A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat / SmallSat projects and programs (find previous smallsat roundups here):
WVU was the research partner of the STF-1 mission. The four science experiments WVU developed included a low-powered characterizer of III-V Nitride based materials, a Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) swarm, the testing of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver for precise orbit determination, and an environment and space weather investigation which was split into two separate experiments lead by Dr. Dimitris Vassiliadis worked as a research associate professor in the WVU Physics Department at the early stages of the STF-1 mission.
“STF-1 was quite successful in operating nearly flawlessly in terms of spacecraft performance for about 6 months and also meeting several science goals including those pertaining to the plasma experiment and the energetic-particle experiment,” Vassiliadis said. “This is somewhat remarkable for a CubeSat built by a first-time team with varying levels of expertise, but it is one more demonstration that modern CubeSats are becoming increasingly reliable.”
The CubeSat, funded by NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative program, was launched on Dec.16, 2018 on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from New Zealand: LIFTOFF! – STF-1 News
STF-1 ready for integration in to the Electron rocket. Credits: WVU STF-1 team
The hands-on training spans every step of developing a space mission, from initial design to building, testing, launching and operating the CubeSat in orbit, says Ian Mann, a professor of physics at U of A and faculty advisor for his university’s entry, the Ex-Alta 2 CubeSat project. The CSA hopes to inspire interest in STEM fields and give students the opportunity to round out their technical knowledge with business, project management and communications skills, says Dean Sangiorgi, senior engineer with the CSA and project manager for the CubeSat project. The latter is achieved in part through an outreach plan each team is required to include.
“It’s the exact kind of stuff that you don’t quite get to do in your classes. You learn theory about how to do this, but maybe don’t get to actually carry it out,” says Callie Lissinna, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at U of A and the Ex-Alta 2 project manager.
[ Update 19:33 pm EST: Sorry, this post was accidentally published prematurely and in a partially completed state. It’s now fully updated.]
A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):
Bob Stephens from California tracks and characterizes dangerous near-Earth asteroids. The equipment needed for such a task doesn’t last forever. With help from our members, asteroid hunters can upgrade their equipment to make sure we find asteroids before they find us. Support the work of these heroes at https://planetary.org/neogrants
1. Monday, Dec. 23, 2019; 7 pm PST (9 pm CST, 10 pm EST): We welcome back Robert Zimmerman to wrap up the year with news and policy plus a look ahead to 2020 space.
2. Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019; 7-8:30 pm PST (9-10:30 pm CST, 10-11:30 pm EST): No show today due to this being Christmas Eve.
3. Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019: Pre-recorded Hotel Mars Program with John Batchelor. See Upcoming Show on The Space Show website for details.
4. Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019; 7-8:30 pm PST (9-10:30 pm CST, 10-11:30 pm EST): No special program today.
5. Friday, Dec. 27, 2019; 9:30-11 am PST (11:30 am-1 pm CST, 12:30-2 pm EST): We welcome Kim Holder of Moonwards for special updates followed by Space Show news and our annual campaign appeal. Callers welcome on all topics, including those related to this program.
6. Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019; 12-1:30 pm PST (3-4:30 pm EST, 2-3:30 pm CST): We welcome back Thomas A. Olson for his annual review of NewSpace, all commercial space and more, plus NewSpace and Commercial space ahead in 2020. Tom has been providing these reviews for our audience since the start of The Space Show.
Your Space Show Gift Now is Critical to our 2020 Success:
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.
** 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:
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
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
****** 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
A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):
** 10 Years of Planned Satellites – Spacecast Ep28
Visualization of 57,000 satellites planned for launch in the next 10 years, based on data from Dan Oltrogge and Sal Alfano of AGI’s research arm, the Center for Space Standards and Innovation. Discussion with Dr. T.S. Kelso (CelesTrak), Anthony Colangelo (Main Engine Cut Off Podcast), and Josh (AGI). Data based on radio frequency spectrum applications submitted to the FCC and ITU. The data and visualization are notional and do not contain precise launch dates or tracks. Business and technical issues may reduce the actual number and timing of planned satellites. Learn more: http://celestrak.com, http://centerforspace.com, http://mainenginecutoff.com.
