Archive for December, 2015

A SpaceX Solstice: Rocketry is Reborn in Historic Landing

A SpaceX Solstice: Rocketry is Reborn in Historic Landing

December 21st, 2015. It came on a night which was perhaps uniquely appropriate. Celebrated by people and cultures around the planet for a stretch of time which predates the written word, the winter solstice marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. More than a curiosity of the […]

Update: SpaceX Shifts Launch to Monday to Maximize Landing Chances

Update: SpaceX Shifts Launch to Monday to Maximize Landing Chances

SpaceX has shifted tonight’s Orbcomm-2 flight back a day until Monday, apparently for a couple of reasons. Update from Elon Musk: Just reviewed mission params w SpaceX team. Monte Carlo runs show tmrw night has a 10% higher chance of a good landing. Punting 24 hrs. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2015 and the […]

Posted in: SpaceX
NASA Orders Second Starliner Mission to ISS

NASA Orders Second Starliner Mission to ISS

KSC Press Release: December 18, 2015 RELEASE 15-240 NASA Orders Second Boeing Crew Mission to International Space Station NASA took an important step Friday to establish regular crew missions that will launch from the United States to the International Space Station with the order of its second post-certification mission from Boeing Space Exploration of Houston. […]

Falcon 9 Launch Update (1)

Falcon 9 Launch Update (1)

Update 1: After two aborts earlier during the day on Friday, SpaceX has completed a test firing of the Falcon 9 booster intended to launch the Orbcomm OG2 mission. According to Elon Musk, who provided occasional updates via Twitter, the first abort was caused by an upper stage throttle valve, while the second triggered by […]

Posted in: SpaceX
On Board the Omnibus: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is Finally, Fully, Funded

On Board the Omnibus: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is Finally, Fully, Funded

For the first time in its often turbulent history, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is set to receive the full level of funding. $1.243 billion,  requested by the Obama Administration. The news comes as one small part of an Omnibus Spending Bill passed by House and Senate appropriators early this morning. While the agreement, as well […]

British Astronaut Launches to ISS, Great Britain Launches a Space Policy

British Astronaut Launches to ISS, Great Britain Launches a Space Policy

At 6:03 AM EST this morning, a Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan carrying the TMA-19 crew to the International Space Station. The crew, as is often the case, was a microcosm of the ISS partnership itself, consisting of astronauts from the U.S. and European Union, as well as the one […]

Posted in: British Space
XCOR Announces Engine Development Milestone

XCOR Announces Engine Development Milestone

XCOR Press Release December 14, Mojave, California – XCOR Director of Engineering and acting CTO Michael Valant announced today that his team has reached an important milestone in the development of the reusable 5K18 Lynx main propulsion rocket engine. His engineers were able to ‘close the loop’ of the thermodynamic system under test conditions, a […]

Posted in: XCOR
SpaceX Flight Schedule Firming Up

SpaceX Flight Schedule Firming Up

With a possible return to flight mission on tap for as soon as Saturday evening, SpaceX’s schedule for the next several launches is coming into focus. Pending the outcome of a first-stage test firing test firing expected to take place on Wednesday, SpaceX will be counting down towards the launch of 11 Orbcomm OG-2 satellites […]

Posted in: SpaceX
Millennium Meet Falcon? SpaceX Aims for Return to Flight Next Week

Millennium Meet Falcon? SpaceX Aims for Return to Flight Next Week

It is of course likely no more than coincidence, but SpaceX appears set to resume flights of the Falcon 9 on the same weekend its namesake roars back to life in theaters around the world. Apparently burning the midnight oil, company founder Elon Musk tweeted the following early this morning. Aiming for Falcon rocket static […]

Posted in: SpaceX
NASA Considering Year Long “Lunar Shakedown Cruise” As Advisory Council Questions Mars Plans

NASA Considering Year Long “Lunar Shakedown Cruise” As Advisory Council Questions Mars Plans

There is a distinct difference between the rosy image of the future NASA is drawing daily with its “Journey to Mars” campaign and the  hard realities it must address when facing audiences somewhat more skeptical than the twitterverse. One of those is the NASA Advisory Council, an outside committee of experts which traces its origins […]

Posted in: NASA, SLS / Orion
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