13993274
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Following up on a story a few days ago about an unmanned Russian cargo ship's initial aborted attempt at docking with the International Space Station, the vehicle made a second pass on July 4 which succeeded. Russian engineers believe the initial abort was triggered when the (normally reliable) Progress spacecraft detected interference between a remote control system on the ISS and the Progress's camera, and successfully docked on the 2nd try by using the autonomous system instead.
13738854
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Boeing has released a number of new details on the development of their CST-100 manned space capsule being developed in collaboration with commercial space station builder Bigelow Aerospace. Competing with SpaceX's Dragon capsule, the vehicle is designed to be compatible with existing Atlas V, Delta IV, and Falcon 9 rockets, and is planned to carry 7 people in a capsule 'a little smaller than Orion, but a little bigger than Apollo.' Funding was jump-started this year with $18M of fixed-price Commercial Crew Development funding from NASA, which requires completion of several fabrication and demonstration milestones this year (heat shield, escape system, landing tests, etc.) in order to get the full payment.
13431768
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Following up on the successful first launch of their Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX has signed a $492M deal for launching several dozen satellites for the Iridium NEXT constellation, the biggest commercial launch deal ever (teleconference notes). This is a needed boost for the US launch industry, which has dwindled to a fraction of the international market due to problematic ITAR arms regulations and high costs. SpaceX's next launch is scheduled for later this summer, carrying the first full version of the Dragon reusable capsule, which will run tests in orbit and then splashdown off the California coast.
13232712
submission
FleaPlus writes:
In a surprise move in the battle between NASA and certain members of Congress over NASA's future direction, NASA has told its contractors to cutback nearly $1 billion on this year's Ares/Constellation program, stating that the cutback is necessary to remain in compliance with federal spending laws requiring contractors to withhold contract termination costs. While complying with budgeting laws (and in line with NASA's desire to cancel Constellation), this move is also potentially in violation of a 2010 appropriations amendment by Sen. Shelby (R-AL) and Sen. Bennett (R-UT) which prohibits NASA from terminating any Constellation contracts. If NASA's move goes through, the biggest liability is $500M for ATK, the contractor who is/was responsible for the first stage of the Ares I medium-lift rocket.
13198918
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FleaPlus writes:
The Japanese interplanetary spacecraft IKAROS, the first spacecraft to use solar sailing as its main propulsion, is in the middle of a slow and careful deployment of its 0.0075mm thick, 20m wide solar sails. If it's successful in deploying its sails, IKAROS will spend six months traveling to Venus and then journey towards the far side of the Sun. Also, Japan's Hayabusa probe is on its way back from its dramatic 7-year mission to the near-Earth asteroid Itokawa. Before it disintegrates in the atmosphere, Hayabusa will drop a capsule containing a sample of the asteroid into Australia's Woomera test range on June 13, where a crew aboard a NASA DC-8 plane will study and attempt to broadcast live video of the reentry.
13127348
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Recently Masten Aerospace, winner of NASA's 2009 Lunar Lander Challenge, demonstrated using their 'Xombie' vehicle the first-ever mid-flight restart of a VTVL (vertical-takeoff vertical-landing) rocket, a critical capability for the emerging suborbital/microgravity science and passenger markets (video from ground). Not to be outdone, John Carmack's Armadillo Aerospace (winner of the 2008 Lunar Lander Challenge) flew their 'Mod' rocket to 2000 feet (610m), deployed a drogue parachute, and then restarted the engine to land (multi-view video showing John Carmack at the controls).
13075852
submission
FleaPlus writes:
The successful inaugural launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9, privately developed and built at a cost of less than $400M (including another Falcon 9 to be launched this summer and five earlier Falcon 1 rockets), has been hailed by a number of space organizations and former astronauts. However, it's also quite interesting to look at the reactions from those in Congress who control the purse-strings for NASA (one of SpaceX's biggest customers). The successful launch was congratulated by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL and former astronaut) and Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), both praised and criticized by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) due to the successful launch being a year later than previously predicted, and blasted by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) for merely replicating what 'NASA accomplished in 1964,' who added that the company's success 'must not be confused with progress for our nation's human spaceflight program.'
