Category Archives: Rockets

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 throesVector 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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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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Space transport roundup – Dec.3.2019

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

[ Update Dec.4: Launch postponed due to high winds:

Update: The SpaceX webcast is active for the CRS-19 mission to the ISS (press kit):

And the pre-launch briefing held on Tuesday Dec.3rd:

An explanation was given regarding why the F9 booster is to land on a sea platform rather than return to the pad at Cape Canaveral: SpaceX’s surprise Falcon 9 drone ship landing explained ahead of Cargo Dragon launch – Teslarati.

]

** A SpaceX Falcon 9 is set to launch a Cargo Dragon to the ISS on Wednesday at 12:51 pm EST from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX Targeting Wednesday, Dec. 4, for CRS-19 Launch – SpaceX/NASA. The schedule:

    • 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 – NASA Social, What’s on Board science briefing highlighting research taking place on CRS-19
    • 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Prelaunch news conference from Kennedy with representatives from the International Space Station Program Science Office, SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing
    • 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 – Launch countdown coverage begins

The first stage booster will aim to land on a platform at sea rather than return to the Cape landing pad: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch and landing imminent as drone ship heads to sea – Teslarati

In short, the ~350-km-downrange landing plan suggests that this Cargo Dragon launch may have a much smaller propellant margin than essentially every similar mission preceding it. This could be explained in a few ways. Maybe after Falcon 9 B1050’s surprise landing failure, SpaceX decided that all new Falcon 9 boosters will attempt drone ship landings after their first flight, minimizing the risk to Cape Canaveral in the event of a CRS-16 repeat. Another possibility, Crew Dragon capsule C205 – scheduled to support the spacecraft’s In-Flight Abort (IFA) test late this month or early next – may still be close to the Cape’s Landing Zones, another reason to avoid even the slightest chance of a catastrophic Falcon landing failure.

The official weather forecast gives a 90% chance of acceptable conditions at the time of liftoff.

CRS-19 coverage:

SpaceX may fit in four Falcon 9 launches this month counting CRS-19: After a slower launch year—by its standards—SpaceX plans a busy December | Ars Technica

After [CRFS-19], SpaceX should return to the launch pad in the middle of the month for its next launch, which will send the JCSAT 18/Kacific 1 communications satellite into space. This commercial mission is currently slated for no earlier than December 15, also from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. If the flight occurs on time, it will require a relatively quick turnaround at the launch pad.

On top of that, there are potentially two more missions before the end of the year—although the schedule for each may slip into January. SpaceX has not yet announced a launch date for the In-Flight Abort test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, a dramatic test as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program that will see the Dragon pull rapidly away from the rocket. SpaceX employees are still working toward a launch by the end of December for the test.

SpaceX also may launch its third batch of 60 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit before the end of this month, although the company has not announced an official launch date for this mission either.

More SpaceX items below.

** Uncrewed test flight of Boeing Starliner slips a couple of days: Boeing Uncrewed Flight Test Launch Date Update – Commercial Crew Program/NASA

The launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station, as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, now is targeted for 6:59 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 19. NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance (ULA) agreed to target the new date to allow ULA sufficient time to resolve an issue with the rocket’s purge air supply. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft will launch atop a ULA Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

** Scott Manley reviews Chinese launcher systems:

China is now the number one nation in terms of rocket launches, with most of its launchers tracing their design heritage back to the Dong Feng 5 ICBM. This includes the Long March 2, 3 & 4 – all propelled by YF-20 family Engines burning UDMH & NTO The Newer Long March 5,6 &7 all use new cryogenic propulsion systems. Long March 11 is a solid rocket based system.

China looks to keep up its recent high launch rate: China to continue world-leading launch rate in 2020 – SpaceNews.com.

** Update on the Rocket Lab Electron launch that was postponed from last week:

** Leo Aerospace is developing a high-altitude balloon Launch System: The goal is to offer low cost orbital and suborbital launch services. In addition, the platform can be used for long-loiter high-altitude applications.

Leo Aerospace Regulus high altitude balloon launch system.

Regulus Orbital is Leo Aerospace’s premier high-altitude orbital launch platform.  A fully and rapidly reusable craft, Regulus requires minimal refurbishment over lifetime operations.  Autonomous flight control provides optimized flight capabilities in a range of weather and mission envelopes. Additionally, its on-board, autonomous, command and control infrastructure continuously assesses system health.  Regulus is equipped with a rotational control system, comprised of a series of bipropellant thrusters.  This system is capable of controlling the entire platform’s yaw and roll profiles.  Regulus Orbital is designed for a typical mission of placing 25 kg to 550 km sun-synchronous orbit but can service a range of missions with payload capacity up to 57 kg with no fixed ground infrastructure.

