Rockets, Space transport roundup

Space transport roundup – Aug.15.2020

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

** Ariane V set to launch today following  two week delay. The window for the launch from the Guiana Space Center is 5:33pm – 6:20 pm EDT (21:33 – 22:20 UTC). The rocket will carry Intelsat’s Galaxy 30 communications satellite, the Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicle-2 (MEV-2),  and the BSAT-4b for MAXAR and Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT). The MEV-2 will attached itself to the nozzle of Intelsat 10-02, which is running out of station keeping fuel. MEV-2 will keep the comm-sat operating in GEO for some number of years before undocking and going on to assist another satellite.

Loaded with three commercial satellites, a European Ariane 5 rocket returned to its launch pad in French Guiana Thursday after a two-week launch delay to resolve a technical issue that forced an abort to a countdown July 31. Arianespace says the mission has been rescheduled for launch Saturday due to unfavorable upper level winds in the forecast for Friday.

The 179-foot-tall (54.8-meter) rocket rolled out of its final assembly building at the Guiana Space Center Thursday for the trip to the ELA-3 launch zone. Riding a mobile launch platform, the rocket was tugged by a diesel-powered Titan tug for the 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometer) journey.

Arianespace, the French company responsible for selling and launching Ariane 5 rockets, planned to send the launch vehicle into orbit July 31 with three U.S.-made satellites. But a suspect reading from a sensor on the Ariane 5’s first stage liquid hydrogen tank stopped the countdown around two minutes prior to liftoff.

** Some other upcoming launches:

** Blue Origin reportedly will fly New Shepard in September: Source: Blue Origin targeting September for 1st New Shepard sub-orbital flight of 2020 – Space Explored

Blue Origin last launched New Shepard in December 2019 with educational and NASA-sponsored research payloads. The successful launch and landing was the sixth mission to use the same New Shepard 3 rocket. Hardware reusability is a challenging goal being met by the likes of Blue Origin (and on a larger scale, SpaceX) in the interest of reducing total spaceflight cost.

The upcoming NS-13 mission will mark Blue Origin’s 10th commercial flight using New Shepard. The company celebrated its 100th payload customer to date during New Shepard’s previous mission.

** Firefly planning first launch of Alpha rocket in fall: Firefly aims to debut its Alpha rocket for small satellites this fall | Space.com

Firefly Aerospace’s advanced rocket for small satellites should be ready to launch for the first time this fall, company representatives said.

The two-stage rocket, known as Alpha, was originally scheduled to debut in early 2020. But the coronavirus pandemic intervened and delayed things at Firefly, as well as at other space companies around the world. Some suppliers had to delay shipments, and work slowed due to necessary physical distancing measures.

The impacts at Firefly extended beyond the Firefly project. The company is also working on a larger rocket, called Beta, and a robotic moon lander in support of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Still, Firefly continued to grow amid the pandemic, expanding from 250 employees in January to 310 employees today, largely via funding from company co-founder Max Polyakov.

Here is a preview of a film doc about Firefly: Upcoming Documentary on Firefly Aerospace | A behind the scenes preview

From setbacks to success, get a sneak peek into the upcoming documentary that follows Firefly’s incredible journey to possibly become one of the next big names in private space exploration. A film by Merit Entertainment in association with Edwards Media. Follow the film @untitled_firefly_movie

**** Skyroot Aerospace of India tests cryogenic LOC/LNG upper stage engine: Skyroot Aerospace first [Indian] private company to test upper stage rocket engine | Business Standard News

Spacetech startup Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test fired an upper stage rocket engine, becoming the first Indian private company to demonstrate the capability to build a homegrown rocket engine.

Meanwhile, the company is planning to raise around Rs 90 crore.

Founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both former scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), Skyroot plans to build a family of rockets.

The first rocket, which can hurl satellites of 250-700 kgs into a lower earth orbit, is expected to be launched by end-2021. This is a major milestone for us in a path towards our first launch targeted for December 2021, said Daka, Co-Founder & COO, Skyroot Aerospace.

** Rocket Lab ready to recover a first-stage booster via parachute: Rocket Lab ready to attempt Electron booster recovery – SpaceNews

The second launch pad at their New Zealand facility appears to be nearly completed:

** Briefs:

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** SpaceX:

*** First operational Crew Dragon mission now set for no earlier than Oct. 23rd: NASA, SpaceX Targeting October for Next Astronaut Launch – Commercial Crew Program/NASA

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Oct. 23 for the first operational flight with astronauts of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as a part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission will be the first of regular rotational missions to the space station following completion of NASA certification.

