Rockets, Space transport roundup

Space transport roundup – July.22.2020

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

** SpaceX Falcon 9 launches S. Korean ANASIS-II milcomm sat with same booster used for ISS crew mission. The booster landed safely on an ocean platform. The 51 day turnaround time was the fastest so far for reusing the Falcon boosters and faster than the best Space Shuttle turnaround of 54 days.

Both of the nosecone fairings were also captured in nets on two ships for the first dual catch on the same flight. While SpaceX has re-flown fairings recovered after landing in the ocean, it’s obviously better for reuse if they can avoid dealing with the effects of seawater and impacting the surface of the sea.

A view of the rocket in super slo-mo:

See also:

Find more about other SpaceX activities below.

** Japanese H-IIA rocket launches UAE Hope mission to Mars. The H-IIA is built and operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

** Long March 5 moved to pad in preparation for launch of China’s Tianwen 1 Mars mission. The time for liftoff from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern coast of Hainan province is currently given at SpaceflightNow as Thursday, July 23 at  12:45 am EDT (0445 GMT). The payload includes an orbiter, a lander, and a rover.

** The ULA Atlas V launch of the Perseverance rover to Mars is currently set for liftoff on July 30th.

Here is a discussion with ULA CEO Tory Bruno about the upcoming launch: 79 – Preparing for a Martian Launch (feat. Tory Bruno) – WeMartians Podcast

** Russian Soyuz rocket set to launch Progress cargo carrier to the ISS on Thursday: Soyuz rocket raised on Baikonur launch pad for space station resupply flight – Spaceflight Now

A Russian Soyuz rocket rolled out to a launch pad Monday at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, ready for final inspections, checkouts and fueling before liftoff Thursday with a Progress supply ship bound for the International Space Station.

The Soyuz-2.1a launcher emerged from a hangar at the Baikonur Cosmodrome just after sunrise Monday, riding a mobile railcar across the Kazakh steppe to Launch Pad No. 31. A hydraulic lift raised the launcher vertical on pad 31, and gantry arms rotated into position around the rocket to allow workers access to the vehicle for final pre-launch preparations.

Launch is scheduled for 10:26:22 a.m. EDT (1426:22 GMT; 7:26:22 p.m. Baikonur time) Thursday to kick off a three-hour pursuit of the space station. The launch time is set to occur around the time the research outpost flies over Baikonur.

The Progress will catch up with the ISS for docking in less than 3 hours after liftoff:

Russian ground teams loaded 3,351 pounds (1,520 kilograms) of dry cargo into the cargo freighter’s pressurized compartment, according to Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. Roscosmos says there’s around 1,322 pounds (600 kilograms) of propellant aboard the Progress MS-15 spacecraft for transfer into the space station’s tanks, along with 926 pounds (420 kilograms) of water and 101 pounds (46 kilograms) of compressed gas to replenish the space station’s breathing air.

**** Firefly sends mobile launch platform to Vandenberg launch facility:

** Virgin Orbit to use Japanese airport as base for some LauncherOne missions:  Virgin sets up Japan spaceport to lure Asian satellite builders – Nikkei Asian Review

Asia’s first [commercial] spaceport, located at Oita Airport on the Japanese island of Kyushu, is readying support for Virgin Orbit as the company looks to fire off its LauncherOne rocket in 2022.

Virgin Orbit — a space venture of the Virgin Group — will use a modified Boeing 747, christened “Cosmic Girl,” as the launch platform for LauncherOne, which carries small commercial satellites into either a sun-synchronous or low-Earth orbit, depending on customer requirements.

In addition to its prime Oita location, the U.S.-based company has chosen four airports in the U.S. and Europe for launching satellites, including Mojave Air and Space Port in California and the U.K.’s Spaceport Cornwall at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

** An update on the Southern Launch commercial spaceport facility on the southern coast of Australia: Southern Launch prepares for lift off In South Australia – Spacedaily.com

Historically, launch sites have been constructed closer to the equator to support large satellites launches into equatorial orbit. However, direct launch to polar orbit is achieved most efficiently from launch sites nearer the poles, which have minimal interference from aviation and maritime traffic.

