Minute-Long Free Flight
Moves Dream Chaser Closer to Florida Launch, Landing
(Source: Florida Today)
A mini-shuttle’s glide to a California runway landing last weekend
previewed planned Kennedy Space Center touchdowns that are possible
within three years. Recalling NASA’s prototype space shuttle orbiter
Enterprise 40 years ago — but with no crew on board — Sierra Nevada
Corp.’s Dream Chaser dropped from altitude, deployed landing gear and
rolled 4,200 feet to a stop at Edwards Air Force Base on Veterans Day.
Pending NASA’s approval, the minute-long free flight is expected to be
the Dream Chaser’s last test flight before a mid-2020 blastoff from
Cape Canaveral atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, on an
International Space Station supply mission. After losing its bid to fly
astronauts to the station, SNC was one of three companies NASA selected
for its next round of commercial resupply contracts starting in 2019,
along with incumbents SpaceX and Orbital ATK.
Saturday morning’s test simulated the last two-and-a-half miles of a
Dream Chaser’s return from space, which look much like those flown by
the larger space shuttle, Sirangelo said. A helicopter dropped the
Dream Chaser from about 12,500 feet. Flight computers running software
designed for orbital flights commanded the Dream Chaser to make left
and right turns before it lined up the runway for a touchdown at 191
mph. (11/13)
ARCA Space CEO Arrested
on Charges of Embezzlement, Fraud (Source: Parabolic Arc)
ARCA Space Corporation CEO Dumitru Popescu was in a New Mexico jail on
Sunday night after being arrested and charged of fraud, embezzlement
and forgery. The Romanian-born Popescu faces 13 counts of fraud, five
counts of embezzlement and one count of forgery. Popescu was arrested
in Georgia and is now being held in New Mexico without bond.
The New Mexico Securities Division alleges that Popescu “did by words
or conduct make a promise that he had no intention of keeping” and
“misrepresented a fact intending deceive or cheat” Michael Persico, the
CEO and founder of the Chicago-based telecommunications company Anova
Technologies, in an amount exceeding $20,000, according to the
complaint. (11/13)
Harris Develops Fully
Digital Navigation Payload for Future GPS III Sats
(Source: GPS Daily)
Harris Corporation has completed development of the company's fully
digital Mission Data Unit (MDU), which is at the heart of its
navigation payload for Lockheed Martin's GPS III satellites 11 and
beyond.
The current Harris payload for GPS III space vehicles (SVs) 1-10
includes a greater than three times reduction in range error, up to
eight times increase in anti-jamming power, added signals - including
one compatible with other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) -
and greater signal integrity.
Harris' GPS III SV11+ fully digital navigation payload will further
improve on performance for the U.S. Air Force by providing more
powerful signals, plus built-in flexibility to adapt to advances in GPS
technology, as well as future changes in mission needs. (11/10)
Russia has a Plan to
Compete with SpaceX—But it Has a Flaw (Source: Ars
Technica)
As recently as 2013, Russia's venerable fleet of rockets commanded
nearly half of the global share of the commercial launch market. Since
then, the emergence of other players, most notably SpaceX, has
considerably shrunk the once-dominant Russian position. This year,
although Russia has made 17 successful orbital launches, only about a
third of them have flown for paying customers. By contrast, SpaceX has
made 16 launches this year, 11 of which have been for commercial
customers.
Recognizing its dimming market position, the Russian rocket
corporation, Energia, has fast-tracked development of a new
medium-class launch vehicle that it is calling Soyuz-5. Next year,
however, SpaceX is likely to debut the fifth and final version of its
Falcon 9 booster, optimized for reusability and likely with a capacity
of 23 tons to low-Earth orbit.
If that rocket is even a modest success, which seems plausible given
SpaceX's recent progression, then when the Soyuz-5 rocket debuts in
2021, it won't be competing with a Falcon 9 rocket that costs $60
million and has a backlog in launches. Rather, with rapid reusability,
it seems more likely that by then, SpaceX will be capable of launching
nearly on demand for some fraction of $60 million. (11/13)
Will Elon Musk’s SpaceX
and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Cross Paths? (Source: Baqqit)
he fundamental purpose of the two companies is completely different
from one another. SpaceX is basically in the freight haulage business.
It caters towards corporate and government client. They have launched
more than 20 commercial satellites, engaged in resupply missions for
space stations and taken part in US government science and national
security missions.
