Project Morpheus test fired their new lander vehicle today while it was on a tether:
This is the first tether test of the v1.5b Morpheus vehicle. We had a good ignition and climb. However, as the vehicle attempted to stabilize itself it exceeded the internally set boundary limit causing a soft abort.
In the continuing serialization of the updated version of the book The Rocket Company by Patrick J. G. Stiennon and David M. Hoerr, with illustrations by Doug Birkholz. This week you can obtain the following chapters of the book:
Download these within the next week. Only four chapters will be available at any one time.
See also the electronic version of the updated book is available at The Rocket Company eBook by Patrick Stiennon, David Hoerr, Peter Diamandis, Doug Birkhol: Kindle Store/Amazon.com.
The latest SETI Google+ Hangout dealt with the question, “Are we ready to build a spaceship to explore nearby stars?”
The Saturn V first stage engines recovered from ocean bottom by the Jeff Bezos F-1 Engine Recovery project will go on display this Friday at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center this week. Visitors will be able to watch restorers taking apart the engines for cleaning and coating with protective sealants. They will eventually be reassembled for exhibit.
More about the project and lots of pictures of the engines:
NASA’s Project Morpheus project recently began testing their new lander and here is a video of engine tests while on a tether.
This ground level hot fire test included a test at 0 feet and at 3 feet. This test also marked the first use of a flame trench with the Morpheus vehicle.