Southern Launch, founded in 2017, is developing a multi-user launch complex at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, offering a turn-key launch service solution to polar and sun-synchronous orbit.

In addition to providing the complete launch infrastructure, Southern Launch has the ability to undertake flight and range safety, vehicle design, avionics componentry and assist with launch permitting and other support services. The year-round temperate weather coupled with the highly skilled local workforce and a robust logistics supply network enables a launch site that offers high cadence launch operations at cost competitive prices.

The growing global demand for launch services and a world class launch location has attracted several early investors, with Southern Launch running an oversubscribed seed funding round at the end of 2019 with a larger Series A round to be finalised in coming months.

The first orbital rocket launch from the facility is expected in 2021.

For more details about the project, see Frequently Asked Questions — Southern Launch.

** Astra heading to Kodiak Island, Alaska for another attempt at an orbital launch

** Study provides the latest on space elevator technologies and prospects:

From the abstract:

A new paradigm has emerged:

      • space elevators can be accomplished because we now have a material
      • space elevators enable interplanetary missions
      • fast transit to Mars (as short as 61 days, with variations out to 400+)
      • can release towards Mars EVERY day (no 26 month wait)o Can move massive amounts of cargo (180,000 MTs/year to GEO-beyond)
      • space Elevators are Earth friendly
      • space solar power replaces 100s of coal power plants
      • no rocket exhaust to contribute to global warming
      • no additional space debris
      • opens up remarkable commercial enterprises at Earth Port, GEO Region +
      • offer to all future scientists: any size science experiment, any solar system destination, releases every day towards multiple scientific destinations

** Briefs:

==================

Check out the
The Lurio Report
for news and analysis of key developments in NewSpace

The latest issue:
Riding a Dragon, Rockets Rising, Space Resource Policy
Vol. 15, No. 4, June 14, 2020

Space Frontier Foundation Award for NewSpace Journalism

==================

** SpaceX:

** NASA targets August 1st for departure of the SpaceX Crew Dragon from the ISS on August 1st. The Endeavour Dragon spacecraft will bring back astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to a splashdown in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida on August 2nd.

** The McGregor, Texas test facility is always busy:

**** Starship

SpaceX has carried out cryogenic pressure testing the propellant tanks of the Starship SN5 prototype currently mounted on a launch fixture at Boca Chica. If the subsequent fueling and engine tests go well, then a hop of about 150 meters will come soon after:

SN5 is using a less advanced steel alloy than what is planned for operational vehicles. The SN8 prototype currently in construction is believed to be using the alloy labeled 304L –  SpaceX begins building upgraded Starship prototype – Teslarati. However, Elon says the formulation of the final alloy for the Starships may not follow the standard recipe for 304L:

**** Latest videos from Boca Chica:

****** Exclusive! Space X Launch Site Flyover 07/20! – RGV Aerial Photography

****** July 15: SpaceX Boca Chica – Nosecone Progress – High Bay Grows – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

New Starship parts are lining up at the build site including new ring stacks and the completed nosecone section. The high bay continues to grow at a rapid pace, and SN5 continues to be worked on ahead of engine testing. As a special bonus: 3 entire minutes of scrapping footage at the end for your enjoyment. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@TheJackBeyer)

****** July 16: SpaceX Boca Chica – SN5 waits, expansion continues, fin washing – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

While Starship SN5 continues to wait for its Static Fire test (still at least a few days away) and soon-to-follow Hop, the expansion of Spaceport Boca Chica continues and future Starships get in line. Video includes fin power washing! Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@TheJackBeyer).

** July 21: SpaceX Boca Chica – SN8 Common Dome Spotted – SN5 Fueling Test – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

The Common Dome for Starship SN8 has been spotted, clearly labeled as such. SN5 underwent a fueling test, the results of which are unknown, the next level of High Bay sections has started to go up, and yet another new nosecone has been spotted inside Tent 3. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer).

