It is a saying we get tired of hearing: “space is hard.” Most often it a reflection of the cold reality of every aspect of space, but it can also be an excuse to cover questionable decisions or poor engineering. Mars has a way of pushing for answers on both. On Wednesday, the European Space […]
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 […]
One year ago yesterday, SpaceX suffered a major launch failure of its Falcon 9 system with the loss of a booster carrying the a Dragon spacecraft to ISS on the CRS-7 resupply mission. The cause of the accident was traced as being most likely due to a faulty second stage support strut which buckled well […]
Russia’s space problems continue. Yesterday, TASS reported the following: “Launch of Soyuz MS manned spacecraft, which is due to take a new expedition to the International Space Station, has been rescheduled for July 7 from June 24 due to control system flaws that may disrupt the ship’s docking with the ISS, a source in the […]
Update: The U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Space Operations Center has indicated that Astro-H has broken up. Update: Analysis shows ASTRO H breakup occurred 26Mar @ 0142z+/- 11mins. JSpOC confirmed breakup @ 0820z. @JAXA_en @SpaceTrackOrg — JSpOC (@JointSpaceOps) March 28, 2016 Original story: The Japanese Space Agency, JAXA has lost communications with the Astro-H X-ray astronomy […]
For anyone who was paying extraordinarily close attention to the ULA/Orbital ATK launch of an Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station on Tuesday night, a slight discrepancy in the timing of first stage main engine cutoff might have been noticeable. And if you caught that, then a burn of the Centaur upper stage’s […]
When European Space Agency mission controllers received confirmation that the the ExMars probe had successfully separated from the upper stage of the Proton rocket which boosted it to orbit, they no doubt breathed a particularly deep sigh of relief. Everyone had to be aware that the decision to use Russia’s Proton as the launch vehicle, […]
Although the conclusions are still preliminary, SpaceX engineers believe they have tracked down the cause of last month’s spectacular failure of a Falcon 9 rocket in the skies over Cape Canaveral. The accident was apparently caused by the failure of a 2 foot long steel strut which was supporting a high pressure helium bottle. The bottle, which is located inside the […]
The answer to what caused the June 28th breakup of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket may soon be forthcoming, according to a July 5th twitter post from company founder Elon Musk. “Expect to reach preliminary conclusions regarding last flight by end of week. Will brief key customers & FAA, then post on our website.” It will […]
One week after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket disintegrated in the skies over Cape Canaveral, there are far more questions than answers. Fortunately, one of the answer which has been forthcoming regards the immediate status of the International Space Station, and on that front there is some good news. The successful launch and docking of the […]
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