Stratolaunch Systems has tweaked the design of its carrier aircraft to look less like a 747 and more like…something else entirely. The nose and cockpit resemble the Concorde — but that’s where the comparisons end. The old design is below. A shout out to Dan Leone at Space News for spotting the change.
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Doug Messier
CCP Spotlight on Development Via NASA Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) Space Systems recently hosted discussions with NASA about the non-toxic propulsion systems that would power the Dream Chaser spacecraft’s main and reaction control systems. The reaction control system will give the spacecraft the ability to steer in space by providing small amounts of directional thrust for docking with the International Space Station. The main propulsion system is much more powerful, […]
RocketMotorTwo Hot-Fire Test Summaries Via Scaled Composites Fire: 26 Date: 08 Mar 13 Objectives: Twenty-sixth full scale flight design RM2 hot-fire. Continued evaluation of all systems and components: – Pressurization – Valve/Injector – Fuel formulation and geometry – Nozzle – Structure – Performance Results: All objectives completed. Editor’s Note: Sources who heard the test say the engine ran for 15 to 30 seconds.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL., March 19, 2013 (CASIS PR) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization promoting and managing research on board the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, unveiled its first sponsored payload mission patch, designed by renowned artist Shepard Fairey, at Engadget Expand in San Francisco, CA over the weekend.
HERNDON, Va., Mar., 18, 2013 (Astrium PR) – Astrium Americas, an EADS North America company, has opened an office to provide Astrium’s in-space propulsion capabilities to the North American market. This new office is based in the Los Angeles area and will initially focus on business development.
Space Florida officials are continuing to vigorously pursue the development of a commercial spaceport at the north end of the Kennedy Space Center despite resistance from the federal government and strong competition from a site in Texas.
Video Caption: Elon Musk is an American Entrepreneur best known for founding SpaceX and co-founding Tesla Motors and PayPal. But, can he survive being magically transported into Rainn Wilson’s 70s van?
The new and improved Xaero-B. (Credit: Masten Space Systems)
An Update from Masten Space Systems
Since last summer, even while we focused on Xombie flights for JPL and expanding Xaero’s flight envelope, we were working. Designing, tweaking, and starting to build the next iteration of Xaero that we affectionately (and creatively) call Xaero-B. We’re finally ready to pull the curtain back and share her with you!
Karin Nilsdotter and Carina Johnsson float in microgravity. (Credit: Spaceport Sweden)
By Karin Nilsdotter
Spaceport Sweden
Congratulations to the SXC astronauts that successfully completed their first air ZeroG flight on Friday 15th of March. This was the first ever commercial public flight in Europe arranged by Avico and Novespace and offered through Spaceport Sweden’s space adventures and astronaut training program in collaboration with SXC. We look forward to many more missions offering the unique sensation of weightlessness under the instructions of ESA astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy.
This week on The Space Show with David Livingston… 1. Monday, March 18, 2013, 2-3:30 PM PST (5-6:30 PM EST, 4-5:30 PM CST): We welcome DR. CLAUDE PIANTADOSI, professor & director of the F.G. Hall environmental Laboratory at Duke University. We will be discussing Dr. Piantadosi’s new book, “Mankind Beyond Earth: The History, Science, and Future of Human Space Exploration.” See: https://www.amazon.com/Mankind-Beyond-Earth-History-Exploration/dp/0231162421/refonegianlea20. 2. Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2013, 7-8:30 PM […]