{"id":19807,"date":"2019-09-30T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19807"},"modified":"2019-09-30T08:53:21","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T12:53:21","slug":"space-transport-roundup-sept-30-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19807","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Sept.30.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find <a href=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5\">previous roundups here<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.SpaceX.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Elon Musk presents plans for rapid development of Starship\/Super Heavy Booster<\/strong> space transport system while standing in front of first assembled Starship demonstrator on Saturday evening.<\/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\/sOpMrVnjYeY?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>Some of the highlights from his remarks:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Starships Mk.1 and Mk.2 (Cocoa Beach, Florida) are just the first vehicles off the assembly lines.\n<ul>\n<li>Expect to complete a new vehicle every few months<\/li>\n<li>Each will incorporate lessons learned from the previous vehicles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Switching from composite to stainless steel brought multiple advantages:\n<ul>\n<li>Enables fast prototyping<\/li>\n<li>Excellent strength and thermal properties<\/li>\n<li>Much cheaper than composites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Mk.1 to fly to 20 kilometers in 1 to 2 months from now.<\/li>\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t expect big regulatory problems with test flights and landings.<\/li>\n<li>Before assembling first Super Heavy Booster (SH), need to ramp-up Raptor engine production.<\/li>\n<li>Need about 30 engines for first SH.<\/li>\n<li>SS Mk 4 or Mk.5 with first SH could launch to orbit by next year<\/li>\n<li>Full reusability with rapid turnaround will enable multiple test flights in a short period.<\/li>\n<li>Will fly crews within a year or so.<\/li>\n<li>Will fly SS\/SH from both Boca Chica and Kennedy Space Center launch sites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*** <strong>Sampling of articles and responses<\/strong> to the presentation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/features\/2019\/09\/after-starship-unveiling-mars-seems-a-little-closer\/\">Elon Musk, Man of Steel, reveals his stainless Starship | Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/09\/spacex-musk-update-starship-program\/\">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk provides update on Starship program &#8211; NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/09\/27\/elon-musk-to-provide-update-on-spacexs-starship-this-weekend\/\">Elon Musk updates status of SpaceX\u2019s Starship \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/09\/28\/watch-elon-musks-spacex-starship-livestream-presentation.html\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elon Musk outlines SpaceX\u2019s Starship plans, aiming to reach orbit in six months and then fly people &#8211; CNBC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.collectspace.com\/news\/news-092919a-spacex-musk-starship-update.html\">Elon Musk debuts SpaceX&#8217;s first Starship, aims for orbit in six months | collectSPACE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/behindtheblack.com\/behind-the-black\/points-of-information\/musks-speech-starship-is-coming-on-fast\/\">Musk\u2019s speech: Starship is coming on fast! | Behind The Black<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-debuts-starships-new-super-heavy-booster-design\/\">SpaceX debuts Starship&#8217;s new Super Heavy booster design &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/tesla-on-mars-addressed-by-elon-musk-during-spacex-starship-qa\/\">Tesla on Mars addressed by Elon Musk in SpaceX&#8217;s Starship Q&amp;A session &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/09\/29\/business\/elon-musk-spacex-mars-starship-cost\/index.html\">Elon Musk says SpaceX&#8217;s Mars rocket will be cheaper than he once thought. Here&#8217;s why &#8211; CNN<\/a> &#8211; Video interview<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*** T<strong>ime lapse of stacking of the Starship<\/strong> Mk.1 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCFwMITSkc1Fms6PoJoh1OUQ\">LabPadre<\/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\/ltyyi600BM0?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>*** Scott Manley&#8217;s view of the presentation:<\/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\/wRF41f7hPWE?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>Reports leading up to the presentation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacexs-starship-mk1-halves-mated-to-reach-full-stack-height-in-boca-chica-tx\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s Starship Mk1 halves mated to reach full stack height in Boca Chica, TX &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-elon-musk-posts-new-starship-progress-photos\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s Starship to grow in height as workers prepare to stack its top section &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-elon-musk-best-starship-raptor-photos-yet\/\">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shows off Starship&#8217;s 3 Raptor engines in best photos yet &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*** <strong>A drone view of the Cocoa Beach facility <\/strong>where the Starship Mk.2 demonstrator is under construction:<strong><br \/>\n<\/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\/Tmv6GQqFejM?