See also : Space Startup Aims to Launch Cubesats on Balloon-Lofted Rockets | Space.com

** Update on construction  of second SpaceShipTwo from Virgin Galactic:

** SpaceX:

[ Update: More about the situation with the Starship assembly operations in Florida:

]

*** A major reduction in Starship assembly activity Florida is underway according to Felix Schlang in his SpaceX news video shown below.

However, Michael Sheetz of CNBC reports that the Florida Starship activities are paused rather than ended:

Some components from the  Florida site are being shipped to Boca Chica:

*** Views of Boca Chica activities:

NASASpaceflight – Dec.3.2019

A check around SpaceX Boca Chica – December 2, 2019
Features: Ongoing site preparation, more deliveries and Big Yellow gets dismantled.
Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

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

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Space transport roundup – Nov.30.2019

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

** Rocket Lab‘s launch of an Electron rocket has been delayed:

More about the mission:

** China launched the Gaofen-12 earth observation satellite on a Long March-4C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Taiyuan, capital of north China’s Shanxi Province, on Wednesday Nov. 28th9.

** More about latest UP Aerospace‘s SpaceLoft sounding rocket launch: UP Aerospace Announces Successful Launch of Space Loft-14 Rocket from Spaceport America – Spaceport America

The SL-14 Launch Vehicle reached an altitude of 57 miles. Additionally, as a fundamental step in UP Aerospace’s testing of new systems, this mission included a small second stage rocket motor and attitude control system. Advances made with the successful mission of these payloads will be pivotal as UP Aerospace moves toward the launch of their larger orbital vehicle, SPYDER.

In addition to these systems, SL-14 carried an experimental payload that seeks to improve access to space through the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. Using ADS-B for future space launch missions is expected to improve safety and reduce detrimental effects on commercial aviation. Other payloads on the mission also were designed to advance the state-of-the-art in avionics, flight management, and data recording with particular applications for emerging small launch vehicles.

** Blue Origin construction of Florida facilities continues apace: Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch pad taking shape at Cape Canaveral – ClickOrlando

Work has been ongoing on the launch complex preparing for New Glenn’s first launch but recently locals say it’s starting to take shape.

Space Florida’s Dale Ketcham called it a “monster” of a launch pad.

“It is going to be a beast,” Ketcham said.

And moving fast in Washington and California as well: Blue Origin expansion rushes ahead at Seattle-area HQ — and in L.A. – GeekWire

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture is rapidly expanding on several fronts, ranging from its headquarters facility south of Seattle to a new beachhead in the Los Angeles area — within the orbit of its main competitor, Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Just three and a half years ago, Blue Origin’s workforce amounted to 600 employees, and even then, Bezos said his company’s 300,000-square-foot office and production facility in Kent was “busting out of the seams.”

Now the employee count is at around 2,500, heading toward 3,500 in the next year. That’s according to a report from a Bangkok space conference quoting Clay Mowry, Blue Origin’s vice president for global sales, marketing and customer experience.

** Boeing highlights reuse of Starliner crew spacecraft:

** SpaceX:

*** Dragon cargo mission CRS-19 set for Dec.4th:

*** Crew Dragon in-flight abort test flight expected in late December or early January: NASA Invites Media to SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test for Commercial Crew – NASA

This will be among the final major tests for the company before NASA astronauts will fly aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. As part of the test, SpaceX will configure the spacecraft to trigger a launch escape shortly after liftoff and demonstrate Crew Dragon’s capability to safely separate from the 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.

** SpaceX and Blue Origin aim to win a contract to take big NASA payloads to the Moon:  SpaceX’s Starship to spar with Blue Origin for NASA Moon landing contracts – Teslarati

Assuming SpaceX’s technical know-how is mature enough to allow Starship to preserve cryogenic propellant for weeks or months after launch, it’s entirely conceivable that a Moon launch with, say, 10 tons of cargo could be achieved with just one or two in-orbit refuelings, all while leaving that Starship enough margin to safely return to Earth. Given that NASA awarded Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic approximately $80M apiece to land 50-100 kg on the Moon, it’s far too easy to imagine SpaceX quoting a similar price to deliver 10+ tons to the Moon by enabling full Starship reuse.

