Space Startup Scorecard March 25, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in ARCA, Armadillo Aerospace, Bigelow Aerospace, Blue Origin, Canadian Arrow, PlanetSpace, Rocketplane Kistler, Space Startups, SpaceDev, SpaceX, Starchaser, Tspace, UP Aerospace, XCOR.1 comment so far
Although many of the aerospace startups have differing goals, which make them difficult to compare, I thought it might be fun to take a quick look at how they all stack up. From my perspective, Burt Rutan and Scaled Composites/The Spaceship Company is still the most advanced business since they have the only manned flights under their belts. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and John Carmack’s Armadillo Aerospace have also made impressive strides in the past few years. Bigelow Aerospace is much more difficult to compare because they are not building rockets, and simply purchasing launch services from other vendors. I assume Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin have actually conducted static fire tests, but with their secretive ways, it’s difficult to tell.
If I’ve missed anything, feel free to add it in a comment, and I’ll update the chart. Thanks.
1000 Readers! March 23, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Amusement, News and politics, Uncategorized.add a comment
I know that this is a bit off topic, but I’ve just reached a personal goal. Digital sprocket has just had its 1000th visitor. This may not be a lot compared to some high-powered sites, but it validates the work I’m doing. In the first six months of operation he number of views per month is continuing to increase steadily. Viewership increased from less than 50 hits in the first month, to over 250 in the past month.
For this, I thank you.
Now it’s my turn to ask you for a little help. I would like to move Digital Sprocket to a professional web hosting service, and you can make it possible. If you appreciate the news, analysis, and historical perspective, please consider making a donation. Your contribution will help assure the quality of Digital Sprocket continues to improve. To make a donation via Paypal or credit card, just click on the button below.
Thank you for your generosity.
SpaceX Strike Two! March 21, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Bigelow Aerospace, Blue Origin, News and politics, Space Startups, SpaceX.3 comments
SpaceX was forced to abort their second launch attempt this week a mere eleven seconds before engine ignition. Monday’s computer triggered abort was due to a few millisecond gap between when the land-line telemetry link shut down and the RF telemetry link powered up. Software engineers fixed that glitch before Tuesday’s launch window, but it wasn’t enough.
If you asked Elon Musk if he was surprised by two aborts in a row, he’d probably answer in the negative. After the spectacular destruction of Falcon 1 booster, SpaceX added hundreds of new self-diagnostics routines in the rocket. Months ago Musk suggested that they were likely to generate several false-positives before the first successful launch.
Looks like SpaceX is not done for the night. Looks like the abort was due to a fuel problem. They are in the process of recycling the countdown clock for another try starting from T-15 minutes.
Update! Telemetry lost five minutes into flight. Moments after liftoff, Omelek Island could be seen retreating into the distance as the booster gained altitude. The rocket climbed out of the atmosphere and the second stage successfully separated and ignited its engine. The payload cowling separated and both halves fell away towards the earth. In the final moments before the video feed was cut off, the second stage engine appeared to wobble unexpectedly. SpaceX is counting this as a successful flight even though the payload may have been lost. If nothing else, this proves that their reusable first stage operates well, and should be recovered from the Pacific Ocean to support future launches.
SpaceX is not the only startup with flights coming up in the next few weeks. The FAA has cleared the airspace around the Blue Origin ranch on the 22nd though 27th to allow for test flights of their New Shepherd sub-orbital vehicle. In early April, Bigelow Aerospace will put Genesis II into orbit on a Russian Dnepr booster. This will mark their second sub-scale inflatable habitat demonstrator. The next Soyuz flight in April will feature space tourist Charles Simonyi. Whether or not the Falcon 1 flies, the next few weeks should be exciting.
SpaceX Scrubs Demo Flight 2 March 20, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Space Startups, SpaceX.add a comment
The black and white Falcon 1 rocket stood out against the blue tropical sky. Palm trees swayed in the breeze as wisps of white vapor escaped from a port high on the booster. After an hour-long delay to fix a communications link between the Omelek Island launch facility and headquarters in El Segundo, California, everything looked ready for launch.
Just minutes before the firing sequence, telemetry links to the spacecraft shift from land lines to radio communications. For an as yet unknown reason, the RF telemetry system failed, and at T-1:20, controllers called an abort. Initially, Engineers and controllers hoped they could try for another launch later in the same four-hour window, but ten minutes later they were forced to scrub launch operations for the day.
SpaceX announced that they will make another attempt Wednesday at 7 pm EDT.
SpaceX Prepares for Launch March 19, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in NASA, Space Startups, SpaceX.add a comment
This week, Space Exploration Technologies conducted a brief static fire test of their Falcon 1rocket. The successful test paves the way for a launch attempt on Monday, March 19 at 11 pm, GMT. The only hiccup was a problem with the GPS guidance system.
