Category Archives: Rockets

Rockets

Space transport roundup – Dec.31.2019

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here):

** China’s Long March 5 heavy lift rocket placed a satellite into geostationary transfer orbit last Friday in a successful return to flight following a failure on the second launch of the system in 2017.

China can now proceed with a series of important launches including a Mars rover in July, a new crew spacecraft in September, and the Chang’e 5 lunar sample return mission in late 2020. The LM-5 is also needed for the  launch of modules for a new space station that begins assembly in 2021.

** Interstellar Technologies to carry out the fifth launch of an suborbital MOMO rocket in Japan. The liftoff planned forlast  Saturday was scrubbed:

MOMO-F5 sounding rocket countdown has been halted due to range safety and technical issue. Launch is scrubbed for this window.

Next launch attempt is currently set for January 1st. Get updates on the next launch attempt at Interstellar Technologies, Inc. (@natsuroke) | Twitter

MOMO-F5 on pad

The event will be live-streamed.

** Boeing Starliner Calypso returned unscathed by launch and reentry:

Boeing emphasized the good condition of the spacecraft, which showed “little scorching” from reentry and used only a fraction of its onboard propellant reserved for reentry, which the company said confirmed aerodynamic models of the spacecraft. The interior of the Starliner cabin appeared the same after landing as it did before its Dec. 20 launch from Cape Canaveral, the company noted, evidence that “the Starliner’s fully operational life support system functioned as intended and the layout of the interior is well-suited to support crew members in the future.”

The statement, though, provided no updates on the timer problem that turned what was originally an eight-day mission into a two-day one without a planned docking at the International Space Station. The spacecraft’s mission elapsed timer, which is set by communicating with its Atlas 5 rocket prior to liftoff, was off by 11 hours. That caused the spacecraft to think it was on the wrong phase of its mission after separation from the rocket’s upper stage, triggering thruster firings that used excessive amounts of fuel until ground controllers could take over and turn off the thrusters.

Starliner “Calypso” after landing at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

** Virgin Orbit nears first flight of the LauncherOne rocket: In One Year and Out the Other | Virgin Orbit

Now, we’re getting ready to shift all of our operations to the customized 747 that serves as our fully mobile launch site. Parked at “the hammerhead,” a part of the taxiway adjoining the primary runway at the Mojave Air and Spaceport, we’ll do the final mate of the rocket to Cosmic Girl and run through our rehearsals again. 

In January, we plan to have Chief Test Pilot Kelly Latimer and the rest of our flight crew guide us through one more taxi test with the mated rocket and an additional captive carry test with our orbital flight hardware. Then, we’ll be ready to light this candle and conduct our launch demonstration. 

For years, everything’s been building: our team, our market, our technical expertise, and our enthusiasm. As 2019 draws to a close, we’re stronger and smarter than we’ve ever been before, and feeling ready to rock. To stay in the loop, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

** Firefly Aerospace also nearing debut of the Alpha smallsat launcher:

** The Chinese SIASAIL-I sail passes deployment tests following launch last September. The sail, developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA), was packed within a CubeSat and successfully deployed in orbit. Although structurally the same as a solar sail, this sail test  is apparently aimed not at demonstrating net solar propulsion but at acceleration of spacecraft de-orbiting by increasing the drag through the minute amount of atmosphere  in low earth orbit.

From China Daily:

[Liu Jinguo, deputy director of the SIA Space Automation Technology Research Office, ]l  said that they managed to fold the flexible membrane and put it into the deployment machine, which is smaller than a billiard ball.

After the satellite platform is put into orbit, scientists carry out technical verification through two-stage deployment. At the first stage, the solar sail body is pushed out of the satellite platform and turned 90 degrees. The second stage is to erect masts and gradually spread the sail. The unfolded solar sail is about 0.6 square meters, which is equivalent to the size of eight Macbook airs laptop computers.

Illustration of SIASAIL-1 before and after sail deployment. Credits: SIA & China Daily.

** LightSail 2: Fulfilling a Dream – Planetary Society – This solar sail did demonstrate net solar propulsion.

Carl Sagan dreamed of solar sailing before founding The Planetary Society in 1980. Now our members have helped us fulfill that dream.

** Bob Zimmerman reviews the rocket industry in the past year: The state of the global rocket industry in 2019 | Behind The Black

First and foremost 2019 showed a decline in total launches from 2018, with global launches dropping from 111 to 97. The 2019 totals were also about 30% below the number of launches predicted by the various countries and launch companies that are now active.

Does this drop in launches mean that the rocket industry is in decline? Not at all. The 97 launches last year were also the most launches in a single year since 1990, when the Soviet Union existed and routinely puffed up the totals each year with many unnecessary launches prompted by their bloated communist bureaucracy. (See last year’s graph for the yearly numbers going back to 1980.)

More important, the numbers this year are based on a much more robust launch industry, made up of many more sound competing constituents, both public and private.

And he concludes:

Thus, it appears that 2020 could herald the beginning of a very aggressive worldwide space industry, achieving more launches each year than ever accomplished in any year since Sputnik launched in 1957.

** A video roundup of launches in 2019 from Cape Canaveral

** Global rocket launch scores for 2019:

** Solar electric propulsion for the Gateway station: The Maxar Power and Propulsion Element: Third Generation Commercial Solar Electric Propulsion, Scott Tilly & Ty Lee , MAXAR Technologies – Future In-Space Operations (FISO), Slides (pdf)

** A compact history of the Ariane family of rockets from Scott Manley:

** SpaceX:

**** Falcon 9 launch of Starlink 2 with the second set of 60 satellites is set for this Friday, Jan. 3rd at 10:24 pm EST (0324 GMT on 4th from Cape Canaveral. It appears that the static firing test on the pad may happen on the day before rather than the usual several days prior. This is consistent with their efforts to speed up the launch pace. The company hopes to do Starlink launches about twice a month in 2020.