All things considered, politics still looms in the distance and there is just as much of a chance that SpaceX (and maybe even Blue Origin) will be passed over by CLPS when the time comes to award the next round of Moon delivery contracts. Still, the odds of something far out of the ordinary happening are much higher with a program like CLPS. Stay tuned!

*** Lots of interesting activities at the Boca Chica beach facilities in the aftermath of the Mk.1 demo Starship explosion during pressure testing. This includes construction of a launch site for the complete Super Heavy Booster/Starship.

**** SpaceX Boca Chica – Building the Starship Super Heavy Pad – November 26, 2019 [NSF]

Views around SpaceX Boca Chica, including groundwork on the future Super Heavy’s pad. Guest Stars: Concrete Smoother Guys. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

**** SpaceX Starship Mk3 hardware arrives – Boca Chica Expansion – November 27, 2019 [NSF]

 As parts of Starship Mk3 arrive (mostly bulkhead), expansion of the Boca Chica site continues, including at the Super Heavy pad. Guest appearance from Stargate Arrays being tested (likely ahead of CRS-19). Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

**** SpaceX Starship Bulkhead and Second Ring Relocated Boca Chica, Texas [Nov.29.2019 – LabPadre]

Time lapse of the new partial bulkhead being moved to Iron Henge and second ring being moved from ring tent. This 24/7 stream is powered by LabPadre, in cooperation with Sapphire Condominiums and @BocaChicaMaria1 (Twitter) @SpaceXBocaChica (Facebook). All copyrights to live images are owned explicitly by LabPadre.

**** SpaceX Boca Chica Starship Progress Update  [Nov.29.2019 – Maria Pointer/LabPadre]

Second new tent frame continues to be erected. Tons of earth being moved on the West end of the property. More close ups of the damaged bulkhead from last weeks failure. New bulkhead has been moved into Iron Henge. MK-1’s nose sits quietly awaiting its fate.

**** SpaceX Starship Mk3 – Bulkhead heading for assembly/ongoing launch site work – November 29, 2019 [NSF]

The pace is picking up for Starship Mk3 in Boca Chica, with monolithic steel rings being fabricated (seen previous videos) and the bulkhead heading into the windbreak facility for assembly. Includes ongoing launch site work. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) Learn about Starship Mk1, Mk3 onwards: UPDATES: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/ind… ARTICLES: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=St…

*** In Florida, there are signs the Mk.2 components will move soon to KSC. There are also hints that construction activities will be re-distributed to facilities with fewer roadblocks for reaching KSC.

**** SpaceX Closing Down Starship work at Cocoa? [Nov.27.2019 – John Winkopp]

Aerial view. The big white crane is positioned at the nose cone so they can remove the header tank from the nose cone in prep for a move out of Cocoa. The header tank extends below the lip of the nosecone. The nosecone needs to be lifted to remove the header tank. It needs to be removed if the nosecone comes off its base for shipping. Wish I knew they were going to remove it, but did not see the actual removal.

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Space transport roundup – Nov.26.2019

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

[ Update: Videos of the rocket action that took place on Tuesday:

** Successful Ariane V launch of the “TIBA-1, for Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the Government of Egypt; and GX5 for the operator Inmarsat”:

** A Indian PSLV successfully launched the Cartosat-13 remote sensing satellite and 13 commercial smallsats from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh :

** The static test of the Falcon 9 that will launch the upcoming Cargo Dragon mission to the ISS went well:

]

** Russia launched an unspecified military payload on a Soyuz-2.1v rocket on Monday:

** Chinese launched two Bei Dou navigation satellites on a  Long March 3B rocket on Saturday:

And the booster fell on a village: Once again, a Chinese rocket has doused a village with toxic fuel | Ars Technica

** Ariane V to launch TIBA 1 and Inmarsat GX5 comm-sats on Tuesday Nov.26th. The mission has endured several weather delays. Liftoff is set for 4:09 pm EST (2109 GMT, 6:09 pmFrench Guiana time). TIBA-1 was developed for the Govt. of Egypt byThales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. The GX5 satellite os for the  Inmarsat. This launch will be the 250th launch of the Ariane family of rockets. The first launch was in 1979.

Sequence of major events in the typical launch of an Ariane 5. Credits: Arianespace

** Boeing Starliner crew spacecraft stacked onto Atlas 5 launcher. An uncrewed test flight to the ISS is currently set for Dec. 17th.

** Both Commercial Crew teams have important tests coming soon: Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon crew capsules on track for back-to-back launches – Teslarati

In the last two weeks alone, both companies have checked off major milestones while preparing their human-rated spacecraft for flight, and – with a little luck over the next few weeks – Starliner and Crew Dragon processing could align for back-to-back launches in the last few weeks of 2019.

