{"id":18954,"date":"2019-06-07T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18954"},"modified":"2019-06-07T00:51:15","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T04:51:15","slug":"space-transport-roundup-june-7-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18954","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; June.7.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport:<\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/\">Rocket Lab<\/a> prepares for an <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/news\/updates\/rocket-lab-to-launch-rideshare-mission-for-spaceflight\/\"><strong>upcoming launch<\/strong><\/a>, the seventh for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/electron\/\">Electron<\/a> rocket.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Electron has arrived at Launch Complex 1 in preparation for the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MakeItRain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MakeItRain<\/a> mission later this month. The payloads have also arrived and processing is underway. Let&#8217;s go to space again! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/olXThrj4jR\">https:\/\/t.co\/olXThrj4jR<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hXRauMgGDI\">pic.twitter.com\/hXRauMgGDI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RocketLab\/status\/1136388064845033473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 5, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>China launched a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Long_March_11\">Long March 11<\/a> rocket this week from a sea platform<\/strong> for the first time. The rocket, which has 4 solid-fueled stages, is essentially a military missile converted to an orbital launcher. The payload consisted of seven smallsats for government, education, and commercial applications.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/06\/china-first-sea-launch-long-march-11-seven-satellites\/\">China conducts first Sea Launch mission with Long March 11 launch of seven satellites \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ecns.cn\/news\/sci-tech\/2019-06-05\/detail-ifziyumy2108710.shtml\">China launches first rocket into space from platform at sea &#8211; ecns.cn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/china\/science\/article\/3013150\/standby-sea-launch-china-space-rocket\">China rockets to forefront of global space race with sea launch success | South China Morning Post<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ewTsift1GR8?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>ESA promotes <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ariane_6\">Ariane 6<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vega_(rocket)#Vega_C_and_E\">Vega C<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Space_RIDER\">Space Rider<\/a> projects<\/strong> this week:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/Our_Activities\/Space_Transportation\/Ariane_6_development_on_track\">Ariane 6 development on track &#8211; ESA<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/Our_Activities\/Space_Transportation\/Ariane_6_development_on_track\">Ariane 6 development on track &#8211; ESA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/spaceinvideos\/Videos\/2019\/06\/Ariane_6_and_Vega_C_-_a_new_generation_of_European_Launch_Vehicles\">Space in Videos &#8211; 2019 &#8211; 06 &#8211; Ariane 6 and Vega C &#8211; a new generation of European Launch Vehicles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/Our_Activities\/Space_Transportation\/All_engines_GO_for_Vega-C_maiden_flight\">All engines GO for Vega-C maiden flight &#8211; ESA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XPpx6e5XCNo?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\/L5lrIAvWB2A?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 <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Space_RIDER\">Space Rider<\/a> is a reusable lifting body vehicle<\/strong> similar to the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boeing_X-37\">X-37B<\/a>: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/Our_Activities\/Space_Transportation\/Space_Rider_Europe_s_reusable_space_transport_system\">Space Rider: Europe\u2019s reusable space transport system &#8211; ESA<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Initially proposed in 2016, ESA\u2019s Space Rider reentry vehicle provides a return to Earth and landing capability that compliments the existing launch options of the Ariane and Vega families.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Having recently completed system and subsystem preliminary design reviews, Space Rider is advancing quickly towards the Critical design review at the end of 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Launched on Vega-C, Space Rider will serve as an uncrewed high-tech space laboratory operating for periods longer than two months in low orbit. It will then re-enter the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere and land, returning its valuable payload to eager engineers and scientists at the landing site. After minimal refurbishment it will be ready for its next mission with new payloads and a new mission.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Space Rider combines reusability, in-orbit operations and transportation, and precise descent of a reentry vehicle able to safely traverse and land close to inhabited zones. These are major developments, set to extend European knowhow across a host of applications allowing industry to open up new markets.<\/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\/6n2geXENhdQ?