The mission will carry Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Shannon Walker, all of NASA, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission specialist Soichi Noguchi for a six-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory following launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Crew-1 will launch in late October to accommodate spacecraft traffic for the upcoming Soyuz crew rotation and best meet the needs of the International Space Station…

*** Crew Dragon Endeavour starts refurbishment for another flight next year: Back at Cape Canaveral, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule preps for next mission – Spaceflight Now

Fresh off a 64-day test flight to the International Space Station with astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, SpaceX’s first human-rated Crew Dragon spaceship is back at Cape Canaveral for inspections, refurbishment and upgrades before flying to the station again with a four-person crew next spring.

The crew capsule — named “Endeavour” by Hurley and Behnken — arrived at Port Canaveral on Aug. 7 aboard SpaceX’s “Go Navigator” recovery ship after sailing from the Gulf of Mexico, where the Dragon spacecraft splashed down under parachutes Aug. 2 south of Pensacola, Florida.

The splashdown punctuated a successful demonstration flight to the International Space Station. The test flight, designated Demo-2, was the first Crew Dragon mission with astronauts on-board. NASA plans to review data from the Demo-2 mission before formally certifying the Crew Dragon for regular crew rotation flights to the space station beginning later this year.

*** Falcon 9 booster from Starlink 9 mission returned to Port Canaveral: SpaceX returns five-flight Falcon 9 booster to port as next reuse milestone nears – Teslarati

*** Starship

Following its recent test hop, the Starship SN5 prototype was moved back to the Mid-Bay hangar in the assembly area and then SN6 was moved to the launch site. After installing systems on the launch mount structure needed for pressure testing, SN6 was lifted onto the mount. In the next few days, the vehicle will go through a series of pressure tests. If those go well, then a Raptor engine (perhaps three) will be installed and then test fired.

Before a test hop, a dummy payload mass may be set on top of SN6 as was done for SN5. This is needed to prevent the high thrust of the Raptor from accelerating the vehicle beyond the level needed for the short low altitude flight. However, it’s possible that the propellant tanks will be completely filled rather than partially as was believed done for the SN5 hop. This might provide sufficient weight to keep the Raptor from sending the SN6 skyward in a hurry.

The first SN6 flight will likely be a repeat of the SN5 hop in terms of altitude. Elon Musk said following the SN5 test that there will be “several short hops to smooth out launch process”. Once the launch prep procedures are well practiced, they will start flights to “high altitude with body flaps“. The SN8 prototype is expected to be the first to get the flaps and presumably a nosecone payload section as well.

There appears to be a SN7.1 structure with a scaled down propellant tank section like SN7 in construction. Pressurizing SN7.1 would test new improved techniques for wielding the iron components together.

Lots of construction activities underway including the building of the High Bay hangar where the Super Heavy booster will be assembled. A launch pad section for the Super Heavy is also under construction. See the videos below for views of the many activities happening in parallel at the Boca Chica site.

[ Update: A new prototype is emerging:

]

** A comparison of fairing size and payload mass for several types of rockets:

Elon Musk responded:

Starship fairing will actually have more height than shown here. Dome will be flatter & more of tip is accessible. Usable volume ~1000 cubic meters.

And when asked if there will be a header tank (a small propellant tank used to help with adjusting the center of mass of the ship on reentry) in the top of the nose, he responded:

Yes, integrated with the tip of the nose

**** SpaceX disagrees with the USAF on Starship development time: Space Business: Space Force Majeure — Space Business — Quartz

And perhaps most intriguing, the Air Force didn’t agree with SpaceX’s estimate that it would be ready to fly a next generation vehicle (now known as Starship and then as “BFR,” for Big Falcon Rocket) within five years. The service and SpaceX also disagreed about whether the Space Shuttle was a good analogy to the new vehicle.

**** SpaceX plans for resort facilities at Boca Chica for visitors and eventually for space tourists : SpaceX reveals plans for a Texas spaceport resort in new job ad – TechCrunch

The job posting seeks a manger to “oversee the development of SpaceX’s first resort from inception to completion,” with the ultimate aim of turning Boca Chica into a “21st century Spaceport.” That would include overseeing the entire design and construction process, as well as getting all necessary work permits and regulatory approvals, and completing the ultimate build of the facility.

**** Aug. 8: SpaceX Boca Chica – The first ever Starship Post Flight Processing Flow – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

A full video showing how the SpaceX teams took care of Starship SN5 following her hop on to the landing pad. This is the first time – for Starship – that there’s been a post-flight processing flow. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@TheJackBeyer).

