{"id":18710,"date":"2019-05-09T19:46:21","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T23:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18710"},"modified":"2019-05-10T09:10:59","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T13:10:59","slug":"space-transport-roundup-may-9-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18710","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; May.9.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport:<\/p>\n<p>[ <strong>Update<\/strong>: A message from Blue Origin today points to a video of the Blue Moon unveiling yesterday.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>On May 9, 2019, our founder discussed his vision to go to space to benefit Earth.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Watch the full replay of this event<em> &#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\/GQ98hGUe6FM?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: 40px;\"><em>In addition, he also announced the Blue Moon lunar lander, which is capable of taking people and payloads to the lunar surface. Below you\u2019ll find more information about these announcements.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/blue-moon\">Blue Moon lunar lander<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Blue Origin announced Blue Moon, its large lunar lander capable of delivering multiple metric tons of payload to the lunar surface based on configuration and mission. The cargo variant revealed today can carry 3.6 metric tons to the surface. We have also designed a variant of the lander that can stretch to be capable of carrying a 6.5-metric-ton, human-rated ascent stage. Blue also announced it can meet the current Administration&#8217;s goal of putting Americans on the Moon by 2024 with the Blue Moon lunar lander.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/engines\/be-7\">BE-7 engine<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>The Blue Moon lunar lander will be powered by the BE-7 engine, a new addition to Blue Origin\u2019s family of engines. The BE-7\u2019s 40 kN (10,000 lbf) thrust is designed for large lunar payload transport. The engine\u2019s propellants are a highly-efficient combination of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The BE-7 will have its first hotfire this summer. The engine will be available for sale to other companies for use in in-space and lander applications.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.clubforfuture.org\"><strong>Club For the Future<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0A non-profit founded by Blue Origin dedicated to inspiring and engaging the next generation of dreamers and space entrepreneurs as we journey to preserve Earth and unlock the potential of living and working in space. The Club will bring together K-12 students, educators and leaders for campaigns and initiatives utilizing Blue Origin\u2019s unique access to space. The Club\u2019s first activity will be to send a postcard to space and back on a future New Shepard mission\u2014the first ever space mail. Learn more on the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.clubforfuture.org\">website<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.clubforfuture.org\">www.clubforfuture.org<\/a>). Follow @ClubforFuture on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/clubforfuture\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blueorigin.us9.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=ca4c14684ac1af3f1219b4382&amp;id=4c22095d09&amp;e=c97e4915fc\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>]<\/p>\n<p><strong>**\u00a0 Jeff Bezos unveiled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/\">Blue Origin<\/a>&#8216;s Blue Moon lunar lander design<\/strong> at an event today &#8211;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/blue-moon\">Blue Moon<\/a> is a flexible lander delivering a wide variety of small, medium and large payloads to the lunar surface. Its capability to provide precise and soft landings will enable a sustained human presence on the Moon.<\/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\/hmk1oHzvNKA?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>Initially for cargo and later for human transport:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The Blue Moon lander can deliver large infrastructure payloads with high accuracy to pre-position systems for future missions. The larger variant of Blue Moon has been designed to land an ascent vehicle that will allow us to return Americans to the Moon by 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18717\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18717\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/blue-moon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18717\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18717\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1707,960\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" 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;1553021822&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;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Blue Moon with Ascent Vehicle\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Blue Moon with Ascent Vehicle&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"size-large wp-image-18717\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Moon with Ascent Vehicle\" width=\"520\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_bluemoon_ascent1.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18717\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Blue Moon with ascent vehicle.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The lander is powered by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/engines\/be-7\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BE-7<\/a> Liquid Oxygen\/Liquid Hydrogen engine, which will begin hot fire tests this summer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>&#8230; high specific impulse, deep throttling and restart capabilities of the BE-7 make the engine ideal for large lunar payload transport, while enabling Blue Moon&#8217;s oxygen\/hydrogen fuel cell power system.