In contrast to this, Blue Origin is in the tourism market. Bezos seeks
to take tourists into orbit for 10-11 minutes and popularize space
travel. As far as business goes, so far they have not launched anything
for the paying customer and therefore have not generated any revenues
to date. The deadline for the first launch with customers inside is
targeted to be in 2019. No valuation can be estimated at this point.
Click here.
(11/13)
Was SpaceX Getting
Favorable Treatment? (Source: My San Antonio)
For the sake of our national security, I am thankful that Speaker Paul
Ryan appointed U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, Chairman of the
House, Science, Space, and Technology Committee, as a conferee to the
Armed Services Conference Committee.
There, he worked with fellow Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry to get the
National Defense Authorization Agreement (NDAA) ready for a final vote.
Smith’s voice on the committee was critical because he has a long
history of demonstrating a sound understanding of how defense policy is
often lacking in equity. Before the conferees got involved, the 2018
NDAA was no different.
Thankfully, the conferees scrapped Section 1615 of the original House
agreement, which would have stopped the armed forces from aiding in the
creation of new launch systems. The timing of this section is what was
perplexing. A ban on Russian rocket engines will go into effect in just
a few years, which may take SpaceX’s current sole competitor out of
play. This Russia prohibition would be completely understandable on
national security grounds if the Air Force could still incentivize
competition; however, Section 1615’s ban on abetting new launch systems
might have resulted in SpaceX receiving near-monopoly status over the
nation’s launch services. (11/14)
General Atomics Acquires
Assets of Surrey Satellite Technology US (Source:
Parabolic Arc)
General Atomics announced today that it has acquired the majority of
the assets of Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC, an Englewood,
Colorado.-based provider of small satellite technologies, systems and
services. The assets and workforce will be integrated into General
Atomics’ Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) to support the
organization’s growth initiatives focused on the development and
delivery of small satellite and advanced payload systems. (11/14)
Loft Orbital Raises $3.2
Million to Build Condo Constellation (Source: Space News)
A San Francisco startup raised $3.2 million in a seed financing round
to create a service around operating a constellation of satellites
packed with payloads from different customers. Loft Orbital says it
could have a first mission in orbit by the second half of 2019, and
already has three “well advanced leads” that could soon mature into
paying customers.
Founders Antoine de Chassy, Alexander Greenberg and Pierre-Damien
Vaujour — all of whom once worked for nanosatellite operator Spire —
are targeting as customers various companies, academics and government
agencies that want to collect data from space — weather, imagery, etc.
— but don’t want to own and operate any satellites. Loft is a leasing
company, essentially buying a satellite platform and stocking it with
up to five payloads from various customers. (11/13)
Skylark: The Unsung Hero
of British Space (Source: BBC)
It's 60 years to the day that Britain launched its first Skylark
rocket. It wasn't a big vehicle, and it didn't go to orbit. But the
anniversary of that first flight from Woomera, Australia, should be
celebrated because much of what we do in space today has its roots in
this particular piece of technology. "Skylark is an unsung British hero
really," says Doug Millard, space curator at London's Science Museum.
"The first one was launched during the International Geophysical Year
of 1957, and almost 450 were launched over the better part of half a
century. It was the Skylark space rocket that really laid the
foundations for everything the UK does in space." Millard is opening a
corner of the museum's Space Gallery to the memory of the Skylark.
(11/13)
Two Monster Galaxies From
Big Bang Epoch are About to Collide in Extreme Merger
(Source: Newsweek)
Two ginormous galaxies almost 13 billion light years away are about to
smash into each other in the most extreme merger event of its kind. And
astronomers on Earth have a front row view. The hyper-luminous
starburst galaxies—the ADFS-27 system—are believed to be two of the
most massive systems in the universe.
They are located in the Dorado constellation, also known as the
swordfish, and are 12.7 billion years away from Earth—meaning they
formed when the universe was only around one billion years old. At the
moment, the galaxies are around 30,000 light years away from one
another. Their collision course is providing researchers with an
unprecedented view into how the universe as we see it today was
created. (11/14)
Study Finds SpaceX
Investment Saved NASA Hundreds of Millions (Source:
Popular Mechanics)
When a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft connected with the International Space
Station on May 25, 2012, it made history as the first privately-built
spacecraft to reach the ISS. The Dragon was the result of a decision 6
years prior—in 2006, NASA made an "unprecedented" investment in SpaceX
technology. A new financial analysis shows that the investment has paid
off, and the government found one of the true bargains of the 21st
century when it invested in SpaceX. Click here.
