{"id":19446,"date":"2019-08-14T16:36:48","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T20:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19446"},"modified":"2019-08-14T16:36:48","modified_gmt":"2019-08-14T20:36:48","slug":"space-transport-roundup-aug-14-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19446","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Aug.14.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport:<\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Chinese startup <a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkspace.com.cn\/\">LinkSpace<\/a> reaches highest altitude yet for the company&#8217;s VTOL rockets<\/strong>. RLV-T5 rocket flies to 300 meters and then returns for a powered landing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-space-exploration-china-linkspace-idUSKCN1V007X\">Chinese space startup revs up for reusable rocket race &#8211; Reuters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ecns.cn\/news\/sci-tech\/2019-08-10\/detail-ifzmwwnr7045688.shtml\">Chinese space startup successfully launches a reusable rocket to a new height &#8211; ecns.cn<\/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\/SJFsK6z3moU?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\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Chinese space start-ups like LinkSpace are taking their first steps towards a new business model: sending tiny, inexpensive satellites into orbit at affordable prices <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8LVAWf4CLm\">https:\/\/t.co\/8LVAWf4CLm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PxkKsFsi1r\">pic.twitter.com\/PxkKsFsi1r<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Reuters Top News (@Reuters) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Reuters\/status\/1121855768351977473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Video of SpaceX-like grid fins on a Long March-2C rocket&#8217;s booster<\/strong>. As reported in the previous round-up, the stage does not do a powered landing but the fins instead help steer the booster away from populated areas. The rocket is launched from an in-land spaceport and there are often reports of boosters landing near houses and towns.<\/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\/kw5xaTad9fU?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 reusing the first stage of the Rocket Lab Electron rocket<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/08\/heres-why-rocket-lab-changed-its-mind-on-reusable-launch\/\">Here\u2019s why Rocket Lab changed its mind on reusable launch | Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/08\/12\/rocket-lab-to-begin-booster-recovery-experiments-later-this-year\/\">Rocket Lab to begin booster recovery experiments later this year \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\/ZIaDWCK2Bmk?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>As expected, Sierra Nevada&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sncorp.com\/what-we-do\/dream-chaser-space-vehicle\/\">Dream Chaser cargo<\/a> vehicle will launch on ULA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ulalaunch.com\/rockets\/vulcan-centaur\">Vulcan<\/a> rocket<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sncorp.com\/press-releases\/snc-ula-dream-chaser-launch-announcement\/\">SNC Selects ULA for Dream Chaser\u00ae Spacecraft Launches &#8211; SNC<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security leader owned by Chairwoman and President Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen, selected United Launch Alliance (ULA) as the launch vehicle provider for the Dream Chaser<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> spacecraft\u2019s six NASA missions to the International Space Station. The Dream Chaser will launch aboard ULA\u2019s Vulcan Centaur rockets for its cargo resupply and return services to the space station, starting in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cDream Chaser can launch from any conventional rocket so we had great options,\u201d said SNC CEO Fatih Ozmen.\u00a0 \u201cSNC selected ULA because of our strong collaboration on the Dream Chaser program, their proven safety record and on-time performance. This is bringing America\u2019s spaceplane and America\u2019s rocket together for best-of-breed innovation and exploration.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Under NASA\u2019s Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, the Dream Chaser will deliver more than 12,000 pounds of pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the space station and remains attached for up to 75 days as an orbiting laboratory. Once the mated mission is complete, the Dream Chaser disposes about 7,000 pounds of space station trash and returns large quantities of critical science, accessible within minutes after a gentle runway landing.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19452\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19452\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sncorp.com\/press-releases\/snc-ula-dream-chaser-launch-announcement\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"19452\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=19452\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/dreamchaservulcanexp_side1.png\" data-orig-size=\"6000,3744\" 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=\"ULA Vulcan with Dream Chaser &amp;#8211; Exploded View\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;An exploded view of the ULA Vulcan rocket with the cargo version of the Dream Chaser inside the fairings.