**** SpaceX is trying the make the Starlink satellites less bright so as to ameliorate their impact on astronomy: SpaceX set to launch less reflective Starlink satellite – Orlando Sentinel.

A launch planned for Friday from the Space Coast will test a possible solution. SpaceX will experiment with a non-reflective coating on the bottom of one satellite in its next batch of 60, scheduled to lift off from launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 11:20 p.m.

The Astronomical Society has had numerous conversations with SpaceX since the first Starlink launch, on May 23, to discuss how to make the satellites less intrusive. Even now, at their operating altitude of about 550 kilometers, they are still right on the edge of visibility to the unaided eye.

But for research-grade telescopes? They’re “ferociously bright,” Hall said. That means they’re getting in the way of data collection, with the streaks of light ruining the scientific quality of images.

**** CRS-19 Cargo Dragon set to depart from the ISS next Sunday, Jan. 5th. NASA.gov/live will broadcast the departure starting at 9:15 p.m. EST.

The CRS-19 Cargo SpaceX Dragon approaches the International Space Station on Dec. 8, 2019. Credits: NASA

**** Elon linked on Twitter to a SpaceX-made Falcon 9 Crew Dragon simulation from 2011 that I posted on Youtube:

Unfortunately, I believe the licensees of the Muse soundtrack will benefit from the big bump in views rather than I.

**** Elon pointed to a new animation of a Crew Dragon mission to the ISS released this week:

**** Crew Dragon with astronauts on board could launch as soon as February but NASA reviews will take months (and that’s assuming the in-flight abort test goes well):

See also SpaceX’s Crew Dragon astronaut launch debut schedule revealed by Elon Musk – Teslarati.

**** Starship

****** Elon posted a lot of info on development of the Starship on Tweeter in the past few days. Here’s a sampling:

Orbital vehicle in Texas:

The next vehicle, which will be referred to as SN1 rather than Mk.3, could be flying by March:

See also SpaceX’s Elon Musk works through holidays on Starship’s “most difficult part” – Teslarati.

Forming and attaching stainless steel structures:

Pressurizing the tanks to push propellants into the turbo-pumps:

Autogenous refers to using a gaseous form of a propellant itself for pressurizing the tank rather than using a separate inert gas like helium. The high pressure composite pressure vessels (COPVs) to hold helium were involved in both Falcon 9 explosions. Helium is also quite expensive now.

Controlling the side flaps on the Starship as it returns through the atmosphere.

**** Boca Chica viewing

****** New structures in construction: SpaceX borrows Tesla’s tent factory strategy for new Starship production HQ – Teslarati

Confirmed yesterday morning by CEO Elon Musk, SpaceX has copied Tesla’s approach to factory expansion and is building a giant tent to upgrade its South Texas Starship production facilities.

A big step towards more traditional aerospace-style manufacturing facilities, SpaceX has contracted the same company used by Tesla to create a fourth general assembly line (GA4) in a giant tent outside its Fremont, CA factory in 2018. Instead of Model 3s, however, Sprung Instant Structures (Sprung for short) is rapidly raising a large tent that will eventually allow SpaceX to fabricate and weld more Starship parts and sections in an enclosed environment, an improvement from the current practice of building prototypes out in the harsh environment of coastal Texas.

In typical fashion, Musk believes that the new enclosed production facilities – just a collection of shipping crates as of December 18th – could be ready to begin manufacturing Starship parts as early as next month, and the progress Sprung has made makes it unusually hard to fault his optimism.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship Domes – Hopper attention – December 30, 2019 – – NASASpaceflight.com

More views of the Starship Domes (Bulkheads) while the facilities continue to grow and even Hopper gains some attention at the launch site. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Big Tops and Bulkheads – December 29, 2019 – NASASpaceflight.com

More work is taking place on the Starship SN1 Bulkheads as assembly of additional “Big Top” production facilities continues. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Opens with some photos taken from Sam Sun (@birdsnspace) plane flyover.

****** Flyover on Dec. 27 – LabPadre

12.27.2019 The long awaited SpaceX Boca Chica Flyover. Excellent over head close ups of Rocket Shipyard and Landing/Launch site.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica, Texas 2019 review – LabPadre

This video is brought to you by Isla Grand Beach Resort, Sapphire Condominiums, and Orbital Media Networks. All images are filmed at the Pointer property and are explicitly owned by LabPadre Media.

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Space transport roundup – Dec.26.2019

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here):

** China’s Long March 5 heavy lifter set to launch on Friday. The vehicle design has undergone major upgrades following the failed second launch in 2017.

A video report from CGTN about the Wenchang spaceport where the LM-5 will lift off:

Located in south China’s Hainan Province, Wenchang Space Launch Center is the fourth launch site in China, being specially selected for its low latitude. CGTN takes you on a tour the space site and China’s aerospace history.

The space center will witness the launch of China’s Long March 5 carrier rocket. In the next few days, the final checks and preparations for the launch will be carried out by the engineers. This year’s launch is the third after two unsuccessful launches in 2016 and 2017.

** A couple of Chinese commercial space items:

Hyperbola-2 orbital rocket with reusable first stage.

**  Taiwan’s TiSPACE plans to launch orbital Hapith-V rocket in 2020 powered by hybrid motors:

One of the company’s videos describes the company and its launch technology:

This article provides some background on the company: Firm sets sights on heavens as space industry develops – Taipai Times (pdf)

Based in Miaoli County, TiSPACE was established in 2016 by Chen Yen-sen (陳彥升), who served at the NSPO [National Space Organization] for 11 years after leaving his job as a researcher at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where he had worked for 21 years.

After returning to Taiwan in 2005, Chen was responsible for directing sounding rocket projects at the NSPO.

