Space transport roundup – Mar.5.2020

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

** SpaceX aims to launch Cargo Dragon on CRS-20 mission to the ISS this Friday evening (March 6th) at 11:49 pm EST (0449 GMT Saturday). This will be the final flight with an original Dragon 1 (i.e. Cargo Dragon) design. Subsequent cargo missions will use reconfigured Dragon 2 or Crew Dragon spacecraft. Initially, the Crew Dragon vehicles will fly astronauts only once so they will subsequently become available for uncrewed Cargo missions.

This will be the third flight for this Dragon 1: SpaceX’s first orbital spacecraft set to smash reusability record on last launch – Teslarati.

The CRS-20 Falcon 9 first stage was test fired on Pad 39A last Sunday: SpaceX test-fires rocket, preps for final flight of first-generation Dragon capsule – Spaceflight Now

The Falcon 9 booster for SpaceX’s next mission fired up briefly on a Cape Canaveral launch pad Sunday in a routine pre-flight test before a scheduled launch Friday night to kick off the final flight of the first version of the company’s Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station.

Nine Merlin 1D main engines at the base of the Falcon 9 booster fired up at 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT) Sunday at Cape Canaveral’s Complex 40 launch pad. Hold-down clamps kept the rocket firmly on the ground as the engines throttled up to produce 1.7 million pounds of thrust for several seconds.

There will be a briefing today (March 5th) at 3:00 pm EST on NASA TV about the science and technology payloads on the Dragon.

Find more SpaceX items below

** Blue Origin videos show completed New Glenn nosecone fairing:

Here’s an inside look at how a New Glenn 7 meter fairing is designed, and the capabilities it brings to commercial, civil and national security customers. https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn/

2020 is shaping up to be a busy year for the Blue team in Florida – starting with the completion of the first full scale New Glenn 7 meter fairing at our rocket factory in Cape Canaveral.

** Blue releases a video about construction of the New Glenn tanks:

** Roads on Cape Canaveral to be modified to accommodate delivery of New Glenn rockets to the launch site: Changes coming to KSC and Cape Canaveral for Blue Origin New Glenn rocket – Florida Today

Roughly 30 miles of roadways winding through Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will soon see multimillion-dollar infrastructure changes, making room for the future transport of Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket.

The journey for New Glenn first stages, which measure around 200 feet in length before attachment of the second stage and nose cone, will begin at the company’s factory just east of the KSC main gate. But in order to follow the 20-plus-mile trek to its pad at Launch Complex 36, changes will need to be made to road widths, light posts, fences, signs, and more.

** Blue may fly New Shepard this month: Blue Origin still plans to launch people this year – Axios

Blue Origin is planning to launch another test flight of its suborbital New Shepard space system as early as this month, with human test flights expected before the end of the year.

The big picture: The Jeff Bezos-backed rocket company pumped the brakes on its test flight program last year but is now gearing up to launch its next round of flights ahead of its first tests with human passengers.

“[We’ll have] about three to four more flights before we go fly people. So we’re still on target for this year for doing that, but there’s a lot of work to be done.” — Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith to Axios

** Astra fails to win DARPA Challenge award. The contest deadline passed on Monday after the company’s final attempt to launch from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska was scrubbed. Rocket 1 Of 3, Launch Attempt 1 – Astra

Today, Astra began countdown of the first orbital launch as the final remaining competitor in the DARPA launch challenge. Our team decided to hold the launch at T-53 seconds after a sensor reported unexpected data that could have impacted the success of the flight. Out of our commitment to safety, and to increase the probability of overall success of the three-launch campaign, we have decided to prioritize fully investigating the issue over attempting to win the DARPA challenge today.

We are incredibly grateful to our team who have worked many late nights and weekends for the past few months to prepare our launch system for our first launch. We would also like to thank the team at DARPA, the FAA, and the team at Pacific Spaceport Complex for making an orbital launch attempt possible within a few days.

We remain determined to reach orbit and plan to attempt another launch attempt as soon as possible.  Thank you for the continued support as we move forward in our mission to observe, connect and improve life on earth.

Astra rocket “1 of 3” on the pad on Kodiak Island: Credits: Astra

More about Astra:

** Virgin Galactic may fly Branson but not commercial customers this yearVirgin Galactic hints at more delays for start of SpaceShipTwo commercial flights – SpaceNews.com

Those projections [of profits] assumed the start of commercial operations in June 2020, but during the call George Whitesides, chief executive of Virgin Galactic, hinted that commercial service, already delayed by years, might slip again.

“We continue to focus on our top priority of the year, which is to fly Richard Branson into space on a commercial flight,” he said. Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, has long said he will be on the company’s first commercial flight.

However, there may be few, if any, additional commercial flights in the year. “While we would like to have some commercial revenue this year, the main focus for this year, from a company and engineering perspective, is working to get the vehicles, and our operations, prepared for long-term, regular commercial service,” Whitesides said. That includes completing the flight test program for SpaceShipTwo, optimizing the “end-to-end customer experience” that includes events before and after each flight, and readying the vehicles for long-term, high-flight-rate operations.

