Main Engine Cut Off

Getting closer to the first launch of Electron. Nice video at the link, too.

One of the programs that could be affected is the one funding development of the AR1, BE-4, and ACES. Blue Origin isn’t going to stop their work on the BE-4, because that’s paramount to their own ambitions, but the AR1 work could be hit hard.

This would be a smart move for Blue Origin if and when it comes about. I’d be interested if they’d jettison the fairings (with recovery), or use a hinged, clamshell-style design that would remain attached to the booster on its way back down.

I’ve talked about AF-M315E and other greener hydrazine alternatives fairly often over the past few months. This is an industry-wide push that shows no signs of slowing down—even water-based systems are in the works.

NASA has selected 6 partners—Bigelow, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada, and NanoRacks (working with SSL and ULA)—to develop full-sized ground prototypes for deep space habitats. Other than it being the same old insiders club as always, there are some cool bits in here.

There are a few obvious reasons the Air Force would go with a sole-source contract. This isn’t a big deal or a surprise, at all.

Here’s hoping they don’t “bend over backwards” on this one.

While this is posed as an option to help get Inmarsat’s payload off the ground sooner, this is an interesting decision for SpaceX to make in the future, as Falcon Heavy is flying regularly and they are reusing cores.

They also seem to be on the brink of solving the aerodynamic loading issues they’ve talked about in the past. The one issue they haven’t yet solved is how damn expensive these launches are going to be, riding on an Atlas V.

Hidden in this article about the Mars 2020 budget is a piece about a potential sample return mission that I find particularly interesting.