Chen said that he left the NSPO to start the company because he hopes to pursue the commercial applications of hybrid rockets and he has become familiar with official procedures to receive approval to launch rockets.

The firm has 104 employees, averaging 34.5 years old, including many engineers who previously worked at information and communications technology firms, the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, or Australian rocket firms, he said.  The firm earlier this year improved the efficiency of hybrid rockets to achieve Class-I rocket propulsion as defined by NASA, while keeping the cost much lower than similar products, he added.

Find updates on TiSpace at tiSpace-Taiwanese commercial launch company – NASASpaceflight Forum.

** Boeing Starliner landed successfully last Sunday at White Sands after abbreviated test flight

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft completed the first touchdown on land of a human-rated space capsule in U.S. history Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, wrapping up the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Starliner settled gently onto its air bags at 7:58 a.m. EST in a pre-dawn landing that helps set the stage for future crewed landings at the same site. The landing followed a deorbit burn at 7:23 a.m., separation of the spacecraft’s service module, and successful deployment of its three main parachutes and six airbags.

Post-landing briefing:

One hour after landing, NASA and Boeing held a news conference at NASA Johnson Space Center with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing’s Space and Launch Division, and Steve Stich, deputy manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The vehicle gets a name: Boeing’s first commercial crew capsule christened ‘Calypso’ – Spaceflight Now

Scott Manley’s discusses the return of the Starliner:

** Russian Proton rocket launched a new weathersat:

** Interview with Black Arrow Space Technologies executive director: Black Arrow is developing a seaborne small-sat launcher – Aerospace Engineering Blog

Paul Williams is the Executive Director of the British startup Black Arrow Space Technologies. Black Arrow is developing a sea-borne launch capability based on their current expertise in developing composite propellant tanks for satellites. The launching of rockets from ships has a previous history in America, and as an island nation, the concept is clearly suited for a UK launch provider. Paul and I talk about the heritage of the Black Arrow name, the advantages of a sea-borne launch approach, and the importance of audacious technical challenges in galvanising and inspiring the next generation of engineering talent.

(Item via the Rocketeers blog.)

A video animation of the Black Arrow plan:

Black Arrow Space Technologies is developing its own spaceship – a seaborne spaceport which will be used to launch satellites of up to, initially, 500 kg in to Low Earth Orbit. The “spaceship” will be based in a South Wales port, along with its support vessels, and will enable rockets to be launched North or South without overflying populated areas. We are creating a flexible British launch capability to support the thriving British satellite industry which will allow launches to take place from the best place to achieve the required orbit.

** SpaceX:

**** SpaceX completes successful series of parachute tests for Crew Dragon: SpaceX leaps closer to launching NASA astronauts after parachute testing milestone – Teslarati

Most recently, SpaceX announced on December 4th that it had completed the 7th consecutively successful multi-chute drop test, leaving three additional tests to go before reaching its goal of at least 10 consecutive successes.

Now, a bit less than three weeks after that 7th test, SpaceX says it has completed the 10th multi-chute drop test of Crew Dragon’s upgraded Mk3 parachutes, achieving the tentative goals set by CEO Elon Musk and NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine just two months ago. By the numbers, since Bridenstine first announced his expectation of “as many as 10 drop tests between now and the end of the year”, SpaceX alone has completed at least 20 successful tests in a row in the last eight weeks, averaging more than one test every three days.

If the in-flight abort test set for January 11th is successful, the Crew Dragon will be ready to carry astronauts to the ISS.

**** Latest  landed booster returned and sent to hangar in record time: SpaceX wraps up a decade of reusable rocketry with fastest booster recovery yet- Teslarati

SpaceX has completed its 13th and final launch and landing of the year and decade, marked by a Falcon 9 booster’s successful return to Port Canaveral and subsequent processing to prepare it for another orbital-class mission.

Over the course of that recovery, SpaceX broke the record for the fastest Falcon 9 processing by several hours, a small but significant step towards the company’s ultimate goal of launching and landing the same Falcon 9 booster in less than 24 hours. Additionally, SpaceX appears to have finished processing booster B1056 on December 21st, the 4th anniversary of Falcon 9’s first successful landing after an orbital-class launch.

Video of the processing of B1056:

Booster 56 has retracted and loaded with landing legs on, three times in a row. SpaceX redesigned the struts on each leg to collapse under equal pressure beginning with B1056. This puts SpaceX much closer to the 24hr turnaround. Amazing engineering! Thanks for Subscribing! We are a US disabled veteran run, non-profit video production company whose mission is to bring other disabled US Veterans to witness a launch, experience US Space History and become part of our report. Our nonprofit 501(c)(3) is 100% tax deductible, just go to our webpage www.USLaunchReport.com which is merged with www.VeteransSpaceReport.com and find our Donate button. You can help change the life of a US Veteran.

**** SpaceX – CRS 19 – Remote narrow & wide cameras w/ high fidelity audio – NASASpaceflight.com

Filmed by Chris Gebhardt using Jay DeShetler’s specialist remove camera and audio set up, Falcon powered the CRS-19 Dragon into the Florida sky. Launch article: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/…

**** Next Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites set for Jan. 3. Two more Starlink launches planned for January: SpaceX poised to accelerate launch cadence with series of Starlink missions – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX teams across the United States are readying for what the company’s chief operating officer predicts will be a record number of launches in 2020.

Before the end of January, SpaceX aims to perform four Falcon 9 launches from Florida’s Space Coast — three for the company’s Starlink broadband network, and a crucial in-flight abort test for the Crew Dragon spacecraft no earlier than Jan. 11.

SpaceX has performed its final launch of 2019, finishing the year with 13 missions — 11 using the “single-stick” Falcon 9 and two employing the Falcon Heavy with three booster core connected together. All 13 of the missions were successful.

