December 6, 2018

Astra Space Suborbital Launch Fails After Alaska Liftoff (Source: Space News)
A test flight in Alaska of a small launch vehicle by a stealthy startup company ended in failure in late November, the Federal Aviation Administration has revealed. In a speech Dec. 6 on the agency’s approach to commercial spaceflight safety, FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell mentioned a recent, but previously unreported, accident involving a launch taking place from Alaska one week ago.

“Even though all five engines failed, all debris landed in the spaceport boundary and there were no injuries or property damage to the uninvolved public.” Elwell didn’t provide additional details about the event, and left the conference without taking questions. However, according to FAA licensing records, there was a launch Nov. 29 by Astra of its “Astra Rocket 2” from Alaska. The launch featured a first stage but an “upper stage mass simulator” in place of an active upper stage. The rocket was intended to fly south from the spaceport, but the license did not disclose the planned altitude or downrange distance.

As the name suggests, the launch was the second for Astra Space. The company performed an initial suborbital launch, also from Kodiak, July 20. The launch took place in foggy conditions and the outcome was also shrouded in secrecy: the FAA said that launch suffered an unspecified “mishap” but Alaska Aerospace Corp. said its customer was “very pleased with the outcome of the launch.” (12/6)

Air Force Academy and Texas AM University Leverage Zero-G's Weightless Lab Ahead of SpaceX Launch (Source: Space Daily)
Zero Gravity Corporation's Weightless Lab served as a valuable testing ground for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), supported in part by Texas A and M University (TAMU) Construction Science Department, as they evaluated the FalconSAT-X on a zero-gravity flight that took place on Nov. 13. The parabolic flight experiments raise readiness levels for launches such as the Dec. 3rd FalconSAT-6 with SpaceX.

ZERO-G Weightless Lab provides a unique opportunity allowing researchers to conduct hands-on testing at a level matching NASA's rigorous standards and procedures. On the research flight, students and cadets worked side by side to evaluate the in-flight motion performance of solar panels attached to FalconSAT-X, the next satellite to be built by USAFA which is currently in the conceptual design phase. (12/5)

To Live in Space, We Have to Build Things in Space (Source: Marketplace)
For people to land or live on Mars, they'll have to survive in a hostile environment where you can't just run to the hardware store for new tools ... or a new satellite or new house. So some companies are trying to move manufacturing to space. NASA contracted with one company, called Made in Space, to use a 3D printer for making tools on the International Space Station. One day it may be able to "print" satellites in space. In-space manufacturing may also be used to create better earthbound products. Click here. (12/3)