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/dreamchaservulcanexp_side1-1024x639.png\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19452\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/dreamchaservulcanexp_side1-1024x639.png\" alt=\"ULA Vulcan with Dream Chaser - Exploded View\" width=\"520\" height=\"324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/dreamchaservulcanexp_side1-1024x639.png 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/dreamchaservulcanexp_side1-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/dreamchaservulcanexp_side1-768x479.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19452\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>An exploded view of the ULA Vulcan rocket with the cargo version of the Dream Chaser inside the fairings.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Animation of the launch of a Dream Chaser by a Vulcan:<\/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\/NHFpsKkaFaM?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:\/\/vector-launch.com\/\">Vector Launch<\/a> goes into hibernation mode as finances run dry<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/vector-replaces-ceo-amid-reports-of-financial-problems\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vector replaces CEO, suspends operations amid financial problems &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2019\/8\/10\/20799170\/vector-launch-small-satellite-rockets-pause-operations-jim-cantrell\">Small satellite launcher Vector pauses operations after ousting CEO &#8211; The Verge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2019\/08\/sources-say-the-rocket-company-vector-may-be-in-financial-trouble\/\">Jim Cantrell has left Vector, and the company may be in financial trouble &#8211; Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The lockout of employees came just a few days after the announcement for a USAF launch contract: <a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/vector-launch-awarded-its-first-u-s-air-force-mission\/\">Vector Launch awarded its first U.S. Air Force mission &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Smallsat launch broker Innovative Space Logistics contracts <a href=\"https:\/\/orbex.space\/\">Orbex<\/a><\/strong> for launch services: <a href=\"https:\/\/orbex.space\/news\/orbex-and-innovative-space-logistics-sign-european-space-launch-agreement\">Orbex and Innovative Space Logistics Sign European Space Launch Agreement | Orbex<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Innovative Space Logistics B.V. (ISL) and UK-based orbital launch services provider Orbex today signed a wide-ranging Cooperation Agreement at the 33rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites in Logan, Utah. The co-operation will include technical launch services including launch manifest coordination and payload integration. As part of the agreement, ISL will also procure orbital space launches from Orbex for a number of its smallsat customer missions.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Netherlands-based company ISL is one of the world\u2019s leading players in smallsat launches, having executed or supported the launch of over 350 CubeSats into orbit over the past decade. ISL is focused on the provision of regular launches for CubeSats, nanosatellites and microsatellites and provides launch brokering services, technical consultancy, launch adapters and dispensers, flight certification testing and launch insurance services to a broad range of customers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>With $40 million in project financing, Orbex is the best-funded European private launch provider. In February 2019, Orbex publicly unveiled the engineering prototype of the Stage 2 of its reusable Prime launch vehicle, a dedicated smallsat launcher, which is up to 30 percent lighter and 20 percent more efficient than any other vehicle in the micro launcher category. Orbex Prime utilizes bio-propane, a clean-burning, renewable fuel that cuts carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to traditional hydrocarbon fuels. On August 1, 2019, Orbex\u2019s partner, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) confirmed that it had signed a 75-year lease option with landowners, the Melness Crofters Estate, to build and operate a spaceport on its land.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Orbex plans to launch from Scotland: <a href=\"https:\/\/orbex.space\/news\/in-space-selects-orbex-for-scottish-launch-in-2022\">In-Space Selects Orbex For Scottish Launch in 2022 | Orbex<\/a><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Blue Origin demands opportunity to launch Defense Dept. payloads<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridatoday.com\/story\/tech\/science\/space\/2019\/08\/12\/blue-origin-files-protest-challenging-flawed-air-force-strategy-for-choosing-launches-ula-spacex\/1986706001\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Blue Origin files protest of &#8216;flawed&#8217; Air Force strategy for launches &#8211; Florida Today<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/blue-origin-files-protest-over-flawed-air-force-launch-procurement\/\">Blue Origin files protest over \u2018flawed\u2019 Air Force launch procurement &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2019\/8\/13\/20803613\/blue-origin-bid-protest-air-force-launch-procurement-national-security-missions\">Blue Origin is trying to rewrite the rules of the Air Force\u2019s rocket competition &#8211; The Verge<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From The Verge:<\/p>\n<p id=\"db5GCI\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>On Monday, August 12th, aerospace company Blue Origin filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), arguing that the Air Force is running a \u201cflawed\u201d competition to pick the agency\u2019s next round of launch providers for national security missions. There\u2019s a good chance this last-ditch protest could change the terms of the competition before final selections are made, but shifting the rules in favor of Blue Origin won\u2019t guarantee that the company is chosen in the end.