{"id":20961,"date":"2020-01-29T13:31:55","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T18:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20961"},"modified":"2020-01-30T12:49:04","modified_gmt":"2020-01-30T17:49:04","slug":"space-transport-roundup-june-29-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20961","title":{"rendered":"Space transport roundup &#8211; June.29.2020"},"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>SpaceX successfully launched a fourth batch of 60 Starlink satellites<\/strong> today from Cape Canaveral. The first stage booster landed safely and one of the two nosecone fairings was caught in a net on a ship as well. The other fairing had a soft landing near a second ship and will probably be recovered for possible reuse.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Liftoff! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rFRtJuTXFL\">pic.twitter.com\/rFRtJuTXFL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX\/status\/1222521667181670404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 29, 2020<\/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\">Falcon 9\u2019s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship \u2013 our 49th successful landing of an orbital class booster <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QyR3zyPcIp\">pic.twitter.com\/QyR3zyPcIp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX\/status\/1222523792699748355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 29, 2020<\/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\">Ms. Tree caught a fairing half \u2013 our third successful catch! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VJU8asg4gS\">pic.twitter.com\/VJU8asg4gS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX\/status\/1222532797501296640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 29, 2020<\/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\">Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AHkQYB3uNV\">pic.twitter.com\/AHkQYB3uNV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpaceX\/status\/1222537702358171648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 29, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>See also<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2020\/01\/weather-permitting-spacex-to-launch-third-starlink-mission-monday-morning\/\">SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites, catches a fairing &#8211; Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/spacex-launches-fourth-batch-of-starlink-satellites-tweaks-satellite-design\/\">SpaceX launches fourth batch of Starlink satellites, tweaks satellite design &#8211; SpaceNews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-first-rocket-nosecone-first-catch-five-months-booster-landing\/\">SpaceX just caught its first rocket nosecone in 5 months (and the booster landed, too) &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/2020\/01\/spacex-launch-third-operational-starlink-mission\/\">SpaceX&#8217;s Third Operational Starlink Mission preparing for launch &#8211; NASASpaceFlight.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More <a href=\"#SpaceX\">SpaceX items below<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spinlaunch.com\"><strong>Spinlaunch<\/strong><\/a><strong> and its centrifugal catapult launch system are described<\/strong> in the most detailed public article released so far for the secretive company: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/inside-spinlaunch-the-space-industrys-best-kept-secret\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Inside SpinLaunch, the Space Industry\u2019s Best Kept Secret | WIRED<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>In SpinLaunch&#8217;s design, once a rocket is spinning at launch speeds, an exit port in the centrifuge will open for a fraction of a second, sending the rocket shooting out. According to patents filed by the company, a counterbalance spinning opposite the rocket gets released at the same time, preventing the tether from becoming unbalanced and vibrating into oblivion. The rocket coasts for about a minute and ignites its engines at roughly 200,000 feet. At that altitude, there\u2019s hardly any atmosphere pushing against the rocket, so a minute-long engine burn is about all it takes to boost the vehicle to orbital speeds of around 17,500 miles an hour. Another burn, this one lasting just ten seconds, helps the rocket slide into orbit around Earth.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Or so [Spinlaunch founder and chief Jonathan] Yaney assures me. When I visited the company, the prototype centrifuge was still in pieces and Yaney wouldn\u2019t show me any videos of it in action. Instead, he insisted the math of SpinLaunch engineers was solid. Major investors\u2014including Airbus Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, and GV (part of Alphabet)\u2014have given their blessing too, pumping $80 million into the company. And last year, the US Department of Defense awarded SpinLaunch a contract to help develop its centrifuge. Still, the scant public evidence that any of it works leaves much to the imagination.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>** <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\">Blue Origin<\/a> to use Air Force facility to test <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/engines\/be-7\">BE-7<\/a> lunar lander engine<\/strong>. Blue will fund major improvements to the site located on Edwards Air Force Base in California.