Archive for July, 2016

SpaceX Receives Second Order for Commercial Crew Launch to ISS

SpaceX Receives Second Order for Commercial Crew Launch to ISS

Kennedy Space Center News Release July 29, 2016 RELEASE 16-080 NASA Orders Second SpaceX Crew Mission to International Space Station NASA took another important step Friday in returning U.S. astronaut launches from U.S. soil with the order of a second post-certification mission from commercial provider SpaceX in Hawthorne, California. Commercial crew flights from Florida’s Space […]

Posted in: NASA, SpaceX
Discovering Ceres: Where Are All the Large Craters?

Discovering Ceres: Where Are All the Large Craters?

One of the many surprising discoveries made by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft in orbit over Ceres is that the dwarf planet has fewer large craters than might ordinarily be expected. As the largest target in the shooting gallery which is the main asteroid belt where Ceres resides, it should be bear the scars of numerous large […]

Posted in: Uncategorized
SpaceX Red Dragon Mars Mission Will Cost NASA Less than 10 Days Expenditure on Orion

SpaceX Red Dragon Mars Mission Will Cost NASA Less than 10 Days Expenditure on Orion

A few more details regarding SpaceX’s Red Dragon mission to Mars emerged during a quarterly meeting of the NASA Advisory Council, which was held in Cleveland on July 26th. As reported in SpaceNews, NASA estimates that it will spend roughly $32 million over four years supporting the mission, which SpaceX hopes to launch in 2018. SpaceX […]

Posted in: Mars, SpaceX
DNC Astronaut Appearance: Hillary and Guns, Space Not So Much

DNC Astronaut Appearance: Hillary and Guns, Space Not So Much

If anyone happened to waiting for the Democratic party to take credit for the amazing success enjoyed by NASA’s COTS/Commercial Resupply Program under the Obama Administration, using it as an example of what public /private partnerships can accomplish, they are likely to be sorely disappointed. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention last night alongside his […]

Posted in: Congress
EELV Phase 2 and Blue Origin: Where’s the Congressional Curiosity?

EELV Phase 2 and Blue Origin: Where’s the Congressional Curiosity?

Responding to a letter from Congressman Mike Rogers, (R) Al, the GAO has released a report summarizing a presentation made before the House Armed Services Committee on June 6. The report, which is focused on the space launch capabilities of other nations, was requested as the Air Force prepares to structure the next phase of […]

Democrats Like NASA Too

Democrats Like NASA Too

One of the very best things about the NewSpace age is the fact that it is no longer necessary, or at times even useful, to listen patiently for a call to action from a State of the Union Address, or from a candidate or party platform to engage the United States in human space exploration […]

Posted in: NASA
The Choices We Make: Thiel, the Moon and Mars

The Choices We Make: Thiel, the Moon and Mars

What a week in space. It began of course, with SpaceX launching a Dragon spacecraft to ISS for the 9th time, and landing a Falcon 9 first stage at Cape Canaveral for only the second time. It also featured a speech and curious non-endorsement by former astronaut and first female Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins at […]

Posted in: Mars, Moon, NASA, SpaceX, Uncategorized
New Shepard Parachute Test Results Look Good

New Shepard Parachute Test Results Look Good

In a post to email subscribers, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos today detailed the results of the company’s recent test launch in which it deliberately failed one of three parachutes which bring its suborbital crew capsule safely to ground. Under ordinary circumstances, Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule descents to land under the canopy of three […]

Posted in: Blue Origin
Space Policy Goes to the Republican Convention

Space Policy Goes to the Republican Convention

Space is rarely an important topic during most presidential election, but at least this year it is being mentioned. Former astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission is scheduled to speak on Wednesday evening. It will be interesting to see if her comments match the tone towards public/private partnerships the […]

Posted in: Space Policy
SpaceX Launches a Dragon and Lands a Falcon

SpaceX Launches a Dragon and Lands a Falcon

  On a beautiful Florida evening just one calendar day shy of a full moon, SpaceX provided some illumination of its own, recording a flawless liftoff and landing of its Falcon 9 rocket during the course of launching its Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station for the NASA CRS-9 mission. Liftoff took place on […]

Posted in: SpaceX, Uncategorized
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