A sampling of space transportation related news and resource items:<\/p>\n
** Ariane 5 launches two comm-sats<\/strong> on first mission of 2019:<\/p>\n\nArianespace orbits two telecommunications satellites on first Ariane 5 launch of 2019 \u2013 Arianespace<\/a><\/li>\nAriane 5 launches Hellas-Sat-4\/SaudiGeoSat-1 and GSAT 31 \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Looks like a launch a month for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arianespace.com\">Arianespace<\/a> in 2019: <a title=\"Arianespace preps for first of up to 13 launches in French Guiana this year \u2013 Spaceflight Now\" href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/02\/04\/arianespace-preps-for-first-of-up-to-13-launches-planned-this-year\/\">Arianespace preps for first of up to 13 launches in French Guiana this year \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <\/strong><a title=\"Prometheus (rocket engine) - Wikipedia\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prometheus_(rocket_engine)\"><strong>Prometheus reusable engine<\/strong><\/a> – While Arianespace remains committed to single-use throwaway rockets, technology research into reusable hardware is happening. For example, here is the latest on the reusable <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prometheus_(rocket_engine)\">Prometheus<\/a> methane-fueled engine: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ariane.group\/en\/news\/prometheus-demonstrator-of-future-engine-passed-its-definition-review\/\">Prometheus: Demonstrator of Future Engine passed its Definition Review – Ariane Group<\/a><\/p>\n<section class=\"master__section advanced-content container \">\n<div class=\"ct--master ct--advanced-content \">\n<div class=\"content m4 c6\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The goal of the Prometheus demonstrator is to be able to build future liquid propellant engines in the 100 tons thrust class, for a cost ten times less than that involved in building an existing engine such as the Vulcain\u00ae2.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17751\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17751\" style=\"width: 366px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ariane.group\/en\/news\/prometheus-demonstrator-of-future-engine-passed-its-definition-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"17751\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=17751\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png\" data-orig-size=\"513,700\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Prometheus Powering\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"<p>Rendering of a design for the reusable methane fueled Promethus engine.<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png\" class=\"wp-image-17751\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"366\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png 513w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2-220x300.png 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17751\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Rendering of a design for the reusable methane fueled Promethus engine.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The success of a technological challenge of this nature depends on a completely new design: over and above the change in the traditional Ariane propellant (switching from the liquid oxygen and hydrogen combination to liquid oxygen and methane), the demonstrator will entail major changes, including digitization of engine control and diagnostics. It also depends on the use of innovative design and production methods and tools, including construction using 3D printing in a connected factory environment.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** Speaking of reusable Ariane rockets: <a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/french-auditor-says-ariane-6-rocket-too-conventional-to-compete-with-spacex\/\" target=\"_d\">French auditor says Ariane 6 rocket too conventional to compete with SpaceX | Ars Technica<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>“This new launcher does not constitute a sustainable response in order to be competitive in a commercial market in stagnation,” the auditor’s report states. The Ariane 6 rocket design is too “cautious,” according to the report, relying on mostly traditional technologies.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** New <a href=\"http:\/\/www.BlueOrigin.com\">Blue Origin<\/a> video<\/strong> highlights the activities and future plans of the company:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1YOL89kY8Og?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/\">Momentus Water-Plasma propulsion for smallsat<\/a> <\/strong>– While small satellites are growing into major sector of the space industry, cost-effective and technically practical in-space propulsion for small spacecraft remains a challenge, especially for those sized in the CubeSat scale of a few kilograms. The startup company <a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/\">Momentus<\/a> offers propulsion modules that will attach to smallsats and and send them to the exact orbits after they are released from a rocket that takes them into space.<\/p>\n<p>Momentus propulsion system uses <a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/development\/\">water heated into a plasma state by microwaves<\/a>. Water is obviously a safe fuel and this means that a spacecraft using it for propulsion will encounter fewer hurdles to integrating the craft into a launch system compared to using more energetic fuels.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17753\" style=\"width: 296px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"17753\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=17753\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"527,889\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Momentus Water-Plasma Engine Diagram\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"<p>Momentus Water-Plasma Engine Diagram<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-17753\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg 527w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765-178x300.jpg 178w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Momentus Water-Plasma engine diagram.