UPDATE: SpaceX has issued the following statement: “We observed unexpected readings with the first stage liquid oxygen system so we decided to investigate. The launch vehicle and satellite are in great shape and we are looking forward to the next launch opportunity on Thursday at 5:38 p.m. Eastern time.” SpaceX’s scrubbed the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral today after the vehicle suffered a couple of technical […]
AUTHOR
Doug Messier
The Obama Administration released an update of the National Science Transportation Policy last week. The policy was widely praised for emphasizing commercial space transportation while at the same time directing NASA to focus on deep space exploration.
Below are reactions from key groups followed by a fact sheet released by the White House.
Commercial Spaceflight Federation“The Commercial Spaceflight Federation applauds the clear vision of this Policy, which includes strong continued support for the use of competitive commercial space services. (more…)
This week on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston: 1. Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, 2-3:30 PM PST (5-6:30 PM EST, 4-5:30 PM CST): We welcome DRAGOS BRATASANU to the program to discuss his film project, “The American Future.” Dragos Bratasanu is an award winning space scientist and consultant. He is the Founder & President of Success Engineering Corporation, company offering international clients access to the same tools and techniques […]
By A’ndrea Elyse Messer
Penn State News
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Lunar Lion, a moon lander designed and built by the Penn State Lunar Lion team, the only university-led team in the Google Lunar competition, will be sent into space as part of a multiple spacecraft effort coordinated by a new player in the space industry, Team Phoenicia LLC, of Menlo Park, Calif.
The Lunar Lion team’s fully refundable launch reservation fee has been paid to Phoenicia.
“Phoenicia has brought together a complementary set of payloads, filling a need in the industry,” said Michael Paul, director of space systems initiatives at Penn State’s Applied Research Lab.
Video Caption: The Peregrine Hybrid Sounding Rocket motor underwent a developmental ground test at NASA Ames Research Center on November 12, 2013. This revolutionary approach uses a paraffin-based fuel and nitrous oxide as the oxidizer, which offers many potential advantages over existing rocket propulsion systems. Stable and highly efficient combustion was achieved. The motor is being developed jointly by NASA Ames, Stanford University and SPG Inc.
Falcon 9 lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. (Credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX held a teleconference with journalists on Sunday to discuss Monday’s launch of the SES-8 communications satellite from Cape Canaveral. The teleconference featured Elon Musk and Gwynne Shotwell from SpaceX and SES Chief Technical Officer Martin Halliwell.
The launch window opens at 5:37 p.m. EST, and it will be webcast live at https://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/2565780
Halliwell was the most effusive one on the call. He said the launch – SpaceX’s first attempt to put a payload into geosynchronous orbit – would be a “game changer” that would shake the launch industry down to its roots.
A brief roundup of spaceport news in Texas, New Mexico and Alaska: Brownsville, Texas — SpaceX has increased its land holdings in the Boca Chica Beach area from 12 undeveloped lots to 72 lots, the Valley Morning Star reports. The company is considering building a private launch complex on the Texas Gulf Coast from which to launch its commercial missions. SpaceX and local officials is awaiting the completion of an […]
Sir Richard Branson speaks to a group of future astronauts at the FAITH Hangar of Virgin Galactic in Mojave, CA September 25, 2013 in Mojave, CA. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)
Over in Space News, Irene Klotz has an interesting Q&A with Virgin Galactic Founder Richard Branson that was apparently conducted during the gathering here in Mojave back at the end of September. There are a few interesting bits of news in it.
A Reusable Replacement Engine
Branson says Virgin Galactic plans to bring down the $250,000 ticket cost by replacing the single-use hybrid engine with a reusable system.
“One of the things we’re doing here is trying to make everything much more affordable. So for instance, the initial rocket which I’ll be flying on to space will be thrown away afterward. Within six to nine months, we will be using rockets that will have capability of being used maybe up to 1,000 times, but definitely up to 100 times. That will bring the cost of space travel down dramatically.”
Unless they have somehow developed a reusable hybrid system (highly unlikely), this statement points to a liquid fuel replacement engine.
STRASBOURG, France (ISU PR) — ArduSat is a nonprofit corporation, established in 2012 by Peter Platzer, Jeroen Cappaert and Joel Spark, all of them alumni of the International Space University. The concept behind the corporation is simple but also very novel, namely to provide cheap and global access to space in an uncomplicated way (see also www.nanosatisfi.com for further info).
Dnepr launch vehicle. (Credit: ISC Kosmotras)
Seattle, WA (Spaceflight, Inc. PR) — Spaceflight, Inc. – The Space Logistics Company – announced today that it successfully deployed the Dove 3 earth imaging spacecraft from an International Space Company (ISC) Kosmotras operated Dnepr launch vehicle for commercial customer Planet Labs, Inc..
After launching Dove 1 and 2 in April 2013, Spaceflight arranged for the launch of Dove 3 as a secondary payload through Spaceflight’s launch and integration partner Innovative Space Logistics (ISL), an Innovative Solutions in Space (ISIS) subsidiary. Using its expertise in navigating ITAR and export law, Spaceflight arranged for the United States payload to be exported to Russia for launch integration.