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> Elon believes the Starships will enable large space settlements<\/strong> on the Moon and Mars. Some of the artwork shown:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B2-meu8FPfE\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;\"><a style=\"color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B2-meu8FPfE\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Starship will provide affordable delivery of significant quantities of cargo and people, essential for building Moon bases and Mars cities<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\">A post shared by <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spacex\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> SpaceX<\/a> (@spacex) on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2019-09-29T02:20:41+00:00\">Sep 28, 2019 at 7:20pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B29P50ZFR_R\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;\"><a style=\"color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B29P50ZFR_R\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Starship at our launch facility in Cameron County, Texas. Watch as Elon Musk gives an update on the vehicle today at ~7:00 p.m. CDT \u2192 spacex.com\/webcast<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\">A post shared by <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spacex\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> SpaceX<\/a> (@spacex) on <time style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\" datetime=\"2019-09-28T13:44:10+00:00\">Sep 28, 2019 at 6:44am PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>SpaceX Crew Dragon developments<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-crew-dragon-capsules-florida-arrival-schedule\/\">SpaceX aims to ship two new Crew Dragon spacecraft to Florida in the next two months &#8211; Teslarati<\/a> + <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/09\/29\/business\/elon-musk-spacex-mars-starship-cost\/index.html\">Elon Musk interview with Rachel Crane &#8211; CNN<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Musk estimated that Crew Dragon capsule 03 (C203) and its expendable trunk would be sent from SpaceX\u2019s Hawthorne, CA factory to Cape Canaveral, FL as early as October. Crew Dragon capsule C204 is then expected to follow around one month later, arriving in Florida for preflight preparation as early as November<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-crew-dragon-in-flight-abort-test-launch-date\/\">SpaceX aims to launch critical Crew Dragon abort test before the end of 2019 &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>SpaceX has applied for an FCC Special Temporary Authority license to authorize rocket communications during what is likely Crew Dragon\u2019s In-Flight Abort (IFA) test, now scheduled to occur no earlier than November 23rd.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In line with recent comments from SpaceX executives, a November or December In-Flight Abort test would almost certainly preclude Crew Dragon from launching with astronauts in 2019, pushing the Demo-2 mission into the Q1 2020. Nevertheless, it would serve as a good sign that Crew Dragon remains on track if SpaceX can complete the critical abort test \u2013 meant to prove that Dragon can whisk astronauts away from a failing rocket at any point during launch \u2013 before the year is out.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/09\/27\/nasa-spacex-test-pad-emergency-egress-system\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NASA, SpaceX Test Pad Emergency Egress System \u2013 Commercial Crew Program\/NASA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>NASA and SpaceX conducted a formal verification of the company\u2019s emergency escape, or egress, system at Kennedy Space Center\u2019s Launch Complex 39A in Florida on Sept. 18, 2019. NASA astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/astronauts\/biographies\/robert-l-behnken\">Bob Behnken<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/astronauts\/biographies\/walker-shannon\">Shannon Walker<\/a> participated in the exercise to verify the crew can safely and swiftly evacuate from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency before liftoff of SpaceX\u2019s first crewed flight test, called Demo-2.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 512px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/09\/27\/nasa-spacex-test-pad-emergency-egress-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/230\/2019\/09\/SpaceX-Emergency-Egress_Main-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, in front, and Bob Behnken participated in the exercise to verify the crew can safely and quickly evacuate from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency before liftoff of SpaceX\u2019s first crewed flight test, called Demo-2. During the escape verification, Walker and Behnken pass through the water deluge system on the 265-foot level of the crew access tower. Photo credit: SpaceX\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew\/2019\/09\/27\/nasa-spacex-test-pad-emergency-egress-system\/\">NASA<\/a>: &#8220;NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, in front, and Bob Behnken participated in the exercise to verify the crew can safely and quickly evacuate from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency before liftoff of SpaceX\u2019s first crewed flight test, called Demo-2. During the escape verification, Walker and Behnken pass through the water deluge system on the 265-foot level of the crew access tower.&#8221;Photo credit: SpaceX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>**\u00a0 <strong>Japanese HTV-8 launched last week docked with the ISS<\/strong> on Saturday:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/2019\/09\/28\/u-s-astronauts-captured-japanese-cargo-spacecraft-at-712-a-m-edt\/\">U.S. Astronauts Captured Japanese Cargo Spacecraft at 7:12 a.m. EDT \u2013 Space Station\/NASA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/09\/28\/htv-delivers-batteries-and-experiments-to-space-station\/\">HTV delivers batteries and experiments to space station \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\/vYHK2JKmkeM?