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>More at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/06\/esa-vega-c-european-access-space\/\">ESA promotes Vega\u2019s evolution for independent European access to space \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Russia starts development of reusable boosters<\/strong>: <a href=\"http:\/\/tass.com\/science\/1061465\">Russian hi-tech firm working on technology of space rocket\u2019s reusable stages &#8211; TASS<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"copyBlock\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Russia\u2019s Energomash Research and Production Association is working on the technology of carrier rockets\u2019 reusable first stages, Energomash Chief Designer Pyotr Lyovochkin said in an interview published in the June edition of the Popular Mechanics journal.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>&#8220;We constantly explain to rocket builders that if we had the operational technology of returning first stages, they would have no need to buy quite an expensive engine from us just for one flight. Today both rocket builders and we have started to develop such technologies,&#8221; Lyovochkin said.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.VirginOrbit.com\"><strong>Virgin Orbit<\/strong><\/a><strong> loses most of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oneweb.world\/\">OneWeb<\/a> launch contracts<\/strong> and isn&#8217;t happy about it: <a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/virgin-orbit-takes-oneweb-to-court-over-canceled-launch-contract\/\">Virgin Orbit takes OneWeb to court over canceled launch contract &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Virgin Orbit is suing OneWeb for refusing to pay a termination fee for canceling all but four of the 39 launches it ordered from Virgin Orbit in 2015 to fill gaps in its planned constellation of at least 648 broadband satellites.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The first VO flight is coming up soon:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Rich DalBello, Virgin Orbit: planning first LaunchOne launch in late summer or early fall. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ISDC2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ISDC2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jeff_foust\/status\/1136636617618350081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>First <a href=\"https:\/\/firefly.com\/launch-alpha\/\">Firefly Alpha<\/a> launch now set for early 2020<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/06\/firefly-prepares-maiden-flight-critical-testing\/\">Firefly prepares for maiden flight with critical testing, new additions \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Les Kovacs of Firefly: first launch of Alpha in 1st quarter of 2020, an \u201caggressive estimate.\u201d Larger Beta vehicle flying in late 2021-2022 timeframe. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ISDC2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ISDC2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jeff_foust\/status\/1136635950610755586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 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\">FEATURE ARTICLE: Firefly prepares for maiden flight with critical testing, new additions &#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TZPgSysEjQ\">https:\/\/t.co\/TZPgSysEjQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; By Tyler Gray (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TylerG1998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TylerG1998<\/a>) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5VhbPo5TWy\">pic.twitter.com\/5VhbPo5TWy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris B &#8211; NSF (@NASASpaceflight) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASASpaceflight\/status\/1136638943951302656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Scott Manley profiles the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antares_(rocket)\">Antares rocket<\/a><\/strong>:<\/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\/5ttmG-HBUXE?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> <a href=\"https:\/\/worldview.space\/\">World View Enterprises<\/a> maintained a <a href=\"https:\/\/worldview.space\/fly-your-payload\/\">Stratollite<\/a> airship at a high altitude for 16 days<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/worldview.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/WV-Stratollite-Mission_6.5.2019_FINAL.pdf\">Milestone 16 Day Stratollite Mission\u00a0 (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>World View, the stratospheric exploration company, today announced it has successfully executed a record-setting16-day Stratollite&#x2122; mission, a key step towards the productization of persistent and navigational stratospheric flight for remote sensing and communications applications.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Prior to the completion of this mission, the longest duration Stratollite flight stood at just five days. This mission moves World View one step closer to scaled commercial operations and productization of the Stratollite and the unique data sets it provides. The Stratollite enables persistent, near-real time, very-high resolution remote sensing over large specified areas of interest for commercial and government customers around the world.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.zero2infinity.space\/\">Zero2Infinity<\/a> high-altitude balloon flights can now be booked<\/strong> via the <a href=\"https:\/\/hostmi.space\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">HOSTmi &#8211; Independent-Automated-Global<\/a> on line service:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We\u2019re glad to announce that now its possible to book our &#x1f388; stratospheric transportation services via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hostmi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@hostmi<\/a>\u2019s platform! It\u2019s easy as: 1) Register 2) Provide your payload&#8217;s tech info 3) Receive a tailored mission profile from us! More info at: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0q9QcyxSQg\">https:\/\/t.co\/0q9QcyxSQg<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pSCuAifuCt\">pic.twitter.com\/pSCuAifuCt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Zero 2 Infinity (@zero2infinity) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/zero2infinity\/status\/1135863937319284738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>A brief overview of how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/licenses_certificates\/commercial_space_transportation\/\">FAA<\/a> regulates commercial launch<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/news\/fact_sheets\/news_story.cfm?newsId=19074\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fact Sheet \u2013 Commercial Space Transportation Activities<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\">Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)<\/a> is responsible for ensuring protection of the public, property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch or reentry activities, and to encourage, facilitate, and promote U.S. commercial space transportation. To date, the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) has licensed or permitted more than 370 launchesand reentries.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>An overview of a nuclear fusion propulsion system<\/strong>, which has gotten NASA and DOE funding: <a href=\"http:\/\/fiso.spiritastro.net\/telecon\/Thomas_5-29-19\/\">&#8220;Direct Fusion Drive for Rapid Deep Space Propulsion&#8221;<\/a>, Stephanie Thomas, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.psatellite.com\/\">Princeton Satellite Systems<\/a>. The presentation was given to the <a href=\"http:\/\/fiso.spiritastro.net\/archivelist.htm\">FISO group<\/a> on May 29, 2019.<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-18954-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/fiso.spiritastro.net\/telecon\/Thomas_5-29-19\/Thomas.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/fiso.spiritastro.net\/telecon\/Thomas_5-29-19\/Thomas.mp3\">http:\/\/fiso.spiritastro.net\/telecon\/Thomas_5-29-19\/Thomas.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\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\/hggqvB5I95I?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><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Cargo Dragon returns safely to splashdown in the Pacific<\/strong> with load of materials from experiments and R&amp;D projects on the ISS:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/06\/crs-17-dragon-eom-homecoming\/\">CRS-17 Dragon heading home \u2013 NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/06\/03\/dragon-capsule-returns-to-earth-from-space-station-with-2-1-tons-of-cargo\/\">Dragon capsule returns to Earth from space station with 2.1 tons of cargo \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/E22rNzrjzxs?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\u2019s toasty Dragon has been lifted off NRC Quest at Port of LA. The capsule splashed down in the Pacific on Monday after spending the month at the International Space Station. Wow. &#x1f64c; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ofGsOkwixr\">pic.twitter.com\/ofGsOkwixr<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Pauline Acalin (@w00ki33) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/w00ki33\/status\/1136027862039912448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Falcon 9 with the Radarsat Constellation<\/strong> set to lift off on June 12 from Vandenberg AFB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-readies-falcon-9-radarsat-california-launch\/\">SpaceX Falcon 9 and $1B satellite trio set for first California launch in months &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>After the better part of both half a year of launch delays and launch pad inactivity, SpaceX and Falcon 9 are ready to return the company\u2019s California-based SLC-4 facilities to action with the launch of the $1 billion Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM).<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Built by Maxar for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), RCM is a trio of remote-sensing spacecraft designed with large surface-scanning radars as their primary payload. Having suffered years of technical delays during Maxar\u2019s production process, RCM was initially available for launch as early as November 2018. In an unlucky turn of events, issues on the SpaceX side of things took RCM\u2019s assigned Falcon 9 booster out of commission and lead to an additional seven or so months of launch delays. At long last, RCM is just one week away from heading to orbit, scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) no earlier than 7:17 am PDT (14:17 UTC), [June 12th].<\/em><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Falcon Heavy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/STP-2\">STP-2<\/a> launch set for June 22nd from Cape Canaveral<\/strong> includes NASA payloads among the 24 total spacecraft: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/media-briefing-highlights-nasa-tech-on-next-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch\">Media Briefing Highlights NASA Tech on Next SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch | NASA<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>NASA is sending four technology missions that will help improve future spacecraft design and performance into space on the next SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch. Experts will discuss these technologies, and how they complement NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars exploration plans, during a media teleconference Monday, June 10 at 1 p.m. EDT.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live online at:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live\">https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>SpaceX still trying to catch nosecone fairings<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-revives-mr-steven-for-falcon-fairing-catch\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s Mr. Steven preparing for first Falcon 9 fairing catch attempt in months &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>SpaceX recovery vessel Mr. Steven has spent the last several weeks undergoing major refits \u2013 including a new net and arms \u2013 and testing the upgraded hardware in anticipation of the vessel\u2019s first fairing catch attempt in more than four months.