Space Startup Scorecard 2009 January 17, 2009
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, X Class Orgs, XCOR.1 comment so far
The last time I did the scorecard was in 2007. Surprisingly, not a lot has changed. This was caused by two factors. First, not all of the companies are still pursuing private manned spaceflight. Instead Xcor and Planetspace are becoming engine and other parts suppliers to aerospace businesses. Others, like Transformational Space would like to be prime contractors and project managers rather than really hardware guys.
The second reason is that the milestones I have listed are extremely challenging. A few years ago, I don’t think most of us realized just how challenging they would be. ARCA, for example, has had multiple drop tests and balloon flights with various hardware configurations. They’ve also designed and test fired several engines and fuel combinations. They just haven’t fired a rocket after launching it on a balloon. They are progressing, but it’s painfully slow when viewed from the outside.
One other thing became clear as I read over company websites and profiles filling in the scorecards. Almost every one of these businesses submitted a proposal for NASA’s COTS program. We’ll dig a little deeper into that at a later date.
I’ve highlighted the few changes to the scorecard to make it easier to read.
Aerospace Startup Scorecard 2009
Year in Review April 27, 2008
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Armadillo Aerospace, Bigelow Aerospace, ESA, JAXA, NASA, Orbital SCiences, Rocketplane Kistler, Russia, Space Startups, SpaceX.add a comment
Yes, it’s been twelve months since my last post. So, I thought I’d give a quick run down of spaceflight activities for the past year. It’s been a busy one with many exciting developments.
Let’s start with the ISS’s growth spurt. The installation of ESA’s Columbus module, and JAXA’s Kibo Pressurized Logistics Module, and NASA’s Node 2 Harmony greatly expanded that habitable volume of the orbital outpost. It also means that. ESA and JAXA activated their own control rooms to support their modules. ESA also wins bonus points for finally getting Jules Vern, their first ATV cargo ship off the ground last month. After several rendezvous tests, the unmanned vehicle automatically docked to a Russian port. Just the other day, Jules Vern fired two of its four engines to boost the Space Station’s orbit.
Canada also has new hardware on orbit. Dexter, a two-armed extension for the Canada Arm II, accompanied the Kibo module on STS-123. It’s designed to complete some of the maintenance and repair tasks usually handle by space walking astronauts. Considering how dangerous those activities are, Dexter is a welcome contribution to this great experiment in space.
The ISS also played host to numerous international astronauts. Germany’s Hans Schlegel helped install ESA’s Columbus module on STS-122. Frances’s Leopold Eyharts also rode up on STS-122 and remained on orbit for a month to configure Columbus before returning on STS-123. Japan’s Takao Doi flew aboard STS-123 to deliver and install the Kibo PLM. South Korea also sent its first astronaut into space. Engineer Yi So Yeon joined Russia’s most recent Soyuz taxi flight. She spent ten days on orbit, and introduced the crew to some Korean foods including spicy kimchi, and fermented soybean paste. Both of which I can personally confirm are delicious, as I currently reside just north of Seoul. Soon the ISS may boast both an international cuisine as well as an international crew.
In other news, NASA’s project Orion is proceeding. The mockup capsule for the launch abort test is complete. Orbital Sciences is building the abort tower that will cap the module. Launch pad modifications are under way for the Ares I-X test. The dummy upper stage for the test is also complete. NASA also conducted numerous airbag tests to see if the vehicle can safely perform a landing on dry ground. They performed drop tests for the larger parachutes needed for the extended five segment solid booster. It’s great to see real hardware under construction and in tests.
The private sector hasn’t been sitting on its laurels either. Bigelow Aerospace successfully launched Genesis II, and is pushing forward with plans for full-scale inflatable orbital modules.
Armadillo Aerospace again failed to capture the Lunar Lander Challenge at the XPrize Cup. However, they were the only team to field a vehicle, and their repeat attempts were the highlight of the Cup. They also posses an experimental launch permit which has allowed them to log a great deal of low altitude flight time beyond tethered flights. They also have a modular sub-orbital design, which looks like it could be a commercial success.