****** July.21: SpaceX Boca Chica – High Bay Grows as Robots and Raptor arrive – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

While Spaceship SN5 remains in preparations for a Static Fire test, numerous new arrivals were spotted, from welding robots to a new Raptor engine, all while the High Bay continues to grow. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer).

**** Webcast reports on Starship and other rockets:

**** July 19: SpaceX Boca Chica Weekly Update – Starship fabrication continues at speed as high bay takes shape – NASASpaceflight – YouTube

NSF’s second weekly update video showing the highlights of work ongoing at SpaceX Boca Chica as Starship SN5 prepares to enter a week of testing. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal), Nomadd and Jack Beyer. Edited by Jack Beyer (@TheJackBeyer)

**** July 18: SpaceX Starship SN5 150m flight countdown, Starlink Beta, Minotaur IV Launch and Skylab Anniversary – Marcus House

Many topics this week including a SpaceX Starship SN5 150m flight countdown update, Starlink Beta, the Minotaur IV Launch, and the 41st Skylab Anniversary. The Starship prototype Serial Number 5 still awaits that 150-meter flight test but getting very close now. Some news on the Starlink terminals and information on the roll-out of the private beta beginning this summer with a public beta to follow. We had the super-rapid Minotaur launch just the other day, look at that go, and we’re going to talk a little about Skylab that 41 years ago made its undignified return to earth into parts of the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.

**** July 21: SpaceX Starship Updates – Solar Orbiter: Close To The Inferno – What about it!?

The Common Dome for Starship SN8 has been spotted, clearly labeled as such. SN5 underwent a fueling test, the results of which are unknown, the next level of High Bay sections has started to go up, and yet another new nosecone has been spotted inside Tent 3. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer).

**** July 17: SpaceX Starship Updates – Boca Chica Developing Faster & Faster! – What about it!?

=====

=== Space Art from C. Sergent Lindsey ===

Sweatshirt imprinted with “SpaceX Delivers the Goods” by C Sergent Lindsey. Available at Fine Art America.

 

Astronomy, Exoplanets

ESO: First ever image of two exoplanets circling a Sun-like star

The latest report from the European Southern Observatory (ESO):

First Ever Image of a Multi-Planet System around a Sun-like Star
Captured by ESO Telescope

The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) has taken the first ever image of a young, Sun-like star accompanied by two giant exoplanets. Images of systems with multiple exoplanets are extremely rare, and — until now — astronomers had never directly observed more than one planet orbiting a star similar to the Sun. The observations can help astronomers understand how planets formed and evolved around our own Sun.

This image, captured by the SPHERE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, shows the star TYC 8998-760-1 accompanied by two giant exoplanets. This is the first time astronomers have directly observed more than one planet orbiting a star similar to the Sun. The image was captured by blocking the light from the young, Sun-like star (on the top left corner) using a coronagraph, which allows for the fainter planets to be detected. The bright and dark rings we see on the star’s image are optical artefacts. The two planets are visible as two bright dots in the centre and bottom right of the frame.

Just a few weeks ago, ESO revealed a planetary system being born in a new, stunning VLT image. Now, the same telescope, using the same instrument, has taken the first direct image of a planetary system around a star like our Sun, located about 300 light-years away and known as TYC 8998-760-1.

“This discovery is a snapshot of an environment that is very similar to our Solar System, but at a much earlier stage of its evolution,”

says Alexander Bohn, a PhD student at Leiden University in the Netherlands, who led the new research published today in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

“Even though astronomers have indirectly detected thousands of planets in our galaxy, only a tiny fraction of these exoplanets have been directly imaged,” says co-author Matthew Kenworthy, Associate Professor at Leiden University, adding that “direct observations are important in the search for environments that can support life.”