(11/10)
Tempe Arizona Evolves
Into a Hotbed for the Space Industry (Source: AZ Big Media)
The cosmos is billions of years old. But the idea of exploring the
unknown, infinite universe beyond Earth’s orbit from Tempe is much,
much younger. Arizona State University has been active for years. ASU
was involved with the NASA’s Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s and,
more recently, with Curiosity, a car-sized robotic rover whose mission
is to explore Mars.
The university isn’t the only place in Tempe exploring the cosmos.
There’s a vibrant commercial space industry that is looking beyond our
blue planet. This commercial space industry has its roots in the
pre-bankruptcy Tempe operations of Motorola spin-off, Iridium, which
started in the 1980s. Click here.
(11/13)
Apollo in 'Artemis': Andy
Weir Sets New Book at moon Landing Site (Source:
CollectSpace)
One hundred and 15 years after NASA's historic Apollo 11 mission landed
the first astronauts on the moon, tourists bound about "Tranquility
Base" and stay at a commercial lunar base, at least as envisioned by
the author of "The Martian" in his new book.
In "Artemis," Andy Weir's new novel out Tuesday (Nov. 14) from Crown,
readers are launched on another riveting space adventure that is
grounded in science, but this time it is wrapped around the tale of a
crime and set at the first and only city on the moon. Like Weir's prior
protagonist, Mark Watney in "The Martian," twenty-something Jasmine
Bashara (aka "Jazz") finds herself facing mounting challenges — more
than a few of her own creation — with a sharp wit and sense of humor.
(11/14)
Venture Capitalist Takes
Leave of Absence from SpaceX Board (Source: Space News)
A prominent venture capitalist who has been a key investor and
supporter of commercial space efforts has left the firm he co-founded
and is taking a leave of absence from the board of SpaceX. In a brief
statement Nov. 13, venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ)
announced that Steve Jurvetson, a co-founder and partner in the firm
would be leaving by “mutual agreement.” The statement did not specify
the reason for his departure.
However, a report last month by the technology publication The
Information stated DFJ was investigating “indirect and second-hand
allegations” regarding Jurvetson’s conduct towards women. Jurvetson
denied any allegations in a tweet that confirmed he was leaving DFJ. “I
am leaving DFJ to focus on personal matters, including taking legal
action against those whose false statements have defamed me,” he said.
(11/14)
BAE Systems Wins DARPA
Contract to Develop 3D Space Warfare Lab (Source: Space
News)
DARPA awarded BAE Systems a contract worth up to $12.8 million to
develop a digital lab to help U.S. military commanders prepare for
combat in outer space, the company announced Nov. 14. The task is to
create a virtual space-battle zone so U.S. military leaders can better
understand the space environment and the potential threats. (11/14)
Japan to Try Again with
World’s Smallest Satellite-Carrying Rocket (Source: Japan
Times)
The space agency will try once again in December to launch the world’s
smallest rocket capable of placing a satellite in orbit after the
initial attempt failed in January. The rocket, measuring 10 meters long
and 50 cm in diameter, will carry a “micro-mini” satellite weighing
about 3 kg developed by the University of Tokyo to collect imagery of
the Earth’s surface. The launch scheduled for Dec. 25 will feature the
fifth rocket in the SS-520 series.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is hoping small rockets
made with commercially available components at low cost will help fuel
the growing global demand for micro-mini satellites. JAXA used
components found in home electronics and smartphones for the rocket,
which is about the size of a utility pole. The three-stage rocket is
scheduled to lift off from the Uchinoura Space Center in Kagoshima
Prefecture between 10 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. (11/13)
Former NASA Official
Joins Luxembourg Initiative (Source: Space Resources)
The Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy today announced that Mr. Gary
Martin, former Director of Partnerships at NASA Ames, recently joined
its Space Affairs Department. As an independent advisor, Gary Martin
assists the Directorate-General for Research, Intellectual Property and
New Technologies, in charge of Space Affairs, to implement the strategy
relating to the SpaceResources.lu initiative in close collaboration
with national partners from research and academia. (11/14)
No comments:
Post a Comment