12798684
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Two leading 'New Space' companies, Masten Space Systems and XCOR, are partnering to develop 'affordable and responsive' robotic landers capable of serving NASA's recently-announced need for VTVL technology testbed vehicles on Earth, the lunar surface, near-Earth asteroids, Mars, and other locations in the solar system. The effort combines XCOR's experience building reusable LOX/methane engines and composite cryogenic tanks, and Masten's work with automated VTVL vehicles (which won the NASA/X Prize Lunar Lander Challenge in 2009). Masten also recently performed the first ever in-flight relight of a VTVL engine, using their 'Xombie' vehicle (video).
12639312
submission
FleaPlus writes:
The Air Force is initiating a pathfinder program to develop a first-stage rocket booster capable of gliding back to a runway so it can be easily reused. Lockheed Martin has already launched a secretive prototype, as well as a Cal Poly team with a prototype based on Buzz Aldrin's Starcraft/StarBooster design (video). The Air Force estimates such a booster could cut launch costs by 50% over the current Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets, and could also offer a rapid surge/replacement capability if combined with reusable spacecraft like the recently-launched X-37B. Initial test flights are planned for 2013.
12635810
submission
FleaPlus writes:
As part of its new plans, NASA has outlined the initial series of large-scale 'flagship' technology demonstration (FTD) missions for developing and testing technologies needed for sustainable beyond-Earth exploration, complementing the smaller-scale ETDD missions outlined previously. The first four 'FTD' missions (costing $400M-$1B each, about the cost of the recent Ares I-X suborbital rocket launch) are scheduled to launch between 2014 and 2016, demonstrating advanced in-space propulsion (next-generation ion propulsion and solar arrays), in-space propellant transfer and storage, a lightweight/inflatable mission module at the ISS (which will also test closed-loop life support), and an inflatable aeroshell for aerocapture at Mars. A multi-purpose robotic rendezvous & docking vehicle will also be developed to support these missions.
12428204
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL and ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee handling NASA funding) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) have added an amendment onto an emergency spending bill for military operations in Afghanistan, reiterating that NASA must continue spending its funds on the Constellation program, particularly the medium-lift Ares I rocket. Alabama and Utah have strong ties to Ares/Constellation contractors and both senators are opposed to the new direction for NASA, with Shelby describing it as a 'death march' for US spaceflight and criticizing the emphasis on commercial rockets.
12389078
submission
FleaPlus writes:
As part of NASA's proposed new plans, NASA has released the initial details on its ETDD (Enabling Technology Development and Demonstrations) program to 'develop and demonstrate the technologies needed to reduce cost and expand the capability of future space exploration activities.' The ETDD program is initially planning on funding small-scale demonstrations in 5 technology areas: in-situ resource utilization (with a robotic lunar resource extraction mission in 2015), high-power electric propulsion, autonomous precision landing (building on the success of the Lunar Lander Challenge), human-robotic collaboration (2011/2012), and fission power systems. More info on NASA's larger-scale Flagship Technology Demonstrations (FTD) program is expected in the coming month.
12128366
submission
FleaPlus writes:
Water ice was recently discovered on the large asteriod 24 Themis, and Space.com discusses proposals for producing fuel from asteroid ice. NASA and the President recently announced plans for robotic precursor missions to asteroids (and a human mission by 2025), as well as a funding boost for R&D to develop techniques like in-situ resource utilization. Since most mass of a beyond-Earth mission is fuel, refueling in orbit would be a huge mass- and cost-saver for space exploration (especially if fuel can be produced in space), but a large unknown is how to effectively extract water in an environment lacking gravity.
11857974
submission
FleaPlus writes:
The Rocket Racing League demonstrated two of their new 'Mark III' X-Racer rocketplanes at an air show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Besides making for a fun show, the League also pushes the boundaries for reusable and easily-maintainable rocket engines. The X-Racer's liquid oxygen & ethanol rocket engine was made by John Carmack's Armadillo Aerospace, who recently released a video showcasing some of the rockets they've launched and landed in the past year.
10457108
submission
FleaPlus writes:
On Saturday SpaceX successfully conducted a launch dress rehearsal and on-pad test firing of their completed Falcon 9 rocket, with the 15-story tall rocket held down to prevent launch (Videos). SpaceX is one of several likely competitors (ranging from the upstart Blue Origin to the more experienced Boeing) in NASA's new plans for commercial crew transportation to low-Earth orbit. SpaceX has been cleared by Cape Canaveral for the Falcon 9's first orbital launch next month, carrying a test model of the company's Dragon cargo/crew capsule, although CEO/CTO Elon Musk has cautioned that they're still in the equivalent of 'beta testing' for the first few flights.