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18716\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18716\" style=\"width: 294px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/engines\/be-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18716\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18716\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_be71-e1557437902449.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"705,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" 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=\"Blue Origin BE-7 Engine\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Blue Origin BE-7 Engine&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_be71-e1557437902449-668x1024.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-18716\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_be71-e1557437902449-668x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Origin BE-7 Engine\" width=\"294\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_be71-e1557437902449-668x1024.jpg 668w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_be71-e1557437902449-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/blueorigin_be71-e1557437902449.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 294px) 100vw, 294px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18716\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Blue Origin BE-7 Engine<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>** Highlights of engine development by <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/\">PLD Space<\/a> in Spain<\/strong>, which is developing <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/miura-1\/\">suborbital<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/pldspace.com\/new\/miura-5\/\">orbital<\/a> rockets with reusable boosters:<\/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\/RK7GSw5nkts?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>** More about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spinlaunch.com\/\">Spinlaunch<\/a>&#8216;s facility under construction<\/strong> at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.SpaceportAmerica.com\">Spaceport America<\/a> in New Mexico:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/spinlaunch-breaks-ground-spaceport-america-facility.html\">Secretive Startup SpinLaunch Breaks Ground on Satellite-Flinging Test Flight Facility | Space.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.krqe.com\/news\/new-mexico\/new-company-planning-to-set-up-shop-at-spaceport-america\/1987744104\">New company planning to set up shop at Spaceport America &#8211; KRQE.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.krwg.org\/post\/space-company-spinlaunch-breaks-ground-test-site-spaceport-america\">Space Company SpinLaunch Breaks Ground on Test Site at Spaceport America | KRWG<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From Space.com:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>This fact sheet lays out the envisioned launch cost and frequency, for instance, and states that SpinLaunch aims to loft its first payload by 2022. And we get the following description of the launch system:<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>&#8220;SpinLaunch utilizes existing technology and components from oil\/gas\/mining and wind turbine industries to construct an innovative mass-acceleration system, which achieves very high launch speeds without the need for enormous power generation or massive infrastructure. After ascending above the atmosphere, a relatively small, low-cost onboard rocket will be used to provide the final required velocity for orbital insertion. Because the majority of the energy required to reach orbit is sourced from ground-based electricity, as opposed to complex onboard rocket propulsion, total launch cost is reduced by an order of magnitude over existing launch systems.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <a href=\"http:\/\/rocketcrafters.space\/\"><strong>Rocket Crafters<\/strong><\/a><strong> partners with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ruag.com\/en\/products-services\/space\">RUAG<\/a><\/strong> of Switzerland on development of rockets based on Rocket Crafters&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/rocketcrafters.space\/agency-home-3\/star-3d\/\">hybrid motor<\/a> technology:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/rocketcrafters.space\/rocket-crafters-chooses-ruag-space-as-preferred-supplier\/\">Rocket Crafters Chooses RUAG Space as Preferred Supplier \u2013 Rocket Crafters Inc.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridatoday.com\/story\/tech\/science\/space\/2019\/05\/08\/space-coast-based-rocket-crafters-partners-swiss-tech-giant-ruag\/1139211001\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Space Coast-based Rocket Crafters partners with Swiss tech giant RUAG &#8211; Florida Today<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From the press release:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Rocket Crafters, a manufacturer of advanced rockets operating from the Florida Space Coast, and RUAG Space, a leading independent product supplier for spacecraft, electronics and launchers, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Satellite Conference 2019 in Washington D.C. &#8211; creating a new supplier agreement in the small launcher market.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Rocket Crafters will collaborate with RUAG on the design, development and procurement of a sounding rocket guidance and navigation system, nose cone and aeroshell in order to support an initial test flight, with the goal to achieve reliable, cost effective and fast time-to-market.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18725\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18725\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/rocketcrafters.space\/products-services\/launch-services\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18725\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=18725\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sub-Orbital-Flight-web-1024x682.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,682\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" 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=\"Sub-Orbital Flight Rocket Crafters rocket\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A Rocket Crafters suborbital rocket in flight.