** Masten Space and Univ. of Central Florida study how rocket plumes could produce craters while landing on and launching from the Moon:

Masten Space Systems and University of Central Florida (UCF) collaborated on a NASA program to study the physics of how craters form. This work involved experimental tests to see how gravity, plume type, and air pressure affects crater formation during simulated landings.

** ULA making progress on  next-gen Vulcan rocket development:

** Virgin Orbit animation describes the LauncherOne project:

** Update on Relativity Space and 3D printed rockets: Relativity Space has big dreams. Is the company for real? – Ars Technica

… Giger and his company, Relativity Space, seek to create the most futuristic of rockets. To do so, they have come to the [Stennis] NASA center [in Mississippi] where rocket scientists tested the mighty engines that carried humans to the Moon half a century ago. Relativity has, over the last two years, steadily occupied more buildings and test stands here as part of its quest to build a rocket made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. And if that goal were not fantastical enough, Relativity also seeks to automate as much of the rocket assembly and test process as possible, with the ultimate goal of additively manufacturing a rocket on the surface of Mars.

It is a wild, seemingly impossible dream—and yet it has captured the fancy of aerospace investors. Relativity has raised $185 million in four years and hired industry leaders like Giger. Now the program manager for the company’s Terran 1 rocket, Giger spent more than a decade at SpaceX, where he led development of the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Today he superintends Relativity’s plans for launching its first rocket into space, perhaps as early as next year. So as we stood on top of the E-4 test stand in Mississippi last month, I tried to do more than simply admire the view.

I wanted very much to see if Relativity Space could possibly be for real.

Engine test at Stennis. “Our new injectors have to be test fired with a copper development article before they get replaced with our printed nickel chambers.” Credits: Relativity

The company also announced plans to locate its HQ in Long Beach: Relativity Space Secures New Headquarters Facility In The Heart Of Southern California’S Next-Generation Aerospace Community — Relativity Space

** DARPA attempts to kickstart development of in-space nuclear propulsion systems:

Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO), formerly known as “Reactor on a Rocket (ROAR)” — $21 million, up from an initial $10 million in 2020. DRACO “will develop and demonstrate a High-Assay LowEnriched Uranium (HALEU)uel for commercial light-water reactors when enriched to between 3 and 5 percent; the Navy’s nuclear reac nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system.” NASA is working on similar nuclear thermal propulsion rockets, which use low-enriched — between 5 and 20 percent — uranium-235 (U-235). U-235 is the basic nuclear ftors use U-235 fuel enriched to 90 percent. The new rocket would allow the US military to operate spacecraft in cislunar space, which DARPA’s budget documents call the “new high-ground” that is “in danger of being defined by the adversary.” DARPA budget documents say the Air Force is the targeted customer for DRACO.

** Briefs:

** SpaceX:

** SpaceX wins a NASA launch contract for a Falcon Heavy for the first time. In  NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for the Psyche Mission | NASA

NASA has selected SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the agency’s Psyche mission. The Psyche mission currently is targeted to launch in July 2022 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The total cost for NASA to launch Psyche and the secondary payloads is approximately $117 million, which includes the launch service and other mission related costs.

The Psyche mission will journey to a unique metal-rich asteroid, also named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid is considered unique, as it appears to largely be made of the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet – one of the building blocks of our solar system.

Deep within rocky, terrestrial planets, including Earth, scientists infer the presence of metallic cores, but these lie unreachably far below the planet’s rocky mantles and crusts. Because we cannot see or measure Earth’s core directly, the mission to Psyche offers a unique window into the violent history of collisions and accretion that created terrestrial planets.

**** Next Starlink launch set for March 14th:

**** The Falcon 9 for the Cargo Dragon mission got a replacement second stage courtesy of the F9 previously arranged for the Starlink mission: SpaceX’s Starlink launch ambitions just saved a space station resupply mission from big delays – Teslarati

**** Falcon 9 launches can’t keep up with Starlink satellite production: During an on-stage conversation at the Air Force Association’s 2020 Air Warfare Symposium (AWS2020), Elon commented on Starlink satellite production:

See also: SpaceX is building Starlink satellites faster than it can launch them – Teslarati

**** At the AWS2020 event, Elon Musk also emphasized the importance of fully reusable space transportsElon Musk participated in a fireside chat at Air Force Association’s 2020 Air Warfare Symposium – Tesmanian

Lt. General Thompson conversed about the new branch of the Air Force, the U.S Space Force among other related subjects with Musk. During today’s symposium Musk talked about SpaceX rocket reusability, he said that reusability in space is important. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket is a true innovation in the aerospace industry, the first-stage rocket booster has the capability of carrying payload into space then returning to land on autonomous drone ships at sea; performs a controlled landing powered by its own engines. No other aerospace company has achieved this level of control over their spacecraft. Recovering the Falcon 9’s first-stage rocket booster enables SpaceX to reuse it for up to 10 times, which reduces manufacturing and operational costs.

“When you have assured low cost access to space other technologies will be enabled. Many things are possible once the transport problem is solved . Establishing a self sustaining base on Mars opens opportunities.”

