Videos: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch and landing + Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo test

Yesterday a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a spysat for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Kennedy Space Center. The first stage returned for a successful landing at the Cape. Here are some photos and videos of the launch and booster return.

NROL-76 Mission

Close-up of rocket stage separation, fast flip, boostback burn in a ring of fire and then landing burn

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on

Landing

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on

===

Later in the day Virgin Galactic did an unpowered drop test of the SpaceShipTwo “Unity” and tested the feathering mechanism for reentry.

VSS Unity glides back for a landing at the Mojave Air & Space Port.

====

Videos: Night sky highlights for May 2017

Here is NASA JPL’s report on what to look for in the sky in the coming month:

The Hubble Space Telescope organization provides another preview of the May night sky:

 

====

The Space Show this week – May.1.2017

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

1. Monday, May 1, 2017: 2-3:30 pm PDT (5-6:30 pm EDT, 4-5:30 pm CDT): We welcome back both RON JONES & CHRISTINE NOBBE to update us on the upcoming ISDC event in St. Louis from May 25-29, 2017.

2. Tuesday, May 2, 2017: 7-8:30 pm PDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT, 9-10:30 pm CDT: We welcome back author TED SPITZMILLER regarding his excellent new book, The History of Human Spaceflight. Dr. John Jurist will be the co-host for this program.

3. Wednesday, May 3, 2016: Pre-recorded with John Batchelor; HOTEL MARS with RAND SIMBERG. We will be discussing deep space mining, property rights, and the Outer Space Treaty.

4. Friday, May 5, 2016: 9:30-11 am PDT, 12:30-2 PM EDT, 11:30 am – 1 pm CDT: We welcome back WAYNE WHITE, Space Attorney, for property rights and the Outer Space Treaty.

5. Sunday, May 7, 2017: 12-1:30 pm EST (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): We welcome back MICHAEL LISTNER, space attorney, for space policy and legal news updates.

See also:
* The Space Show on Vimeo – webinar videos
* The Space Show’s Blog – summaries of interviews.
* The Space Show Classroom Blog – tutorial programs

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

The Space Show - David Livingston
David Livingston

Video: TMRO Orbit 10.16 – A new way to orient spacecraft: Reaction Spheres

The latest TMRO.tv program: A new way to orient spacecraft: Reaction Spheres – Orbit 10.16  – 

Emory Stagmer joins us once again to talk about his patented invention: Reaction Spheres. This is a new way to orient spacecrafts beyond using traditional reaction wheels.

Space news topics:

Next Pluto mission already in the works
Ukrainian Rocket to launch from Canada
Gravitational Wave testbed repurposed to find comet dust
Tianzhou paves way for Chinese Space Station
Peggy Whitson sets US space endurance record
GLXP Update: SpaceIL Delay & New Astrobotic Project

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/tmro  for information, goals and reward levels.

====

Videos: Four science fiction short films

Some sci-fi short films:

**  On Sunday by David Lea – DUST

** Athena (Sci-Fi Action Short Film) by Andrew Kadikian – Rogue Division

** Hibernation  by Jon Mikel Caballero – DUST

** Embers & Dust by Patrick Biesemans – DUST

====

Everyone can participate in space