France’s CNES Backs Space Station, Hedges Bets on Reusable Rockets
France says they’re interested in backing ISS until 2024. And they continue to hope reusability doesn’t work out so that Ariane 6 can be competitive.
China’s Tiangong-2 Reaches Launch Center
China’s next space station reached its launch site and they’re on their way to a fall launch.
NASA Awards Grant To Arkansas Company To Develop Silicon Carbide Circuit Technology
NASA awarded a grant for technology that could be used to operate a Venusian lander on the surface for much longer than we have previously.
To Catch a Satellite
ESA is working on a mission to catch and deorbit a derelict satellite.
Juno was a success—but there is precious little coming after it
Our political system is increasingly incapable of supporting a thriving national space program. Congress battling the executive branch tooth and nail for Orion/SLS and the Europa mission is only the tip of the iceberg. Factor in the massive amounts of pork and governmental overhead…it runs away from you quickly.
Cruz Calls Hearing on Future of Space Under New Administration
The Space, Science, And Competitiveness subcommittee has scheduled a hearing next Wednesday, titled “NASA at a Crossroads: Reasserting American Leadership in Space Exploration.” Seems like a hearing that will be filled with desperate pleas to the future president to avoid another cancellation.
NASA selects Global Aerospace Corporation and Northrop Grumman for Titan Atmospheric Rover
Going from stationary landers to rovers was game-changing for planetary exploration. The next era of quadcopters and gliders is going to be even more so.
Jalopnik Feature on ACES’ Roush-built Engine
Jalopnik posted a gearhead-focused feature on the Roush Fenway Racing-built internal combustion engine that will be used on ULA’s upcoming ACES upper stage.
One year after kickoff, OneWeb says its 700-satellite constellation is on schedule
OneWeb says their satellite constellation project is on time. But things still seem a bit murky to me.
China announces success in technology to refuel satellites in orbit
Xinhua News Agency reports a successful in-orbit refueling test.
Episode T+11: SpaceX’s LZ-1 Expansion, Dream Chaser’s UN Ambitions, China and ESA’s Growing Relationship
SpaceX printed a public notice in Florida Today on July 3rd outlining plans for LZ-1 expansion. Sierra Nevada Corporation and the United Nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding future use of Dream Chaser by UN member countries. China solidified partnerships with The Netherlands and Poland, continuing the growth of the China-ESA relationship.
Russia’s Workhorse Soyuz Gets a Makeover
Anatoly Zak, writing for Popular Mechanics, outlines the Soyuz-MS upgrade.
Public Notice of SpaceX’s LZ-1 Expansion Plans
A public notice was printed in Florida Today on July 3rd outlining SpaceX’s plans for LZ-1.
The iPhone Moment
We’re witnessing an incredible moment of change in all aspects of spaceflight—from the way payloads are launched, to the way exploration and settlement in space are planned. It’s going to be quite a ride.
Episode T+10: Logan Kamperschroer on the Current State and Near Future of Storable Propellants
This week I talked to Logan Kamperschroer, a Graduate Research Assistant at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. Logan’s research focuses on hypergolic rocket fuels—specifically the push to move away from the toxic storable propellants (hydrazine and its derivatives) to “greener” alternatives. We talked about the current state of storable propellants, and where things are going in the near future.
Episode T+9: ExoMars 2016 and 2020, Chinese Partnerships and Policy
The ExoMars 2020 rover received a funding boost and a reassessed schedule, the 2016 orbiter/lander set its sights on Mars, NASA and ESA coordinated a practice communication session, and China opens up to the international space community.
Introducing Big Cartel 3.0 for iPhone and iPad
The Big Cartel app has brand new, easy-to-use navigation, and is optimized for iPad and iPhone, making it an even better tool to sell in person and manage your store on the go.
Episode T+8: Masten’s Xodiac and XaeroB, Blue Origin’s Next Flight of New Shepard
Masten Space Systems released a video of test flights of their two latest vehicles. Blue Origin was awarded a NASA Flight Opportunities contract, is planning the 4th flight of New Shepard, and began clearing land for their factory just outside Kennedy Space Center.
Episode T+7: Bezos and Musk at Code Conference, and a Hard Look at Vulcan’s Economics
Some interesting tidbits emerged from interviews with [Jeff Bezos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guVxubbQQKE) and [Elon Musk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsixsRI-Sz4) at Code Conference. And a hard look at the economics of [United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan](http://www.ulalaunch.com/Products_Vulcan.aspx).
Episode T+6: Orbital ATK’s Next-Gen Vehicle, Falcon 9 Proving Its Reusability, and ULA’s Tough Future
Orbital ATK [shared some more details](http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/27/details-of-orbital-atks-proposed-heavy-launcher-revealed) about their next-generation launch vehicle, SpaceX is working out their [certification process](http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-brief-underwriters-on-the-road-to-falcon-9-reusability/) for [reflown stages](http://www.spacenewsmag.com/feature/first-stage-the-air-force-looks-at-reusability/), and how these events affect the industry and other competitors in the near future.