The company accomplished 21 launches in 2018, and 18 in 2017.

**** Starship

****** Recent scenes at Boca Chica:

As numerous deliveries continue into SpaceX Boca Chica, the expansion of the new production facility is still taking place. This will give birth to Starship Mk3, before being assembled and welded into the tall windbreak building. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

Starship’s bulkhead was flying again, but this time on the end of a crane at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility as more Steel rings are being produced. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

****** Structural components for the Mk.3 vehicle arrived via ship from Florida: SpaceX ships Starship hardware from Florida to Texas to speed up production – Teslarati

After appearing unexpectedly at SpaceX’s Port Canaveral docks last month, several large pieces of Starship flight and manufacturing hardware were successfully shipped from Florida to Texas, arriving at the company’s Boca Chica build and launch site two weeks ago.

Previously discussed on Teslarati, the hardware transfer signals a significant shift in the development strategy for SpaceX’s next-generation Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle. Most notably, SpaceX has chosen to prioritize Texas in the near term while the company’s Florida facilities instead aim for longer-tail milestones like the first Super Heavy-capable launch site and a new production facility located much closer to that launch site.

While the hardware SpaceX has sent over is relatively minor in the scope of producing a brand new Starship prototype, it will at least somewhat expedite the process thanks to the inclusion of what appears to be a completed propellant tank dome. Additionally, it’s possible that this December 8th hardware delivery will not be the last – a large amount of hardware remains at SpaceX’s Cocoa, Florida Starship production facility, including several ring sections and a nearly finished nose section, among a number of other parts.

****** Activity at the Florida Starship assembly facility has scaled down substantially:

Not much happening. The MK2 remains virtually untouched. The grey header tank (removed from MK2 a while ago) has been moved outside into the elements. Site has almost been cleared of all extra parts, moving pipes and fixtures now.

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Rockets

Space transport roundup – Dec.21.2019

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here):

** Boeing Starliner crew spacecraft sent into wrong orbit due to a timing clock glitch shortly after deployment from Atlas V upper stage: NASA Statement on Boeing Orbital Flight Test | NASA

The test flight with no astronauts on board was intended to prove the vehicle’s performance and safety before the first crewed flight. Though many of the rocket and spacecraft systems will be tested, including the return for a parachute landing onto hard ground, the key rendezvous and docking capabilities will not be proven.

It’s likely, however, that NASA will not require Boeing do another uncrewed flight test since a crew would not have been endangered during today’s flight and might have even corrected the problem in time to achieve the orbit needed to rendezvous with the ISS. Nevertheless, the Starliner crew flight will be delayed not just to fix this particular problem but to determine what shortcomings in vehicle development, flight preparation, and management allowed it to happen.

Here is the post-launch briefing:

Another briefing teleconference will be held today at 2pm: NASA, Boeing to Provide Update on Starliner Orbital Flight Test Status – Commercial Crew Program/NASA

[ Update: No major news regarding the anomaly. They are continuing to study what caused the mis-timing. Other items:

  • The Starliner spacecraft is performing well.
  • Speakers emphasize the many systems that will have been tested on the flight despite no ISS rendezvous and docking.
  • Great deal of data being obtained.
  • Starliner will de-orbit tomorrow morning (Dec.22) and land at White Sands, New Mexico
  • NASA coverage of the return  will start at 6:45 a.m. EST.
  • The deorbit burn is scheduled for 7:23 a.m. EST, landing for 7:57 a.m. EST.

A recording of the briefing (embedding for it is deactivated): LIVE: Update on Boeing Starliner from Jim Bridenstine (audio-only teleconference) – YouTube

Extensive notes:

]

More about the flight test:

Video of the launch:

Scott Manley gives his analysis of the

** The Brazilian-Chinese remote sensing satellite CBERS-04A and Ethiopia’s first satellite, ETRSS-1, were launched on Thursday aboard a Long March 4B rocket:

** A Long March 5 rolled to the launch pad on Saturday (China time)  in preparation for critical return to flight mission :

See also China prepares to launch Long March-5 rocket – Xinhua.

Long March 5 rolls to pad for launch at end of December. The rocket will lift off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Hainan Province on Saturday. Credits: Zhang Gaoxiang/Xinhua

** A Soyuz rocket launched the CHEOPS exoplanet observatory and four other satellites from French Guiana on Wednesday: Soyuz orbits a multi-passenger payload on Arianespace’s ninth and final launch of 2019 – Arianespace

Departing at the exact planned liftoff moment of 5:54:20 a.m. local time, the Soyuz ST-A launcher version flew a four-hour-plus profile to release its multi-satellite payload into Sun-synchronous orbit – beginning with primary passenger COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, then CHEOPS (Characterising Exoplanet Satellite) and three auxiliary payloads: EyeSat, OPS-SAT and ANGELS.

More about the mission:

** Rocket Lab will build a second launch pad in New Zealand. This will be the third pad overall counting the new one at Wallops Island, Virginia:

In an interview, Rocket Lab Chief Executive Peter Beck said the decision to build the second pad was driven by an anticipated increase in its launch rate. The company carried out six launches of its Electron rocket in 2019 but expects to launch once a month in 2020 and eventually increase to weekly launches.

“The additional pad really gives us the capacity to get down to one launch every week, which is what we’ve always been driving to,” he said. The company current spends about four weeks to recycle the pad between launches, which he said can be shortened to two.