SpaceX still hasn’t orbited any hardware, but progress continues on the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9. Flights of both are still scheduled for this year, and the company has plenty of paying customers lined up. They’ve improved their Merlin engine with a regeneratively cooled version that increases the available thrust, and their engine test stand has been keeping their neighbors on their toes. SpaceX is still on track for the COTS program, and has past several critical reviews and funding milestones. NASA also awarded them an indefinite quantity, indefinite time contract for launch services to be specified as needed.
Scaled Composites/ The Spaceship Company has had the roughest year. They had an engine blow up on a test stand. The accident resulted in two deaths, and has slowed down development work on SpaceShip II. Burt Rutan is in it for the long haul, and is an experienced aircraft designer. They will investigate the causes of the accident, and prevent it from occurring again. This will not end the SpaceShip II program. One interesting idea to come out of Virgin Galactic is that this model could be used for point to point supersonic flights as well as space tourism.
One last note: NASA finally managed to get rid of Rocket Plane Kistler and re-award their portion of the COTS contract to Orbital Sciences. RPK failed to make required funding deadlines. Few space insiders really believed RPK had the muscle to launch any hardware into space. Their K-1 vehicle has been “90% complete” for the past five years, and they haven’t done anything in that time but burn money. Orbital Sciences was a new aerospace startup during the Reagan administration. They still think like a small, young organization, but they have a successful development track record including three launch vehicles.
Upcoming Launches April 5, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Armadillo Aerospace, Bigelow Aerospace, NASA, News and politics, Rocketplane Kistler, Space Startups, SpaceX, UP Aerospace, schedule.add a comment
Of the seven launch vehicles mentioned below, three have experienced terminal failures in the past twelve months. This is just a reminder that what these people do is difficult, and success cannot be taken for granted.
April 7 – ISS Expedition 15 launches in a Soyuz-TMA From Baikonur Cosmodrome. The crew includes Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov, and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi.
April 19 – Bigelow Aerospace will launch Genesis II, their second subscale inflatable demonstrator aboard a dnepr rocket from ISC Kosmotras Space and Missile Complex near Yasny, Russia.
April 28 – UP Aerospace’s SpaceLoft will carry commercial and student payloads, including the remains of Gordon Cooper and James Doohan on a suborbital flight from New Mexico’s Space Port. This will be their second attempt after their launch failure in January.
Also in April, Armadillo Aerospace plans several test flights of Pixel, their Lunar Lander Challenge vehicle. The flights will take place at the Oklahoma Space Port.
In May or June, Space Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-117 should lift off From Cape Canaveral. The flight will flesh out the space station with the addition of new solar arrays.
SpaceX has two more launches scheduled for this year from their facility on Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. The first could be as early as August and will carry TacSat 1, a US military demonstrator. Their second flight, in the fourth quarter, will carry a Malaysian communications satellite.
After their last launch ended in a launch pad explosion, Sea Launch is repairing their floating facility and plans to be ready for their next launch in October.
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.
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.
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.
What is Bigelow Up To? February 14, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Bigelow Aerospace, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Rocketplane Kistler, Russia, Space Startups, SpaceX.add a comment
In April, Robert Bigelow will unveil long secret business plans at the National Space Symposium. Industry watchers are abuzz with speculation at to what he plans to reveal. Back in November, Bigelow announced that Genesis II, scheduled for launch by April 1, will be the last opportunity to fly personal effects on a test flight. Does this mean that Genesis II will be Bigelow’s final sub-scale demonstrator? Was Genesis I so successful that he’s ready to proceed with his first full-sized Nautilus module?
Last year, Bigelow also entered into negotiations with Lockheed-Martin to explore the feasibility of man-rating the Atlas 5 launch vehicle. Will Bigelow announce an agreement to carry through with the project? Will Lockheed resurrect one of their plans for a space capsule to ride atop the Atlas and taxi people to waiting Bigelow habitation modules?
Energiya, announced plans last year for a commercial circumlunar flight. Drawings that used to be on the Bigelow web site depict Russian Soyuz docked to a Bigelow inflatable habitat. Has Bigelow entered into an agreement with Energiya to provide living space for their flight around the Moon?
