Archive for October, 2012

Falcon 9 Loses an Engine (and Fairing), Demonstrates Resiliance
By 2012.10.09 0 Comments Read More →

Falcon 9 Loses an Engine (and Fairing), Demonstrates Resiliance

In an update released Monday,  further analysis of the engine anomaly observed in Sunday night’s launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 on NASA CRS-1 mission suggests that engine number 1 experienced a sudden pressure loss which resulted in a computer commanded shutdown, not an explosion as originally speculated.  According to current analysis, the debris seen in high fidelity launch photographs is that of the protective engine fairing being […]

Posted in: COTS/Commercial Crew, Launch Vehicle Development, NASA, SpaceX
After a Success Liftoff, SpaceX Dragon is in Orbit
By 2012.10.08 1 Comments Read More →

After a Success Liftoff, SpaceX Dragon is in Orbit

This time, the signs all seemed to be pointing in the same direction.  With no technical issues developing during the countdown, and the weather forecast improving in the final hour before launch, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off precisely on time at 8:35:07 PM Eastern time en route to a historic first regularly scheduled supply […]

Posted in: COTS/Commercial Crew, Space Stations, SpaceX
For SpaceX, the Real Mission Begins Tonight
By 2012.10.07 1 Comments Read More →

For SpaceX, the Real Mission Begins Tonight

With roughly two hours until the scheduled liftoff of the Falcon 9 and Dragon Capsule in support of NASA’s CRS-1 flight to the International Space Station, the pre-season for SpaceX, and for space commerce is rapidly coming to a close. Although by most appearances this flight is nearly identical to the highly successful COTS 2/3 mission this past […]

Posted in: COTS/Commercial Crew, NASA, Space Stations
Role of Dragon Highlighted in Pre Launch Science Briefing
By 2012.10.06 8 Comments Read More →

Role of Dragon Highlighted in Pre Launch Science Briefing

For most of the International Space Stations’s life until this year, its story has been one of a project under constant construction.   As anyone who has undertaken a major construction project while living in the house you are working on at the same time, it is often difficult keep in mind just how  good the end product might be. We […]

Posted in: CASIS, Mars, NASA, Space Stations
NASA approves Year Long Station Mission for 2015
By 2012.10.06 0 Comments Read More →

NASA approves Year Long Station Mission for 2015

NASA News Release WASHINGTON — NASA and its international partners have announced an agreement to send two crew members to the International Space Station on a one-year mission designed to collect valuable scientific data needed to send humans to new destinations in the solar system. The crew members, one American astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut, […]

Posted in: NASA, Space Stations, Space Tourism
As for the Debate…Tesla Motors and Powering a Frontier
By 2012.10.04 1 Comments Read More →

As for the Debate…Tesla Motors and Powering a Frontier

It hardly comes as a surprise that the issue of space exploration was not mentioned in the first U.S. Presidential debate on Wednesday evening, and after the dismissive treatment it was given in a prior Republican debate, that might not be a bad thing. The closest approach was probably Mitt Romney’s mention of Tesla Motors,  incorrectly lumped in with Solyndra and Fisker as “loser” examples of […]

Posted in: Mars, Moon, SpaceX
The SpaceX Effect and a Changing Launch Market
By 2012.10.03 2 Comments Read More →

The SpaceX Effect and a Changing Launch Market

Four days away from its fourth flight,  and the first of 12 under NASA’s CRS program, the impact of changes in the launch industry being wrought by SpaceX and its Falcon 9 is being felt literally around the planet.  In Europe, Russia and Japan,  launch operators are grappling with how to address the fact that lower prices appear to be a fact of life. In […]

Posted in: EELV, Launch Vehicle Development, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance
One Went Up, One Coming Down (Tonight)
By 2012.10.02 1 Comments Read More →

One Went Up, One Coming Down (Tonight)

In what turned out to be a rather busy last Friday in September for European space, an Ariane V rocket completed its 51st consecutive successful launch at almost the same time the ESA built ATV-3 resupply ship departed the International Space Station following a six month stay. The ATV was actually scheduled to depart earlier in the week, but was […]

Posted in: COTS/Commercial Crew, NASA, SLS / Orion, Space Stations, SpaceX
Orbital Sciences Commences Antares Operations
By 2012.10.01 0 Comments Read More →

Orbital Sciences Commences Antares Operations

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that it is beginning preparations for the first launch of its new Antares rocket at the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in Virginia.  After delays related to certifying the pad, and most recently to a bad battery in its transporter assembly, OSC began rolling the Antares to the launch pad for […]

Posted in: COTS/Commercial Crew, Launch Vehicle Development, NASA, SpaceX
Fly Like You Test….
By 2012.10.01 0 Comments Read More →

Fly Like You Test….

SpaceX conducted a static test fire of its Falcon 9 booster on Saturday in preparation for its upcoming mission to ISS, scheduled to launch at 8:35 PM ET on Sunday, October 7th.  Following the test fire, the booster was to be lowered to the horizontal position and returned to the hangar to be integrated with its Dragon […]

Posted in: COTS/Commercial Crew, Launch Vehicle Development, SpaceX
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