Tag: spaceflight
A look inside NASA’s “Skunk Works”
NASA Foresees 2-Year Final Shuttle Retirement Phase
Seems a bit long to me: NASA foresees a two year period after the last shuttle lands to retire the program completely.
Seems a bit long to me: NASA foresees a two year period after the last shuttle lands to retire the program completely.
The families of the Challenger astronauts come out in favor of commercial private manned spaceflight
The families of the Challenger astronauts come out in favor of commercial private manned spaceflight.
The families of the Challenger astronauts come out in favor of commercial private manned spaceflight.
Breathtaking view of the central peak of Tycho Crater
Another astonishing space photograph, this time from lunar orbit, taken by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on June 11, 2011.
The image looks down at the central peak of Tycho crater, with enough detail to make out individual boulders at the summit. Go the link to see some closeups.
Mysterious Light Burst Captured by Hawaii Telescope
Mysterious bubble of light, caused by military suborbital rocket, captured by Hawaii telescopes.
Mysterious bubble of light, caused by military suborbital rocket, captured by Hawaii telescopes.
‘Dirty hack’ restores Cluster mission from near loss
A “dirty hack” has restored the Cluster solar wind mission from near loss.
A “dirty hack” has restored the Cluster solar wind mission from near loss.
Cassini looks past one Saturn moon to another
The image below was taken on January 11, 2011 by the space probe Cassini, in orbit around Saturn. First we see the southern polar regions of the moon Rhea, 949 miles in diameter. Beyond is the moon Dione, 698 miles across, appearing to sit on the rings of Saturn.
As far as I am concerned, this image, as well as almost every other image from Cassini, proves that any hotel built in orbit around Saturn is unquestionably going to be one of the hottest tourist spots in the solar system.
The Japanese solar sail Ikaros continues to function, more than 100 million miles from Earth
The Japanese solar sail Ikaros continues to function, more than 100 million miles from Earth.
The Japanese solar sail Ikaros continues to function, more than 100 million miles from Earth.
Biosphere 2 gets a new owner and a boost in funding
Biosphere 2 gets a new owner and a boost in funding.
Biosphere 2 gets a new owner and a boost in funding.
Wallops launch delayed until Wednesday
The launch of a military satellite out of Wallops Island, Maryland has been delayed until Wednesday.
The launch of a military satellite out of Wallops Island, Maryland has been delayed until Wednesday.
Astronauts retreated to Soyuz lifeboats early today as debris zipped 1000 feet past the station
Astronauts retreated to their Soyuz lifeboats early today as a piece of space junk zipped less than 1000 feet past the station.
Astronauts retreated to their Soyuz lifeboats early today as a piece of space junk zipped less than 1000 feet past the station.
Rocket launch on Tuesday at Wallops will be visible for most of Mid-Atlantic
A rocket launch tonight at Wallops Island will be visible to most of the mid-Atlantic eastern United States.
A rocket launch tonight at Wallops Island will be visible to most of the mid-Atlantic eastern United States.
Another private space plane moves forward
Another private space plane moves forward.
Another private space plane moves forward.
How to watch a shuttle launch
The faces of Vesta
Want to send a probe to another planet? Cut costs!
Want to send a probe to another planet? Do it cheaply, as these scientists did.
Want to send a probe to another planet? Do it cheaply, as these scientists did.
Branson says Virgin Galactic will fly a suborbital flight within a year
From Clark Lindsey: Branson says Virgin Galactic will fly a suborbital flight within a year.
From Clark Lindsey: Branson says Virgin Galactic will fly a suborbital flight within a year.
Online prices soar for space shuttle Atlantis launch tickets
Better buy that ticket now if you want to see the last shuttle launch from the best spot: Online prices have soared for space shuttle Atlantis launch tickets.
Better buy that ticket now if you want to see the last shuttle launch from the best spot: Online prices have soared for space shuttle Atlantis launch tickets.
Shaved bat wings show sensory hairs help manage flight
Tiny little hairs on the wings of bats help control their flight.
Tiny little hairs on the wings of bats help control their flight.
ATV burns up, Progress launched
Busy day for travel to and from ISS: The European unmanned ATV freighter Johannes Kepler burned up in the atmosphere even as a Russian Progress freighter was launched.
In related news, the U.S. and ESA are in negotiations to merge the European unmanned ATV freighter program with NASA’s manned Orion derivative. At the same time, Europe has announced its plans to test fly a reusable space plane.