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sub-Orbital-Flight-web-1024x682-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"size-large wp-image-18725\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sub-Orbital-Flight-web-1024x682-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Sub-Orbital Flight Rocket Crafters rocket\" width=\"520\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sub-Orbital-Flight-web-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sub-Orbital-Flight-web-1024x682-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sub-Orbital-Flight-web-1024x682-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18725\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>A Rocket Crafters suborbital rocket in flight.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>** Leaders of launch services providers<\/strong> gave their views on the status of the industry this week during panels at the Satellite 2019 conference:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/interactive.satellitetoday.com\/via\/satellite-2019-show-daily-day-3\/panelists-see-launch-services-market-providers-contracting\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panelists See Launch Services Market, Providers, Contracting &#8211; Satellite 2019\/Via Satellite<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/ula-ceo-bruno-launch-industry-challenged-by-tougher-national-security-missions\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ULA CEO Bruno: Launch industry challenged by tougher national security missions &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/commercial-not-government-demand-will-drive-size-of-small-launch-vehicle-market\/\">Commercial, not government, demand will drive size of small launch vehicle market &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>*** A Dragon Crew vehicle parachute test went awry<\/strong> back in April: <a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/05\/spacex-had-a-problem-during-a-parachute-test-in-april\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SpaceX had a problem during a parachute test in April | Ars Technica<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The test appears to have occurred last month at Delamar Dry Lake in Nevada, where SpaceX was conducting one of dozens of drop tests it intends to perform to demonstrate the safety of its Crew Dragon spacecraft. This was a &#8220;single-out&#8221; test in which one of Dragon&#8217;s four parachutes intentionally failed before the test. &#8220;The three remaining chutes did not operate properly,&#8221; [NASA&#8217;s chief of human spaceflight Bill Gerstenmaier] said.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A follow-up:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">(Very) unofficially, a source says they may switch to a thicker parachute design to compensate for issues discovered in the test. Although not ideal, this is a fairly normal part of spacecraft development.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SciGuySpace\/status\/1126491927510171648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Aerospace Corp is &#8220;overseeing the process of safely packing more than two dozen satellites&#8221;<\/strong> into the fairing of the Falcon Heavy for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/STP-2\">STP-2 mission<\/a> set for June : <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospace.org\/article\/spacexs-falcon-heavy-hauls-complex-payload\">SpaceX&#8217;s Falcon Heavy Hauls a Complex Payload | The Aerospace Corporation<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The Aerospace team in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is playing a major role in the flight, making sure all the satellites fit together aboard the world\u2019s most powerful rocket. Aerospace engineers ensure the payloads don\u2019t negatively affect each other in this complex arrangement by using a rideshare mission assurance protocol called \u201cDo-No-Harm\u201d (DNH). DNH is a process that focuses on ensuring no payload on a rideshare mission will negatively affect the on-orbit functionality of any other payload. The individual payloads on STP-2 are all responsible for their own mission success, but through the DNH process, Aerospace is ensuring that everyone inside the Falcon Heavy nose cone plays nice with each other.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>***<\/strong> <strong>Gwynne Shotwell talked about the upcoming launch of Starlink satellites<\/strong> during the recent launch providers panel at the Satellite 2019 conference: <a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/spacex-to-launch-dozens-of-starlink-satellites-may-15-more-starlink-launches-to-follow\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SpaceX to launch \u201cdozens\u201d of Starlink satellites May 15, more Starlink launches to follow &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX\u2019s president and chief operating officer, said the launch will carry \u201cdozens of satellites,\u201d adding more prototypes to the two currently in low Earth orbit.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cThis next batch of satellites will really be a demonstration set for us to see the deployment scheme and start putting our network together,\u201d she said at the Satellite 2019 conference here. \u201cWe start launching satellites for actual service later this year.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Shotwell said SpaceX anticipates launching two to six more times for its Starlink broadband constellation in addition to the May 15 launch. How many Starlink launches occur this year depend on the results of this first batch, she said.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>*** Falcon 9 booster legs retracted rather than removed<\/strong>. SpaceX introduced the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Falcon_9_Block_5\">Block 5 Falcon first stage boosters<\/a> in 2018, hailing the design as the culmination of many lessons learned from landing and reusing the earlier generation boosters. Blk 5 boosters should provide up to a dozen launches between overhauls and to re-fly as soon as 24 hours after a launch. This requires quick operations such as simply retracting the landing legs back into their launch positions. During the past year, though, observers at Port Canaveral saw workers removing the legs before recovered Blk 5 boosters were transported back to the hangars.