{"id":19914,"date":"2019-10-12T14:08:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-12T18:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19914"},"modified":"2019-10-12T14:08:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-12T18:08:00","slug":"space-transport-roundup-oct-12-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19914","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; Oct.12.2019"},"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>Northrop Grumman <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pegasus_(rocket)\">Pegasus XL<\/a> launched with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/icon\">ICON<\/a> spacecraft<\/strong>. After nearly a year of delay due to various technical issues, the rocket was air launched from a L-1011 aircraft on Thursday off the coast of Florida. NASA\u2019s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will &#8220;study the dynamic zone in our atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather from above&#8221;.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/10\/11\/nasa-satellite-to-study-ionosphere-launches-after-two-year-delay\/\">NASA satellite to study ionosphere launches after two-year delay \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/10\/nasas-icon-launch-ngis-pegasus-xl-rocket\/\">NASA\u2019s ICON mission launches on Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket &#8211; NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/pegasus-launches-icon-space-science-mission\/\">Pegasus launches ICON space science mission &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/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\/euCA45ZaFik?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>Northrop Grumman buys back two Pegasus rockets from Stratolaunch<\/strong>, which had puirchased them for air launch from the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stratolaunch_Systems#Carrier_aircraft\">giant Roc aircraft<\/a>. Stratolaunch now has other plans:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/10\/10\/rockets-purchased-by-stratolaunch-back-under-northrop-grumman-control\/\">Rockets purchased by Stratolaunch back under Northrop Grumman control \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Phil Joyce, vice president of space launch programs at Northrop Grumman, said this week that the company is trying to sell the launches using the two remaining Pegasus XL rockets, and officials plan to keep the Pegasus rocket\u2019s L-1011 carrier jet flying for at least five or 10 more years.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The airborne launch of NASA\u2019s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, scientific satellite Thursday night off Florida\u2019s east coast is the final scheduled flight of a Pegasus XL rocket. Variants of the solid-fueled Pegasus rocket have flown on 43 satellite delivery missions since 1990.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cWe actually purchased those back (from Stratolaunch),\u201d Joyce said in an interview with Spaceflight Now. \u201cSo they\u2019re in a very advanced state of integration, which means they\u2019re available for a very rapid response launch. We could launch one of those in six months, the second one probably in eight (months).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>**<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratolaunch.com\/\">Stratolaunch<\/a> has new ownership and a new business plan<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">As we continue on our mission, Stratolaunch will bring the carrier aircraft test and operations program fully in-house. We thank <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VulcanInc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@VulcanInc<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScaledC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ScaledC<\/a> for turning an ambitious idea into a flight-proven aircraft. (2\/2)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Stratolaunch\/status\/1182702414886912000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>See also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/stratolaunch-air-launch-venture-says-sold-paul-allens-vulcan-new-owner\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stratolaunch says it\u2019s been sold by Paul Allen\u2019s Vulcan to a new owner \u2013 GeekWire<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Northrop Grumman&#8217;s satellite servicing spacecraft launched on Proton<\/strong> rocket along with a Eutelsat comm-sat. The MEV-1 (Mission Extension Vehicle 1) will reach the Intelsat IS-901 satellite in geostationary orbit in about 3 months. The IS-901 is running out of propellant to maintain its position and orientation. MEV-1 will attach to the apogee rocket nozzle on the satellite and use its own electric propulsion system to do the station-keeping duties for IS-901. In about five years, MEV-1 will park IS-901 in a higher, graveyard orbit and move on to another comm-sat nearing the end of its fuel and repeat the service.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/10\/10\/successful-proton-launch-deploys-eutelsat-satellite-first-mission-extension-vehicle\/\">Successful Proton launch deploys Eutelsat satellite, first Mission Extension Vehicle \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2019\/10\/proton-rocket-launch-northrop-extension-vehicle\/\">Proton rocket ride-share launches Northrop Grumman\u2019s Mission Extension Vehicle &#8211; NASASpaceFlight.com<\/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\/mlfGtppyB_g?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.rocketlabusa.com\">Rocket Lab<\/a> gets FAA license that covers multiple launches over five years<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FAA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FAA<\/a> has issued Rocket Lab with a Launch Operator License for Electron missions from LC-1! This is a key step in making Electron the most frequently launched vehicle in the world. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/klXXNtUBb1\">pic.twitter.com\/klXXNtUBb1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RocketLab\/status\/1182379899811577856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 10, 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-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">All Electron missions so far have been carried out under various launch-specific FAA licenses. With our new <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FAANews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FAANews<\/a> Launch Operator License, we can perform multiple Electron launches from LC-1 for the next 5 years, without the need for a new license every time. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sO0eK3FoXN\">pic.twitter.com\/sO0eK3FoXN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RocketLab\/status\/1182380334341427200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 10, 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\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The result? A streamlined path to orbit for our customers. Efficient licensing supports frequent launch opportunities and truly responsive space access, and we&#8217;re thrilled to be delivering this for small sats. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0eKizckxRn\">pic.twitter.com\/0eKizckxRn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RocketLab\/status\/1182380572703780864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>** <a href=\"https:\/\/virginorbit.com\/\"><strong>Virgin Orbit<\/strong><\/a><strong> working with Polish universities to send a CubeSat mission to Mars<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/virginorbit.com\/satrevolution-virgin-orbit-and-polish-universities-establish-mars-consortium\/\">SatRevolution, Virgin Orbit and Polish Universities Establish Mars Consortium | Virgin Orbit<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Scientists and engineers from nearly a dozen Polish universities have teamed up with Poland-based satellite company SatRevolution and Sir Richard Branson\u2019s small satellite launch company Virgin Orbit to establish a new consortium to design and carry out the world\u2019s first dedicated commercial small satellite mission to Mars. The parties established the consortium at a formal signing ceremony during the Impact Mobility\u201919 rEVolution conference in Katowice, Poland.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The consortium will jointly develop the first in a series of up to three Mars missions, with the initial launch expected as early as three years from now.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Masten partners with AI experts<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/masten-partners-with-msbai-for-ai-augmented-space-flight-300932678.html\">Masten partners with MSBAI for AI-Augmented Space Flight &#8211; Masten Space<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Masten Space Systems announced a new partnership with MSBAI to integrate cognitive artificial intelligence capabilities for autonomous space flight applications.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong>Using Earth&#8217;s upper atmosphere to replenish propellants for a debris removal spacecraf<\/strong>t will be studied by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/John_Slough\">John Slough<\/a>, MSNW LLC, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/niac\/2019_Phase_I_Phase_II\/\">NIAC Phase I<\/a> grant: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/niac\/2019_Phase_I_Phase_II\/Crosscutting_High_Apogee_Refueling_Orbital_Navigator\">Crosscutting High Apogee Refueling Orbital Navigator (CHARON) | NASA<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em> An orbital vehicle that could utilize in-situ upper atmospheric resources would enable a host of missions, and in particular ADR [Active Debris Removal], that require extremely high delta-V in a fast, responsive, and repeatable manner. The concept proposed here, the Crosscutting, High Apogee, Refueling Orbital Navigator (CHARON) will provide such capability.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>CHARON accomplishes this in the following manner: first it obtains fuel by scooping up and storing the low density N2 and O encountered during the low altitude perigee periods of the highly elliptical orbits. Incorporation of the ultra-lightweight, high thrust-to-power Electrodeless Lorentz Force thruster developed at MSNW enables CHARON to operate efficiently on stored gas in a variety of configurations depending upon mission requirements. As CHARON can thrust at apogee, it can achieve the extensive orbit lowering needed for ADR.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Additionally, CHARON can thrust at perigee to provide drag compensation for very low perigee refueling, stable non-Keplerian orbits, or rapid phase changes. CHARON requires only 5 kW of on-board solar power as energy collected during the higher altitude portions of its elliptical orbit can be stored for higher power operation later. Functioning in this manner CHARON can generate 1.2 N of thrust at 2500 sec of Isp for ADR. During a 10 year mission life, CHARON will process 5500 kg of propellant to ferry 80 spacecraft, perform 850 degrees of plane change, with over 100km\/s of delta-V, all with a single spacecraft launch, and requiring no additional onboard propellant.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_19920\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19920\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/niac\/2019_Phase_I_Phase_II\/Crosscutting_High_Apogee_Refueling_Orbital_Navigator\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"19920\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=19920\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1.png\" data-orig-size=\"1264,840\" 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=\"Crosscutting High Apogee Refueling Orbital Navigator (CHARON)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A diagram showing the steps taken by the Crosscutting High Apogee Refueling Orbital Navigator (CHARON) to carry out Active Debris Removal. A study funded by NIAC. Credits: John Slough,&lt;br \/&gt;\nMSNW LLC.