** India to launch PSLV with Cartosat-3 imaging satellite plus 13 commercial smallsats. Liftoff now set for November 27, 2019 at 0928 hrs from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota

Attaching the side boosters to the first stage for the PSLV-49 mission. Credits: ISRO

** Rocket Lab prepares for the 10th (‘Running Out Of Fingers’) Electron rocket launch. Liftoff is set for 07:56 UTC on November 28th: Next Generation Electron Booster on the Pad for Rocket Lab’s 10th Mission – Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab, the global leader in dedicated small satellite launch, announced today that its next mission will launch multiple microsatellites in a rideshare mission representing five different countries. The launch window for Rocket Lab’s tenth flight, named ‘Running Out Of Fingers,’ will open 25th November NZDT and take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula.

Onboard this rideshare mission are six spacecraft comprised of 5cm PocketQube microsatellites from satellite manufacturer and mission management provider Alba Orbital. The final payload on board was procured by satellite rideshare and mission management provider Spaceflight for ALE Co., Ltd (ALE), a Tokyo-based company creating microsatellites that simulate meteor particles.

Electron’s first stage will not be recovered from this mission, however the stage includes new hardware and sensors to inform future recovery efforts. As part of a first stage block upgrade, Electron’s booster will include guidance and navigation hardware, including S-band telemetry and onboard flight computer systems, to gather data during the first stage’s atmospheric re-entry. The stage is also equipped with a reaction control system to orient the booster during its re-entry descent.

Rocket Lab’s Founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says increasing launch frequency for small satellite operators is the key driver behind Rocket Lab’s reusability program.

A new antenna will help with the booster recovery plans:

** Firefly Aerospace qualifies stage 2 propulsion system for Alpha rocket:

** Development of ULA‘s ground-breaking ACES upper stage/space tug slowed, presumably due to lack of support from Boeing and/or Lockheed-Martin, which jointly own ULA: ULA gets vague on Vulcan upgrade timeline – SpaceNews.com

As United Launch Alliance prepares for the maiden flight of its Vulcan Centaur rocket, the company no longer has a clear timeline for a major second-stage upgrade. 

ULA is preparing to launch Vulcan Centaur in 2021. The rocket features a new first stage powered by BE-4 engines from Blue Origin and an improved version of the Centaur upper stage currently used on ULA’s Atlas 5. 

ULA had planned as recently as 2018 to replace Centaur with ACES, short for the Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage, in 2023. ACES would have the ability to operate in space for weeks instead of hours, enabling transport between orbits and more missions beyond Earth, while also increasing how much Vulcan could lift. 

** ArianeGroup to upgrade Ariane 6 but not to reusability level: Five upgrades ArianeGroup wants Europe to consider for Ariane 6 – SpaceNews.com

Bonguet declined to say how much funding ArianeGroup is seeking at the ministerial. But the company has already started several Ariane 6 upgrades in anticipation of future ESA support, he said. Gaining ESA funding at the ministerial would ensure Ariane 6 continues to evolve in its early years. Bonguet listed five improvements ArianeGroup will seek funding for at the ministerial.

More about Ariane 6 development:

** UP Aerospace launches SpaceLoft XL rocket from Spaceport America on Nov.22. The rocket carried experiments sponsored by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. From the latest Flight Opportunities newsletter:

SpaceLoft XL launch on Nov.22, 2019. Credits: NASA
On Nov. 22 UP Aerospace launched its SpaceLoft rocket on a flight funded by the company’s NASA Tipping Point award. The Affordable Vehicle Avionics (AVA) project from NASA’s Ames Research Center was one of several payloads onboard.
The AVA technology flew on two previous SpaceLoft flights supported by Flight Opportunities, with the goals of testing the technology in a relevant environment and leveraging the knowledge gained from the flights to aid development. The most recent flight was the first to test the flight computer’s ability to provide the “brains” for UP Aerospace’s own guidance and control system in a fully integrated demonstration that included firing a second-stage motor. Ultimately, the small company plans to integrate its guidance and control system with technology like AVA on Spyder Orbital—a four-stage solid motor rocket that UP Aerospace is developing specifically for dedicated small payload launches. 
The launch also included Flight Opportunities–supported tests for three other technologies. They included an autonomous flight termination system from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a micro-avionics system from Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems and a ADS-B transmitter prototypefrom the Federal Aviation Administration. Development teams for each experiment aim to gather data that will help them advance their technologies, working toward eventual inclusion on NASA missions or commercial space vehicles, including dedicated small payload launchers.