<\/p>\n<p>That changed for the booster recovered from the recent Cargo Dragon CRS-17 mission to the ISS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starts-falcon-9-landing-leg-retraction\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SpaceX hits new Falcon 9 reusability milestone, retracts all four landing legs &#8211; Teslarati<\/a> &#8211;<\/p>\n<p><em>SpaceX &#8211; All Legs Retracted &#8211; Historic Step 05-07-2019<\/em>\u00a0 (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.USLaunchReport.com\">www.USLaunchReport.com<\/a>) &#8211;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Still more video to come of Load and Transport. This is CRS-17, B1056 Booster. This video runs in real time{ No fast motion}. Takes place over three days. We know it&#8217;s long, we left out hours of footage.<\/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\/yE63wPDecCg?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<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">SpaceX has completed the first landing leg retraction, crews locked it in place and removed the cable.<\/p>\n<p>This is one of the upgraded features on Falcon 9 Block 5, for rapid reusability.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick video of the lift. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Teslarati?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Teslarati<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SpaceX<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Falcon9Block5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Falcon9Block5<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/59vhkcy02J\">pic.twitter.com\/59vhkcy02J<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TomCross (@_TomCross_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_TomCross_\/status\/1125844276078837760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 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\">After SpaceX engineers retracted and locked 1 leg, they immediately moved over to leg 2.<\/p>\n<p>It took just 15 minutes for them to lift and lock leg 2!<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a closeup look at the locking mechanism, it has cables attached. Can\u2019t see the mechanism on leg 1. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Teslarati?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Teslarati<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Falcon9block5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Falcon9block5<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rW3ecbSnB6\">pic.twitter.com\/rW3ecbSnB6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TomCross (@_TomCross_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_TomCross_\/status\/1125853252128522240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 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\">BOOSTER RETURNS TO CAPE- With all 4 landing legs retracted 1st time <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SpaceX<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Falcon9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Falcon9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CRS17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CRS17<\/a> launched\/landed 1st stage transported horizontally back to Cape Canaveral 1 PM ET today-big milestone! Potentially recycled to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SpaceX<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CRS18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CRS18<\/a> cargo mission to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Space_Station<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ISS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ISS<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NASA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IuMYG9vMuV\">pic.twitter.com\/IuMYG9vMuV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ken Kremer (@ken_kremer) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ken_kremer\/status\/1126214536636313601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 8, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>** Low latitude flights of Starhopper<\/strong> may start happening in the next few weeks: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-prepares-starhopper-future-flight-tests\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s Starhopper gains thruster pods as hop test preparations ramp up &#8211; Teslararti<\/a> &#8211;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Amid a flurry of new construction at SpaceX\u2019s Boca Chica facilities, technicians have begun to install thruster pods on Starhopper in anticipation of the prototype\u2019s first untethered flights.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>According to CEO Elon Musk, Starhopper\u2019s \u201cuntethered hover tests\u201d will begin with just one Raptor engine installed, potentially allowing hops to restart within the next few weeks. SpaceX is currently testing Raptor SN03 (and possibly SN02) a few hundred miles north in McGregor, Texas, just a few hours\u2019 drive south once the engine is deemed flight-ready. Meanwhile, Starhopper itself needs a considerable amount of new hardware before it can begin Raptor-powered flight testing.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Assembly of the demo orbital Starship prototype continues<\/strong> at Boca Chica as well:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">SpaceX&#8217;s Starship Orbital Prototype being stacked at Boca Chica.