Editor’s Note: I only just noticed something about this video. Watch it and listen to the two pilots breathing heavily during the acceleration and feathering of the vehicle. They are really straining. And look at the roll and oscillations on the ship during the flight. And that was only a 20-second burn. A full power flight would really be something.
AUTHOR
Doug Messier
Cygnus is released from the International Space Station. (Credit: NASA)
Part 2 of 2
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
Editor’s Note: In Part 1, we took a look at the highly successful year that all three U.S. launch providers had in 2013. Today, we will look at the challenges ahead for each company.
Coming off a stellar year, each of America’s three launch providers — Orbital Sciences Corporation, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) — finds itself in a distinctly different place and facing unique challenges. The coming year could begin to significantly remake the global launch market, with significant consequences for all three players and rival providers overseas.
UrtheCast has posted an update concerning problems with two video cameras that cosmonauts installed on the exterior of the International Space Station last week: The installation of the cameras proceeded according to plan and without incident….However, soon after installation, the Mission Control Centre (MCC) outside of Moscow was unable to receive any data from either camera (contrary to what was reported during the live transmission of the spacewalk). Without this […]
Mars One has a press release out today saying they have slashed their applicant pool by “99.5%” from more than 200,000 to 1,058. As with previous claims, however, these numbers appear to hyped.
In a September press release, the group said the following (emphasis added):
“In the 5 month application period, Mars One received interest from 202,586 people from around the world, wanting to be amongst the first human settlers on Mars.”
That figure appeared to be the number of people who had registered on the website, not necessarily those who had paid a fee, completed the application and made a video of themselves explaining why they should be selected as required.
Video Caption: After an amazing year, Virgin Galactic showcases highlights from 2013, including never before seen footage from one of the full duration rocket motor ground test firings. Credit: MarsScientific.com and Clay Center Observatory for all telescopic footage. Editor’s Note: I’ve noticed something interesting on the video. The full duration firing — which takes up the full screen at the beginning and is at the bottom when the video goes […]
This week on The Space Show with David Livingston: 1. Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, 2-3:30 PM PST (5-6:30 PM EST, 4-5:30 PM CST): This is our final Golden Oldie Year In Review focusing on the year 2012 with TOM OLSON as the guest. This program was originally recorded on Dec. 31, 2012. When you see the program on the archives and the blog, it is ready for your play and […]
The FAA has detailed its plans to conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed Shiloh spaceport in Florida. The notice last week in the Federal Register sets a pair of public hearings to be held in New Smyrna Beach and Titusville on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, respectively.
The following information about the Space Florida-led project and public hearings is extracted from the notice.
SpaceShipTwo, ready for its closeup. (Credit: Douglas Messier)
A trio of orbital launches by SpaceX, Orbital Sciences Corporation and ISRO will kick off the new year during the first week of January. Scaled Composites is also likely to conduct a third powered flight of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo by Jan. 10.
An update on SXC’s expansion into Asia, where it is targeting the growing number of wealthy Chinese adventure travelers: Chinese travellers will be able to undertake space trips by 2014 end following an agreement signed here Friday between a Chinese travel agency and Netherlands-based space tourism firm. Travellers will have to pay a minimum of 580,000 yuan (about $95,000) to board the Lynx Mark I spacecraft produced by the US […]