<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"j9ANZk\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The day that Blue Origin filed the protest was the same day that proposals were due for the Air Force\u2019s Launch Service Procurement program. The initiative aims to select two rocket companies that will launch all of the Air Force\u2019s missions to space from 2022 to 2026. The Air Force wants one company to support 60 percent of the launches, and the second will handle the other 40 percent. The contracts for these missions are potentially worth billions of dollars combined and could ultimately give them an edge in future Air Force competitions. Being selected as part of this program is a matter of life and death for some launch providers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>An interview with Blue&#8217;s CEO Bob Smith<\/strong> about the company&#8217;s lunar projects and other plans: <a href=\"http:\/\/interactive.satellitetoday.com\/via\/august-2019\/blue-origin-ceo-talks-space-ambitions\/\">Blue Origin CEO Talks Space Ambitions | Via Satellite<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"text_13e692e4e93e429793a551e3f1140e5b\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>VIA SPACE: Firstly, Blue Origin created one of the highlights of SATELLITE week with the Blue Moon announcement. Given what the company is doing in launch, how important is the lunar exploration side of things for the company? What are the plans over the next 12 months \u2014 where do things go next?<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"text_0ac0a1390ffa4837b104c57afedfac19\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><strong>Smith<\/strong>: At Blue Origin, we focus on two hard problems that keep us aligned to our vision of millions of people living and working in space: dramatically lowering launch costs and utilizing in-space resources. Our work on Blue Moon is aligned to that second hard problem and so, it is central to our company\u2019s efforts. As for our progress, we recently had exciting news with the first firing of our lunar landing engine, the BE-7. It\u2019s a big milestone for us. Over the next 12 months, we will continue to develop and mature that high-performing engine. We will also refine our mission sequences, our detailed lander designs, define our supply base and work with NASA to integrate our offering into their overall Artemis program.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.SpaceX.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Attempt to fly Starhopper to 200 meters set for this weekend<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starhopper-next-flight-milestone-faa-permitting\/\">SpaceX settles on Friday for Starhopper&#8217;s next flight test milestone, FAA permitting &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-cont-out\">\n<div class=\"post-cont-in\">\n<div id=\"content-main\" class=\"left relative\">\n<div id=\"pico\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\" style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published Notices-to-Airmen (NOTAMs) for SpaceX\u2019s next Starhopper flight milestone, a 200m (650 ft) hop now scheduled no earlier than Friday, August 16th. <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>During this upcoming test, the unusual Starship testbed and prototype will likely spend at least 30-60 seconds in the air, propelled by a lone Raptor engine producing up to ~200 tons (440,000 lbf) of thrust. Starhopper will then attempt to land a hundred or so feet east of its spartan launch mount on a dedicated landing pad. If successfully completed, CEO Elon Musk believes that either or both of SpaceX\u2019s Mk1 and Mk2 Starship prototypes will be ready to begin their own series of more ambitious flight tests as early as September or October.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Permit processing appears to be the main issue: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-last-starhopper-test-flight-starships-take-over\/\">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starhopper&#8217;s next test flight is waiting for an FAA permit &#8211; Teslarati<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>This might be Starhopper&#8217;s last flight<\/strong>. Parts will be used to speed up the final assembly of the Starship orbital demonstrator at Boca Chica.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/forum.nasaspaceflight.com\/index.php?topic=47120.msg1976199#msg1976199\">SpaceX BFS &#8211; Phase 1 &#8211; StarHopper &#8211; Photos and Updates<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/spacex-starhopper-rocket-ship-final-launch-starship-plans-2019-8\/\">SpaceX may &#8216;cannibalize&#8217; its first Mars rocket-ship prototype in Elon Musk&#8217;s race to launch Starship, Business Insider &#8211; Business Insider Singapore<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*** <strong>Starhopper tanking test<\/strong> last Friday:<\/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\/JkzW7mycZhw?