{"id":18503,"date":"2019-04-16T16:39:51","date_gmt":"2019-04-16T20:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18503"},"modified":"2019-04-16T16:39:51","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T20:39:51","slug":"space-transport-roundup-april-16-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18503","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup – April.16.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport:<\/p>\n

** Northrop-Grumman Antares set to launch Cygnus cargo vehicle<\/strong> to the ISS from Wallops Island, Virginia on Wednesday, April 17th at 4:46 p.m. EDT<\/a> (2046 GMT): U.S. Resupply Ship Poised for Launch as Crew Studies Life Science \u2013 Space Station\/NASA<\/a><\/p>\n

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A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket carrying a Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen during sunrise on Pad-0A, Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman\u2019s 11th contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew. Photo Credit: (NASA\/Bill Ingalls)<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Cygnus will<\/a><\/p>\n

will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science, supplies and hardware to the orbital residents. Flight Engineer Anne McClain<\/a>, with astronaut David Saint-Jacques<\/a> backing her up, will command the Canadarm2 robotic arm<\/a> to reach out and capture Cygnus Friday about 5:30 a.m. [EDT].<\/em><\/p>\n

NASA TV<\/a> will webcast the launch.<\/p>\n

** A review of rocket designs chosen by Chinese commercial launch <\/strong>startups: The Technical Choices of China\u2019s NewSpace Launcher Companies in 2019 \u2013 The China Aerospace Blog<\/a><\/p>\n

… a good half of these startups (7 out of 11) are also developing liquid propulsion. This is partly due to the intrinsic performance, but also the possibility to be reusable (although solid systems can sometimes also be refurbished, such as the Space Shuttle SRBs). Reusability actually seems to be one of the dominant reasons, as nearly all liquid propulsion rockets are being developed with a reusable design, often based on the return of the first stage through retropropulsive landing. It is striking to see the extent of the consensus around SpaceX\u2019s business model within the Chinese private sector, while heated debates in Europe and Russia still take place on its sustainability.<\/em><\/p>\n

** DARPA’s Launch Challenge<\/a> competition<\/strong> aims to support companies developing rockets that can “demonstrate flexible and responsive launch capabilities in days, not years” –<\/p>\n