**** Aug. 9: SpaceX Boca Chica – Full Spaceport Overview – Drive Past, Cranes and Starships – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

A lengthy video covering all elements of the SpaceX Boca Chica spaceport, from the Production Facility to the launch site, including drive pasts and focused areas. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@TheJackBeyer).

**** Aug. 10: SpaceX Boca Chica – TPS X on show as Starships position themselves for test series – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

While Starships SN5 and SN6 prepare for a potential hop tag team test campaign, a sign of the future was seen in the form of TPS installation, suitably provided in the pattern of an X. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edit: Theo Ripper (@theoripper).

**** Aug.11: SN5 Transported Back To Shipyard – LabPadre – YouTube

08.11.2020 This morning SpaceX moved Starship SN5 back to the Boca Chica Shipyard for assessment and possible future flights.

**** Aug.11: SN6 Prep & Rollout Time Lapse – LabPadre – YouTube

08.11.2020 Time lapse: 9am- 12am SpaceX Boca Chica preps SN6 and the launch stand for upcoming testing. Things are really starting to pick up.

**** Aug.12: SN6 Prepped for Action – StarshipBocaChica/Maria Pointer – YouTube

SN6 is being readied for thrust pressure testing to make sure the structure can withstand one (or maybe three) Raptor engine(s) pushing up from the bottom of the thrust puck with at least 440,000 lbs of force. After one of the most active days ever witnessed at Boca Chica, SN5 is back at the production facility and SN6 rolled to the launch site all within 12 hours. SpaceX will load liquid nitrogen into the tanks to pressurize them and stiffen the entire structure then hydraulic rams will push upwards and test the strength of the engine mounts. If all goes well, the thrust simulator will be removed and Raptor engines will be installed. Then it gets real interesting with Wet Dress Rehearsals (WDR) and static fire testing before launch. SN6 is expected to perform one or more hops as SpaceX refines their power and balancing algorithms. At 14:14 you’ll see the SoilMec SR-45 piling drill. More info here https://www.soilmec.com/en/products/p…

**** Aug.13: SpaceX Boca Chica – The Full Starship Mounting Processing Flow – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

A long video that shows the entire process of installing a Starship (SN6) on to the launch mount. Includes fascinating highlights such as landing leg retraction. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer).

**** Aug.14: SpaceX Boca Chica Build Site Flyover 08/14 – RGV Aerial Photography

**** Aug. 14: SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site Flyover 08/14 – RGV Aerial Photography

**** Aug.14:  SpaceX Boca Chica – High Bay Level 4 and Super Heavy Pad Work – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

Level 4 of the High Bay begins to go up and the work on the Orbital Launch Pad picks up speed. SpaceX is laying the foundations for its future in Boca Chica and that future is all about Super Heavy. Deliveries of huge pipes to the launch site foreshadow the scale of the coming construction, while SN6 is prepared for cryo proofing. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Theo Ripper (@TheoRipper).

**** Other Starship reports:

***** Aug. 15 – SpaceX Starship SN6, SN7.1 & SN8 updates, Crew 1/2 update & US launch service contracts awarded – Marcus House

Even though we’ve had the flight of the prototype starship Serial Number 5 just over a week ago, the progress at Boca Chica Texas has not stopped, we’ll talk about SpaceX Starship SN6, SN7.1 & SN8 updates, Crew 1/2 update & US launch service contracts awarded to SpaceX. Serial Number 6 which has since rolled to the launch pad gets ready for a pressure test and the vision for Serial Number 8 which is really coming together. We have some interesting information on the recently awarded launch service contracts for SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. Very exciting to see SpaceX being involved in future launch capability for the US military there. Now that the dust has settled with Crew Dragons Demo 2 with Doug and Bob’s mission, we can focus now on the amazing Crew 1 and Crew 2 missions. Crew 1, of course, coming up faster than you may think with a possibility there launching at the end of October.

***** Aug. 14: SpaceX Starship Updates – Starship Flight Phase Explained – What about it!?

Welcome to Episode 112 of What about it!? Today I will tell you what’s next for Boca Chica and the SpaceX Starship program. What’s coming in the next few days and weeks and what kind of milestones can we expect next? I’ll also show you, what kind of effect the lately aquired NSSF contracts will have on the launch industry and SpaceX.

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=== The Art of C. Sergent Lindsey ===

“SpaceX Delivers the Goods” by C. Sergent Lindsey printed on phone cover. Available at Fine Art America.