Busy day for travel to and from ISS: The European unmanned ATV freighter Johannes Kepler burned up in the atmosphere even as a Russian Progress freighter was launched.
In related news, the U.S. and ESA are in negotiations to merge the European unmanned ATV freighter program with NASA’s manned Orion derivative. At the same time, Europe has announced its plans to test fly a reusable space plane.
The first Soyuz launch from French Guiana is set for October 20, 2011
The first Soyuz launch from French Guiana has now been scheduled for October 20, 2011.
The first Soyuz launch from French Guiana has now been scheduled for October 20, 2011.
Astronaut Mark Kelly retires
Energia not to produce Soyuz spaceship for space tourists
According to the chief of the Russian space agency, it presently does not have the capacity to produce additional Soyuz capsule for tourist flights.
According to the chief of the Russian space agency, it presently does not have the capacity to produce additional Soyuz capsule for tourist flights.
NASA about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement
NASA is about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement, and it looks like it will be almost entirely shuttle-derived.
As I have said previously, this rocket will almost certainly never fly. NASA has to start over after spending billions and years developing Constellation, and is being given less money and time to do it.
And even if I am wrong and this rocket does fly, I bet it will do only one flight and then be retired as too costly.
NASA is about to decide on its shuttle heavy-lift replacement, and it looks like it will be almost entirely shuttle-derived.
As I have said previously, this rocket will almost certainly never fly. NASA has to start over after spending billions and years developing Constellation, and is being given less money and time to do it.
And even if I am wrong and this rocket does fly, I bet it will do only one flight and then be retired as too costly.
SpaceX Sues Expert Who Questioned Safety of Falcon 9 Rocket
Turf war: SpaceX has sued a NASA safety expert (with ties to the Ares rocket program) who questioned the safety of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Turf war: SpaceX has sued a NASA safety expert (with ties to the Ares rocket program) who questioned the safety of the Falcon 9 rocket.
An update from Messenger
An update from Messenger.
An update from Messenger.
ESA controllers buy time to solve problems on comet probe Rosetta
This ain’t good. One of the reasons ESA controllers recently put the comet probe Rosetta into hibernation for two and a half years was in order to buy time to solve a serious technical problem.
Mission managers said the hibernation will permit Rosetta to rest its four reaction wheels, two of which have shown signs of degradation. The satellite needs three to function, and one of the two problem wheels will be used only as a spare when the satellite is awakened in January 2014 in preparation for its approach to a comet.
This ain’t good. One of the reasons ESA controllers recently put the comet probe Rosetta into hibernation for two and a half years was in order to buy time to solve a serious technical problem.
Mission managers said the hibernation will permit Rosetta to rest its four reaction wheels, two of which have shown signs of degradation. The satellite needs three to function, and one of the two problem wheels will be used only as a spare when the satellite is awakened in January 2014 in preparation for its approach to a comet.
A tanking test for the last shuttle flight encounters problems
During a tanking test of the space shuttle Atlantis today a valve to the main engines leaked, requiring replacement and raising questions whether the July 8 launch date can be met.
During a tanking test of the space shuttle Atlantis today a valve to the main engines leaked, requiring replacement and raising questions whether the July 8 launch date can be met.
Second X-51 hypersonic flight crashes prematurely
Second X-51 hypersonic flight crashes prematurely.
After what the US Air Force described as a ‘flawless’ flight to the launch point aboard a Boeing B-52 mothership, the X-51 was successfully boosted to Mach 5.0 by a rocket booster. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne scramjet engine successfully ignited using its initial fuel, ethylene. During the immediate transition to JP-7, the conventional fuel that makes the X-51 unique, an inlet unstart occurred. A subsequent attempt to restart and reorient to optimal conditions was unsuccessful.
Second X-51 hypersonic flight crashes prematurely.
After what the US Air Force described as a ‘flawless’ flight to the launch point aboard a Boeing B-52 mothership, the X-51 was successfully boosted to Mach 5.0 by a rocket booster. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne scramjet engine successfully ignited using its initial fuel, ethylene. During the immediate transition to JP-7, the conventional fuel that makes the X-51 unique, an inlet unstart occurred. A subsequent attempt to restart and reorient to optimal conditions was unsuccessful.
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours.
SpaceShipTwo completes two glide test flights within twenty-four hours.