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>Huge crane erected at Boca Chica facility<\/strong>. Presumably this will be used to put the top half onto the bottom tank sections.<\/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\/ov8O2jdMPEU?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>Rapid progress on the 2 Starship demo vehicles<\/strong> appears to be pushing Starhopper to the side.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Thanks. Starship, which aspires to be fully &amp; immediately reusable in super heavy class, is a truly &#x1f95c;&#x1f680;. Even though I\u2019m immersed in Starship\/Raptor design &amp; build 7 days\/week, it still doesn\u2019t feel real.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1159968409947234304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>No Falcon launches on <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/launch-schedule\/\">public schedule<\/a> for next two months<\/strong> currently but launches of 60 or more Starlink broadband Internet satellites are likely to help fill the gap:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-next-falcon-9-missions-starlink-launches\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s next Falcon 9 missions likely two back-to-back Starlink satellite launches &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-falcon-9-extreme-launch-cadence-goals\/\">SpaceX teases extreme Falcon 9 launch cadence goals in Starship planning doc &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Wouldn\u2019t read too much into this. Likely to be fewer F9\/FH flights, but possibly an order of magnitude more than these numbers in Starship flights.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1159630890026188800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Crew training continues in parallel with preparations of the Crew Dragon<\/strong> in-flight abort test and first Crew test flight:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-crew-dragon-nasa-astronauts-spacesuit-rehearsal\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s first Crew Dragon NASA astronauts suit up for spacesuit-focused launch rehearsal &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/08\/08\/spacex-demo-2-astronauts-walkthrough-launch-day-operations\/\">SpaceX Demo-2 Astronauts Walkthrough Launch Day Operations \u2013 Commercial Crew Program\/NASA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19448\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19448\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/08\/08\/spacex-demo-2-astronauts-walkthrough-launch-day-operations\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"19448\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=19448\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CREW_PRELAUNCH_TRAINING_EVENT-20190731-BI0I4043-1024x6831.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,683\" 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=\"SpaceX Dragon Crew Training\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley participate in crew training event for Crew Dragon missions.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CREW_PRELAUNCH_TRAINING_EVENT-20190731-BI0I4043-1024x6831-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"size-large wp-image-19448\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CREW_PRELAUNCH_TRAINING_EVENT-20190731-BI0I4043-1024x6831-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"SpaceX Dragon Crew Training\" width=\"520\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CREW_PRELAUNCH_TRAINING_EVENT-20190731-BI0I4043-1024x6831.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CREW_PRELAUNCH_TRAINING_EVENT-20190731-BI0I4043-1024x6831-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/CREW_PRELAUNCH_TRAINING_EVENT-20190731-BI0I4043-1024x6831-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19448\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley participate in crew training event for Crew Dragon missions.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>*** <strong>After catching a single Falcon fairing twice, SpaceX aims to catch both fairings using 2 boats<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-second-boat-catch-payload-fairings.html\">SpaceX Now Has a 2nd Boat to Catch Rocket Payload Fairings Falling from Space | Space<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The company will soon start employing a second net-equipped boat during orbital launches, in an attempt to snag both halves of its rockets&#8217; payload fairings before they splash down in the ocean, SpaceX founder and CEO <u>Elon Musk<\/u> confirmed via Twitter on Friday (Aug. 9).<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The new boat, named GO Ms. Chief, will join forces with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/spacex-payload-fairing-catch-amos17-video.html\" data-track-type=\"click\" data-index=\"2\" data-component=\"Inline links\" data-count=\"17\"><u>GO Ms. Tree<\/u><\/a>, which has plucked falling fairing halves out of the sky twice in the past six weeks. (The team-up involves style as well as substance; both vessels&#8217; names are groan-inducing puns.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>And the company may use a much larger nosecone<\/strong> for some big Defense Dept payloads: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-agreement-ruag-bigger-falcon-fairings\/\">SpaceX may have signed an agreement with ULA supplier RUAG for bigger Falcon fairings<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">According to comments made to a member of the space industry by a RUAG spokesperson, the prominent aerospace supplier may have finally reached an agreement with SpaceX to manufacture a handful of larger payload fairings for future Falcon 9 and Heavy launches.