The direct imaging of two or more exoplanets around the same star is even more rare; only two such systems have been directly observed so far, both around stars markedly different from our Sun. The new ESO’s VLT image is the first direct image of more than one exoplanet around a Sun-like star. ESO’s VLT was also the first telescope to directly image an exoplanet, back in 2004, when it captured a speck of light around a brown dwarf, a type of ‘failed’ star.

“Our team has now been able to take the first image of two gas giant companions that are orbiting a young, solar analogue,”

says Maddalena Reggiani, a postdoctoral researcher from KU Leuven, Belgium, who also participated in the study. The two planets can be seen in the new image as two bright points of light distant from their parent star, which is located in the upper left of the frame (click on the image to view the full frame). By taking different images at different times, the team were able to distinguish these planets from the background stars.

This image, captured by the SPHERE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, shows the star TYC 8998-760-1 accompanied by two giant exoplanets, TYC 8998-760-1b and TYC 8998-760-1c. This is the first time astronomers have directly observed more than one planet orbiting a star similar to the Sun. The two planets are visible as two bright dots in the centre (TYC 8998-760-1b) and bottom right (TYC 8998-760-1c) of the frame, noted by arrows. Other bright dots, which are background stars, are visible in the image as well. By taking different images at different times, the team were able to distinguish the planets from the background stars.    The image was captured by blocking the light from the young, Sun-like star (top-left of centre) using a coronagraph, which allows for the fainter planets to be detected. The bright and dark rings we see on the star’s image are optical artefacts.

The two gas giants orbit their host star at distances of 160 and about 320 times the Earth-Sun distance. This places these planets much further away from their star than Jupiter or Saturn, also two gas giants, are from the Sun; they lie at only 5 and 10 times the Earth-Sun distance, respectively. The team also found the two exoplanets are much heavier than the ones in our Solar System, the inner planet having 14 times Jupiter’s mass and the outer one six times.

Bohn’s team imaged this system during their search for young, giant planets around stars like our Sun but far younger. The star TYC 8998-760-1 is just 17 million years old and located in the Southern constellation of Musca (The Fly). Bohn describes it as a “very young version of our own Sun.”

These images were possible thanks to the high performance of the SPHERE instrument on ESO’s VLT in the Chilean Atacama desert. SPHERE blocks the bright light from the star using a device called coronagraph, allowing the much fainter planets to be seen. While older planets, such as those in our Solar System, are too cool to be found with this technique, young planets are hotter, and so glow brighter in infrared light. By taking several images over the past year, as well as using older data going back to 2017, the research team have confirmed that the two planets are part of the star’s system.

Further observations of this system, including with the future ESO Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), will enable astronomers to test whether these planets formed at their current location distant from the star or migrated from elsewhere. ESO’s ELT will also help probe the interaction between two young planets in the same system. Bohn concludes:

“The possibility that future instruments, such as those available on the ELT, will be able to detect even lower-mass planets around this star marks an important milestone in understanding multi-planet systems, with potential implications for the history of our own Solar System.”

This chart shows the location of the TYC 8998-760-1 system. This map shows most of the stars visible to the unaided eye under good conditions and the system itself is marked with a red circle.

Links

=====

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

“Tomato with Stem” by C. Sergent Lindsey on throw pillow. Available at Fine Art America.
Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week – July.20.2020

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, July 20, 2020; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT: We welcome Rand Simberg back for Evoloterra and Apollo 11 on the 51st anniversary of going to the Moon.

2. Tuesday, July 21, 2020; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT): We welcome back Dr. Pat Patterson to tell us about the all virtual SmallSat Conference this year. Don’t miss it.

3. Wednesday, July 22, 2020: Hotel Mars TBA pre-recorded. See upcoming show menu on the home page for program details.

4. Thursday, July 23, 2020; 7-8:30 pm PDT (9-10:30 pm CDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT): No special program today.

5. Friday, July 24, 2020; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): We welcome back Steven Wolfe regarding the Beyond Earth Institute and space settlement important news.

6. Sunday, July 26, 2020; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): We welcome Dr. Michael Gleason of the Aerospace Corp regarding his new paper, The Value of Space.

