{"id":18479,"date":"2019-04-13T17:41:18","date_gmt":"2019-04-13T21:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18479"},"modified":"2019-04-13T19:43:09","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T23:43:09","slug":"space-transport-roundup-april-13-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18479","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; April.13.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport:<\/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\/Hku8TH9NKfw?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>** Giant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\">Stratolaunch<\/a> aircraft flies for the first time<\/strong> at Mojave Air &amp; Space Port: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/2019\/04\/13\/stratolaunch-completes-historic-first-flight-of-aircraft\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stratolaunch\u202fCompletes Historic First Flight of Aircraft &#8211; Stratolaunch<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Stratolaunch\u00a0Systems Corporation,\u00a0founded by Paul G. Allen, today\u00a0successfully completed\u00a0the\u00a0first flight\u00a0of the world\u2019s largest all-composite aircraft,\u00a0the\u00a0Stratolaunch.\u00a0With\u00a0a\u00a0dual\u00a0fuselage design and\u00a0wingspan greater than the length of an American football\u00a0field,\u00a0the\u00a0Stratolaunch\u00a0aircraft took\u00a0flight at 0658\u00a0PDT from the Mojave Air &amp;amp; Space Port. Achieving a maximum speed of\u00a0189 miles per hour, the plane flew for\u00a02.5 hours\u00a0over the Mojave\u00a0Desert at altitudes up to\u00a017,000 feet.\u00a0As part of the\u00a0initial\u00a0flight, the pilots evaluated aircraft performance and handling qualities before landing successfully back at the Mojave Air and Space Port.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The\u00a0test\u00a0team conducted standard aircraft testing exercises. Initial results from today\u2019s test points include:<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em>Performed a variety of flight control maneuvers\u00a0to calibrate speed and\u00a0test flight control\u00a0systems, including roll doublets, yawing maneuvers, pushovers and\u00a0pull-ups, and steady\u00a0heading side slips.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Conducted simulated landing approach exercises at a max altitude of 15,000 feet mean sea level.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/2019\/04\/13\/stratolaunch-completes-historic-first-flight-of-aircraft\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18480\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18480\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Stratolaunch_FF-2238-1024x6831.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,683\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Stratolaunch\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Stratolaunch_FF-2238-1024x6831-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18480\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Stratolaunch_FF-2238-1024x6831-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Stratolaunch_FF-2238-1024x6831.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Stratolaunch_FF-2238-1024x6831-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Stratolaunch_FF-2238-1024x6831-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The\u00a0Stratolaunch\u00a0aircraft is a mobile launch platform that will enable airline-style access to space that is convenient, affordable and routine. The reinforced center wing can support multiple launch vehicles, weighing up to a total of 500,000 pounds.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cWe\u00a0all know Paul would have been\u00a0proud to witness today\u2019s historic achievement,\u201d\u00a0said Jody Allen,\u00a0Chair of Vulcan Inc. and Trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust.\u00a0\u201cThe aircraft\u00a0is\u00a0a remarkable engineering achievement and we congratulate everyone involved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Following the death of Paul Allen, the company canceled plans to build rocket vehicles for the aircraft launch platform. Currently the only rocket that is nominally compatible for launch from the aircraft is the very expensive <a href=\"http:\/\/www.northropgrumman.com\/Capabilities\/Pegasus\/Pages\/default.aspx\">Northrop Grumman Pegasus<\/a>. So it&#8217;s unclear what is ahead for the company and the largest aircraft ever flown.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">In a short press call, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Stratolaunch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Stratolaunch<\/a> executives say the flight went very well. Alt of 17,000 feet, max speed of 189 mph. But not a word on the future of the company in the wake of Paul Allen&#8217;s death. And they refused to take any questions. Which is not a good sign.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wapodavenport\/status\/1117135127287599106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 13, 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\">Today the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Stratolaunch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Stratolaunch<\/a> aircraft flew for 2.5 hours over the Mojave Desert, reaching a top speed of 189 mph. Check out the historic flight here: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/StratoFirstFlight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StratoFirstFlight<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/x29KifphNz\">pic.twitter.com\/x29KifphNz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Stratolaunch\/status\/1117154850356125697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>See also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/04\/roc-worlds-largest-plane-flight-stratolaunch-goals\/\">Roc \u2013 the world\u2019s largest plane \u2013 takes flight ahead of Stratolaunch rocket goals \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/\">PLD Space<\/a> of Spain tests first stage booster return by parachute<\/strong>. The suborbital <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/miura-1\/\">MIURA 1<\/a> and orbital <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/miura-5\/\">MIURA 5<\/a> rocket systems each reuse their first stage boosters, which return to earth via parachute. The company carried out a drop test for the MIURA 5 booster this past Thursday (April 11): <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/2019\/04\/11\/successful-drop-test-of-the-demonstrator-of-the-first-stage-of-miura-5\/\">Successful drop test of the demonstrator of the first stage of MIURA 5 &#8211; PLD Space<\/a> &#8211;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/2019\/04\/11\/successful-drop-test-of-the-demonstrator-of-the-first-stage-of-miura-5\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18481\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18481\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,720\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"DropTest-April2019\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18481\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/DropTest-April2019.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A brief video of the test:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>PLD Space has successfully completed the first drop test with a full-scale demonstrator of the first stage of the MIURA 5 orbital rocket. This project is part of the FLPP-LPSR program, promoted by the European Space Agency (ESA), supported by CDTI, INTA, Ej\u00e9rcito de Tierra <a class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string\" spellcheck=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/results?search_query=%23FAMET\">#FAMET<\/a> <a class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string\" spellcheck=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/results?search_query=%23BHELTRAV\">#BHELTRAV<\/a>, Tecnalia<\/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\/2AKZa39wjUQ?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>** Japan&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.istellartech.com\">Interstellar Technologies<\/a> prepares for next launch<\/strong> of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.istellartech.com\/technology_en\/momo_en\">MOMO<\/a> suborbital rocket: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.istellartech.com\/archives\/1856\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Launch Test of &#8220;MOMO No. 3&#8221;, a Space-Shifting Sounding Rocket- Interstellar Technologies Inc.<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/translate.google.com\/translate?sl=ja&amp;tl=en&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.istellartech.com%2Farchives%2F1856\">Google Translation<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span class=\"notranslate\">Expected launch date: April 30, 2019 (Tuesday)<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">Expected launch time: 11:15 to 12:30, 16:00 to 17:20 (Japan Standard Time)<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">Launch date:<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">Wednesday, May 1, 2019<\/span> <\/em><em><span class=\"notranslate\">16: 00-17: 20<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">Thursday, May 2 2019-Sunday, May 5<\/span><br \/>\n<\/em><em><span class=\"notranslate\">5: 00-8: 00<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">11:15 to 12:30<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">16: 00-17: 20<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><br \/>\n<em><span class=\"notranslate\">Launch location: Hokkaido Taiki-cho launch site<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5cuOol0kPVo&amp;t=112s\">first MOMO test<\/a> in 2017 flew for about a minute before a break in the telemetry communications connection caused a premature shutdown of the engine. On the second test in 2018, the engine shutoff shortly after liftoff and the rocket <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=urpn--IHKMs\">fell back to the pad and exploded<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>** China&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dbaspace.com\/indexs.html\">Deep Blue Aerospace<\/a> aims for a low cost <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dbaspace.com\/rocket.html\">launch system<\/a><\/strong> with a reusable first stage:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Chinese launch startup Deep Blue Aerospace has carried out a gas generator ignition test for its &#8216;thunder&#8217; (\u96f7\u9706\/LeiTing) 10-ton-thrust kerolox engine for a planned Nebula-1 \uff08\u661f\u4e91\u4e00\u53f7\uff09 (500 kg to 500 km SSO) launcher. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2zOm7IG0u3\">https:\/\/t.co\/2zOm7IG0u3<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0NIAf2gjKT\">pic.twitter.com\/0NIAf2gjKT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AJ_FI\/status\/1115916112661762049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dbaspace.com\/rocket.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18483\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18483\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141.png\" data-orig-size=\"1220,700\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Huojian 4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141-1024x588.png\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18483\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141-1024x588.