NASA JSC’s Project Morpheus, which suffered a dramatic crash last summer of their vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, has been busy “preparing for this year’s series of tests and building the new Morpheus 1.5B and 1.5C vehicles” : Hard at Work – Project Morpheus Blog.
Testing the new Morpheus engine:
Update: Here is a video they just posted:
Kristian von Bengtson of Copenhagen Suborbitals reports on designing the launch escape system (LES) for Tycho Deep Space II and the “monster DIY rocket” on which it will launch: First Look at the Giant Copenhagen Suborbitals Rocket – Wired Science/Wired.com.
Paul Breed was recently out testing a new rocket system
Paul Breed’s experimental guidance project. Three Cesaroni K-motors were set in gimbals for vertical stabilization guidance control. Control ended when motor burn out complete. Test conducted at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry test site in the Mojave Desert on February 2, 2013
Via the Spaceports blog comes this video news report of last week’s successful launch of the South Korean Naro rocket (powered by a Russian first stage) and the release of the SK STSAT-2C technology demonstration satellite:
http://youtu.be/artwhtwX7oA
Here is a full video of the stage separation events and the release of the satellite (via Innerspace.net):
http://youtu.be/GAQI6HBxVDM
Kristian von Bengtson of Copenhagen Suborbitals discusses how they hold down costs in their pursuit of manned space launch: Low Cost Research and Development Dogmas for a DIY Manned Space Program – Wired Science/Wired.com.
Our mission is to launch a human being into space. Not to invent or discover new technologies or justify our existence as incubators for business or companies to evolve their capabilities, like NASA or ESA. We stand on the shoulders of giants and dig deep into the vast ocean of knowledge in which we are floating (sometimes almost drowning).
This project is not possible without the Internet which provides both knowledge and general outreach to all of you. Naturally we seek as much information as possible, on all matters in this space endeavor and even ask readers for solutions and ideas. The globe is packed with brilliant minds, like you. Work it right, and the open source approach becomes mighty powerful.