Miscellaneous Space News

[claytorj]

2013 Year in review:

Year in Review (Part I): Unmanned probes reach new milestones in 2013

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/year-in-review-part-i-unmanned-probes-2013/

YIR (Part II) – Lunar and Saturnian exploration captures public’s attention

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/yir-part-ii-lunar-saturnian-exploration-attention/

YIR (Part III) – Mars exploration continues; India joins an elite club

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/yir-part-iii-mars-exploration-elite-club/

YIR (Part IV) – Exoplanet discoveries highlight new exploration capabilities

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/yir-part-iv-exoplanet-exploration-capabilities/

 

[claytorj]

Omnibus bill gives NASA $17.65 billion

The omnibus bill provides $696 million for commercial crew in FY14, a number closer to the Senate’s proposed $775 million than the House’s $500 million, but will short of the administration’s request $821 million. NASA officials had previous said they need full funding to keep the program on track to begin crewed flights to the International Space Station in 2017.

http://www.spacepolitics.com/

 

[claytorj]

Article about launch services provider Sea Launch:

“2014 will be a slow year for us given that most of the missions for 2014 had already been sold by the time we were back and flying,” said Karlsen. “We presently have one mission manifested for Eutelsat in April. We’re focusing on securing backlog with a capability of supporting three missions in 2015, and four to five missions per year thereafter.”

A Heavyweight Battle: How Sea Launch Plans to Stay Afloat With SpaceX in its Waters - Via Satellite

 

[claytorj]

NASA Puts Out the Call for Commercial Lunar Landers - NBC News

Companies interested in Lunar Catalyst have until March 17 to submit business plans and proposals to NASA, which could decide to purchase hardware or services at a future date, Crusan said.

 

[claytorj]

A nice summary of Bigelow's plans for inflatable space stations:

Bigelow offers NASA, others inflatable space stations at reasonable rates - Houston Space news | Examiner.com


Also, anyone heard of this crazy Canadian? Complete with videos.

“Rockets have been around for a long time and they work OK. The problem with a rocket is that it has to carry not just its payload but all of its fuel, the fuel tanks and a lot of additional equipment. That makes a rocket big, and big is expensive,” Graf wrote via the cannon’s Kickstarter page. “Let’s face it, barring some breakthrough in advanced physics rockets aren’t going to get much smaller or cheaper than they are now.

Guy builds a *real* space cannon to (cheaply) send satellites into orbit... from his backyard | VentureBeat | Science | by Tom Cheredar

 

[claytorj]

NASA Puts Out the Call for Commercial Lunar Landers - NBC News

More info on Lunar Catalyst:

Nasa turns to private companies to exploit the moons resources | South China Morning Post

 

[claytorj]

This all begs the question: If SpaceX is going to build this gargantuan rocket on its own dime, anyway, why is the U.S. Congress forcing NASA to develop the less capable Space Launch System (SLS) for many billions of dollars more?

Will SpaceX Super Rocket Kill NASA's 'Rocket to Nowhere'? | Private Companies Building Faster, Better, Cheaper Rockets | Space.com

 

[claytorj]

Arianespace To ESA: We Need Help

 

[Doug_G]

Arianespace To ESA: We Need Help

A combination of new competition from U.S.-based Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and an unfavorable euro-dollar exchange rate means European governments may need to increase subsidies for operations of the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch vehicle at Europe’s Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana.

Right. The answer to innovation and free market capitalism is clearly government subsidies. If you can't compete on a level playing field, simply tilt the field. That'll move the economy forward towards growth and efficiency. Yep.

 

[doug]

Elon predicted trouble for Ariane over a year ago. Jump to the 40 sec mark if you're impatient.

 

[VolkerP]

Arianespace To ESA: We Need Help

The Europeans invested some €500m in a (Russian) Soyuz launch pad in Guiana. Next move by the Russians was to increase cost of every Soyuz vehicle delivered to Guiana. I mean how silly can these Eurocrats be? :cursing:

 

[Mario Kadastik]

The Europeans invested some €500m in a (Russian) Soyuz launch pad in Guiana. Next move by the Russians was to increase cost of every Soyuz vehicle delivered to Guiana. I mean how silly can these Eurocrats be? :cursing:

There are only two things infinite: the universe and human stupidity.

 

[ggies07]

SpaceX was given a shout out in the new season of House of Cards, episode 7.

 

[Mario Kadastik]

SpaceX was given a shout out in the new season of House of Cards, episode 7.

[OT]Seriously, the series just came out today and You're already at episode 7 though no more spoilers please

 

[ggies07]

[OT]Seriously, the series just came out today and You're already at episode 7 though no more spoilers please

Haha, yeah, the wife and I took off today to stay home and have a marathon. Oh sorry, didnt mean to spoil that, was just excited. Hahaha. No more from me...

 

[claytorj]

Lots of interesting information on some of the more important experiments that have happened on the ISS:

Space News: Ten more years for the International Space Station

 

[JRod0802]

A nice summary of Bigelow's plans for inflatable space stations:

Bigelow offers NASA, others inflatable space stations at reasonable rates - Houston Space news | Examiner.com

For those that are interested, here's a more detailed summary:

Part 1: Affordable habitats means more Buck Rogers for less money says Bigelow | NASASpaceFlight.com
Part 2: Bigelow: Moon Property rights would help create a lunar industry | NASASpaceFlight.com

 

[claytorj]

Arianespace To ESA: We Need Help

Another fly in the ointment for Arianespace:

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Lighter_engines_a_headache_for_satellite_launcher_Ariane_999.html

 

[claytorj]

Todays Space Headlines:

Russia Ready to Unveil New Rocket : Discovery News

SES Positioned To Overtake Intelsat in Revenue | SpaceNews.com

Powerful New Next-Gen US/Japan GPM Satellite to Revolutionize Global Precipitation Observations and Climate Science Research

 

[jeff_adams]

More info on Lunar Catalyst:

Nasa turns to private companies to exploit the moons resources | South China Morning Post

Has SpaceX shown any interest in the Lunar Catalyst initiative? I've heard no plans whatsoever from them regarding landing on the moon. Seems like the Grasshopper program and their expertise with landing legs on rockets would give them an advantage if they ever wanted to try a moon landing.

Of course having enough fuel to fly back and forth from the moon with multiple takeoffs and landings would be tricky. I wonder if they can use electric propulsion in space like the newer satellites do? Just use the liquid propellants for take offs and landings to escape gravitational pull.