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In the likely event that SpaceX is one of two contractors awarded a portion of several dozen US military launch contracts next year, the company will need to be able to cater to niche requirements, including accommodating unusually tall military satellites. Those satellites can be so tall that SpaceX\u2019s own payload fairing \u2013 generally middle-of-the-pack relative to competitors\u2019 offerings \u2013 may be too short, meaning that SpaceX will have to find ways around that minor shortcoming.<\/em><\/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: ** Chinese startup LinkSpace reaches highest altitude yet for the company&#8217;s VTOL rockets. RLV-T5 rocket flies to 300 meters and then returns for a powered landing. Chinese space startup revs up for reusable rocket race &#8211; Reuters Chinese space startup successfully launches a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19446\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; Aug.14.2019<\/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-19446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-53E","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16028,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16028","url_meta":{"origin":19446,"position":0},"title":"Rockets: Antares launch from Virginia + Falcon 9 Blk 5 +  Nex\u00f8 II + Chinese commercial launchers","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Some miscellaneous rocket related items: **\u00a0 Antares\/Cygnus Launch: Orbital\u00a0ATK is set to\u00a0launch an Antares rocket early Sunday morning, May 20th from Wallops Island, Virginia to send a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. There is a five-minute launch window\u00a0at 5:04-5:09 am EDT (0904-0909 GMT). [ Update: The launch\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\/2018\/05\/Mission_profile_thumb1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18167,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18167","url_meta":{"origin":19446,"position":1},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; March.8.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"March 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent items related to traveling to and through space: ** SpaceX: **** The Crew Dragon splashes down in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida: Crew Dragon Splashes Down in Atlantic Ending First Commercial Crew Mission \u2013 Space Station https:\/\/youtu.be\/4cy68OoNHF0 **** The DM-1 mission was a great\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\/03\/snaps_splashdown-about-nasa-x-on-new-nasa-tv-1-public-_ok-1024x5761-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18571,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18571","url_meta":{"origin":19446,"position":2},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; April.25.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport: ** The Chinese launch startup 'Space Transportation' tests a winged reusable rocket, built in partnership with a team at Xiamen University: \"Tianxing I-1\" first horizontal recovery technology verified the success of the rocket test flight - weixin.qq.com (Google\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=am2&o=1&a=1944648453","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23707,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=23707","url_meta":{"origin":19446,"position":3},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; April.8.2021","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** Apr.8: The Starship prototype SN15 moved to launch site. The vehicle has many upgrades according to Elon Musk. A test flight could happen within a week or two. I certainly hope it achieves\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\/04\/MapOfArcadiaPlanita-LandingSites-500x226.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22569,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=22569","url_meta":{"origin":19446,"position":4},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Aug.21.2020","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with 58 Starlink broadband sats and 3 earth imaging sats for Planet. The first stage booster flying on its 6th flight made a successful landing on an ocean platform.\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\/08\/hls_integrated_docking_new_web_1000x562-500x281.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18225,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18225","url_meta":{"origin":19446,"position":5},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Mar.14.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"March 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent items related to traveling to and through space: [ Update: The Soyuz launch and docking with the ISS were successful: https:\/\/youtu.be\/tt8_vTduQbw https:\/\/youtu.be\/baXzI91HqBY ] ** A Russian Soyuz is set to launch today with three new crew members to the ISS. Astronaut Christina Koch, on her first\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\/2019\/03\/Engine_airflow_node_full_image_21-e1552581327659.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19446","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=19446"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19453,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19446\/revisions\/19453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}