At a recent ceremony marking the completion of the Wallops Island facility, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, interviewed Peter Beck:

I got to have an awesome conversation with Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck talking all about their reusability plans for Electron and all the exciting things they’ll be doing next year! I already have a video that dives into their recovery plans and the history of air launches here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIaDW… Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter at Rocket Lab’s beautiful new factory in Auckland, New Zealand! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj9Bn…

Rocket Lab posts highlights from 10 Electron launches:

** Highlights for Virgin Orbit in 2019

2019 has been one hell of a year for the Virgin Orbit team. We entered this year with a brilliant team and a lot of cool technology — but there were some really big milestones we still had yet to cross. We hadn’t yet fired our main stage. We had mountains of simulations for how to fly, but hadn’t run though a full mission sequence in software, much less done so with a fully integrated rocket on the test stand. And we hadn’t actually taken off with a fully loaded rocket strapped to its wing. As of today, we’ve done all of that and so, so much more.

** SpaceX:

**** In-flight abort test flight no earlier than January 14th: SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test Launch Date Update – Commercial Crew Program/NASA

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Jan. 11, 2020, for a critical In-Flight Abort Test of the Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pending U.S. Air Force Eastern Range approval.

As part of the test, SpaceX will configure Crew Dragon to trigger a launch escape shortly after liftoff and demonstrate Crew Dragon’s capability to safely separate from the Falcon 9 rocket in the unlikely event of an in-flight emergency. The demonstration also will provide valuable data toward NASA certifying SpaceX’s crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

The demonstration of Crew Dragon’s launch escape system is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and is one of the final major tests for the company before NASA astronauts will fly aboard the spacecraft.

**** Three Starlink missions could lift off in January: SpaceX set to deploy another large batch of internet satellites as Starlink constellation expands – Teslarati

The next Falcon 9 launch of 60 SpaceX Starlink broadband Internet satellites is set for January 3rd from Cape Canaveral.  The subsequent two flights are set for mid and late January. It appears that SpaceX is hoping to average two Starlink launches per month in 2020. This will be in addition to their usual manifest of customer payloads.

SpaceX allowed by FAA to change the distribution of Starlink satellites in orbit: SpaceX gets OK to re-space Starlink orbits – SpaceNews.com

**** Starship

**** The Mk.1 section that SpaceX scraps first Starship prototype to make way for new and improved rockets – Teslarati

****** Initial stacking of stainless steel rings for the Mk.3 Starship – NASASpaceflight.com

The first rings of Starship Mk3 have undergone a stacking test involving the ring with the “portals/portholes”. It looks like they had some fun with the names too.

Meanwhile, the new production facility is taking shape.

Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica Ring Stack Progress Time Lapse – LabPadre

12.19.2019 Time lapse as SpaceX moves a ring into staking position for the first attempted ring stack of MK-3. Workers pin together both rings as they prepare for the welding process. 24/7 stream is powered by LabPadre, in cooperation with Sapphire Condominiums and @BocaChicaMaria1 (Twitter) @SpaceXBocaChica (Facebook). All video images explicitly owned by LabPadre Media.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica New Elevated View Of Starship Rocket Shipyard – LabPadre

12.19.2019 Video shot by Maria Pointer with Esquire Magazine MK3 rings in fast production. Onion tent frame being erected. Fencing/walls being raised. Warning: Loud wind. Video Credit: @BocaChicaMaria1

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Space transport roundup – Dec.16.2019

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here):

** Several orbital launches are taking place this week:

**** SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 this evening with the JCSAT 18/Kacific 1 comm-sat  from Cape Canaveral. The first stage booster successfully landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship. SpaceX’s two fairing recovery vessels, “Ms. Tree” and “Ms. Chief,” did not capture the fairings in their nets but did grab them from the water:

A fairing taken from the water has in fact been reused on one F9 flight (Starlink launch on November 11, 2019).

Here are scenes from today’s launch:

This was the third flight of this booster, which flew in May and July of this year. Turn-around times are getting shorter. This was also the 47th successful recovery of a Falcon booster counting the side boosters for the three Falcon Heavy flights.

More about today’s mission:

More SpaceX items below.

**** A Russian Soyuz is set to launch from the Arianespace launch facility in Kourou, French Guiana on Tuesday with four satellites: Soyuz Flight VS23 – Arianespace

The COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite for the Italian Space Agency and Minister of Defence will be the primary passenger of this flight, along with the Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS) on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). Three auxiliary payloads also will be on board: ANGELS and EyeSat for the French CNES space agency; and OPS-SAT for Tyvak (on behalf of ESA).

Liftoff is set for 3:54:20 am (8:54:20 GMT).  See also:

**** Boeing and ULA plan to launch an uncrewed Starliner spacecraft to the ISS this Friday, Dec. 20th at 6:36 am EST ( 1136 GMT) from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas V rocket. This will be the first space flight of a Starliner, one of the two Commercial Crew vehicles sponsored by NASA along with the SpaceX Crew Dragon. The Atlas V for the first time will include a Centaur upper stage outfitted with two RL-10 LOX/Liquid Hydrogen engines rather than the usual single engine configuration. (Two engine Centaurs have flown before on other rockets.)

“A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, topped by the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, stand on Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Dec. 4, 2019. The vehicle was in place on the launch pad for Boeing’s wet dress rehearsal ahead of the upcoming Orbital Flight Test, an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.” – NASA

**** China launched two Beidou navigation satellites on Monday on a Long March 3B and plans to launch a Long March 4B rocket on Friday with the CBERS 4A (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) remote sensing spacecraft.

** BE-3U Hotfire engine test – Blue Origin

We’re currently testing the newest member of the BE-3 family, BE-3U (upper stage), a variant of the BE-3PM propelling New Shepard. With a back-to-back turbine assembly and a larger nozzle, BE-3U is optimized to operate in the vacuum of space and generates 710 kN (160,000 lbf) thrust in vacuum. Two BE-3U engines power New Glenn’s restartable upper stage, enabling the full range of customer missions including direct injection to geostationary orbit. Building on years of operational experience and rigorous testing, BE-3U will be one of the best understood rocket engines when it launches into space.

