{"id":17831,"date":"2019-02-15T12:33:09","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T17:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17831"},"modified":"2019-02-15T12:33:09","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T17:33:09","slug":"space-transport-roundup-feb-15-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17831","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Feb.15.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent items related to traveling to and through space:<\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong><a title=\"LEO\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leoaerospace.com\/\">LEO Aerospace<\/a> <\/strong>is a young launch company started by Purdue engineering students. They recently did a test of their balloon launch architecture: <a title=\"Successful launch of rocket from high-altitude balloon makes space more accessible to microsatellites - Purdue University News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/releases\/2019\/Q1\/successful-launch-of-rocket-from-high-altitude-balloon-makes-space-more-accessible-to-microsatellites.html\">Successful launch of rocket from high-altitude balloon makes space more accessible to microsatellites &#8211; Purdue University News<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>A startup that plans to use high-altitude balloons to deploy rockets has successfully fired a test launch, moving closer to its goal of helping end the backlog of microsatellites that wait months or longer to \u201chitch\u201d a ride on larger rockets.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.leoaerospace.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leo Aerospace Inc.,<\/a> a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.purdue.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Purdue University<\/a>-affiliated startup based in Los Angeles, launched its first \u201crockoon,\u201d a high-power rocket from a reusable balloon platform, from the Mojave Desert in southern California in December. &#8230;<\/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\/WfXsnbPazOU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;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 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>\u201cIt was thrilling to see that first launch after all those months of hard work and planning,\u201d said Michael Hepfer, head of product development for Leo Aerospace and a senior in Purdue\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/engineering.purdue.edu\/IE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Industrial Engineering<\/a>. \u201cIt confirmed our early testing that using high-altitude balloons and rockets to send microsatellites into space will work.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Leo Aerospace aims to revolutionize access to space for those looking to launch small satellites about the size of toasters, weighing up to 25 kilograms, or about 55 pounds. It plans to be a \u201cdedicated\u201d launch for microsatellites, serving one customer at a time.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"https:\/\/fireflyspace.com\/\">Firefly Aerospace<\/a><\/strong>, a Texas-based company developing <a href=\"https:\/\/fireflyspace.com\/launch-alpha\/\">smallsat launch systems<\/a>, has an unusual history: <a title=\"After a remarkable resurrection, Firefly may reach space in 2019 | Ars Technica\" href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/02\/firefly-returns-from-the-dead-with-a-larger-rocket-and-lunar-aspirations\/\">After a remarkable resurrection, Firefly may reach space in 2019 | Ars Technica<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Polyakov had the resources to bring Firefly back and fund the company through its first two launches. Although neither he nor Markusic would specify the amount of the investment, it is likely on the order of $75 to $100 million. This infusion of cash removed the fundraising burden from Markusic&#8217;s shoulders, as well as the mental stress of uncertainty, allowing him to focus on technical problems.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>As well as money, Polyakov also brought a businessman&#8217;s mentality to the company and a broader sense of the rapidly changing aerospace industry. In the United States, China, and elsewhere around the world, dozens of firms are developing new, lower-cost rockets to launch small- and medium-sized satellites.<br \/>\n&#8230;<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The end result is a 29-meter-tall rocket with four first-stage Reaver engines and one upper-stage Lightning engine, both fueled with kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen. The new Alpha can lift as much as 1 ton to orbit, which is relatively unusual in the commercial market at its price point of $15 million\u2014a price per kilogram of $15,000.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Future competitors in this range will include Relativity Space&#8217;s Terran 1 rocket and ABL Space Systems&#8217; RS1 vehicle. So the game now is to build a safe rocket and bring it to market quickly. In the end, Markusic accepted Polyakov&#8217;s changes, both because it was the only way to save Firefly and because he&#8217;d gone through enough failure to see the big picture.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.relativityspace.com\/\">Relativity Space<\/a><\/strong> aims to build most all of a rocket with big 3D print systems. The company recently hired some space industry heavyweights:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/qz.com\/1550356\/3d-printed-rockets-are-winning-over-spacex-veterans\/\">Relativity hires more SpaceX veterans \u2014 Quartz<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/relativity-adds-former-spacex-executives-to-leadership-team\/\">Relativity adds former SpaceX executives to leadership team &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>No press releases from the company but they did post these tweets:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Relativity is excited to announce three phenomenal additions to our team! Please welcome Josh Brost and David Giger, both previously of SpaceX, as well as Tim Buzza, who transitioned from Advisor to Distinguished Engineer. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EUs2PlGbHW\">https:\/\/t.co\/EUs2PlGbHW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Relativity Space (@relativityspace) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/relativityspace\/status\/1096089783732977664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>And here is an article about the company&#8217;s 3D printing systems: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.engineering.com\/DesignerEdge\/DesignerEdgeArticles\/ArticleID\/18387\/3D-Printed-Rocket-Maker-Gets-Its-Own-Launch-Site.aspx\">3D-Printed Rocket Maker Gets Its Own Launch Site &gt; ENGINEERING.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Relativity is building its rockets this way for two reasons. First, it keeps costs relatively low. Since the printer can make complex parts in just one piece, Relativity will be able to create rockets with 100 times fewer parts. For example, the Terran 1\u2019s engine injector and chamber are made of just three 3D-printed parts rather than the nearly 3,000 parts needed by conventional rocket assembly processes. And the team can quickly adjust the design as needed through software. In addition, by simplifying the manufacturing process, Relativity can build a rocket much faster\u2014the company aims to do so in as little as 60 days.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Second\u2014and this is a long-term objective\u20143D printing rockets could allow Relativity to take its manufacturing process to Mars, where it could set up a rocket factory on site. Once it perfects its printing process on Earth, the company hopes to reduce the size of its printers and ship them to Mars to see if they can print rockets with the raw materials on the red planet. If it works, it provides a way to get materials, and astronauts, back home to Earth.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/\">PLD Space<\/a><\/strong> of Spain is developing smallsat launch system that will have a reusable first stage. Here is a new video showing preparations for an engine test campaign:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Preparing <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/miura-1\/\">MIURA 1<\/a> engine for its first flight. This video shows the preparations before starting the largest liquid rocket engine test campaign that PLD Space has prepared. Our goal is to qualify MIURA 1 engine, called TEPREL-B for its first flight into space.<\/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\/nQvA-8XLxIo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;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=\"http:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\"><strong>Blue Origin<\/strong><\/a> continues with testing of the big <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/engines\/be-4\">BE-4 methane fueled engine<\/a>, which will power Blue&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/new-glenn\/\">New Glenn rocket<\/a> as well as United Launch Alliance&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ulalaunch.com\/rockets\/vulcan-centaur\">Vulcan<\/a> &#8211;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/blueorigin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@blueorigin<\/a>&#8216;s Mowry: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BE4?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BE4<\/a> engine fired to 70% power and 200-sec duration, roughly flight profile for launch. Testing continues in West Texas.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alan Boyle (@b0yle) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/b0yle\/status\/1095429420364501000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/\">Stratolaunch<\/a> <\/strong><\/em>recently <a title=\"Stratolaunch space venture cuts back sharply on operations \u2013 GeekWire\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/stratolaunch-layoffs\/\">terminated plans to develop its own rockets<\/a> but work continues on development of the world&#8217;s largest aircraft, which was designed as a high altitude launch platform for rocket powered vehicles to go to orbit: <a title=\"FAA certificate offers new details on Stratolaunch\u2019s plans for test flights of world\u2019s largest aircraft \u2013 GeekWire\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/stratolaunch-will-perform-15-test-flights-faas-experimental-airworthiness-certificate\/\">FAA certificate offers new details on Stratolaunch\u2019s plans for test flights of world\u2019s largest aircraft \u2013 GeekWire<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the world\u2019s largest airplane for takeoff \u2014 but it\u2019s not yet clear exactly when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/\">Stratolaunch<\/a>, the aerospace venture founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, will put the plane in the air.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Stratolaunch\u2019s unique aircraft, code-named Roc, measures 385 feet from wingtip to wingtip, longer than three Boeing 737s lined up end to end. The company hopes to win full FAA certification for the Roc and use it for airborne rocket launches as soon as next year.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>So far, the only remaining task for the aircraft is to launch Northrop-Grumman&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.northropgrumman.com\/Capabilities\/Pegasus\/Pages\/default.aspx\">Pegasus rockets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spaceflight.com\">Spaceflight<\/a><\/strong> arranges launch transportation for spacecraft, often as secondary payloads on a big rocket with a big satellite as the primary payload. The company hopes this month to see customer payloads go beyond low earth orbit for the first time. The spacecraft will travel as secondaries on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of a communications satellite going to geostationary orbit:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/spaceflight.com\/spaceflight-to-launch-first-privately-funded-lunar-lander\/\" target=\"_d\">Spaceflight to Launch First Privately Funded Lunar Lander &#8211; Spaceflight<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Spaceflight notes expanding and evolving offerings as it prepares for first GTO rideshare mission \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/02\/spaceflight-notes-expanding-evolving-offerings-first-gto-mission\/\">Spaceflight notes expanding and evolving offerings as it prepares for first GTO rideshare mission \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/spaceflight.com\/headed-to-gto\/\">Headed to GTO! &#8211; Spaceflight<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From the Spaceflight PR:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/spaceflight.com\/spaceflight-ceo-jason-andrews-recognized-as-a-newsmaker-of-the-year-by-geekwire\/\">Spaceflight<\/a>, the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, today announced it will launch two payloads on its first rideshare mission to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The mission is scheduled for no earlier than mid-February 2019 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launching from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The primary payload on the mission is a telecommunications satellite for the South East Asia region. It was built by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sslmda.com\/\">SSL<\/a>, a Maxar Technologies company, which also procured the launch vehicle. Spaceflight will manage the launch of the two secondary payloads, Israeli non-profit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spaceil.com\/mission\/\">SpaceIL<\/a>\u2019s lunar lander, and the U.S. Air Force Research Lab\u2019s (AFRL) experimental small satellite, S5.