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2020\/air-force-blue-origin-team-new-california-test-site-7-lunar-lander-engine\/\">Air Force, Blue Origin team up on California test site for BE-7 engine \u2013 GeekWire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpafb.af.mil\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/2067136\/afrl-and-blue-origin-partner-on-test-site-for-be-7-lunar-lander-engine-developm\/\">AFRL and Blue Origin partner on test site for BE-7 lunar lander engine development &#8211; Wright-Patterson AFB<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The Air Force Research Laboratory and Blue Origin are developing a new test facility for the Blue Origin BE-7 lunar lander engine at the AFRL rocket lab here.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Capital improvements, funded by Blue Origin, will allow BE-7 testing in a simulated space-like environment. Planned work includes adding liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant capabilities, along with other facility upgrades.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>AFRL and Blue Origin signed a 15-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement Dec. 11, 2019 to develop a test facility for the Blue Origin BE-7 Lunar Lander Engine here. The CRADA was signed by Dr. Shawn Phillips, chief of the Rocket Propulsion Division, and Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The BE-7 engine is a new, high performance 10,000 pound-thrust dual-expander cycle engine for in-space applications, including Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon lunar lander. The new AFRL test capabilities will support various development, qualification, and production acceptance tests of the BE-7 engine under future Commercial Test Agreements, also to be funded by Blue Origin.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20962\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20962\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpafb.af.mil\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/2067136\/afrl-and-blue-origin-partner-on-test-site-for-be-7-lunar-lander-engine-developm\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20962\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=20962\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/200128-F-F3456-10021.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"780,439\" 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=\"Altitude facility at Edwards Air Force Base,\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;The Altitude facility at Edwards Air Force Base, California, does tactical scale research on next generation rocket motor and engine components, propellant formulations, and subsystems; and high vacuum research on satellite components, subsystems, and systems. Research testing includes solid rocket motor testing at simulated altitudes up to 120,000 feet. The complex has been used for space simulation to validate thrust vector control systems, baseline a standard for solid rocket motor propellants, research extendable nozzle cones, and systems, and research space qualified ignition systems.&amp;#8221; Credits: AFRL&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/200128-F-F3456-10021.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20962\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/200128-F-F3456-10021-500x281.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/200128-F-F3456-10021-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/200128-F-F3456-10021-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/200128-F-F3456-10021.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;The Altitude facility at Edwards Air Force Base, California, does tactical scale research on next generation rocket motor and engine components, propellant formulations, and subsystems; and high vacuum research on satellite components, subsystems, and systems. Research testing includes solid rocket motor testing at simulated altitudes up to 120,000 feet. The complex has been used for space simulation to validate thrust vector control systems, baseline a standard for solid rocket motor propellants, research extendable nozzle cones, and systems, and research space qualified ignition systems.&#8221; Credits: AFRL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>** <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\"><strong>Rocket Lab<\/strong><\/a><strong> set to launch <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/\">Birds of a Feather<\/a> mission with NRO smallsat<\/strong> during window that opens Friday, Jan.31st:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Rocket Lab&#8217;s 11th Electron flight &#8211; Birds of a Feather &#8211; will launch a\u00a0dedicated mission for the United States National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The launch window is scheduled to open on 31 January NZDT and the mission will lift off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The NRO competitively awarded the contract under the Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) contract vehicle. RASR allows the NRO to explore new launch opportunities that can provide a streamlined, commercial approach for getting small satellites into space.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Looking for the best way to watch our upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NROL151?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NROL151<\/a> mission w\/ <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RocketLab?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RocketLab<\/a>? Make sure to check out the livestream at <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ViASbw1JTl\">https:\/\/t.co\/ViASbw1JTl<\/a> &amp; Rocket Lab&#8217;s YouTube channel on launch day. Launch window opens 7 p.m. Jan. 30 EST\/1 p.m. Jan. 31 NZDT. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BirdsOfAFeather?