I used to write frequently, but now it’s just occasionally.
Formerly: A List Apart, Cognition, Main Engine Cut Off.
After a few months of work on SLC-4E at Vandenberg, SpaceX looks ready to pick up flights from there this fall. I haven’t heard too much lately about their work on the landing pads out west, but we should be seeing some of that soon, too.
It’s absolutely true that Orion’s timeline is ridiculous, but I can’t stand comparing post-Shuttle projects with those that came before it.
ExoMars completed a 52-minute burn this morning to put the Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli lander on track for an October arrival. Can’t wait to see this mission reach Mars.
Sounds like there’s been some internal debating, and the Astronaut Office must now be fine with flying EM-2 with the EUS without having flown previously, contrary towhat I’ve been talking about this week regarding the future roadmap of SLS.
Great rundown by Doug Messier of Parabolic Arc on the first two days of the NASA Advisory Council meetings. The full council meets Thursday and Friday.
Scott Johnson with Spaceflight Insider got in touch with SpaceX about the signature sonic booms of Falcon 9.
Included in this round of 13 payloads selected for the Flight Opportunities program is PlanetVac from Honeybee Robotics, flying on a Masten lander. PlanetVac could be an incredible (and wonderfully simple) solution for a sample return mission.
NASA still seems to be somewhat confused in their public statements about what is the SLS’ second flight. The Europa missions have been mandated to fly on SLS no later than 2022, per the FY 2016 budget, but some NASA representatives keep saying EM-2 is on the docket for 2021.
A little bit of a bummer that this is an exclusive agreement, but Orbital ATK should do well with it. These next generation storable propellants are going to be a huge improvement in both performance and spacecraft processing.
Things are starting to heat up surrounding Blue Origin’s orbital plans, and I expect to hear more sometime soon—especially with the BE-4 nearing its full-up test. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Blue Origin enter the competition for the next round of NASA cargo and crew contracts.