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Launch schedule: The Falcon 9 launch mentioned above with the two rideshare payloads from Spaceflight is <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/launch-schedule\/\">currently set<\/a> for Feb.21st from Cape Canaveral at 8:45 p.m. EST (or 0145 GMT on 22nd<u><\/u>).<\/p>\n<p>And the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket Crew Dragon spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight is set for March 2nd at 2:48 a.m. EST (0748 GMT) from Pad 37A at Cape Kennedy Space Center.<\/p>\n<p>The second Falcon Heavy launch is also planned for March but no specific day has been announced yet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> More photos posted of activities at the Boca Chica launch facility:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Meanwhile in Boca Chica&#8230;..<\/p>\n<p>COPVs heading into the Starship Hopper via the opening at the top.<\/p>\n<p>Photos NSF&#8217;s BocaChicaGal:<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TcNlGhneID\">https:\/\/t.co\/TcNlGhneID<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3mo58tXout\">pic.twitter.com\/3mo58tXout<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris B &#8211; NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASASpaceflight\/status\/1094657650313347079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Meanwhile, in Boca Chica.<\/p>\n<p>Starship Hopper work concentrating on the dome area.<\/p>\n<p>&#x1f4f8;BocaChicaGal<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0WmUSN91JX\">https:\/\/t.co\/0WmUSN91JX<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8Q2O3OY2YG\">pic.twitter.com\/8Q2O3OY2YG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris B &#8211; NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASASpaceflight\/status\/1096192547540602883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Ship for catching nosecone fairings has arrived at Cape Canaveral Port after its long voyage from the West Coast:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Mr. Steven joins the east coast SpaceX Fleet at Port Canaveral. Crews didn\u2019t waste any time installing his arms and net for the fairing recovery to progress. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/C7dbTOzyqH\">pic.twitter.com\/C7dbTOzyqH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TomCross (@_TomCross_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_TomCross_\/status\/1096409401647349760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 15, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> The Boca Chica site will not be split by a border wall: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2019\/02\/14\/government-shutdown-deal-includes-protections-south-texas-landmarks\/\">Texas butterfly sanctuary protected from border barrier, says shutdown deal | The Texas Tribune<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> Another video analysis of why SpaceX switch the Super Heavy Booster\/StarShip structure design from composites to stainless steel:<\/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\/6AcE7hBhpYU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;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> SpaceX protests NASA&#8217;s decision to use a ULA Atlas V rocket for a science payload rather than the Falcon 9:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-ula-nasa-launch-contract-win-vastly-overpriced-official-protest\/\" target=\"_d\">SpaceX calls ULA NASA launch contract &#8220;vastly&#8221; overpriced in official protest &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/spacex-protests-nasa-launch-contract-award\/\">SpaceX protests NASA launch contract award &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>**<\/strong> More space transport items:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verdict.co.uk\/orbex-european-spacex\/\" target=\"_d\">Is Orbex the European SpaceX? | Verdict<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"We'll Need A Whole New Landing Approach to Put Humans On Mars - D-brief\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.discovermagazine.com\/d-brief\/2019\/02\/12\/planning-for-heavier-mars-missions\/\">We&#8217;ll Need A Whole New Landing Approach to Put Humans On Mars &#8211; D-brief<\/a> &#8211; The challenges of slowing down a spacecraft so that it can land safely on the Martian surface.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Florida's 2019 rocket launch schedule: astronauts, moon landers and mighty rockets - Orlando Sentinel\" href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandosentinel.com\/business\/space\/go-for-launch\/os-cfb-2019-rocket-launches-20190207-story.html\">Florida&#8217;s 2019 rocket launch schedule: astronauts, moon landers and mighty rockets &#8211; Orlando Sentinel<\/a> &#8211; A big year for launches in Florida.<\/li>\n<li>Those launches will include NASA astronauts flying on commercial rockets to go to the ISS.\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"A revolution in a sentence \u2013 the future of human spaceflight in America\" href=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/a-revolution-in-a-sentence-the-future-of-human-spaceflight-in-america-111330\">US astronauts will soon fly again in American spacecraft &#8211; but not NASA\u2019s &#8211; The Conversation<\/a> &#8211;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/02\/14\/nasas-bridenstine-on-spacex-and-boeing-the-moon-and-life-on-mars.html\" target=\"_d\">NASA&#8217;s Bridenstine on SpaceX and Boeing, the moon and life on Mars &#8211; CNBC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Tim Dodd, the <a href=\"https:\/\/everydayastronaut.com\/\">Everyday Astronaut<\/a>, talks about the unusual abort system for the Gemini spacecraft:<\/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\/5IRdZjjq1Ik?