** Rocket Lab‘s launch pad facility at Wallops Island, Virginia to see first liftoff in spring of 2020. The LC-2 pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) is essentially complete. It will be used primarily for US defense payloads.

** China’s space program has a lot riding on the next launch of the Long March 5. The first launch put a satellite into orbit but at a lower altitude than planned. The second launch failed completely. The space station project and space science missions beyond earth orbit need the LM-5: Why China’s next Long March 5 rocket mission will be about restoring national pride | South China Morning Post

A Long March 5 rocket is expected to blast off from a site in southern China this month carrying not only a next-generation communications satellite, but the hope that the mission will restore pride in the programme after a series of setbacks.

One of the sources who confirmed the plan said that the atmosphere at Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the northern tip of Hainan Island was “so tense there seems to be a shortage of oxygen”.

The Long March 5 – also known as the CZ-5 – is the largest launch vehicle in China’s space fleet. It can carry 25 tonnes into low Earth orbit, typically 645-1,610km (400-1,000 miles) from the surface.

** Gilmour Space Technologies partnering with the Australian Space Agency:

There doesn’t appear to be any funding involved; just general cooperation and support:

While the development of rockets has not been in the realm of the Australian space sector in the past, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, highlighted how recent investments broadens the Australian space industry.

“This new partnership shows the breadth of capabilities being developed in Australia, supporting our mission to develop and grow the Australian space industry over the next ten years,” said Andrews.

Gilmour is developing the

ERIS launch vehicles [which] will deliver up to 450 kg to LEO, with ERIS-S (up to 200 kg to 500 km SSO) followed by ERIS-L (450 kg to 180-500 km SSO). 

The propulsion systems for the ERIS vehicles are based on ” Gilmour’s new and proprietary hybrid rocket engine”.

** Munich-based Isar Aerospace raises $17M for small rocket launch system: European Launch Company ISAR Aerospace Closes $17 Million Series A Funding Round – SpaceWatch.Global

Isar is developing the Spectrum rocket which

… is a two-stage launch vehicle that is specifically designed for satellite constellation deployment. Payload capabilities of up to 1’000kg to low-earth orbit and a multi-ignition second stage engine enable flexible access to space for major satellite systems. Spectrum is designed to handle the most challenging mission parameters and offers engine-out capability on the first stage for highest mission success.

From the SpaceWatch.Global article:

Over the past year, Isar Aerospace has been developing its Spectrum rocket at unmatched speed. The development is fully on track for first launch in late 2021 while key milestones such as propulsion system hotfire testing and agreements for launch site access have been achieved. “At Airbus Ventures we’re proud to add Isar Aerospace to our global portfolio of innovative launch systems,” remarks Airbus Ventures Financial Officer and EMEA team member Claas Carsten Kohl. Mathieu Costes, Airbus Ventures Partner adds “We’re pleased to entrust Daniel and his outstanding team, bringing impressive new technologies and approaches to the challenges of Low Earth Orbit, to represent our first deal in Germany. Together with our investment round co-leader Earlybird and under the continuing guidance of Bulent Altan we’re pleased to help draw together the ecosystems of new space excellence in both Germany and in the wider Airbus universe.”

** More about the Leo Aerospace balloon launch systems: Using Balloons to Launch Rockets – Universe Today

Since the turn of the century, space exploration has changed dramatically thanks to the unprecedented rise of commercial aerospace (aka. NewSpace). With the goal of leveraging new technologies and lowering the costs of launching payloads into space, some truly innovative and novel ideas are being put forth. This includes the idea of using balloons to carry rockets to very high-altitudes, then firing the payloads to their desired orbits.

Also known as “Rockoons”, this concept has informed Leo Aerospace‘s fully-autonomous and fully-reusable launch system – which consists of a high-altitude aerostat (balloon) and a rocket launch platform. With the first commercial launches slated for next year, the company plans to use this system to provide regular launch services to the microsatellite (aka. CubeSat) market in the coming years.

See also the earlier item here about Leo.

** Vector Launch in final death throes:  Vector files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy – SpaceNews.com

Small launch vehicle company Vector filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Dec. 13 as part of an agreement that could see some of its satellite technology assets sold to Lockheed Martin.
…
Vector had been one of the leading companies in the small launch vehicle market until August, when the company said that a “significant change in financing” led it to pause operations and lay off nearly all of its more than 150 employees. Jim Cantrell, Vector’s chief executive, also left the company at the time. That announcement came just two days after the company won an Air Force launch contract.

According to industry sources familiar with the company, the August layoffs were triggered when one of the company’s major investors, venture fund Sequoia, withdrew its support for the company because of concerns about how the company was managed. That came as Vector was working on a new funding round, and Sequoia’s decision had a domino effect, causing other investors to back out. Sequoia didn’t respond to a request for comment in August about any role it played in Vector’s problems.

** Update on second Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo rocketplane:

** The secretive Astra launch company plans a test flight of the company’s rocket sometime between mid-February and the end of March: OET Special Temporary Authority Report

A snapshot of their rocket:

** SpaceX:

**** SpaceX adds more engine test stands at the McGregor, Texas facility: SpaceX set to activate additional test stands ahead of busy 2020 – NASASpaceFlight.com

SpaceX’s McGregor test facility is about to open two new test stands to accommodate increased Raptor engine production and a busy Falcon 9 manifest in 2020. Recent aerial images of the McGregor Texas-based facility show that both of the test stands are nearly ready for activation – with the first firings expected to occur this month.

**** Kepler Communications launching two batches of smallsats for an Internet of Things (IoT) constellation on Falcon 9 rideshare flights:

Kepler:

Kepler announced today that it has selected SpaceX as launch partner to deliver a portion of its first Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation into space onboard SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

Kepler has procured 400 kg of launch capacity from SpaceX for the deployment of multiple satellites. These spacecraft incorporate both a high-capacity Ku-band communications system and a narrowband payload, for both high-speed data transfers and for low-power direct-to-satellite IoT connectivity.       