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BirdsOfAFeather<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iuQdjdIcEg\">pic.twitter.com\/iuQdjdIcEg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NRO (@NatReconOfc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NatReconOfc\/status\/1222189131796811776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 28, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>See also<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/assets\/Uploads\/FINAL-F11-Birds-of-a-Feather-Presskit.pdf\">Birds of a Feather Press Kit (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketlabusa.com\/\">Rocket Lab To Launch National Reconnaissance Office Mission | Rocket Lab<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>** <strong>An update on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exodus-space.com\/\">Exodus Space Corp<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exodus-space.com\/astroclipper\/\">Astroclipper<\/a><\/strong> orbital spaceplane:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20952\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20952\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.exodus-space.com\/astroclipper\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20952\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=20952\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AstroClipper-1000x680-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1000,680\" 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=\"AstroClipper\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;AstroClipper first stage detaching from the upper stage. Credits: Exodus Aerospace&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AstroClipper-1000x680-1.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20952\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AstroClipper-1000x680-1-500x340.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AstroClipper-1000x680-1-500x340.jpg 500w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AstroClipper-1000x680-1-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/AstroClipper-1000x680-1.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AstroClipper first stage detaching from the upper stage. Credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exodus-space.com\/astroclipper\/\">Exodus Aerospace<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/astroclipper-space-plane-concept-cargo-passenger-flights.html\">Fancy a ride on a space plane? Maybe AstroClipper will be what you&#8217;re looking for. &#8211; Space.com<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.exodus-space.com\/news\/exodus-space-2019-in-review\/\">Exodus Space 2019 in Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/astroclipper-space-plane-concept-cargo-passenger-flights.html\">Space.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Startup Exodus Space Corp. plans to build a space plane to ferry cargo around <a class=\"hawk-link-parsed\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Earth<\/a>. Eventually, that cargo could include people, if the spacecraft is deemed safe enough.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The spaceship \u2014 called AstroClipper \u2014 will take off from a runaway, make a flight into space and then land again, <a class=\"hawk-link-parsed\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/dream-chaser-space-plane-crew-missions.html\" data-track-type0=\"click\" data-index0=\"2\" data-component0=\"Inline links\" data-count0=\"12\"><u>plane-style<\/u><\/a>. A heft booster at the space plane&#8217;s back end will help it get into orbit by giving AstroClipper the speed it requires to break out of Earth&#8217;s atmosphere.<\/em><\/p>\n<aside class=\"hawk-widget\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\"><\/aside>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Exodus is new and still raising money, but its team includes deep experience across the <a class=\"hawk-link-parsed\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/virgin-galactic-third-spaceshiptwo-space-plane-progress.html\" data-track-type0=\"click\" data-index0=\"3\" data-component0=\"Inline links\" data-count0=\"12\"><u>space industry<\/u><\/a>. Principals at the company have worked at SpaceX, Lockheed Martin and NASA, among others.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20126\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20126\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20126\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=20126\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1.png\" data-orig-size=\"1596,798\" 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=\"AstroClipper &amp;#8211; Exodus Space\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The flight sequence for the Exodus Space AstroClipper reusable launch system.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1-1024x512.png\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20126\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1-500x250.png\" alt=\"AstroClipper - Exodus Space\" width=\"500\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1-500x250.png 500w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-11.32.29-AM1.png 1596w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20126\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The flight sequence for the Exodus Space AstroClipper reusable launch system. Credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exodus-space.com\/astroclipper\/\">Exodus Space<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>** <strong>A NASA KSC video highlights the Commercial Crew program<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>NASA and Commercial Crew Program partners Boeing and SpaceX are preparing to launch astronauts from Florida&#8217;s Space Coast.<\/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\/WrX0287xk10?