Category Archives: Rockets

Rockets, Space participation, Spaceflight & Parabolic Flight

Videos: Virgin Galactic’s “Unity” rocketplane makes second powered flight

Virgin Galactic is carrying out a series of test flights of the VSS Unity suborbital rocketplane. Each test is going faster and higher with the aim of reaching space (greater than 80 km height as they define it) before the end of this year. On Wednesday, Unity made the second flight with its hybrid motor firing: Richard Branson Welcomes VSS Unity Home from Second Supersonic Flight – Virgin Galactic.

The focus of today’s flight was to expand our understanding of the spaceship’s supersonic handling characteristics and control system’s performance with vehicle parameters that were closer to the ultimate commercial configuration. This involved shifting the vehicle’s center of gravity rearward via the addition of passenger seats and related equipment. The rocket motor burned for the planned 31 seconds and propelled Unity to a speed of Mach 1.9 and an altitude of 114,500 ft.[34.9 km]. As will be the case for future commercial flights, Unity’s unique re-entry feathering system was deployed for the initial descent before the final glide home to a smooth runway landing.

If all goes well, commercial flights would begin next year with flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico taking 6 passengers at a time on the trip of a lifetime. Over 700 customers have paid up to $250,000 to ride a rocket to space and back.

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Rockets, Space Systems

Videos: Rockets launched by SpaceX and Orbital ATK

Two launches by US commercial rocket companies took place this week:

** A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched on Tuesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the coast of California with seven satellites. First released after reaching a low earth orbit were the two GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on) research spacecraft sponsored by NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). After a coast period and a brief firing of the upper stage engine, five Iridium NEXT communications satellites were deployed successfully.

The GRACE-FO spacecraft

will continue a study begun by the original GRACE mission, which proved that water movement can be tracked with high precision by its effect on Earth’s gravitational field. GRACE-FO will continue the record of regional variations in gravity, telling us about changes in glaciers, ground water, sea levels and the health of our planet as a whole. 

The five NEXT satellites join 50 others launched previously by SpaceX, ten at a time. There will be two more F9 launches of NEXT satellites this year to complete the constellation.

Another video of the mission:

also find lots of great pictures of the launch at Official SpaceX Photos | Flickr

IRIDIUM-6/GRACE-FO MISSION

** An Orbital ATK Antares rocket launched early Monday morning from Wallops Island, Virginia with a Cygnus cargo spacecraft that is carrying over 3.3 tons of supplies, equipment, and science and technology R&D payloads to the International Space Station. The Cygnus will reach the ISS on Thursday morning. See the OA-9 Mission Page for updates.

A view of the launch:

The Antares lifts off from the pad a Wallops Island with the OA-9 Cygnus cargo spacecraft.

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Rockets

Rockets: Antares launch from Virginia + Falcon 9 Blk 5 + Nexø II + Chinese commercial launchers

Some miscellaneous rocket related items:

**  Antares/Cygnus Launch: Orbital ATK is set to launch an Antares rocket early Sunday morning, May 20th from Wallops Island, Virginia to send a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. There is a five-minute launch window at 5:04-5:09 am EDT (0904-0909 GMT).

[ Update: The launch has slipped to Monday: OA-9 Mission – Orbital ATK.]

Schematic of the OA-9 Cygnus cargo mission to the ISS. Click for an extra large version.

Depending on the weather conditions, the launch should be visible over a large area along the East Coast. Check these sites for info on viewing opportunities:

For the OA-9 Mission, the Cygnus will carry 3,350 kg (7,385 lb) of supplies, equipment, science and technology R&D experiments, etc. Here are articles about the science and technology payloads:

** Falcon 9 Block 5:  Here is a description of the new Block 5 version of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and an overview of why it is so significant: With Block 5, SpaceX to increase launch cadence and lower prices – NASASpaceFlight.com

The Everyday Astronaut gives his explanation of what the Block 5 is all about:

A view of the Block 5 first stage booster coming down for a landing after launching Bangladesh’s first satellite on May 11th:

Block 5 Booster lands on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You”.

And here is the booster coming into Port Canaveral for inspection and eventual re-flight:

The first Block 5 first stage booster to fly and land, returns home to Port Canaveral.

An amateur video of the launch from nearby Playa Linda Beach:

A beautifully made short film by Ryan Chylinski for SpaceFlight insider:

** Nexø II: This summer Copenhagen Suborbitals plans to launch Nexø II, the most advanced rocket the all-volunteer group has ever flown. This video walks “you through the engine section of the rocket”:

Here is recent report on the testing of the rocket

** Chinese commercial rockets: Startup rocket companies have started appearing in China in the past couple of years. This week, for example, OneSpace Technologies flew a rocket on a suborbital test to 40 km: Chinese company OneSpace sends OS-X rocket to 40 km in maiden flight – GBTimes.

Link Space is developing rockets with reusable first stages in the manner of SpaceX. Here is a Chinese TV news report on the company:

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Activism, Rockets, SpaceCasts

Video: TMRO Orbit 11.19 – “Relativity: How to print a rocket on Earth and Mars”

The latest TMRO.tv program is now available in the archive: Relativity: How to print a rocket on Earth and Mars – Orbit 11.19 – TMRO

Tim Ellis, CEO of Relativity [Space], joins us to talk about his orbital launch company that is using automation and 3D printing to revolutionize how rockets are built. 

Launch and space news topics:

Launches:
Long March 4C Launches Gaofen-5
SpaceX Launches Bangabandhu Satellite-1 on Maiden Block 5

News:
GEDI to Launch Late 2018
Robonaut 2 has returned to Earth for repairs
The Sun is Chillin’

TMRO is viewer supported:

TMRO shows are crowd funded. If you like this episode consider contributing to help us to continue to improve. Head over to http://www.patreon.com/tmro for funding levels, goals and all of our different rewards!

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See also the recent TMRO: Science program –

Dr. Helena Braga joins us live to talk solid state electrolyte batteries, their advantages over Lithium Ion and realities of entering the marketplace.

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Mars, Rockets, Space Science

Video: InSight Lander successfully launched to Mars

In a heavy fog, as is common where Vandenberg AFB lies on the California coast, an Atlas V rocket blasted off this morning and successfully deployed the InSight spacecraft into a trajectory that will take it to Mars for a landing in November.

(See earlier postings here and here about the Insight mission.)

Two MarCO CubeSats, which will demonstrate communications and propulsion technologies for deep space missions with smallsats, were also deployed. First contact attempt will be noon Pacific time.

Other reports, photos & videos of the launch:

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