This will be the first time the two companies are partnering for a LEO deployment, and it will be a historical event as it marks Kepler’s first use of SpaceX’s new SmallSat Rideshare Program, which will see the launch of multiple small spacecraft into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

**** The team at www.USLaunchReport.com watches the booster recovered from the latest Starlink launch transported from Port Canaveral to the hangar to prepare for another launch:

**** Starship

****** Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, discusses the issue of a Starship abort system:

****** SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Control Center – December 15, 2019 – NASASpaceflight.com

As SpaceX’s Boca Chica steel machine keeps pumping out monolithic rings for Starship Mk3, groundwork is being laid for SpaceX’s Launch Control Center (LCC). Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Foundations of a Starship Production Factory – Dec. 14, 2019 – NASASpaceflight.com

As the gutting of Mk1’s remains is ongoing, workers are working on foundations for what will be a number of buildings that will be producing sections for a fleet of Starships and Super Heavy boosters. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist)

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Rockets

Space transport roundup – Dec.11.2019

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here):

[ Update: Statement from Blue about today’s New Shepard flight: Blue Origin | New Shepard Mission NS-12 Updates

New Shepard had a wholly successful mission on December 11, 2019. 

This mission was another step towards verifying New Shepard for human spaceflight as we continue to mature the safety and reliability of the vehicle. 

This was the 6th flight for this particular New Shepard vehicle. Blue Origin has so far reused two boosters five times each consecutively, so today marks a record with this booster completing its 6th flight to space and back.

This particular rocket has been an operational payload vehicle for several flights, meaning there are no more updates to the system.

Here are some videos Blue posted this afternoon:

]

** Blue Origin flew a New Shepard rocket vehicle today on its 6th mission to over 100 kilometers. The launch was postponed from Tuesday due to bad weather. Here is the webcast video (the liftoff is around the 40:15 point):

An earlier statement from Blue announcing the mission:

Blue Origin’s next New Shepard mission (NS-12) is currently targeting liftoff tomorrow, December 10th at 8:30 am CST / 14:30 UCT. Current weather conditions aren’t as favorable as we’d like, but we’re continuing to keep an eye on the forecast.

As we move towards verifying New Shepard for human spaceflight we are continuing to mature the safety and reliability of the vehicle. 

It’s the 6th flight for this particular New Shepard vehicle, marking the first time a Blue Origin booster has made this many consecutive flights (the previous booster flew five times consecutively) – all with minimal refurbishment between flights. This particular rocket has been an operational payload vehicle for several flights, meaning there are no more updates to the system.

This will also be the 9th commercial payload mission for New Shepard, and we are proud to be flying our 100th customer on board. 

Also on the vehicle are thousands of postcards from students around the world for our nonprofit Club for the Future. The Club’s mission is to inspire future generations to pursue careers in STEM and help visualize the future of life in space.

You can watch the launch live at BlueOrigin.com – the pre-show begins T-30 where Blue will provide more mission details and updates.

To follow the action, we’ll be posting live updates on Instagram and Twitter.

Blue Origin Twitter and Instagram 
Club for Future Twitter and Instagram

New Shepard Mission NS-12 Notable Payloads Manifested:

OK Go
Earlier this year we partnered with rock band OK Go on a contest called Art in Space, giving high school and middle school students a chance to send art experiments into space on our New Shepard vehicle. We are sending the two winning art projects on NS-12.

Columbia University
One of our educational payloads from Columbia University, designed and built by undergraduate students and advised by Dr. Michael Massimino (an astronaut), will study the acute impacts of microgravity environments on cell biology. This is crucial for humans living and working in space.

OSCAR
OSCAR, which was led by principal investigator Dr. Annie Meier, is a recycling technology payload from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It is designed to create a mixture of gasses that could be used for propulsion or life support from common waste on a deep space human exploration mission. This is Blue’s first full-stack payload, meaning there will be more room to do complex studies in flight.

-Gradatim Ferociter

See also: Blue Origin moving to verify New Shepard for human flight with 12th test launch – NASASpaceFlight.com

** Several orbital launches took place in the past week.

*** Dec.11: India launched a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) today with a radar imaging spy satellite on board. Liftoff happens at about 23:55 into this ISRO webcast video:

[ Update: So many launches it’s hard to keep up. I left out this Russian Soyuz  2-1b launch on Tuesday, Dec.10, which successfully put a navigation satellite into orbit: Soyuz 2-1b launches latest GLONASS satellite – returns Plesetsk pad to service – NASASpaceFlight.com

]

*** Dec. 7: China launched two Kuaizhou-1A rockets within a few hours, putting a total of seven satellites into orbit. This included the Jilin-1 Gaofen-2B remote sensing satellite for the Jilin constellation on the first launch and six smallsats on the second rocket:

*** Dec. 6: Russian Soyuz sent a Progress cargo vehicle to the ISS: Russia’s Progress MS-13 space freighter delivered into near-Earth orbit – TASS

The spacecraft docked with the ISS on Monday.

*** Dec. 6: Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket for the 10th time. Seven satellites were placed into orbit. In addition, the first stage booster remained intact after plummeting back through the atmosphere in a guided flight all the way to splashdown. This is a positive indication for plans to recover the boosters  and reuse them. This Electron was also the first to fly with a fully Autonomous Flight Termination System (AFTS).

*** Dec. 5: SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a Cargo Dragon to the ISS. The first stage successfully landed on a platform at sea.

The Dragon berthed to the station on Dec. 8th.