<\/p>\n<p>&#x1f4f8;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BocaChicaGal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BocaChicaGal<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HFFhyogUln\">https:\/\/t.co\/HFFhyogUln<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GUAz6gdQyP\">pic.twitter.com\/GUAz6gdQyP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris B &#8211; NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASASpaceflight\/status\/1126527967918796800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0989135519\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0989135519&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkId=5203723e716aff942564e0553e7de329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><strong>Safe Is Not an Option<\/strong><\/em><\/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=0989135519\" 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=0989135519&amp;asins=0989135519&amp;linkId=77da9ee9c40bd2d5bdefcfdd25afd5da&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: [ Update: A message from Blue Origin today points to a video of the Blue Moon unveiling yesterday. On May 9, 2019, our founder discussed his vision to go to space to benefit Earth. Watch the full replay of this event &#8230; In &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18710\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; May.9.2019<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4RM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5867,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=5867","url_meta":{"origin":18710,"position":0},"title":"NASA lunar orbiter images Chinese lander and rover on the surface","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 31, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The\u00a0Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter\u00a0spots the Chinese Chang'e 3 lander and Yutu rover on the Moon: NASA Images of Chang'e 3 Landing Site This animated GIF shows the Chinese Chang'e lander (large white dot in the center of the second image) and Yutu rover (smaller white dot below the lander). The individual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Chinese space&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Chinese space","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=79"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nasa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/before8516r_after2775r_enhance_0.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22426,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=22426","url_meta":{"origin":18710,"position":1},"title":"Space settlement roundup \u2013 Aug.5.2020","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a sampling of recent articles, videos, and images related to human expansion into the solar system (see also previous space settlement postings). This roundup is particularly focused on items related to commercial involvement in lunar development. ** 2020 Lunar Development Conference presentation videos are now available online. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;In Space Infrastructure&quot;","block_context":{"text":"In Space Infrastructure","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ispace_hakuto-r_landerinfographic_1000x709-500x355.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5565,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=5565","url_meta":{"origin":18710,"position":2},"title":"China&#8217;s Chang&#8217;e 3 enters lunar orbit","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Chinese\u00a0Chang'e 3\u00a0lunar lander and rover spacecraft has gone into orbit around the Moon. It is expected to land on December 14th. Chang'e 3 has arrived in lunar orbit - The Planetary Society Chang'e-3 enters lunar orbit - Xinhua China\u2019s Moon rover: Yutu or me-too? China\u2019s probe will add a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Chinese space&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Chinese space","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=79"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/hUW0ippVNL4\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11677,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11677","url_meta":{"origin":18710,"position":3},"title":"SpaceIL books trip to the Moon + Video: Seminar on lunar elevators","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The SpaceIL team in the Google Lunar X PRIZE is a volunteer, not-for-profit Israel-based organization that just became the first participant in the GLXP\u00a0to get a verified booking on a rocket:\u00a0Israeli Google Lunar XPRIZE Team Is First to Sign Launch Agreement For Private Mission to the Moon On SpaceX Falcon\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;DIY space&quot;","block_context":{"text":"DIY space","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/niU0NG_z2Ag\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21633,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=21633","url_meta":{"origin":18710,"position":4},"title":"Space settlement roundup \u2013 April.15.2020","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images related to human expansion into the solar system (see also previous space settlement postings): ** NASA hang-out examined the role of civil engineering in developing the initial landing site on Mars: Paving the Road to Mars: Civil Engineering at the Human Landing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;In Space Infrastructure&quot;","block_context":{"text":"In Space Infrastructure","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/DumbBellHabitatDiagram-350x500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21746,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=21746","url_meta":{"origin":18710,"position":5},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; May.3.2020","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** NASA selected three commercial teams for the design of a human lunar lander:\u00a0 NASA Names Companies to Develop Human Landers for Artemis Missions | NASA NASA has selected three U.S. companies to design\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\/2020\/05\/blueorigin_hls_lander_de_ae_moon-500x281.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18710","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=18710"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18737,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18710\/revisions\/18737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}