Stewart Money author of, “Here be Dragons: The Rise of SpaceX & the Journey to Mars” joins us to talk about the history of SpaceX and some projects you may not have known of. Interview segment starts at 24:40
Space news topics discussed:
1:41 – Ariane V Launch Abort 4:53 – Falcon 9 Launch with X37-B 8:51 – Asteroid Florence Zips Past Earth 15:04 – Bridenstine nominated for NASA Admin, and why that could be bad 19:54 – Boron Found on Mars
TMRO is viewer supported:
TMRO:Space is a crowd funded show. If you like this episode consider contributing to help us to continue to improve. Head over to http://www.patreon.com/tmrofor information plus our all new goals and reward levels
This week we bring on guest Dave Masten to get an update of the happenings at Masten Space Systems. In addition to an update on the XS-1 project, we also talk about how Dave and crew is using additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create entire rocket engines. Interview starts at 16:59
Space news topics:
01:44 – ISRO suffers PSLV failure 05:18 – The End Is Near Cassini! 09:02 – Dreamchaser Completes Captive Carry Flight ahead of Free Flight 12:35 – Best Ever Images of A Star’s Surface And Atmosphere
TMRO is viewer supported:
TMRO:Space is a crowd funded show. If you like this episode consider contributing to help us to continue to improve. Head over to http://www.patreon.com/tmrofor information plus our all new goals and reward levels
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched today and put a Dragon cargo spacecraft on track to berth with the International Space Station on Wednesday morning. The first stage booster of the Falcon 9 came down for a successful landing back at Cape Canaveral. Here are a couple of videos showing the launch and the booster return (note the sonic booms just after landing):
SpaceX is reaching a launch rate of about two per month. Plus, United Launch Alliance launches an Atlas V or Delta IV rocket once a month or so as well. So when you scheduled your next Florida vacation trip, you might check a launch schedule to see if you can overlap with an upcoming liftoff.
CubeCab CEO Adrian Tymes joins us to talk about their plans to create a small sat launcher and the new deal struck to launch 1000 picosats with ThumbSat.
Space news topics:
* SpaceX drops plans for powered Dragon landings * Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser Resumes Testing * House has voted on 2018 budget for NASA and Space Corps * LISA Pathfinder Mission Ends * Progress departs ISS, making room for next Soyuz crew * InSight’s Seismometer is Fixed, Integration Begins
TMRO is crowd-funded:
TMRO:Space is a crowd funded show. If you like this episode consider contributing to help us to continue to improve. Head over to http://www.patreon.com/tmro for information, goals and reward levels.
We’ve just lost a fine interstellar thinker. Jordin Kare has died of aortic valve failure at age 60. While Kare played a role in the Clementine lunar mapping mission and developed a reusable rocket concept in the 1990s that he thought could be parlayed into a space launch system (in typical Kare fashion, he called it “DIHYAN,” for ‘Do I Have Your Attention Now?’), it is through a laser sail system called SailBeam and a ‘fusion runway’ concept that he will most likely be remembered among those who study starflight. But he was also an active science fiction fan, ‘filksinger’ and poet whose name resonates wherever science fiction fans gather.
Here is Jordin’s song “Fire in the Sky“, sung by Kristoph Klover from the To Touch the Stars album of space inspired music.