Some recent shows:

** Sun. July.19.202 – Open lines program hosted a “discussion on a wide variety of topics with your phone calls. Robert Jacobson was back on and has set up another ebook give away program.”

** Hotel Mars/John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wed. July.15.2020 – John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston spoke with Dr. Jim Bell about “Mars 2020 and the Perseverance rover. Jim is part of the project and the PI for the 3D Zoom camera project”.

** Tues. July.14.2020 – Dr. James Schwartz talked about his new book, The Value of Science in Space Exploration [Amazon commission link] and had “a wide ranging discussion on doing science in space as a priority over commercial, mining, resource usage and settlement”.

** See also:
* The Space Show Archives
* The Space Show Newsletter
* The Space Show Shop

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

The Space Show - David Livingston
The Space Show – David Livingston

=== Amazon Ad ===

2008-2018: A NewSpace Primer

Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – July.20.2020

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):

International space

Webcasts:

** Episode 20 Legal Test for Space Debris – Michael Listner, Space Law & Policy Solutions

My 2012 article in The Space Review can be accessed here: Addressing the challenges of space debris, part 1: defining space debris

** Hotel Mars/John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wed. July.15.2020 – John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston spoke with Dr. Jim Bell about “Mars 2020 and the Perseverance rover. Jim is part of the project and the PI for the 3D Zoom camera project”.

** The Space Show – Tues. July.14.2020 – Dr. James Schwartz talked about his new book, The Value of Science in Space Exploration [Amazon commission link] and had “a wide ranging discussion on doing science in space as a priority over commercial, mining, resource usage and settlement”.

** Radar Tracking, Orbital Debris and a Safer Space – Constellations Podcast – YouTube

We speak with Daniel Ceperley, CEO and Co-Founder of LeoLabs Space about the growing issue of space debris. Orbital debris is a serious issue that will only get worse, but dealing with it is as much an opportunity as a challenge. Daniel explains his goal to track the 12,000 known debris objects low earth orbit by building set of advanced radars and we discuss the possibility of long-term solutions to collision avoidance. Is there a future where satellites use radar to detect other objects and avoid collision? Listen to this episode of Constellations to learn how today’s visionaries, such as Daniel Ceperley of LeoLabs, are making space safer for the rest of us.

** Space Café WebTalk Recap: Jenni Tapio on Implementing National Space Laws – SpaceWatch.Global

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk,  Jenni Tapio, Chief Specialist in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland talked about the implementation of national space laws on the example of Finland and beyond.

She discussed the example of the Finnish Act on Space Activities. What does a national space law mean for business opportunities? She also answered relevant questions from the audience.

** July 14, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

** July 17, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast | Behind The Black

** E24 – Nuclear Space Systems (w Patricia Maloney and James Howe)  – Aerospace CSPS (Center for Space Policy and Strategy at the Aerospace Corporation)

====

=====

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

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

Video: Launch of the HOPE Mars Mission [Updated]

7:58  pm EDT: The upper stage firing went as planned and the probe was successfully deployed. Communications with the vehicle have been established and the solar panels were deployed. The spacecraft’s next job is to use its attitude thrusters to orient itself so as to maximize power generation from the sun. The probe will reach Mars next February.  After going into orbit, the spacecraft’s instruments will study the atmosphere and weather on the Red Planet.

6:31  pm EDT: The launch has succeeded so far in reaching low earth orbit. The upper stage with the probe is now in a coast period before the stage will fire its engine for 4 minutes to send the Hope probe on its route to Mars. The stage will then separate from the probe soon after the engine boost ends. The firing should start at around 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC).

The countdown is nearing liftoff for the  launch of the UAE Hope orbiter mission to Mars on a Japanese H-IIA rocket from the Tenaghashima Space Centre in Japan. Below is the webcast.

5:35 pm EDT: Currently all systems are green for liftoff at 5:38 pm EDT.

Updates and background info:

=== Amazon Ad ===

Xtronaut: The Game of Solar System Exploration

Everyone can participate in space