Musk calls reusability the “holy grail” of rocketry. Falcon 9 is partially reusable, today he mentioned that their next-generation rocket, known as Starship, has the potential for full reusability but that creating a reusable system at on a large production scale, “Volume production and volume launch of a reusable system is super super hard. Not reusable like the Space Shuttle. Has to be agile like an aircraft. Shuttle too expensive, Musk said.

“The vehicle we’re working on, Starship is the holy grail of which is full reusability.”

**** SpaceX plans for up to 70 F9/FH launches per year at Cape Canaveral AF Station & Kennedy Space Center: Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station – SpaceX/FAA – Feb. 2020 (pdf)

SpaceX Falcon 9/Heavy launch rates in the past and estimated for the future. Credits: FAA and SpaceX

To handle Defense Dept. payloads that require vertical integration into the rockets, SpaceX will build a Mobile Service Tower.

Proposed design for a Mobile Service Tower for Pad 39A to integrate military satellites into Falcon 9/Heavy nosecone. Credits: FAA & SpaceX.

See also: FAA Environmental Assessment details SpaceX plans at Cape Canaveral – NASASpaceFlight.com

**** A year ago the Crew Dragon vehicle, with no astros aboard, took a test drive to the ISS:

On March 2, 2019, Falcon 9 launched Crew Dragon on its first demonstration mission, and the next day it became the first American spacecraft to autonomously dock with the International Space Station. After its stay at the space station, the spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its mission and demonstrating SpaceX’s capabilities to safely and reliably fly astronauts to and from the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

**** An update on improvements to systems to deal with F9 booster landing and recovery: SpaceX eyes major drone ship fleet upgrades and a new rocket recovery robot – Teslarati

SpaceX has kicked off a series of major upgrades planned for its East Coast fleet of drone ships, centered around Just Read The Instructions (JRTI) and most recently culminating in the apparent fabrication of a second tank-like rocket recovery robot.

**** Starship

****** Eric Berger has posted an extended article about the Starship and the activities underway at Boca Chica Beach, Texas. He interviews Elon Musk who describes the efforts to create a production line that will enable rapid iterative improvements of the Starship design and eventually allow for making the massive number of vehicles he believes are needed to build and support a city on Mars: Inside Elon Musk’s plan to build one Starship a week—and settle Mars – Ars Technica

Yet Musk has not been spending so much of his time in South Texas just to build a Starship. Rather, he’s trying to build a production line for Starships. He wants to build a lot of them. And fast, always fast.

“Production is at least 1,000 percent harder than making one of something,” he said. “At least 1,000 percent harder.”

Musk should know. He lived through “production hell” at Tesla in 2017 and 2018, building up factories, changing processes, spending many sleepless nights and going through all manner of mental agony. Now, Tesla is making as many as 10,000 cars a week.

He wants to implement a similar system in South Texas. Musk, in fact, aims to reach a point where the company builds a Starship a week by the end of this year. And after that? Maybe they’ll go faster. SpaceX is designing its factory here to build a Starship every 72 hours.

Eric is answering questions about the article on Twitter.

****** The propellant tank section of the Starship SN1 prototype failed during pressure testing on Friday evening (Feb.28). Elon Musk later indicated that the welding for a plug section called the “puck” at the bottom gave way (see the Ars Technica article mentioned above for details). Earlier remarks (e.g. Elon Musk on Twitter: “Starship SN1 tank preparing for Raptor attachment & static fire”) had indicated that the SN1 was going to be a suborbital flight test vehicle.  OTOH, there had also been indications that the welding was not properly done for SN1 and would be improved for SN2, whose construction was already underway last week.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship SN1 cryo proof test failure – Feb 28, 2020

Starship SN1 was filled with LN2 for a cryo proof test on Friday evening at Boca Chica, before failing. Videos and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)

***** SpaceX Starship Explosion/Implosion Wide View Time Lapse – Feb.28.2020 – LabPadre – YouTube

02.28.2020 10PM CST Starship suffered massive failure at Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX will build another.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Examining the remains of Starship SN1 – Feb.29.2020 – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

Following Starship SN1’s pop during the cryo proofing test on Friday night, Mary took a look at the remains on Saturday morning. Videos and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship SN2 taking shape as SN1 remains removed – Mar.1.2020 – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship SN2 Sections Assemble – Mar.2.2020 – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

The next Starship – albeit one that will be mostly used for proof testing – is being assembled inside the Boca Chica windbreak. Some hardware – such as the new nosecone – will likely be allocated to SN3. Videos and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Constructing Starship SN2 inside a building under construction – Mar.2.2020 – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

SpaceX’s Boca Chica Starship pace becomes obvious when the SN2 continues to be assembled inside a building (VAB/Windbreak) that is still under construction. Videos and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)

****** SpaceX Boca Chica – Starship Taxi arrives as SN2 and SN3 continue production – Mar.4.2020 – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

The roll-lift that transports Starships to the launch pad has arrived, as SN2 continues to be assembled and sections of SN3 follow closely behind. Videos and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)

****** A test stand at the McGregor, Texas facility has been upgraded to allow for vertical test firings of the powerful new Raptor engines: SpaceX’s new Starship test stand to make life a little easier for Raptor engine engineers – Teslarati

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