October 29, 2022

Taste of Space at Kennedy Space Center Will Be Star-Studded Foodie Affair (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A celebrity chef lineup will make this year’s Taste of Space event extra star-studded. James Beard award-winner Rocco DiSpirito, Food Network star baker Duff Goldman and chef, restaurateur and “Chopped” star Marc Murphy will be cooking up out-of-this-world delights on Nov. 4, when the Taste of Space event returns to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

The chefs will demo cooking techniques alongside veteran astronauts Bruce Melnick, Scott Altman and Sandra Magnus on the main floor of Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, KSC’s newest attraction. Guests can enjoy the demo while moving amid cutting-edge innovations in space exploration — all while sampling the wares of these noted culinarians, finishing off with a stunning dessert reveal from Goldman, the “Ace of Cakes” himself. Astronauts will be on-hand for photo ops, as well. (10/24)

LOFTID: Demonstrating Tech for Large Inflatable Heat Shields, Supporting Vulcan Engine Reuse (Source: ULA)
In the kickoff to the reusability roadmap for ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket, the flight of an inflatable heat shield at a relevant scale will be demonstrated as a secondary payload on the next Atlas V rocket launch. The Bernard Kutter Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) demonstration will be launched Nov. 1 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

"All of the data we get out of the LOFTID mission will be used to help corollate models and gain a much better understanding of what the Vulcan reuse system will face." LOFTID represents a key milestone in preparing for reusability in ULA's Vulcan launch system. From the beginning, the Sensible Modular Autonomous Return Technology (SMART) has been part of Vulcan development that focuses on reusing the most valuable part of the rocket -- its main engines. (10/27)

San Antonio Scientist Discovers Hints of Life on Saturn Moon (Source: San Antonio Express News)
Christopher Glein, a Southwest Research Institute planetary scientist, keeps finding surprises on Enceladus. The latest is that research suggests conditions on the orb — one of Saturn’s 83 moons — could support life. Analyzing data collected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, Glein has discovered that the moon with an ocean of liquid water beneath its frozen shell might contain phosphorus — an essential ingredient in creating DNA.

Phosphorus, designated as “P” on the periodic table, is a nutrient that is “vital for all life on Earth,” Glein said. “It is essential for the creation of DNA and RNA, energy-carrying molecules, cell membranes, bones and teeth in people and animals, and even the sea’s microbiome of plankton.” Coming into the work, Glein said he thought phosphorus “might present a problem for Enceladus’ habitability,” because previous models suggested the chemical element was scarce there. (10/28)

Canada's Growing Crop of Launcher Startups (Sources: Ars Technica, SpaceQ)
There are at least five Canada-based companies working to develop a native commercial launch capability. Most of the companies are working toward the goal of launching from Spaceport Nova Scotia, which remains under development. The companies are based in Calgary (AVRO Aerospace), Toronto (C6 Launch Systems, Nordspace, and SpaceRyde), and Montreal (Reaction Dynamics).

All are planning some variation on a small-satellite launch vehicle, with some ideas more radical than others—SpaceRyde's balloon-based launch concept, for example. I'm not well enough informed to comment on the viability of any of these companies, but small launch is a difficult business. However, if the Canadian Space Agency were to start offering and awarding contracts, that would help us discern who is legitimate, and who is not. (10/28)

Potential Russian Concerns That Norway's Spaceport Could Go Nuclear (Source: Ars Technica)
Norway has nuclear concerns about rocket launches? In what can charitably be described as an "odd take" on its local spaceport, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation has published an article asking whether the Andøya spaceport could trigger a nuclear war. The concern appears to be that the launch of Isar Aerospace's new Spectrum rocket, probably next year, will trigger Russia into believing it is about to be attacked by nuclear warheads.

There is some historical precedent ... In January 1995, Norwegian and US scientists launched a Black Brant-sounding rocket from Andøya. This alarmed Russian observers, who feared a high-altitude nuclear attack that could blind Russian radar, and accordingly the "nuclear briefcase" was brought to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Fortunately, before he had to decide whether to order a retaliatory strike, Russian observers determined that there was no nuclear attack. Presumably, communications about forthcoming rocket launches will be better a quarter of a century later. (10/28)

Vector is Back (Source: Ars Technica)
Vector Launch appears to be back, sort of. When we last checked in on Vector Launch, the company's CEO, Jim Cantrell, had departed the firm, and it was pausing its operations. That was three years ago, and pretty much everyone had written off the company as a cautionary tale on the perils of the small launch business. But now, according to a news release from the company, Vector is back in business. And just what is that business, you may ask?

Well, you asked for it ... "Vector Launch announces today the acceleration of its focus on US government and national security-related missions," the company said in a news release that said nothing about rockets. This appears to involve resilient space technology, and I really have no idea what else. Look, I've been burned by writing about Vector before. (10/28)