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Category Archives: Space
The GOP Platform
…and space.
Space Solar Power
A good review on the state of the technology.
This doesn’t make much sense, though: “…the hardware itself will have to be deorbited when it reaches end-of-life. ‘ESA has a Clean Space Initiative. Anything that we’re sending to space, we have to think about the whole lifecycle, cradle to grave,’ Caplin said.”
It’s loony tunes to think that we’d deorbit something that size from GEO. It will be repurposed in some way in space, or at least go to a graveyard orbit.
The Falcon Failure
SpaceX issued the following statement regarding the mishap on the Falcon 9 upper stage that occurred during last night's Starlink 9-3 mission: pic.twitter.com/PRiLPBTXLi
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) July 12, 2024
I can obviously understand the need for an investigation, and if SpaceX wants to do it with the FAA, that’s fine, but the FAA should have no say in when it flies again; that would be them doing mission assurance, which is not part of their charter. NASA, Jared Isaacman, or any of SpaceX’s other customers can decide when and whether they trust the vehicle, but FAA advisement should be just that. There was no public danger from this event (other than potential Starlink debris falling to earth), or reason to think there would be from any future similar failure.
The Latest SpaceX “Scandal”
Too much “bro” culture?
If true, this story reminds me of Lincoln's remark when told that Grant drank too much. "Find out his brand of whiskey, and send a case to all of my generals." But it did say they joked about it, not necessarily that they did it. https://t.co/nkequTPnM2
— Rand Simberg (@Simberg_Space) July 11, 2024
Wild Wild Space
HBO is putting out a documentary series based on Ashlee Vance’s book:
The book was great, and Vance is one of the producers, so I expect the series to be good.
[Thursday-afternoon update]
A review, over at TechCrunch.
[Bumped]
Propellantless Propulsion
The latest gimmick that defies physics and probably won’t work. But hey, it’s worth a shot.
Will They Or Won’t They?
As Ellie says on X, the comments on her latest video about Starliner are savage against Boeing. Has to be tough for morale to be an employee there right now.
Ariane 6
SpaceX isn’t the only company having on-orbit relight problems.
Fear, Uncertainty, And Doubt
Blue Origin and ULA (and they may soon be the same company) are pretty clearly threatened by SpaceX.
On the other hand, there have never been launch operations at this scale, anywhere. SpaceX should be getting on to sea launch as soon as possible, particularly given the much greater flexibility of orbital destinations this will give them.
[Update a while later]
More from Stephen Clark.
[Tuesday-afternoon update]
More from Jeff Foust. I was amused at this: “Ariane 6 is an answer to their needs. We’ll go through the inaugural launch, we’ll serve those customers, and we will continue to innovate.”
“Continue” to innovate? I’m still waiting for them to start.
[Bumped]
[Update a few minutes later]
Meanwhile, in French Guiana:
Just wow!#Ariane6 pic.twitter.com/r1tCtgWAFe
— Deutsche Raumfahrtagentur (@DLR_SpaceAgency) July 9, 2024