“Our initial review of the data showed that the rocket functioned almost perfectly,” Said Elon Musk in a press release. “The only remaining concern is that the GPS portion of the guidance system showed an anomaly about 15 minutes *after* the static fire. Falcon 1 is designed to achieve its target orbit purely on inertial navigation, so the GPS, while helpful for improving orbit insertion accuracy, is not flight critical.”
Dubbed Demo Flight 2, the launch will mark the first successful launch by SpaceX and will be followed later this year by Malaysian and DoD satellite launches. Musk also pointed towards strong progress made on the Falcon 9 for NASA’s COTS program.
Network Engineers…In Space March 18, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in NASA.add a comment
Now I’ve pull my share of CAT-5 cables through tight craw spaces, but never in Zero-G. This week astronauts Suni Williams and Mike Lopez-Alegria will do just that on the International Space station. They are overhauling the onboard computer network and upgrading all of the links to Ethernet or Wireless standards. The work will eliminate cables that currently snake through hatches between the US and Russian segments of the orbital complex.
I have just one question. Are Mike and Suni certified LAN engineers? If not, I could suggest to NASA a few hundred who would be happy to go up there and make a house call…
DARPA and NASA Working From the Same Playbook March 10, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in DARPA, Future Development, NASA, News and politics.add a comment
If the VSE (Vision for Space Exploration) is to become a reality, then engineers must develop several critical path technologies. These include autonomous rendezvous and docking, and robotic assembly of space structures. NASA’s Exploration Systems Directorate is not the only organization interested in these technologies. DARPA, the military’s high-risk, high-reward research arm is working to develop the same capabilities.
At this moment, DARPA’s Orbital Express mission is testing out these technologies on orbit. Launched on March 8, the mission consists of two purpose built vehicles: ASTRO, and NextSat. The two spacecraft were boosted into space together on an Atlas V and are scheduled to separate, and then rendezvous and re-dock. Before separation, they have some impressive mission goals. ASTRO carries an extra supply of hydrazine, and will demonstrate refueling techniques by transferring the liquid to NextSat. ASTRO is also equipped with a robotic arm, resembling the little brother of that on the Shuttle and the ISS. The arm will replace electronics components on NextSat with spares carried on ASTRO. If all goes well, ASTRO will demonstrate rendezvous, docking, refueling, assembly, and repair capabilities.
All of these are on NASA’s wish list, if for different reasons than those of the Defense Department. In fact, NASA engineers are heavily involved in Orbital Express, and supplied software and sensors to the program. Although DARPA sees vital national security uses for these technologies, they also envision spawning a military/civilian space infrastructure around in-space servicing of satellites and manned facilities.
Of course, success is not guaranteed. DARPA’s first attempt at autonomous rendezvous and docking failed spectacularly two years ago when DART bumped into it’s docking target and sent it into a new orbital path. Perhaps that is why they are testing out the refueling and repair systems before undocking and performing rendezvous maneuvers. If successful, it will have applications for crew and cargo delivery to the ISS in Orion or COTS capsules. It will allow for robotic missions to upgrade future orbiting telescopes. There are many possible applications that we are only beginning to dimly perceive.
Elon Musk Sets Date for Second SpaceX Launch Attempt March 6, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Bigelow Aerospace, NASA, SpaceX.add a comment
Space Exploration Technologies will attempt to launch their Falcon 1 during a window between March 19th and 22nd. This launch attempt is labeled Demo Flight 2 after last year’s inaugural flight that ended in fire and destruction of the vehicle. The Merlin engine will boost the rocket from Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. After separation, the first stage will parachute into the Pacific Ocean to await recovery and reuse for later flights.
If the flight is successful, SpaceX is positioned to launch at least three paying payloads this year alone. In the face of last year’s failure, the company has already demonstrated robustness stronger than most previous commercial spaceflight operations. The Conestoga rocket, developed during the Reagan era, was the first privately financed commercial launch vehicle. When it blew up on it’s maiden flight, the insurers got nervous and pulled their policy. This lack of confidence, and the enduing financial difficulties ended the program before a second launch attempt. With their second vehicle at the Omelek launch facility, SpaceX has already surpassed Conestoga’s achievements.
SpaceX’s launch at the end of March is just the first in a tight cluster of Upcoming launches. Bigelow Aerospace is expecting to place Genesis II, their second sub-scale inflatable test habitat, in the beginning of April. That month will also see a Soyuz launch to the ISS carrying space tourist, Charles Simonyi. Shuttle flight STS-117 is scheduled for no earlier than April 20th, and will add new solar arrays and complete other construction jobs on the ISS.
