardo cargo module installed on ISS
The Leonardo cargo module was permanently installed on ISS yesterday.
The Leonardo cargo module was permanently installed on ISS yesterday.
X-37B launch set for March 4
The launch of the Air Force’s second X-37B is set for March 4.
The launch of the Air Force’s second X-37B is set for March 4.
Station photo op cancelled
The Soyuz fly-around of the space station to photograph it with the shuttle docked has been canceled.
The Soyuz fly-around of the space station to photograph it with the shuttle docked has been canceled.
Robotic arm breakdown adds spacewalk drama
The crash of the computer that runs the station’s robot arm stranded a spacewalking astronaut in space for about 20 minutes yesterday.
The crash of the computer that runs the station’s robot arm stranded a spacewalking astronaut in space for about 20 minutes yesterday.
Scientists buy tickets on Virgin Galactic
The Southwest Research Institute has purchased two tickets from Virgin Galactic for its scientists to fly on SpaceShipTwo.
The Southwest Research Institute has purchased two tickets from Virgin Galactic for its scientists to fly on SpaceShipTwo.
India’s space agency gets a 35% hike for 2011
Not all space agencies (think NASA) have budget problems: India has given its space agency ISRO a 35% hike for 2011.
Not all space agencies (think NASA) have budget problems: India has given its space agency ISRO a 35% hike for 2011.
Amateur images of ISS and the shuttle
Take a gander at this spectacular image of the shuttle approaching ISS, taken by an amateur astronomer from the ground!
Take a gander at this spectacular image of the shuttle approaching ISS, taken by an amateur astronomer from the ground!
The Beer has Landed: Astronauts4Hire Completes Space Beer Microgravity Test
The beer has landed: The first test of space beer in weightlessness has been completed. Key quote:
Astronauts4Hire Flight Member Todd Romberger was selected to perform the flight research. Todd sampled the beer during 12 microgravity parabolas, each reproducing the weightless conditions of space for 30 seconds at a time, and recorded qualitative data on beverage taste and drinkability as well as biometric data to gain a first look at alcohol effects the body.
The beer has landed: The first test of space beer in weightlessness has been completed. Key quote:
Astronauts4Hire Flight Member Todd Romberger was selected to perform the flight research. Todd sampled the beer during 12 microgravity parabolas, each reproducing the weightless conditions of space for 30 seconds at a time, and recorded qualitative data on beverage taste and drinkability as well as biometric data to gain a first look at alcohol effects the body.
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.