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Momentus just got its first contract with a $6M order from the German company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exolaunch.com\/\">Exolaunch<\/a> to provide in-space propulsion for satellites that will be launched in 2020 and 2021:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Our In-space Transport is Officially Open for Business - Momentus\" href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/2019\/02\/03\/our-in-space-transport-is-officially-open-for-business-vigoride\/\">Our In-space Transport is Officially Open for Business – Momentus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Momentus signs in-space transportation pact - SpaceNews.com\" href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/momentus-first-vigoride-customer\/\">Momentus signs in-space transportation pact – SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"With Tiny Water-Powered Engines, Startup Aims to Give Small Satellites a Nudge - WSJ\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/with-tiny-water-powered-rockets-startup-aims-to-give-small-satellites-a-nudge-11549209724\">With Tiny Water-Powered Engines, Startup Aims to Give Small Satellites a Nudge – WSJ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are longer term advantages to water propulsion as well. Water has been found to be abundant throughout the solar system. Water-based propulsion clearly offers significant advantages for in-space transportation with the Moon and asteroids providing filling-station services for spacecraft of all sizes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>** Commercial crew flight tests schedule<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/02\/06\/nasa-partners-update-commercial-crew-launch-dates\/\" target=\"_d\">NASA, Partners Update Commercial Crew Launch Dates \u2013 Commercial Crew Program<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The agency now is targeting March 2 for launch of SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon on its uncrewed Demo-1 test flight. Boeing\u2019s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test is targeted for launch no earlier than April.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>These adjustments allow for completion of necessary hardware testing, data verification, remaining NASA and provider reviews, as well as training of flight controllers and mission managers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** SpaceX<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> The first operational full-scale <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Raptor_(rocket_engine_family)\">Raptor LOX\/Methane engine<\/a> was tested at the company’s McGregor, Texas facility last weekend:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/spacex-test-fires-flight-version-of-its-raptor-engine-for-the-first-time\/\" target=\"_d\">Forget the Super Bowl, SpaceX just fired its Mars rocket engine | Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/spacex-tests-flight-version-of-raptor-engine\/\" target=\"_d\">SpaceX tests flight version of Raptor engine – SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oAXFLADXusY?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Sdwy9fzQzl4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BteDxoUFUOX\/\">SpaceX Instagram<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1092268892339273730\">Elon Musk tweet<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Completed a two-second test fire of the Starship Raptor engine that hit 170 bar and ~116 metric tons of force \u2013 the highest thrust ever from a SpaceX engine and Raptor was at ~60% power.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BteDxoUFUOX\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"17755\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=17755\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,430\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"RaptorTest-Feb.2019\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-1024x430.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-17755\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-1024x430.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-300x126.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-768x323.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/imgur.com\/a\/B6zpdLX?fbclid=IwAR2-7qmZ8cJj6LectK8wmrcEM_hZ3q_J4PpTMO25dCDw1hH9BMjrA40lXk4\" target=\"_d\">rocket cycles diagrams<\/a> illustrating the flow of propellants through rocket engines, including the stage combustion cycles used on the Raptor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Latest on the design of the SpaceX next-gen space transport systems: <a title=\"In new Starship details, Musk reveals a more practical approach | Ars Technica\" href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/spacex-simplifying-mars-rocket-design-aiming-toward-lunar-tests-first\/\">In new Starship details, Musk reveals a more practical approach | Ars Technica<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Work continues on the StarHopper and construction of the Boca Chica Beach launch facility near Brownsville, Texas: <a title=\"SpaceX's Starship prototype is looking increasingly rocket-like as hop test pad expands\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starship-prototype-looking-more-rocket-like-rapid-pad-expansion\/\">SpaceX’s Starship prototype is looking increasingly rocket-like as hop test pad expands – Teslarati.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some views of the activities there:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X_ZHy0v9rxs?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spadre.com\/\">Spadre.com<\/a> South Padre Island Information – Feb.5.2019 (opens with Raptor engine test video):<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_IpTu_8favY?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spadre.com\/\">Spadre.com<\/a> South Padre Island Information – Jan.30.2019<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JiylWgy_8y8?