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>Latest Ariane 6 news<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esa.int\/Our_Activities\/Space_Transportation\/Ariane_6_s_core_engine_completes_qualification_tests\">Ariane 6\u2019s core engine completes qualification tests &#8211; ESA<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Ariane 6, Europe&#8217;s next-generation launch vehicle, has passed another key development milestone. Its Vulcain 2.1 liquid-fuelled engine has now completed its qualification testing, which means combined tests can now begin.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The main stage Vulcain 2.1 engine will deliver 135 t of thrust to propel Ariane 6 in the first eight minutes of flight up to an altitude of 200 km.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Russia launches 2nd Soyuz in two days<\/strong>. Puts missile warning satellite into low earth orbit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/09\/soyuz-2-1b-launches-latest-tundra-satellite\/\">Soyuz 2-1B launches latest Tundra satellite &#8211; NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Russia\u2019s Soyuz rocket has made its second launch in less than twenty-four hours, delivering a missile detection satellite to orbit Thursday in a military launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Soyuz lifted off at 10:46 Moscow Time (07:46 UTC), placing the Tundra satellite into its planned orbit with the aid of a Fregat upper stage.<\/em><br \/>\n<span id=\"more-63412\"><\/span><br \/>\n<em>Tundra plays a significant part in Russia\u2019s national security arrangements, monitoring the Earth for potentially hostile missile launches so the Russian Government can react as necessary. It forms part of the Edinaya Kosmicheskaya Sistema (EKS) or Unified Space System which is being introduced to replace the earlier Oko system that Russia inherited from the Soviet Union. Thursday\u2019s launch deployed the third such satellite.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Reports of the death of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/\">Stratolaunch<\/a> appear to have been exaggerated<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/year-paul-allens-death-stratolaunch-rebuilds-team-worlds-biggest-plane\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stratolaunch rebuilds team for world\u2019s biggest plane \u2013 GeekWire<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Representatives of the Allen family\u2019s Vulcan holding company have insisted that Stratolaunch remains operational. LinkedIn listings indicate that Jean Floyd is still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/w-jean-floyd-89349a3\/\">president and CEO<\/a>, although three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-morse\/\">company<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/melanie-preisser-ba3bb282\/\">vice<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/hannasteplewskakubiak\/\">presidents<\/a> left in July.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Now Stratolaunch is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/q-stratolaunch-jobs.html\">posting 11 job openings<\/a>, including listings for two test pilots. \u201cAs a test pilot on the history-making Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft, the world\u2019s largest-wingspan aircraft, you will have the opportunity to accomplish new milestones in aviation,\u201d the company says.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Rocket Lab prepares launch facility at Wallops Island, Virginia<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/\">Rocket Lab Readies Launch Complex 2 for Electron Launches From U.S. Soil | Rocket Lab<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Rocket Lab, the global leader in dedicated small satellite launch, and Virginia Space at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), have completed a major construction milestone ahead of the first Electron launch from U.S. soil. The recent installation of the launch platform at Rocket Lab\u2019s second launch site, Launch Complex 2, marks one of the final steps in the construction of the new pad being built by the Rocket Lab and Virginia Space teams.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Construction on Launch Complex 2, located at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, began in February 2019. In the few months since then, more than 1,400 cubic yards of concrete have been poured to create the pad on which Electron\u2019s launch platform is mounted. The 66 ton launch platform was installed into its final position this month, ready for the 44 foot, 7.6 ton strongback to be mounted to the platform in coming weeks. Both the launch platform and strongback were built by Steel America in Norfolk, Virginia. The launch site largely mirrors Rocket Lab\u2019s first launch location, Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, where the Electron launch vehicle transports horizontally down the launch ramp, and then is lifted vertically by the strongback to be ready for launch.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In the coming weeks, work will focus on final build and integration of various launch pad systems that will process, load propellant into, and launch Electron. The final step in the completion of the site is integration and test activities, which is expected to be complete by December 2019. Once the site is complete, work begins on testing, commissioning, and integration at the launch site in preparation for the first Electron launch from U.S. soil in early 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/\">Blue Origin<\/a> plans to start\u00a0 flying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/new-shepard\/\">New Shepard<\/a> with people on board<\/strong> after two more uncrewed test flights. However, the test flights won&#8217;t happen before November.