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Required after a mysterious anomaly saw Mr. Steven return to Port in February sans two arms and a net, the appearance of a new net and arms guarantees that SpaceX is still pursuing its current method of fairing recovery. Above all else, successfully closing the loop and catching fairings could help SpaceX dramatically ramp its launch cadence and lower costs, especially critical for the affordable launch of the company\u2019s own Starlink satellite constellation.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">More net testing today with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MrSteven?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MrSteven<\/a>. I don\u2019t have my camera gear with me because I\u2019m working, but here\u2019s a phone pic. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceXFleet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SpaceXFleet<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Yz4wSF2TE2\">pic.twitter.com\/Yz4wSF2TE2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stephen Marr (@spacecoast_stve) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spacecoast_stve\/status\/1136709284958543874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Speeding up booster turnarounds<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-beats-falcon-9-recovery-records\/\">SpaceX beats Falcon 9 recovery records after company&#8217;s heaviest launch ever\u00a0 Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Completed on May 30th, SpaceX\u2019s latest Falcon 9 booster recovery smashed several internal speed records, unofficially cataloged over the years by watchful fans.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In short, as the company\u2019s experienced recovery technicians continue to gain experience and grow familiar with Falcon 9 Block 5, the length of booster recoveries have consistently decreased in the 12 months since Block 5\u2019s launch debut. Already, the efficiency of recovery processing has gotten to the point that \u2013 once SpaceX optimizes Block 5\u2019s design for refurbishment-free reuse \u2013 there should be no logistical reason the company can\u2019t fly the same booster twice in ~24-48 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>A Falcon 9 lifting off in high-res slo-mo<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/space\/comments\/bx61u0\/falcon_9_rocket_liftoff_filmed_with_ultrahigh\/\">Falcon 9 rocket liftoff filmed with ultra-high speed cameras [1,000fps x 1920&#215;1080] : space\/reddit.com<\/a><\/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\/OOwD3U5RTw4?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>An item about the status of the investigation into the explosion<\/strong> during a Crew Dragon test:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">NASA ASAP on Crew Dragon incident: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SpaceX<\/a> doesn&#8217;t have root cause yet, but so far during the investigation, they have found things along the way that can be improved. &#8220;It&#8217;s a positive aspect of their culture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Emre Kelly (@EmreKelly) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EmreKelly\/status\/1136628679054888960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>The Raptor engine for the Starhopper flight tests has yet to arrive<\/strong> at the South Texas site. Nevertheless, lots of activity underway with both the Starhopper and the Starship orbital demo vehicle:<\/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\/auOG8VE1ecA?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\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SpaceX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SpaceX<\/a> crews were hard at work today, continuation with polishing and shining of the faring section for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/StarShip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StarShip<\/a> .Observations and check up on the Bottom of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/StarHopper?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#StarHopper<\/a> for eventual Raptor re-integration for the upcoming test. This excitement is too unbearable, I can\u2019t wait&#x1f606;&#x1f680; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SosJbLJC3R\">pic.twitter.com\/SosJbLJC3R<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Austin Barnard&#x1f680; (@austinbarnard45) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/austinbarnard45\/status\/1136434295214616577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>A report on the Boca Chica Beach activities and the local community<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/spacex-texas-starship-launch-site-development-challenges-2019-6\">Before Elon Musk reaches Mars, SpaceX may need to survive south Texas &#8211; Business Insider<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Developing this system at the company&#8217;s remote and privately controlled Texas facility comes with several advantages. The area is fairly close to the equator, which adds a natural speed boost to rockets. SpaceX&#8217;s autonomy over the site also gives the company more flexibility in scheduling launches, privacy from competitors, and greater freedom in how it uses the land.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>But launching a skyscraper-size rocket from this area (engineering challenges notwithstanding) is no trivial undertaking. For one, any future flight path must avoid populated islands. The bay-bottom mud and sand below SpaceX&#8217;s site also cause dense structures and tall towers tend to sink and lean. Gulf Coast weather is a challenge, too, as SpaceX recently saw when gale-force winds <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/spacex-elon-musk-starship-test-hopper-rocket-ship-damaged-2019-1\"> damaged its Starhopper<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>And then there are the 20 or so people, like the Pointers, who live in or near Boca Chica Village. For them, the unparalleled view of the experimental rocket program, while stirring, is also foreboding.