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> South Padre Island Info also offers a free webcam that includes views of the SpaceX site:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>SPadre.com Starship Cam views the Spacex Starship, the Launch Pad, Isla Blanca Beach Park which is the closest possible launch viewing area, and the beach at South Padre Island Texas. Enjoy free continuous live streams and recordings of all upcoming launches, and Starship launch schedules and the latest SpaceX Boca Chica news. Launches will begin soon, watch all launches live on SPadre.com Starship Cam. For launch schedule and South Padre Island information visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spadre.com\">https:\/\/www.spadre.com<\/a> Starship Cam hosted by South Padre Surf Company: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southpadresurfcompany.com\">https:\/\/www.southpadresurfcompany.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/L7zia2HqOOc?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Update<\/strong>: Latest on the SpaceX launch schedule: <a title=\"As Falcon Heavy celebrates anniversary, SpaceX manifest aligns \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/02\/falcon-heavy-anniversary-spacex-manifest-aligns\/\">As Falcon Heavy celebrates anniversary, SpaceX manifest aligns \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=ur2&o=1\" alt=\"\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/b?_encoding=UTF8&tag=hobbyspace&linkCode=ur2&linkId=9ad77237101a529e858b08c724b1d0e6&camp=1789&creative=9325&node=499320\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Telescopes and Binoculars at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of space transportation related news and resource items: ** Ariane 5 launches two comm-sats on first mission of 2019: Arianespace orbits two telecommunications satellites on first Ariane 5 launch of 2019 \u2013 Arianespace Ariane 5 launches Hellas-Sat-4\/SaudiGeoSat-1 and GSAT 31 \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com Looks like a launch a month for Arianespace in 2019: Arianespace … <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17750\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space access roundup – Feb.6.2019<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets","category-spaceflight-parabolic-flight"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4Ci","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16444,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16444","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":0},"title":"Videos: SpaceX Falcon 9 and Arianespace Ariane V rockets launch within short time","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Two big rockets launched successfully this morning, lifting off within about 15 minutes of each other: ** A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 10 Iridium NEXT satellites from Vandenberg AFB in California despite fog so heavy the rocket was not visible in ground cameras:\u00a0Iridium Completes Seventh Successful Iridium\u00ae NEXT Launch |\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/BoosterOnDroneShip-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16797,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16797","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":1},"title":"Videos: 100th launch of an Ariane V rocket sends two satellites to GEO","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday an\u00a0Ariane V rocket lifted off on the\u00a0100th mission of the program, sending two communications satellites towards their slots in geostationary orbit. 100th Ariane 5 launch a success, orbiting two satellites for Intelsat, SKY Perfect JSAT and Azercosmos \u2013 Arianespace https:\/\/youtu.be\/iJzlWRWh4GQ The first Ariane V launch took place on June\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "History"","block_context":{"text":"History","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=6"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=am2&o=1&a=1324000937","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24572,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=24572","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":2},"title":"Space transport roundup: Part 1 – Orbital Launches – Oct.27.2021","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport from late July till today (find previous roundups here). The roundup is split into three postings: Part 1 Orbital launches Part 2: Light orbital lift development, suborbital, space transport articles, news, videos, etc. Part 3 SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13670,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=13670","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":3},"title":"Videos of ten rocket launches this December worldwide","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Lots of launches worldwide this month. Here are videos of ten of them: ** Dec.21: Today in French Guiana, ArianeSpace launched an Ariane V rocket with two commercial communications satellites going to geostationary orbit https:\/\/youtu.be\/KZDq87iynR4 **\u00a0\u00a0Dec.20: On Wednesday the Japanese space agency JAXA successfully launched a\u00a0small Epsilon rocket with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/KZDq87iynR4\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20360,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20360","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":4},"title":"Space transport roundup – Nov.26.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): [ Update: Videos of the rocket action that took place on Tuesday: ** Successful Ariane V launch of the \"TIBA-1, for Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the Government\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ariane5LaunchSequence-500x327.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15504,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15504","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":5},"title":"Video: TMRO 11.03 – First to the Moon Kickstarter","author":"TopSpacer","date":"January 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The latest episode of TMRO.tv is now available in the archive:\u00a0First to the Moon Kickstarter - Orbit 11.03 - TMRO We welcome back Paul Hildebrandt the director of an upcoming Apollo 8 Documentary, \u201cFirst to the Moon\u201d. Paul needs to raise $100,000 in 30 days to make this movie a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activism"","block_context":{"text":"Activism","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=3"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/0ACLWDOvKcE\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17750"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17759,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750\/revisions\/17759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Looks