Main Engine Cut OffRundown of First Two Days of NASA Advisory Council
Great rundown by Doug Messier of Parabolic Arc on the first two days of the NASA Advisory Council meetings. The full council meets Thursday and Friday.
340 results for “SpaceX”
Why the Falcon 9 Creates Three Sonic Booms
Scott Johnson with Spaceflight Insider got in touch with SpaceX about the signature sonic booms of Falcon 9.
T+14: The Post-EM-1 Roadmap for SLS, and Potential Uses for SpaceX’s BFR
Before Mars and exploration-centric talk, I talk about Orbital ATK’s agreement for exclusive use of LMP-103S. Then I take a hard look at the post-EM-1 roadmap for SLS, and theorize some potential uses for SpaceX’s giant Mars-bound rocket—lovingly referred to as the Big F…alcon… Rocket (BFR).
Countdown to Liftoff
A former resident talks about SpaceX’s plans for—and construction of—their own commercial spaceport near Brownsville, Texas. Pretty interesting to read about the social and economic collision that is happening straight from someone with great perspective on it. The new spaceport will be launching Falcon 9 and Heavy, and presumably the insanely huge Mars rocket—often called the Mars Colonial Transporter—that SpaceX is due to unveil in September.
T+13: SpaceX’s CRS-9 Success, Senate Hearing Recap, and US-Russian Plans for the Moon
SpaceX had a great night launching the CRS-9 mission, and it’s all good signs for their future. The Senate hearing, as I predicted, was focused on maintaining the status quo. US and Russian engineers and scientists have some ideas on the future of international space policy.
Good Signs from SpaceX’s CRS-9 Success
I’ve been harping on three things in particular as the most important aspects of SpaceX’s 2016 work: schedule certainty, flight rate, and reuse. Last night was filled with good signs for SpaceX’s future.
NASA’s Next Mars Rover Progresses Toward 2020 Launch
There are a few interesting bits in NASA’s latest release about the Mars 2020 rover—tighter landing ellipses, better site selection, and better imagery during EDL.
T+12: The Competition of Reusability Between Falcon 9, Vulcan, and Ariane 6
Ted Cruz called a hearing on NASA’s space exploration policy in the next president’s administration. The president of France’s CNES discussed some policy statements, and I went on a rant about his thoughts on Ariane 6 and its competition.
France’s CNES Backs Space Station, Hedges Bets on Reusable Rockets
France says they’re interested in backing ISS until 2024. And they continue to hope reusability doesn’t work out so that Ariane 6 can be competitive.
Juno was a success—but there is precious little coming after it
Our political system is increasingly incapable of supporting a thriving national space program. Congress battling the executive branch tooth and nail for Orion/SLS and the Europa mission is only the tip of the iceberg. Factor in the massive amounts of pork and governmental overhead…it runs away from you quickly.