** Space plane projects in Germany and Japan: Advanced technology, investment clearing way for spaceliners – SpaceNews.com

Development of spaceplanes for suborbital tourism, satellite launches and point-to-point terrestrial transportation are benefiting from advanced technology, panelists said at the Space Tech Expo Europe here.

“It was completely different 30 years ago,” said Koichi Yonemoto, co-founder and chief technical officer of Space Walker, a Japanese startup developing a suborbital spaceplane to launch satellites and, later, carry tourists. “At that time, everyone wanted to do single stage to orbit. To do that, you need a very efficient air-breathing engine. We did not have such an engine.”

*** POLARIS Raumflugzeuge (POLARIS Spaceplanes) of Germany is developing the Aurora Launcher, a two-stage system with a reusable suborbital winged rocket vehicle and an expendable upper-stage.

    • Two-Stage-To-Orbit, 1150 kg LEO payload
    • Reusable main-stage, small expendable upper-stage  
    • LOX/kerosene propulsion
    • Conventional runway take-off & landing
    • Based on >30 years of research on rocket-propelled spaceplanes in Germany
Artist’s rendering of Aurora spaceplane. Credits: Polaris Spaceplanes

** Japan’s SPACE WALKER developing a suborbital Space Plane:

SPACE WALKER was established in December 2017 with the aim of designing and developing sub-orbital space planes and providing operational services with the aim of creating a future where anyone can travel to space as easily as riding a plane. Currently, we are working on the development of a sub-orbital space plane for scientific experiments scheduled to be launched in 2022 with a technology partner company (* 2).

As of October 15, 2018, the angel round for the purpose of maintaining the development team structure and the basic concept of the aircraft was completed, and we received support from many people including Chairman Kasahara of Mixi Inc. We have been working on development with technology partners.

As of September 30, 2019, we have raised 370 million yen [US$3,405,850] in total from the Angel Round in less than two years since our establishment in December 2017.

Through this funding, we will strongly advance the research and development of a sub-orbital space plane technology demonstration machine that will be launched in 2022.

** Watch China’s Chang’e 4 spacecraft land on the Moon:

** Progress on construction of Blue Origin facilities for New Glenn at the Cape:

** Virgin Galactic aspires to long distance point-to-point travel : Virgin Galactic’s real goal may be point-to-point travel around Earth | Ars Technica.

However, it must be pointed out that the rocket performance required to go halfway around the world on a ballistic flight is only slightly less than going into orbit. So VG will need to achieve a substantial upgrade from the suborbital SpaceShipTwo to a P2P vehicle.

** SpaceX:

*** SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 with Cargo Dragon on CRS-19 mission to the ISS. Liftoff currently set for Wednesday, Dec.4th at 12:51 pm EST (1751 GMT) from Cape Canaveral.

A static test firing of the F9 engines is expected today:

See also Live coverage: Falcon 9 raised vertical at Cape Canaveral for static fire test – Spaceflight Now.

*** Next Starlink launch set for late December: SpaceX Starlink satellite constellation aims to become world’s largest after next launch – Teslarati

The same day that several dozen Starlink-1 satellites finished the climb up to their operational orbits, SpaceX announced media accreditation for its next Starlink launch, presumed to be Starlink-2. According to SpaceX, the mission is targeted for the last two weeks of December 2019, a schedule that will tighten as it gets closer. Previously expected to launch in early November, as few as two weeks after Starlink-1, Starlink-2 has suffered similar delays but still appears to be on track for 2019.

***More about the destruction of the Mk.1 demo Starship during pressure tests:

*** Work at Boca Chica transitioning to Mk.3 construction:

Workers are clearing up the remains of Starship Mk1, while preparing Boca Chica for the launch of future Starships, including Mk3, for which monolithic rings are already being machined on site, likely for this Mk3 vehicle. Footage and photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer). Learn about Starship Mk1: UPDATES: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/ind… ARTICLES: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=St…

*** SpaceX Starship Mk1: Funeral for a Bulkhead – Super Heavy Pad Construction

Multiple videos and photos of the recovery of the Mk1 Bulkhead that went flying during the test failure this week. Plus a view of the Super Heavy and Starship Launch Pads, the latter still with some debris yet to be removed. Footage from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

*** More views of Boca Chica activities:

*** Florida Starship activity:

**** MK2 orbital demo Starship may be moving soon to the Kennedy Space Center:

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