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1524742414\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1524742414&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkId=079d0abd89e653831609367e775bdb25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><strong>Delta-v<\/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=1524742414\" 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=1524742414&amp;asins=1524742414&amp;linkId=044d01889d5c6fded3f9c6e28680f86a&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: ** Rocket Lab prepares for an upcoming launch, the seventh for the Electron rocket. Electron has arrived at Launch Complex 1 in preparation for the #MakeItRain mission later this month. The payloads have also arrived and processing is underway. Let&#8217;s go to space &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18954\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; June.7.2019<\/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_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-18954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-4VI","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16234,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16234","url_meta":{"origin":18954,"position":0},"title":"Video: Rocket Lab prepares for 3rd Electron launch from New Zealand","author":"TopSpacer","date":"June 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The company Rocket Lab plans to launch an Electron rocket\u00a0from the Mahia Peninsula\u00a0on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island during a two week long launch window that opens on\u00a0June 23rd. This will be the company's third launch and, they hope, the second one to successfully put payloads into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16274,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16274","url_meta":{"origin":18954,"position":1},"title":"Rocket Lab to launch an Electron with 5 payloads including Irvine CubeSat built by high schoolers","author":"TopSpacer","date":"June 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"This evening US time and Saturday afternoon New Zealand time, Rocket Lab will attempt to launch the third Electron rocket\u00a0into orbit. The rocket is to lift off from the Mahia Peninsula on the\u00a0east coast of\u00a0New Zealand's\u00a0North Island. You can watch the launch via the rocketlabusa.com\/live-stream webcast. The vehicle is carrying\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\/06\/OnPad-June19-2018-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17320,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17320","url_meta":{"origin":18954,"position":2},"title":"Videos: Rocket Lab launches Electron rocket with NASA sponsored CubeSats","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Rocket Lab today successfully launched an Electron rocket from the Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. The vehicle reached low earth orbit and its kick stage later circularized its orbit and then deployed 13 small satellites sponsored by NASA, including several university built CubeSats: https:\/\/youtu.be\/KZwLJMPuos8 Here is a\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\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Trevor-Launch-71-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17050,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17050","url_meta":{"origin":18954,"position":3},"title":"Lots of rocket launches planned for next 10 days","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Several rocket launches around the world are scheduled for the next couple of weeks. Most of these will be webcast. ** Rocket Lab Electron - Nov.10\/11, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. EST (0300-0700 GMT on 11th) - Rocket Lab is ready to put several commercial smallsats into low earth orbit on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=37"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=ur2&o=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20196,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20196","url_meta":{"origin":18954,"position":4},"title":"Rocket Lab to launch ALE Sky Canvas &#8211; &#8220;Shooting stars. On demand&#8221;","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Spaceflight has arranged a Rocket Lab Electron launch for the Sky Canvas spacecraft owned by the Japanese company ALE Co., Ltd. Sky Canvas will create \"Shooting stars. On demand\". Spaceflight\u2019s Third Rideshare Mission with Rocket Lab to Launch ALE\u2019s Space-related Entertainment Satellite Man-made shooting stars to provide both entertainment and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Space industry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Space industry","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=94"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ManMadeMeteors.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23898,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=23898","url_meta":{"origin":18954,"position":5},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Part 2: Everybody Else &#8211; May.18.2021","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here). Today's Part 1 Roundup focused on\u00a0 SpaceX. Part 2 here reports on other companies and organizations. ** Rocket Lab Electron second stage fails in launch attempt; First stage recovered from sea. Two\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\/2021\/05\/RecoveredFirstStage-May2021_750x1000-375x500.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\/18954","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=18954"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18968,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18954\/revisions\/18968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}