like a launch a month for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arianespace.com\">Arianespace<\/a> in 2019: <a title=\"Arianespace preps for first of up to 13 launches in French Guiana this year \u2013 Spaceflight Now\" href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/02\/04\/arianespace-preps-for-first-of-up-to-13-launches-planned-this-year\/\">Arianespace preps for first of up to 13 launches in French Guiana this year \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <\/strong><a title=\"Prometheus (rocket engine) - Wikipedia\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prometheus_(rocket_engine)\"><strong>Prometheus reusable engine<\/strong><\/a> – While Arianespace remains committed to single-use throwaway rockets, technology research into reusable hardware is happening. For example, here is the latest on the reusable <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prometheus_(rocket_engine)\">Prometheus<\/a> methane-fueled engine: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ariane.group\/en\/news\/prometheus-demonstrator-of-future-engine-passed-its-definition-review\/\">Prometheus: Demonstrator of Future Engine passed its Definition Review – Ariane Group<\/a><\/p>\n<section class=\"master__section advanced-content container \">\n<div class=\"ct--master ct--advanced-content \">\n<div class=\"content m4 c6\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The goal of the Prometheus demonstrator is to be able to build future liquid propellant engines in the 100 tons thrust class, for a cost ten times less than that involved in building an existing engine such as the Vulcain\u00ae2.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17751\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17751\" style=\"width: 366px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ariane.group\/en\/news\/prometheus-demonstrator-of-future-engine-passed-its-definition-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"17751\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=17751\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png\" data-orig-size=\"513,700\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Prometheus Powering\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"<p>Rendering of a design for the reusable methane fueled Promethus engine.<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png\" class=\"wp-image-17751\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"366\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2.png 513w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Prometheus_powering_future_launchers_node_full_image_2-220x300.png 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17751\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Rendering of a design for the reusable methane fueled Promethus engine.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The success of a technological challenge of this nature depends on a completely new design: over and above the change in the traditional Ariane propellant (switching from the liquid oxygen and hydrogen combination to liquid oxygen and methane), the demonstrator will entail major changes, including digitization of engine control and diagnostics. It also depends on the use of innovative design and production methods and tools, including construction using 3D printing in a connected factory environment.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** Speaking of reusable Ariane rockets: <a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/french-auditor-says-ariane-6-rocket-too-conventional-to-compete-with-spacex\/\" target=\"_d\">French auditor says Ariane 6 rocket too conventional to compete with SpaceX | Ars Technica<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>“This new launcher does not constitute a sustainable response in order to be competitive in a commercial market in stagnation,” the auditor’s report states. The Ariane 6 rocket design is too “cautious,” according to the report, relying on mostly traditional technologies.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** New <a href=\"http:\/\/www.BlueOrigin.com\">Blue Origin<\/a> video<\/strong> highlights the activities and future plans of the company:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1YOL89kY8Og?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/\">Momentus Water-Plasma propulsion for smallsat<\/a> <\/strong>– While small satellites are growing into major sector of the space industry, cost-effective and technically practical in-space propulsion for small spacecraft remains a challenge, especially for those sized in the CubeSat scale of a few kilograms. The startup company <a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/\">Momentus<\/a> offers propulsion modules that will attach to smallsats and and send them to the exact orbits after they are released from a rocket that takes them into space.<\/p>\n<p>Momentus propulsion system uses <a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/development\/\">water heated into a plasma state by microwaves<\/a>. Water is obviously a safe fuel and this means that a spacecraft using it for propulsion will encounter fewer hurdles to integrating the craft into a launch system compared to using more energetic fuels.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17753\" style=\"width: 296px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"17753\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=17753\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"527,889\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Momentus Water-Plasma Engine Diagram\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"<p>Momentus Water-Plasma Engine Diagram<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-17753\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765.jpg 527w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/EngineDiagram-e1549473992765-178x300.jpg 178w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Momentus Water-Plasma engine diagram.