Category Archives: Space participation

Video: TMRO Orbit 11.27 – “Creating a Starship Culture with Gateway Foundation”

The latest episode of TMRO.tv Space program is now available on line: Creating a Starship Culture with Gateway Foundation – Orbit 11.27 – TMRO

John Blincow and Dr. Tom Spilker join us to talk about the Gateway Foundation and their plans to design, test and build the Gateway Spaceport. If you’re interested in helping volunteer your time and talents to making the Gateway real, head over to https://gatewayspaceport.com for more information

The Space News topics presented:

An Eruptive Enigma Solved on Mars
Kepler In Safe Mode
A Generic Headline Concerning A Study Confirming Uranus’ Formation But The Headline Is Devoid Of The Obvious Joke
More Hope for Life on Other Worlds

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Rocket Lab to launch an Electron with 5 payloads including Irvine CubeSat built by high schoolers

This evening US time and Saturday afternoon New Zealand time, Rocket Lab will attempt to launch the third Electron rocket into orbit.

The Electron on the pad at Mahia. (Photo credits Kieran_Fanning)

The rocket is to lift off from the Mahia Peninsula on the east coast of New Zealand‘s North Island. You can watch the launch via the rocketlabusa.com/live-stream webcast.

The vehicle is carrying four payloads for commercial companies plus the Irvine CubeSat built by high school students in Irvine, California.

The Irvine CubeSat Program is a revolutionary STEM initiative based in Irvine, California. With over 100 members from six public high schools, the program collectively strives to assemble, test, and launch a solar powered CubeSat. It aims to inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers, creators, programmers, and explorers.

Here is a video about the program:

The company’s press kit (pdf) has lots of information about the mission. See also Rocket Lab set for first operational Electron launch with five payload elements – NASASpaceFlight.com.

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Asteroid Day – June 30, 2018

Saturday June 30th is Asteroid Day: 

Asteroid Day is a global awareness campaign where people from around the world come together to learn about asteroids, the impact hazard they may pose, and what we can do to protect our planet, families, communities, and future generations from future asteroid impacts. Asteroid Day is held each year on the anniversary of the largest impact in recent history, the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia. 

In this brief video, Neil deGrasse Tyson tells the story behind Asteroid Day.

Here is a list and map of Asteroid Day events around the world: Plan your Event | Asteroid Day.

All around the globe, regionally organised events are held on Asteroid Day. These events range from live concerts and community events, to lectures and other educational programmes, to raise public awareness of the need for increased detection and mapping of asteroids.

Check out the set of resources including infographics, class lesson plans, paper models, etc : Asteroid Day Resources.

Submit a question to the Asteroid Day Expert Panel:

The Asteroid Day Expert Panel is chaired by Physicist Dr. Mark Boslough (left) and consists of 16 world–class asteroid experts. They oversee the scientific information Asteroid Day is publicising to guarantee accuracy.  They are always happy to answer any asteroid related questions you may have.

Get updates at

Here is the movie 51 Degrees North which

 inspired Asteroid Day. It was directed by co-founder Grigorij Richters and the music was composed by Dr. Brian May. We are proud to present to you this alternate version of the film, by Discovery Science. As an event organiser you can have access to download both the full length film (88 minutes) or the 45 minute (Discovery Science) version. Event organizers must fill out this form to download the movie.


51 Degrees North – Full movie, free. from Asteroid Day on Vimeo.

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Videos: Virgin Galactic’s “Unity” rocketplane makes second powered flight

Virgin Galactic is carrying out a series of test flights of the VSS Unity suborbital rocketplane. Each test is going faster and higher with the aim of reaching space (greater than 80 km height as they define it) before the end of this year. On Wednesday, Unity made the second flight with its hybrid motor firing: Richard Branson Welcomes VSS Unity Home from Second Supersonic Flight – Virgin Galactic.

The focus of today’s flight was to expand our understanding of the spaceship’s supersonic handling characteristics and control system’s performance with vehicle parameters that were closer to the ultimate commercial configuration. This involved shifting the vehicle’s center of gravity rearward via the addition of passenger seats and related equipment. The rocket motor burned for the planned 31 seconds and propelled Unity to a speed of Mach 1.9 and an altitude of 114,500 ft.[34.9 km]. As will be the case for future commercial flights, Unity’s unique re-entry feathering system was deployed for the initial descent before the final glide home to a smooth runway landing.

If all goes well, commercial flights would begin next year with flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico taking 6 passengers at a time on the trip of a lifetime. Over 700 customers have paid up to $250,000 to ride a rocket to space and back.

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