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/09\/25\/blue-origin-over-2-more-new-shepard-rocket-tests-before-first-people.html\">Blue Origin: Over 2 more New Shepard rocket tests before first people &#8211; CNBC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/blue-origin-flight-2020\/\">Blue Origin readies space tests but may delay flying people until 2020 \u2013 GeekWire<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From CNBC:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The company is developing the New Shepard rocket system for its space tourism business. Blue Origin is still hoping to fly people on New Shepard this year, although the company noted in a meeting with reporters on Tuesday that 2019 is quickly coming to an end, so those plans may move to 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Blue Origin also filed an application for its next test flight with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday. The filing is \u201cfor Flight #12 of the New Shepard space launch booster and capsule\u201d and has an operational window beginning in November. To be clear, that\u2019s not necessarily when Blue Origin will next launch New Shepard, but rather the earliest time they could with federal approvals.<\/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\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** SpaceX: *** Elon Musk presents plans for rapid development of Starship\/Super Heavy Booster space transport system while standing in front of first assembled Starship demonstrator on Saturday evening. Some of the highlights from his remarks: Starships Mk.1 and &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19807\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; Sept.30.2019<\/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-19807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-59t","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19729,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19729","url_meta":{"origin":19807,"position":0},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Sept.18.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** Blue Origin still planning for crewed New Shepard flights this year. @blueorigin's Wagner says 1st crewed flight of New Shepard on track to fly by end of this year. \u2014 Tariq J. Malik\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"The next spaceship being manufactured ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/The_next_spaceship_being_manufactured_1000x562-500x281.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20414,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20414","url_meta":{"origin":19807,"position":1},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Nov.30.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 30, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** Rocket Lab's launch of an Electron rocket has been delayed: Launch update: We're standing down from today's launch attempt to conduct further tests on ground systems. We'll update with a new target launch\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=0989135519","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22358,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=22358","url_meta":{"origin":19807,"position":2},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; July.31.2020","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** ULA Atlas V sends Perseverance rover on course to a Mars landing on February 18th. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, carrying NASA's Mars Perseverance rover, lifts off from Space 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\/2020\/07\/TERM-M-NEW-11-500x366.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20311,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20311","url_meta":{"origin":19807,"position":3},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Nov.20.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): [ Update 4: A statement from SpaceX indicates that they were pushing the pressure extremely high as a test of the tank design since they had decided it would never fly. SpaceX statement on\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\/11\/20191108_AEPS-full-power1-500x283.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21441,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=21441","url_meta":{"origin":19807,"position":4},"title":"Chesley Bonestell documentary now on the International Space Station","author":"TopSpacer","date":"March 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The award-winning documentary Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future was recently transmitted to the ISS for viewing by the space station's crew: \"Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future\", is now onboard the International Space Station, available for viewing by the crew. - Space Hipsters\/Facebook. See the earlier posting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Space Arts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Space Arts","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=20"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/MarsExpedition-ColliersMag-April-1954-1-391x500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19479,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19479","url_meta":{"origin":19807,"position":5},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Aug.21.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here): ** 8th Electron launch a success for Rocket Lab on August 19th. Four satellites were successfully deployed. Rocket Lab successfully launches eighth Electron mission, takes next step in recovery and reuse for future flights\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rockets&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rockets","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"ULA Delta IV GPS III Mission Art","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/gpsiiimissionart_1mbwebsite1-212x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19807","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=19807"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19819,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19807\/revisions\/19819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}