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Momentus just got its first contract with a $6M order from the German company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exolaunch.com\/\">Exolaunch<\/a> to provide in-space propulsion for satellites that will be launched in 2020 and 2021:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Our In-space Transport is Officially Open for Business - Momentus\" href=\"https:\/\/momentus.space\/2019\/02\/03\/our-in-space-transport-is-officially-open-for-business-vigoride\/\">Our In-space Transport is Officially Open for Business – Momentus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Momentus signs in-space transportation pact - SpaceNews.com\" href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/momentus-first-vigoride-customer\/\">Momentus signs in-space transportation pact – SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"With Tiny Water-Powered Engines, Startup Aims to Give Small Satellites a Nudge - WSJ\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/with-tiny-water-powered-rockets-startup-aims-to-give-small-satellites-a-nudge-11549209724\">With Tiny Water-Powered Engines, Startup Aims to Give Small Satellites a Nudge – WSJ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are longer term advantages to water propulsion as well. Water has been found to be abundant throughout the solar system. Water-based propulsion clearly offers significant advantages for in-space transportation with the Moon and asteroids providing filling-station services for spacecraft of all sizes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>** Commercial crew flight tests schedule<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/02\/06\/nasa-partners-update-commercial-crew-launch-dates\/\" target=\"_d\">NASA, Partners Update Commercial Crew Launch Dates \u2013 Commercial Crew Program<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The agency now is targeting March 2 for launch of SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon on its uncrewed Demo-1 test flight. Boeing\u2019s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test is targeted for launch no earlier than April.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>These adjustments allow for completion of necessary hardware testing, data verification, remaining NASA and provider reviews, as well as training of flight controllers and mission managers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** SpaceX<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> The first operational full-scale <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Raptor_(rocket_engine_family)\">Raptor LOX\/Methane engine<\/a> was tested at the company’s McGregor, Texas facility last weekend:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/spacex-test-fires-flight-version-of-its-raptor-engine-for-the-first-time\/\" target=\"_d\">Forget the Super Bowl, SpaceX just fired its Mars rocket engine | Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/spacex-tests-flight-version-of-raptor-engine\/\" target=\"_d\">SpaceX tests flight version of Raptor engine – SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oAXFLADXusY?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Sdwy9fzQzl4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BteDxoUFUOX\/\">SpaceX Instagram<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1092268892339273730\">Elon Musk tweet<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Completed a two-second test fire of the Starship Raptor engine that hit 170 bar and ~116 metric tons of force \u2013 the highest thrust ever from a SpaceX engine and Raptor was at ~60% power.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BteDxoUFUOX\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"17755\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=17755\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,430\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"RaptorTest-Feb.2019\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-1024x430.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-17755\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-1024x430.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-300x126.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/RaptorTest-Feb.2019-768x323.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/imgur.com\/a\/B6zpdLX?fbclid=IwAR2-7qmZ8cJj6LectK8wmrcEM_hZ3q_J4PpTMO25dCDw1hH9BMjrA40lXk4\" target=\"_d\">rocket cycles diagrams<\/a> illustrating the flow of propellants through rocket engines, including the stage combustion cycles used on the Raptor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Latest on the design of the SpaceX next-gen space transport systems: <a title=\"In new Starship details, Musk reveals a more practical approach | Ars Technica\" href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/spacex-simplifying-mars-rocket-design-aiming-toward-lunar-tests-first\/\">In new Starship details, Musk reveals a more practical approach | Ars Technica<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Work continues on the StarHopper and construction of the Boca Chica Beach launch facility near Brownsville, Texas: <a title=\"SpaceX's Starship prototype is looking increasingly rocket-like as hop test pad expands\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starship-prototype-looking-more-rocket-like-rapid-pad-expansion\/\">SpaceX’s Starship prototype is looking increasingly rocket-like as hop test pad expands – Teslarati.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some views of the activities there:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X_ZHy0v9rxs?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spadre.com\/\">Spadre.com<\/a> South Padre Island Information – Feb.5.2019 (opens with Raptor engine test video):<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_IpTu_8favY?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spadre.com\/\">Spadre.com<\/a> South Padre Island Information – Jan.30.2019<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JiylWgy_8y8?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> South Padre Island Info also offers a free webcam that includes views of the SpaceX site:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>SPadre.com Starship Cam views the Spacex Starship, the Launch Pad, Isla Blanca Beach Park which is the closest possible launch viewing area, and the beach at South Padre Island Texas. Enjoy free continuous live streams and recordings of all upcoming launches, and Starship launch schedules and the latest SpaceX Boca Chica news. Launches will begin soon, watch all launches live on SPadre.com Starship Cam. For launch schedule and South Padre Island information visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spadre.com\">https:\/\/www.spadre.com<\/a> Starship Cam hosted by South Padre Surf Company: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southpadresurfcompany.com\">https:\/\/www.southpadresurfcompany.