Archive for July, 2013

SpaceX Awarded Canadian Launch Reservation Contract

SpaceX Awarded Canadian Launch Reservation Contract

SpaceX Press Release: SPACEX AWARDED LAUNCH RESERVATION CONTRACT FOR LARGEST CANADIAN SPACE PROGRAM Falcon 9 rocket will deliver RADARSAT Constellation to orbit Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) was awarded a launch reservation contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to support the largest space program to date in Canada, carrying the three […]

Posted in: SpaceX
The Grand Asteroid Challenge

The Grand Asteroid Challenge

NASA Press Release: NASA Sees Enthusiastic Response on Grand Asteroid Challenge ASA Sees Enthusiastic Response to Asteroid Call for Ideas WASHINGTON — NASA has received more than 400 responses to its request for information (RFI) on the agency’s asteroid initiative, Deputy Administrator Lori Garver announced Friday.  “Under our plan, we’re increasing the identification, tracking and […]

Posted in: Asteroids, SLS / Orion

“Once again, Ariane 5’s unmatched reliability and availability has set the highest standards in the satellite launch business.” – comments by Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel upon Arianespace’s 70th launch for the Ariane V, and its 56th successful launch in a row. Yesterday’s launch of the Ariane V ECA  took place at 4:54 pm local time […]

Posted in: Arianespace
Showdown at 39A

Showdown at 39A

The battle over who will lease NASA Pad 39A took a turn last week which was both surprising and with the injection of yet another Alabama congressman, disturbing. After SpaceNews originally reported that SpaceX was apparently the only bidder for the historic pad, it was subsequently revealed that Blue Origin is interested as well. If […]

NASA Releases Draft Proposal for Final Phase of Commercial Crew

NASA Releases Draft Proposal for Final Phase of Commercial Crew

On Friday, July 19th, NASA released a draft Request for Proposal for the next phase of the Commercial Crew competition, and with it came some new acronyms.  Following Commercial Crew Integrated Capacity (CCiCap),  the fourth and final phase will be called Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) and is intended to  ” develop a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability […]

Atlas V Boosts Navy ComSat to Orbit

Atlas V Boosts Navy ComSat to Orbit

  A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket  in its 551 configuration, boosted the U.S. Navy MUOS comsat to orbit this morning.  Liftoff of the most powerful version of Atlas rocket, with a 5  meter fairing and five strap on solid rocket boosters was briefly delayed due to high winds, but ultimately lifted off at 9:00 am EST […]

NASA Seeks More Commercial Space Partnerships

NASA Seeks More Commercial Space Partnerships

A very interesting solicitation from NASA suggests the agency is sticking its toe in the water a little further  in incorporating commercial capabilities into its long-term plans.  Titled Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities, the NASA synopsis, which is calling for unfunded Space Act Agreements, begins with:   ” NASA encourages innovative and entrepreneurial efforts within the private sector to develop new space-related […]

Congressional Chaos

Congressional Chaos

For those who haven’t been following it, NASA is currently caught in a rather bizarre funding bind.  With only two and half months to go in the FY2013 year which ends September 30th,  the agency still does not know what it is allowed to spend in this year because differing House and Senate Committees have not […]

Posted in: Congress, NASA, SLS / Orion
Blue Origin, SpaceX Bid on Historic NASA Pad 39A

Blue Origin, SpaceX Bid on Historic NASA Pad 39A

According to a corrected story in Space News, both SpaceX and Blue Origin have put in a bid for the Kennedy Space Center’s Launchpad 39A.  While SpaceX’s possible interest in the pad has been widely reported, the apparent last-minute participation by  perpetually mysterious Blue Origin adds a bit of speculative intrigue to what looked like a one […]

Posted in: NASA
SpaceX Completes Full Length Test

SpaceX Completes Full Length Test

SpaceX has completed a full length mission test burn of the Falcon 9 V1.1 first stage at its rocket development facility in McGregor, Tx.  This most recent test, which according to the Waco Trib took  place at approximately 7:41 p.m.  Sunday evening, was confirmed by twitter post from Elon Musk, who congratulated his team for overcoming a number of difficulties.  […]

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