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;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 style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1\" alt=\"\" \/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/b?_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=83bcfeddf696d358f69568254bcd9ce9&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;node=172282\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Check out the Best Selling Electronics at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent items related to traveling to and through space: ** LEO Aerospace is a young launch company started by Purdue engineering students. They recently did a test of their balloon launch architecture: Successful launch of rocket from high-altitude balloon makes space more accessible to microsatellites &#8211; Purdue University News A startup that &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17831\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; Feb.15.2019<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets","category-space-systems"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4DB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17988,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17988","url_meta":{"origin":17831,"position":0},"title":"Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup &#8211; Feb.25.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"February 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat \/ SmallSat projects and programs: ** LunaH-Map Spacecraft - A CubeSat project at Arizona State University: The Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper (LunaH-Map) is a 6U CubeSat mission recently selected by NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate to fly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Amateur\/Student Satellite&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Amateur\/Student Satellite","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/dIvhMLfgvEc\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16478,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16478","url_meta":{"origin":17831,"position":1},"title":"&#8220;Launchboxes&#8221; provided by Purdue for K-12 student experiments on suborbital spaceflights","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A Purdue group has developed a simple box for grade school kids to fly experiments on suborbital spaceflights of the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket vehicle: Purdue School Launchboxes available to send school experiments into space Standing less than a foot tall and weighing a few ounces, the rectangular box\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/launchbox-rockets1-768x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12516,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12516","url_meta":{"origin":17831,"position":2},"title":"Video: &#8216;Rockets Up, Up and Away!&#8217; &#8211; NASA student launch competition","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is some video of rockets flying at the\u00a0NASA Student Launch competition, which took place last week: On April 16, NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted the 16th annual Student Launch competition in Huntsville, Alabama. During the event student-designed and built rockets were launched in an effort to reach an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ve8WN_cVMkw\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8792,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8792","url_meta":{"origin":17831,"position":3},"title":"University group in India launches its own sounding rockets","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A group in\u00a0the\u00a0Aerospace Engineering department at the\u00a0International Indian University in Navi Mumbai, India has established a sounding rocket program that has achieved\u00a0altitudes of 4.5 km, 10 km, and 40 km with their rockets. I'm told by Rajesh Muneshwar, head of the department, that their rockets are powered by a sugar\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rocket in Sangli","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Rocket-in-Sangli.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11615,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11615","url_meta":{"origin":17831,"position":4},"title":"Tracksoar &#8211; Open source APRS tracker for weather balloons and other projects","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"If you are planning a weather\u00a0balloon or other amateur high altitude project and need a low cost system for tracking and telemetry communications,\u00a0\u00a0check out the Tracksoar\u00a0\u00a0Open source APRS tracker: Tracksoar is the smallest lightest open source APRS [Automatic Packet Reporting System]\u00a0tracker available. It makes tracking weather balloons, model rockets, RC\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;DIY space&quot;","block_context":{"text":"DIY space","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"a4_original","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/a4_original-300x248.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15664,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15664","url_meta":{"origin":17831,"position":5},"title":"$100k in prizes for student rocket contest sponsored by Mars Society &#038; FAR","author":"TopSpacer","date":"March 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The\u00a0Friends of Amateur Rocketry\u00a0(FAR) and the Mars Society are sponsoring a contest for liquid-fueled bi-propellant powered rockets built by college student teams: FAR\/Mars Society Launch Contest Student Rocketry Teams Compete for FAR-MARS Prize MOJAVE, CA \u2013 Student-built rockets will streak into the stratosphere in Spring, 2018 as college and university\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Contests and Games&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Contests and Games","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=16"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17831","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=17831"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17831\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17834,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17831\/revisions\/17834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}