The USLaunchReport.com team posted this montage of scenes from before and during the Falcon 9 launch, plus they show the booster at Cape Canaveral and the retracting of the legs.

** Boeing Starliner and Atlas V launcher are preparing for launch this month. The uncrewed  test flight to the ISS is currently set for Dec.20th at 6:36 am EST from Cape Canaveral: Boeing Uncrewed Flight Test Launch Date Update – Commercial Crew Program/NASA

**** Starliner and Atlas V at SLC-41 for Wet Dress Rehearsal – NASASpaceflight.com

Q&A from ULA’s Space Launch Complex 41 viewing Starliner atop its Atlas V Rocket in preparation for the upcoming OFT. More information on Starliner: News Site: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=St… Forum Section: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/ind…

** Chinese rocket news items:

**** Testing of an hydrogen-oxygen engine for the Long March-8, which is expected to fly in 2020 for the first time:  China’s Long March-8 rocket successfully passes engine test – Xinhua

**** An upper stage solid fuel motor test, this time by the Chinese company Galaxy Space (Beijing Xinghe Dongli Space Technology Co. Ltd.): Chinese private rocket complete the third phase engine thermo ground test – ecns.cn

** Europe’s Space Rider uncrewed space plane to fly in 2022. The latest ESA budget includes full funding for the project, which has been led by Italy:

ESA’s Space Rider.

** Balloons can’t reach space but balloon tanks can:

** The Int. Space Elevator Consortium (SEC) posts an update on space elevator development: ISEC Newsletter – Dec.2019/Jan.2020

Road to the Space Elevator Era: This International Academy of Astronautics study report (4 years by 30 global space experts) was “released” during the IAC [2019] at the Robert Heinlein Prize Trust Booth (publisher). The report has significant inputs from ISEC and our members. Several of the ISEC concepts from our Chief Architect were accepted into the book and stood tall. These would include several of Fitzer’s Architectural Notes and his concept of a Galactic Harbour being a combination of a transportation infrastructure and an enterprise zone. This internationally endorsed study report again portrays an aggressive approach towards implementation of SEs. ISEC was instrumental in the content of the book and the editing of the content – as such, this year’s distribution of the document at the IAC was a “win-win.”

** SpaceX:

**** As usual, lots of activities underway across the wide range of SpaceX projects. Here are four upcoming Falcon 9 launches:

  • Dec. 16: Launch from Cape Canaveral of the Boeing built JCSAT 18/Kacific 1 comm-sat for SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. of Japan and Kacific Broadband Satellites of Singapore.
  • Late Dec: Starlink-2 launch of a batch of 60 operational Starlink satellites.
  • Jan.4: A “no-earlier-than’ (NET) date for the in-flight abort test in which a Crew Dragon spacecraft will separate from the Falcon 9 about a minute after to liftoff. This will simulate the
  • Early Jan: Starlink-3 launch of the third batch of 60 Starlink satellites

Articles about these flights:

**** A crewed Dragon flight to the ISS could happen as early as February if the in-flight abort and parachute tests are successful:

**** The Falcon upper stage successfully fired after coasting for a several hours following the release of the Cargo Dragon in last week’s mission discussed above. Such a capability is required for some types of satellite missions, especially for the military.

**** SpaceX plans to provide low cost launch services for smallsats on a fixed schedule.  This will mean tough competition for small rocket launch providers. The use of Momentus space tugs will also allow smallsats released from the Falcon to reach a wide array of orbits. SpaceX’s First Rideshare Customer Means Competition for Northrop – Motley Fool

The article exaggerates the threat, though, to Northrop’s Mission Extension Vehicles (MEVs). These are intended to keep large comm-sats in geostationary orbit in operation after they have run out of station-keeping fuel. The SpaceX and Momentus services are focused on low earth orbit missions for smallsats.

**** Starlink internet services need low cost ground station equipment if the project is to be financially successful: SpaceX wants to be your WiFi provider. This could be the company’s biggest hurdle – CNN.

SpaceX hopes to meet the demands of astronomers to reduce the glow of the Starlink satellites: SpaceX to experiment with less-reflective satellite coatings on next Starlink launch – Spaceflight Now

**** Recent Starship activities:

  • Boca Chica Beach, Texas:
    • Disassembly of the Mk.1 lower propulsion section that blew off its top during a pressure test on Nov.20th.
    • Mk.3 Starship assembly started with work on structural bands.
    • Construction of launch pad, control center, and other facilities.
    • Arrival of components from the Florida site via SpaceX ship.
  • Florida:
    • Scaling down of Starship assembly activities in favor of focusing on Starship building in Texas
    • Construction of Super Heavy Booster/Starship launch facility at Pad 39A at KSC

Here are articles and videos about these developments:

**** Boca Chica, Texas

****** A LabPadre report on events in Boca Chica:

****** Arrival of components from Florida

12.08.2019 Go Discovery entered the Brazos Santiago at 7:18 AM local time. Spectacular view of SpaceX bulk head and stands being delivered to Boca Chica complex. Dolphins at the bow at 2:00 min mark. All images are explicitly owned by LabPadre Media

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Taking apart Starship Mk1 – NASASpaceflight

Disassembly of Starship Mk1 is in the final stages ahead of the stacking of Mk3. Sunrise. Normal speed disasembly, then additional clips in timelapse. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

**** New SpaceX Launch Control Center at Boca Chica, Texas – LabPadre – Dec.3.2019

It appears that SpaceX is breaking ground for their new launch control center here at Boca Chica, Texas. Fast paced progress ahead for the push of MK-3. Video Credit: Maria Pointer

** Florida Starship facility – Aerial view via John Winkopp – Dec.6.2019:

Aerial view, still not much changed, more equipment on the way out. One large piece of wing root has been placed in the blue container for shipping. All of the sheets of steel that was in the On Deck Area has been shipped out.

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