I used to write frequently, but now it’s just occasionally.
Formerly: A List Apart, Cognition, Main Engine Cut Off.
If Virgin Orbit delivers on their stated cost and performance goals for LauncherOne, they’ll put Minotaur I out of work in a hurry. But the market is still without any vehicles that put the heavier Minotaurs—Minotaur-IV and Minotaur-C specifically—in any danger. Terran 1 could be the first truly commercial launch vehicle to take on those heavier Minotaurs.
The next episode of Off-Nominal is up! Jake tells us the history of China in space, and I talk through what to watch for in the next decade and beyond.
Very special thanks to the 126 of you out there supporting Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon for the month of November. Your support keeps this blog and podcast going, and most importantly, it keeps it independent.
Anatoly Zak has been following the recent Soyuz failure closely, and recently posted some information that—if true—is finally starting to demystify what happened.
Chris Gebhardt of NASASpaceflight published a nice article last week on Blue Origin’s ongoing New Glenn work. He also had this great little nugget of info to share regarding the ship that New Glenn will land upon.
I’d love to see the numbers involved here, but the fact that Bruno is putting this out there at all says a lot.
The second episode of Off-Nominal—the more laid back and causal space podcast I started with Jake Robins—has been posted. We chat about gravitational waves, our interstellar visitor, and more.
The conceit of this press release is that the case is specifically for the Next Generation Launch system, but it’s also for SLS.
Chris Gebhardt wrotea fantastic piece over on NASASpaceflight.com on SLS, Europa Clipper, EM-2, and its Mobile Launcher(s?). The Mobile Launcher is being finalized in its SLS Block 1 configuration for EM-1, after which it will need to be converted for SLS Block 1B—a 33-month process, and NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel has some interesting concerns.
Chris Gebhardt for NASASpaceflight.com with a ton of Falcon Heavy updates, including SLC-40 work, the Falcon Heavy engine start sequence, and the final Falcon Heavy flow leading to its launch date in late December.