SuperDraco engine test firing. (Credit: SpaceX)

Thruster to Power Revolutionary Launch Escape System on Dragon Spacecraft

HAWTHORNE, Calif. (SpaceX PR) – Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) announced today that it has completed qualification testing for the SuperDraco thruster, an engine that will power the Dragon spacecraft’s launch escape system and enable the vehicle to land propulsively on Earth or another planet with pinpoint accuracy.

The qualification testing program took place over the last month at SpaceX’s Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas. The program included testing across a variety of conditions including multiple starts, extended firing durations and extreme off-nominal propellant flow and temperatures.

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A couple of updates on Google’s emerging space program: The company last month hired Brian Holz, who was chief technology officer at O3b Networks, which has launched special satellites to try to broadcast signals that would power new Internet service in developing countries around the world. Google had previously made a financial investment in O3b and one of its employees sits on O3b’s board. The startup’s recently-launched satellites faced technical […]

Airbus Boss Calls for Industry Overhaul. Faced with competition from SpaceX, Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders says the European launch industry needs a fundamental overhaul to avoid becoming irrelevant. “I believe we are at a defining moment for Europe’s future in space and Europe’s launcher industry,” Enders said. “We need a major reshuffling of the entire space launcher industry, and not just the industry part but what the government agencies […]

Aviation Week reports on the impact of Russia banning the export of RD-180 engines for use in the Atlas V rocket:

An influential government commission is recommending the quick start of a new liquid oxygen (LOx)/hydrocarbon engine program not only as a measure to mitigate an Atlas V gap if Russia cuts off its supply of RD-180 engines to the U.S., but also to provide an alternative to the Delta IV in nearly a decade.

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Lynx cockpit view. (Credit: XCOR)

CFIUS Approval Clears XCOR Aerospace’s First Close of Series B Financing

MOJAVE, CA, May 27, 2014 — XCOR Aerospace announced today that the United States Treasury Department’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) has approved the Series B lead investment by Dutch investors. The first closing of XCOR’s new round of finance issued $14.2 million of Series B preferred shares. XCOR will use the funds to bring the XCOR^® Lynx^® suborbital spaceplane to market.

The Series B financing was led by Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) of The Netherlands. Michiel Mol and Mark Hoogendoorn of SXC will join the current five members on the XCOR Board of Directors. The first round also included many existing and new investors including: board member Esther Dyson, Pete Ricketts (co-owner of the Chicago Cubs), and a number of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and early-stage investors. A smaller second closing is scheduled over the summer.

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KAUAI, HI (NASA PR) — A saucer-shaped vehicle designed to test interplanetary landing devices hangs on a tower in preparation for launch at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The saucer, which is part of NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project, will test two devices for landing heavy payloads on Mars: an inflatable tube and an enormous parachute.

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NASA PR — Working in wind tunnels, software laboratories and work stations across America, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partners continue to make strides in advancing the designs of the American spacecraft and rockets that will carry humans safely and reliably into low-Earth orbit from U.S. soil by 2017.

Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) are accomplishing milestones established through Space Act Agreements as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2 and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability initiatives.

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SpaceShipTwo lights its engine as WhiteKnightTwo flies overhead. (Credit: Ken Brown)

Gemma Vigor
Astronaut Relations Manager
Virgin Galactic
London, England

May 26, 2014

Dear Gemma:

We have never met, but I know you are familiar with my work on Parabolic Arc and my coverage of Virgin Galactic as it moves toward its inaugural spaceflight. I understand my posts are read with great interest — if little enthusiasm — by the folks here in Mojave and at the home office in London where you work.

Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to be acquainted with some of your writing. Specifically, an exchange you had with one of Virgin Galactic’s future astronauts following my Feb. 18 appearance on The Space Show with David Livingston. It seems that one of your future astronauts listened to the show, and had some questions that he posted on Virgin Galactic’s invitation-only Facebook group called Spacebook.

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MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — Roscosmos posted on the website of the Russian Federation State program “Space Activities of Russia in 2013 – 2020 years” to reflect the changes produced in the enforcement of the Budget Message of the President of the Russian Federation on budget policy for 2014-2016 years, as well as other legal acts.

The total volume of the budget financial support of the State program is $ 1.8 trillion rubles [$52 billion].

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First Orion capsule undergoes final assembly. (Credit: Lockheed Martin)

Team Progressing Toward Exploration Flight Test-1

DENVER, May 21, 2014 –Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and NASA engineers have started the process of installing the largest heat shield ever built onto the Orion spacecraft’s crew module. The heat shield installation marks one of the final steps in the spacecraft’s assembly leading up to its first test flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), later this year.

EFT-1 will provide engineers data about the heat shield’s ability to protect the crew module from the extreme 4000-degree heat of reentry and an ocean splashdown following Orion’s 20,000 mph reentry from space. In addition, key systems such as avionics, separation events, attitude control and guidance, parachute deployment, and ground operations will be evaluated. Comprehensive data from the test flight will influence design decisions most critical to crew safety to lower risks and safely carry humans on future missions to deep space.

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