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141-1024x588.png 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141-768x441.png 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/huojian4_141.png 1220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>More about Deep Blue and other Chinese rocket startups:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chinamoneynetwork.com\/2019\/02\/28\/chinese-rocket-startup-wants-to-achieve-spacex-success-in-50-less-time-than-elon-musk\">Chinese rocket startup wants to achieve SpaceX success in 50% less time than Elon Musk \u00b7 TechNode<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chinadaily.com.cn\/a\/201903\/13\/WS5c885bf5a3106c65c34ee4ce.html\">Commercial space sector ready for takeoff &#8211; Chinadaily.com.cn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/analysis-the-rise-of-chinas-private-space-industry\/\">Analysis | The rise of China\u2019s private space industry &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.BlueOrigin.com\">Blue Origin<\/a> continues to add more facilities<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We\u2019ve gone vertical with our new HQ and R&amp;D facility in Kent, WA! We&#8217;re continuing to add to our world-class team and excited for a large new facility that will support rapid growth. Thanks to Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dana_ralph?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@dana_ralph<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cityofkent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@cityofkent<\/a> as well as everyone involved with the construction. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SjUa8fEvpM\">pic.twitter.com\/SjUa8fEvpM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/blueorigin\/status\/1116455626576556034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>**** More views of the <a href=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18470\">Falcon Heavy launch<\/a> of Arabsat-6A<\/strong> and the landing of the boosters:<\/p>\n<p>[ <strong>Update<\/strong>: Slo-mo views of the liftoff and landings:<\/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\/Ne-hI31F2kk?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>]<\/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\/a50C2EzX2D4?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><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\/9Mrnqt9kAhQ?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>**** The fairings from the Arabsat-6A mission were recovered<\/strong> after they landed softly in the water via paragliders and will be reused for a launch of SpaceX&#8217;s broadband Internet satellites:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Both fairing halves recovered. Will be flown on Starlink &#x1f4ab; mission later this year. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ouz1aqW3Mm\">pic.twitter.com\/ouz1aqW3Mm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1116514068393680896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>See also <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/04\/12\/spacex-retrieves-falcon-heavy-fairings-from-sea-for-reuse-on-future-launch\/\">SpaceX retrieves Falcon Heavy fairings from sea for reuse on future launch \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>****<\/strong> More about the FH:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/04\/13\/spacex-revenue-inflection-point-for-falcon-heavy-second-flight-banker.html\">SpaceX revenue &#8216;inflection point&#8217; for Falcon Heavy second flight: Banker &#8211; CNBC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/04\/falcon-heavy-spacex-nasa-asteroid-redirect\/\">Falcon Heavy soars; SpaceX lands critical NASA double asteroid redirect launch \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/04\/11\/spacexs-falcon-heavy-successful-in-commercial-debut\/\">SpaceX\u2019s Falcon Heavy successful in commercial debut \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>**** SpaceX wins NASA contract to launch the <a href=\"http:\/\/dart.jhuapl.edu\/\">DART<\/a><\/strong> asteroid impact mission:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-asteroid-redirect-test-mission\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Asteroid Redirect Test | NASA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jhuapl.edu\/PressRelease\/190412\">DART Mission Set to Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>NASA\u2019s first planetary defense mission, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), has been slated for a June 2021 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The mission, led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, will be the first to demonstrate the kinetic impactor technique, which involves slamming a spacecraft into an asteroid at high speed to shift it off course.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cWe\u2019re excited that NASA has selected the vehicle to launch DART on its important planetary defense mission,\u201d said DART Mission Systems Engineer Elena Adams, of APL. \u201cThe DART team is eager to move ahead with our spacecraft and mission designs and demonstrate, for the first time in space, a method to keep potentially hazardous bodies from reaching Earth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>DART will target the smaller of the two objects that make up the binary asteroid Didymos, which will be about 7 million miles (11 million kilometers) from Earth at the time of impact, scheduled for October 2022.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>** Some misc. space transport items<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/three-companies-selected-for-darpa-launch-challenge\/\">Three companies selected for DARPA Launch Challenge &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/exolaunch-and-virgin-orbit-sign-memorandum-of-understanding\/\">Exolaunch and Virgin Orbit sign memorandum of understanding &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/tass.com\/science\/1053413\">Some NATO countries interested in Russian rocket engines, says Roscosmos chief &#8211; TASS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1944648453\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1944648453&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkId=58e1458b47a9ea2c9a71199c1a657964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Space 2.0: How Private Spaceflight, a Resurgent NASA, and