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1-1024x681.png\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-19920\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1-500x332.png\" alt=\"Crosscutting High Apogee Refueling Orbital Navigator (CHARON)\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1-500x332.png 500w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/niac_2019_slough1.png 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-19920\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A diagram showing the steps taken by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/niac\/2019_Phase_I_Phase_II\/Crosscutting_High_Apogee_Refueling_Orbital_Navigator\/\">Crosscutting High Apogee Refueling Orbital Navigator<\/a> (CHARON) to carry out Active Debris Removal. John Slough won funding from NIAC for a Phase I study of the CHARON\u00a0 concept. Credits: John Slough, MSNW LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>** <strong>Boeing sets dates for <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boeing_CST-100_Starliner\">Starliner<\/a> crew spacecraft tests<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/10\/09\/boeing-reveals-target-dates-for-initial-starliner-test-flights\/\">Boeing reveals target dates for initial Starliner test flights \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Boeing officials said Wednesday that the company is targeting Dec. 17 for the launch of the first unpiloted orbital test flight of the new Starliner crew capsule from Cape Canaveral on a week-long demonstration mission to the International Space Station, a precursor to a mission with astronauts next year.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Meanwhile, engineers in the New Mexico desert are readying a Starliner test vehicle for a pad abort test scheduled for the morning of Nov. 4, local time, during which the crew capsule will demonstrate its ability to escape an emergency on the launch pad, according to industry sources.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>But officials did not say when the Starliner could be ready to launch with astronauts. The Starliner\u2019s first crewed test flight will use a different spacecraft than the one set for launch in December.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>Commercial Crew program in the spotlight this week<\/strong>. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine visited SpaceX HQ in Hawthorne, California to check out the status of development of the Crew Dragon. An in-flight abort test is coming up<\/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\/DaJ0n0j-UB8?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 of the event:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Despite all the attention attracted by the Starship project, Elon Musk insists that Commercial Crew is the company&#8217;s top priority and they will shift resources to any aspect of it that can speed up the first crewed flight: <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/10\/10\/nasa-chief-says-spacex-properly-focused-on-crew-dragon\/\">NASA chief says SpaceX properly focused on Crew Dragon \u2013 CBS News\/Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The Crew Dragon program has remained on track as set by the available Commercial Crew Program funding: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-elon-musk-reveals-crew-dragon-on-budget\/\">SpaceX on track with Crew Dragon program despite thin NASA budget &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The destruction of a Crew Dragon during a static test last April revealed a serious engineering flaw and this revelation was due to a very rigorous testing program: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/10\/10\/elon-musk-destroyed-spacex-capsule-came-from-testing-to-the-extreme.html\">Elon Musk: Destroyed SpaceX capsule came from testing to the &#8216;extreme&#8217; &#8211; CNBC<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The event showed off the Crew Dragon that will be the first to carry astronauts: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-first-photos-astronaut-rated-crew-dragon\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s astronaut launch debut Crew Dragon capsule shown off in first public photos &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*** <strong>Tim Dodd, the <a href=\"https:\/\/everydayastronaut.com\/\">Everyday Astronaut<\/a>, interviewed Bridenstine<\/strong> after the news conference:<\/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\/TU_vOt3wSDg?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>Tour the Hawthorne CCP facilities in this 360 degree VR video<\/strong> from NASA: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Rc5D2Jb7qXQ\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NASA&#8217;s Commercial Crew Program VR 360 Tour: SpaceX Crew Dragon &#8211; YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In Part 2 of NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program VR 360 Tour, NASA Communications Specialist Joshua Santora takes you on a tour of SpaceX Headquarters in Hawthorne, California. This immersive, Virtual Reality experience exhibits the design and manufacturing of the SpaceX Crew Dragon. Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/nasa.gov\/stem\/ccp\">nasa.gov\/stem\/ccp<\/a> for more STEM educational resources featuring NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program.<\/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\/Rc5D2Jb7qXQ?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>Find more Commercial Crew Program VR 360 Tour videos at the C<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/NASAKennedy\/videos\">ape Kennedy Youtube\u00a0 channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>*** <strong>A Falcon 9 booster will be flown a fourth time for the first time<\/strong> when the next set of Starliner satellites are launched either late this month or in early November. <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2019\/10\/11\/spacexs-next-launch-to-mark-another-incremental-step-in-rocket-reusability\/\">SpaceX\u2019s next launch to mark another incremental step in rocket reusability \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>SpaceX next mission, slated to carry the company\u2019s second set of Starlink broadband satellites into orbit, will be the first to fly with a reused Falcon 9 booster making its fourth launch when it takes off in the coming weeks.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX\u2019s vice president of build and flight reliability, confirmed earlier this week the plan to use a thrice-flown booster on the next Falcon 9 launch.<br \/>\n&#8230;<br \/>\n<\/em><em>\u201cCurrently we use our boosters 10 times, they\u2019re designed for 10 times,\u201d Koenigsmann said Monday during a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Engineering. \u201cWe\u2019re going to start with a fourth time with the next launch, actually. Dragon has been used three times, Crew Dragon will be used up to five times (initially only for cargo missions). So all these things help because you don\u2019t have to build something again. You have to inspect it, refurbish it where you need to refurbish it, but ideally you need to keep that really, really low.