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/L7zia2HqOOc?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Update<\/strong>: Latest on the SpaceX launch schedule: <a title=\"As Falcon Heavy celebrates anniversary, SpaceX manifest aligns \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/02\/falcon-heavy-anniversary-spacex-manifest-aligns\/\">As Falcon Heavy celebrates anniversary, SpaceX manifest aligns \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=ur2&o=1\" alt=\"\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/b?_encoding=UTF8&tag=hobbyspace&linkCode=ur2&linkId=9ad77237101a529e858b08c724b1d0e6&camp=1789&creative=9325&node=499320\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Telescopes and Binoculars at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of space transportation related news and resource items: ** Ariane 5 launches two comm-sats on first mission of 2019: Arianespace orbits two telecommunications satellites on first Ariane 5 launch of 2019 \u2013 Arianespace Ariane 5 launches Hellas-Sat-4\/SaudiGeoSat-1 and GSAT 31 \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com Looks like a launch a month for Arianespace in 2019: Arianespace … <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17750\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space access roundup – Feb.6.2019<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets","category-spaceflight-parabolic-flight"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4Ci","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16444,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16444","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":0},"title":"Videos: SpaceX Falcon 9 and Arianespace Ariane V rockets launch within short time","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Two big rockets launched successfully this morning, lifting off within about 15 minutes of each other: ** A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 10 Iridium NEXT satellites from Vandenberg AFB in California despite fog so heavy the rocket was not visible in ground cameras:\u00a0Iridium Completes Seventh Successful Iridium\u00ae NEXT Launch |\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/BoosterOnDroneShip-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16797,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16797","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":1},"title":"Videos: 100th launch of an Ariane V rocket sends two satellites to GEO","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday an\u00a0Ariane V rocket lifted off on the\u00a0100th mission of the program, sending two communications satellites towards their slots in geostationary orbit. 100th Ariane 5 launch a success, orbiting two satellites for Intelsat, SKY Perfect JSAT and Azercosmos \u2013 Arianespace https:\/\/youtu.be\/iJzlWRWh4GQ The first Ariane V launch took place on June\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "History"","block_context":{"text":"History","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=6"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=am2&o=1&a=1324000937","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24572,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=24572","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":2},"title":"Space transport roundup: Part 1 – Orbital Launches – Oct.27.2021","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport from late July till today (find previous roundups here). The roundup is split into three postings: Part 1 Orbital launches Part 2: Light orbital lift development, suborbital, space transport articles, news, videos, etc. Part 3 SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/LV0007_11.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13670,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=13670","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":3},"title":"Videos of ten rocket launches this December worldwide","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Lots of launches worldwide this month. Here are videos of ten of them: ** Dec.21: Today in French Guiana, ArianeSpace launched an Ariane V rocket with two commercial communications satellites going to geostationary orbit https:\/\/youtu.be\/KZDq87iynR4 **\u00a0\u00a0Dec.20: On Wednesday the Japanese space agency JAXA successfully launched a\u00a0small Epsilon rocket with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/KZDq87iynR4\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20360,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20360","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":4},"title":"Space transport roundup – Nov.26.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): [ Update: Videos of the rocket action that took place on Tuesday: ** Successful Ariane V launch of the \"TIBA-1, for Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the Government\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rockets"","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ariane5LaunchSequence-500x327.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15504,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15504","url_meta":{"origin":17750,"position":5},"title":"Video: TMRO 11.03 – First to the Moon Kickstarter","author":"TopSpacer","date":"January 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The latest episode of TMRO.tv is now available in the archive:\u00a0First to the Moon Kickstarter - Orbit 11.03 - TMRO We welcome back Paul Hildebrandt the director of an upcoming Apollo 8 Documentary, \u201cFirst to the Moon\u201d. Paul needs to raise $100,000 in 30 days to make this movie a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activism"","block_context":{"text":"Activism","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=3"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/0ACLWDOvKcE\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17750"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17759,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750\/revisions\/17759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}