International Partners are Creating a New Space Age<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1944648453\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ac&amp;ref=tf_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=hobbyspace&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1944648453&amp;asins=1944648453&amp;linkId=4d5a69f3ddec04646e1ac0c549848ed6&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true&amp;price_color=333333&amp;title_color=0066c0&amp;bg_color=ffffff\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"> <\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport: ** Giant Stratolaunch aircraft flies for the first time at Mojave Air &amp; Space Port: Stratolaunch\u202fCompletes Historic First Flight of Aircraft &#8211; Stratolaunch Stratolaunch\u00a0Systems Corporation,\u00a0founded by Paul G. Allen, today\u00a0successfully completed\u00a0the\u00a0first flight\u00a0of the world\u2019s largest all-composite aircraft,\u00a0the\u00a0Stratolaunch.\u00a0With\u00a0a\u00a0dual\u00a0fuselage design and\u00a0wingspan greater than the length &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18479\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; April.13.2019<\/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_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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4O3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15377,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15377","url_meta":{"origin":18479,"position":0},"title":"Big Falcon Heavy and Stratolaunch aircraft on display","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Some big commercial launch hardware has been on display this week: ** Elon Musk on Twitter posted photos of the first Falcon Heavy launcher in preparation in the hangar for a launch from Kennedy Space Center in January\u00a0: \u00a0 ** Last weekend the giant Stratolaunch aircraft, which will be used\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","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\/2017\/12\/DRezf3BU8AASJRT1-624x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17589,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17589","url_meta":{"origin":18479,"position":1},"title":"Space access roundup &#8211; June.21.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"January 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of news about rocket launches: [ Update: Another delay: More heavy winds in the forecast for tomorrow, so we are now targeting Wednesday 1\/23 for the #NewShepard #NS10 launch. \u2014 Blue Origin (@blueorigin) January 21, 2019 ] ** Blue Origin has postponed the 10th New Shepard test flight\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/QlBhV0HgqYA\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17550,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17550","url_meta":{"origin":18479,"position":2},"title":"Space access: Stratolaunch high-speed taxi test + ULA Delta 4 Heavy launch + SpaceX update","author":"TopSpacer","date":"January 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Stratolaunch is moving closer to getting the company's giant rocket-carrier aircraft off the ground: https:\/\/youtu.be\/Xsee1sZv6SA The vehicle will eventually become an air launch platform for a === After several weeks of delays due to technical problems, United Launch Alliance has now set Saturday, Jan. 19th at\u00a011:05 a.m. PST for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","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\/01\/launch_family-1024x5771-1024x577.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19914,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19914","url_meta":{"origin":18479,"position":3},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Oct.12.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL launched with ICON spacecraft. After nearly a year of delay due to various technical issues, the rocket was air launched from a L-1011 aircraft on Thursday off the coast\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crosscutting High Apogee Refueling Orbital Navigator (CHARON)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1-500x332.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19807,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19807","url_meta":{"origin":18479,"position":4},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Sept.30.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** SpaceX: *** Elon Musk presents plans for rapid development of Starship\/Super Heavy Booster space transport system while standing in front of first assembled Starship demonstrator on Saturday evening. https:\/\/youtu.be\/sOpMrVnjYeY Some of the highlights\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, in front, and Bob Behnken participated in the exercise to verify the crew can safely and quickly evacuate from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency before liftoff of SpaceX\u2019s first crewed flight test, called Demo-2. During the escape verification, Walker and Behnken pass through the water deluge system on the 265-foot level of the crew access tower. Photo credit: SpaceX","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/230\/2019\/09\/SpaceX-Emergency-Egress_Main-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17831,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17831","url_meta":{"origin":18479,"position":5},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Feb.15.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"February 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"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 - Purdue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/WfXsnbPazOU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18479","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=18479"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18488,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18479\/revisions\/18488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}