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>***<strong> A Falcon 9 to head\u00a0 due south from Cape Canaveral<\/strong> to put remote sensing satellite into a polar orbit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-falcon-9-next-west-coast-launch-moves-east\/\">SpaceX to shift Falcon 9&#8217;s next West Coast launch to Florida, the first of its kind in decades &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>According to NASASpaceflight spaceflight reporter Michael Baylor and an Argentinian government website, SpaceX appears to have decided to move its next West Coast launch from California to Florida, signifying the first East Coast polar launch in half a century could be just four months away.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Initially expected to launch out of SpaceX\u2019s Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) SLC-4E pad on a Falcon 9 rocket, the Argentinian space agency\u2019s (CONAE) SAOCOM-1B Earth observation satellite was scheduled to lift off no earlier than February 2020. That launch window remains the same but Florida\u2019s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) has somehow arranged approval to reopen the United States\u2019 Eastern polar launch corridor. The story behind the corridor\u2019s closure is a bizarre one.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">====<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1926837428\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1926837428&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkId=ee1ab3a716ce4ecf3f7e17827e465b8b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Manned Lunar Landing and Return<\/a><\/em><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=1926837428\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/strong><\/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=1926837428&amp;asins=1926837428&amp;linkId=cd6b0d9b510f26662af856ed0cd9e708&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 (find previous roundups here): ** Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL launched with ICON spacecraft. After nearly a year of delay due to various technical issues, the rocket was air launched from a L-1011 aircraft on Thursday off the coast of Florida. NASA\u2019s Ionospheric Connection &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19914\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; Oct.12.2019<\/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-19914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-5bc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17050,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17050","url_meta":{"origin":19914,"position":0},"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":16673,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16673","url_meta":{"origin":19914,"position":1},"title":"Videos: &#8220;Space to Ground&#8221; report on the ISS &#8211; Aug.31.2018","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 31, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the latest Space to Ground report from NASA on activities related to the International Space Station: https:\/\/youtu.be\/sGuTEaR4h_g A selection of other recent NASA videos of interest: ** An overview of NASA's\u00a0ICON mission, which is set to be orbited in October via a Northrop Pegasus XL rocket air-launched from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Living in Space&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Living in Space","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/sGuTEaR4h_g\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25472,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=25472","url_meta":{"origin":19914,"position":2},"title":"Videos: \u201cSpace to Ground\u201d &#038; other space habitat reports \u2013 Nov.11.2022","author":"TopSpacer","date":"November 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the latest episode in NASA's Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station: https:\/\/youtu.be\/YMQUJMuh6sU ** Expedition 68 Northrop Grumman Cygnus Cargo Craft Arrives at Space Station - Nov. 8, 2022 -\u00a0NASA Video Loaded with food, fuel, research investigations, and supplies, the unpiloted Northrop\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\/04\/bigelow-xbase-_20160808-001-300x232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23898,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=23898","url_meta":{"origin":19914,"position":3},"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":[]},{"id":24899,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=24899","url_meta":{"origin":19914,"position":4},"title":"Videos: \u201cSpace to Ground\u201d &#038; other space habitat reports \u2013 Feb.25.2022","author":"TopSpacer","date":"February 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the latest episode in NASA's Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station: https:\/\/youtu.be\/eh5yIeIfauQ ** Expedition 66 Northrop Grumman Cygnus Cargo Craft Arrives at Space Station - Feb. 21, 2022 - NASA Video Loaded with food, fuel, and supplies, the unpiloted Northrop Grumman\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\/04\/bigelow-xbase-_20160808-001-300x232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21247,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=21247","url_meta":{"origin":19914,"position":5},"title":"Videos: &#8220;Space to Ground&#8221; ISS report &#8211; Feb.21.2020","author":"TopSpacer","date":"February 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the latest episode in NASA's Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station: https:\/\/youtu.be\/E5sEcxiRPEQ ** NASA & Axiom Space Designing Commercial Expansion Of Space Station - Scott Manley It's been 4 years since NASA first seriously suggested the idea of commercial expansion of\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\/04\/bigelow-xbase-_20160808-001-300x232.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19914","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=19914"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19922,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19914\/revisions\/19922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}