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>Misc. rocket items<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/satelliteobservation.net\/2020\/01\/26\/cnes-future-launcher-roadmap-analyzed\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CNES\u2019 future launcher roadmap analyzed \u2013 SatelliteObservation.net<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/interactive.satellitetoday.com\/via\/february-2020\/launchers-get-ready-for-the-small-satellite-gold-rush\/\" target=\"_d\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Launchers Get Ready for the Small Satellite Gold Rush | Via Satellite<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/science\/2020\/01\/rocket-report-it-takes-three-years-to-build-an-sls-long-march-5b-coming\/\">Rocket Report: It takes three years to build an SLS? Long March 5B coming | Ars Technica<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"SpaceX\"><\/a>** <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spacex.com\">SpaceX<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>**** <strong>Crew Dragon abort test flight accomplished all the primary mission goals<\/strong> according to results released so far: <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2020\/01\/23\/spacex-releases-preliminary-results-from-crew-dragon-abort-test\/\">SpaceX releases preliminary results from Crew Dragon abort test \u2013 Spaceflight Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Data from the Jan. 19 in-flight launch escape demonstration of SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon spacecraft indicate the performance of the capsule\u2019s SuperDraco abort engines was \u201cflawless\u201d as the thrusters boosted the ship away from the top of a Falcon 9 rocket with a peak acceleration of about 3.3Gs, officials said Thursday.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The Jan. 19 test demonstrated the Crew Dragon\u2019s ability to safely carry astronauts away from a launch emergency, such as a rocket failure, and return the crew to a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>**** <strong>Starship<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>****** <strong>SpaceX conducted multiple pressure tests on propellant tanks<\/strong> in the past several days at the Boca Chica Beach facility. These included tests on a prototype nosecone tank and on a second large main propulsion tank. (The nosecone header tank is used to keep the center of mass of the Starship positioned correctly as propellants are fed into the engines.) The tanks were each tested to the point of destruction so as to determine the margin of safety above their planned operating pressures. The latest large tank test used liquid nitrogen, whose cryogenic temperature strengthens the stainless steel structure. The tank did not burst until the pressure reached 8.5 bar, which Elon Musk said was the target level. The highest operating pressure will be 6 bar.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-starship-new-explosive-test-results-elon-musk\/\">SpaceX Starship just aced another explosive tank test and Elon Musk has the results &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslarati.com\/spacex-ready-first-starship-destined-for-space\/\">SpaceX is ready to build the first Starship destined for space after latest tests &#8211; Teslarati<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>****** <strong>SpaceX Boca Chica &#8211; Starship Test Tank 2 Destructive Cryo Test<\/strong> &#8211; Jan.29.2020 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSUu1lih2RifWkKtDOJdsBA\/videos\">NASASpaceflight.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>The second Starship test tank is tested to overpressure (8.5 Bar) at SpaceX&#8217;s Boca Chica launch site. Video and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF. Edited by Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer)<\/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\/2TDaMCMEc8Q?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> SpaceX Boca Chica &#8211; Starship Nosecone Heads to Launch Site &#8211; Bulkhead Flip<\/strong> &#8211; Jan.23.2020 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSUu1lih2RifWkKtDOJdsBA\/videos\">NASASpaceflight.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>Ops are ramping up at SpaceX Boca Chica as the Test Tank bulkhead was flipped and the Starship Nosecone\/Header Tank was transported to the launch site for its own proofing test. Video and Photos from Mary (@bocachicagal) for NSF.<\/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\/xD2Ig7jyzqw?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>SpaceX Boca Chica &#8211; Starship Header Tank Pressurization Test<\/strong> &#8211; Jan.25.2020 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSUu1lih2RifWkKtDOJdsBA\/videos\">NASASpaceflight.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>SpaceX conducted a pressurization test of a Starship header tank on Jan. 24 at their Boca Chica launch facility. NSF&#8217;s BocaChicaGal (Mary) filmed the test for several hours. The footage has been compiled into a timelapse of the test.<\/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\/8z-VwbhiZOk?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 Starship lands on the Moon<\/strong> in this nicely made animation at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCh2dnrLCNHDS2IV9I2R58Pw\/videos\">Hazegrayart &#8211; YouTube<\/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\/srAAMhnVRlk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>===<\/em><strong><em> Amazon Ad <\/em><\/strong><em>===<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/149079655X\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=149079655X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=hobbyspace&amp;linkId=657d30fb3b908f934c95d12a7eb87dc0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Large and Dangerous Rocket Ships:<br \/>\nThe History of High-power Rocketry\u0092s Ascent to the Edges of Outer Space<\/a><\/strong><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=149079655X\" 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=149079655X&amp;asins=149079655X&amp;linkId=ea1dd6da767642076473b783d8663a0f&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): ** SpaceX successfully launched a fourth batch of 60 Starlink satellites today from Cape Canaveral. The first stage booster landed safely and one of the two nosecone fairings was caught in a net on a ship as well. The &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=20961\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Space transport roundup &#8211; June.29.2020<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5,106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rockets","category-space-transport-roundup"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-5s5","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18503,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=18503","url_meta":{"origin":20961,"position":0},"title":"Space transport roundup &#8211; April.16.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport: ** Northrop-Grumman Antares set to launch Cygnus cargo vehicle to the ISS from Wallops Island, Virginia on Wednesday, April 17th at 4:46 p.m. EDT (2046 GMT): U.S. Resupply Ship Poised for Launch as Crew Studies Life Science \u2013\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\/04\/33744244598_a8266fedaf_o1-958x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15340,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15340","url_meta":{"origin":20961,"position":1},"title":"Videos: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Dragon cargo ship to the ISS; Reused booster lands successfully","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket just launched a Dragon spacecraft into orbit this morning to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. The Dragon is carrying over 4,800 pounds (2177 kg) of research materials and equipment plus supplies for the crew. The Dragon will rendezvous and berth to the ISS\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\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/d3haTESabYI\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24176,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=24176","url_meta":{"origin":20961,"position":2},"title":"Space transport roundup: Part 2 &#8211; SpaceX &#8211; July.28.2021","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This roundup provides a sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here). Part 2 here focuses on SpaceX while Part 1 reports on activities and news of other space transportation companies and organizations around the world. There were no Starship prototype flights since\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\/06\/eVTOL-logistics-supply-equip-troop-handling1-500x281.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12596,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12596","url_meta":{"origin":20961,"position":3},"title":"Videos: SpaceX lands booster after launch of communications satellite to GEO","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"SpaceX launched a Japanese TV satellite from Cape Canaveral to geostationary orbit last night and also landed the first stage on a floating sea platform. This was a more difficult feat than its previous landing. The GEO orbit trajectory required a more energetic launch that meant the first stage was\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\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/xlnIT39NkVM\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14127,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=14127","url_meta":{"origin":20961,"position":4},"title":"SpaceX successfully re-launches and lands orbital rocket booster","author":"TopSpacer","date":"March 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"SpaceX today successfully launched a communications satellite into orbit and also flew the first stage booster back down for a safe landing onto a floating platform at sea. This launch and landing are historic because the booster had flown once before (April 2016). This was the first time an orbital\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\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/WebCastScreenCapture1-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17317,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=17317","url_meta":{"origin":20961,"position":5},"title":"Videos: DIY rocketeer profile, Retrieving a big wet rocket, Blue Origin&#8217;s giant lifter, &#038; More about Virgin Galactic&#8217;s SS2","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Some miscellaneous rocket\/space related videos: ** The DIY Rocketeer Building SpaceX Replicas of Self-Landing Rockets: A Motherboard profile of Joe Barnard, who is about developing model rockets with vectored thrust and landing capabilities (see posts here and here): Joe Barnard left his background in videography and music production to launch\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rocketry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rocketry","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=21"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/xvtzKox3QYg\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20961","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=20961"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20967,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20961\/revisions\/20967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}