NASA’s Orion capsule is designed to be one component of a flexible modular system. For any given mission additional components are added like an earth departure rocket stage, additional living space, and life support. There has been recent talk in the space community about the feasibility of Orion missions to NEO’s, Near Earth Objects. Missions to these asteroids would need additional habitation space, just like that provided by a Bigelow inflatable module. Is NASA requesting just such a system?
Speculating about the future of Bigelow Aerospace is fun because there are so many possibilities. While other aerospace startups are slogging through the process of building and testing rocket boosters, Bigelow has jumped ahead to design systems that will take advantage of these boosters. His inflatable modules will dramatically increase the capabilities of anyone who can launch people into orbit. Whether it’s SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocketplane Kistler, Energiya, or NASA, he’s providing the tools to expand their missions, and turn cramped space capsules into full-fledged spacecraft.
This Year in Space January 1, 2007
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Armadillo Aerospace, Bigelow Aerospace, ESA, India, JAXA, NASA, Orbital SCiences, Rocketplane Kistler, Russia, Space Startups, SpaceX, UP Aerospace.add a comment
2006 was a pretty good year in space. The international launch community averaged over one orbital launch per week. U.S. and Russian providers carried out the bulk of the operations but the E.U., Japan, Israel and China also had successes under their belts. With four failed launch attempts, the failure rate was a mere 6%, which is considerably better than the historical average of 10%.
Manned spaceflight had a banner year. The International Space Station returned to a three-person crew and played host to astronauts and cosmonauts from the U.S., Russia, Germany, Sweden, and Japan. Although U.S. citizens, Astronauts born in Australia and England also visited the ISS and truly put the “International” in the International Space Station. Anousheh Ansari, perhaps the most famous space tourist to date, traveled to the station on one of two Soyuz flights this year. Her blog carried many dreamers with her on the ten-day journey.
NASA also managed to conduct two ISS construction flights. Space walkers and the robotic arm installed the P4 solar arrays, the P5 spacer truss, and rewired the electrical system to its permanent configuration. For the first time several years, the ISS actually looks different from the outside. Not only that, the increased power supplied by the new photovoltaic cells sets the stage for the installation of Japanese and European modules over the course of the next two years.
The emerging aerospace companies had more of a mixed year. SpaceX attempted to launch a partly reusable Falcon 1 at the start of the year, but suffered a major engine failure. Even with the loss of the vehicle, NASA still awarded them $278 million to develop cargo delivery and possibly human taxi services to the ISS. Rocketplane-Kistler won the other COTS development contract for $207 million to develop the same services.
UP Aerospace and Armadillo Aerospace both struggled with suborbital flights. UP Aerospace lost their launcher the New Mexico’s innaugerral spaceport flight, when it veered off course and disappeared into the White Sands Missile Range. It took them over a week to recover the broken hardware so they could analyze the failure.
Armadillo conducted several spectacular flights at the X Prize Cup in October. In an attempt to secure the Lunar Lander Challenge, a golf cart sized LH/LOX rocket vehicle named Pixel had to traverse 100 feet, land, and then return to its launch pad. The team made three tries at the event, and accomplished the first half of the challenge, but suffered equipment malfunctions and other difficulties at the landing site. If their vehicle had been a bit more robust, they certainly would have succeeded.
Bigelow Aerospace impressed most space watchers with the launch of their first test of an inflatable orbital habitat. The subscale vehicle was launched on a Russian Dnepr rocket and surpassed expectations. The inflation was flawless, and the mini-space station established contact with Beigelow’s ground station. The on-board thrusters stabilized the initial tumbling, and the solar cells fed power to the systems. Video cameras mounted inside and outside let the world witness this privately funded success.
In the next installment we’ll take a look at the accomplishments of our unmanned explorers over 2006.
Bigelow Aerospace: Profile October 26, 2006
Posted by Brian Pfeifer in Bigelow Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Space Startups, SpaceX.add a comment
Bigelow Aerospace shares the common vision of cheaper spaceflight with other aerospace startups, but their strategy is unique. Founded and funded by Robert Bigelow in 1991, the company is developing autonomous space habitats. Each Nautilus module, which may be linked to others to create larger spaces, has a volume of 330 cubic meters and it’s own solar panels, and life support systems. Instead of starting from scratch, Bigelow Aerospace secured an exclusive 17-year license to use inflatable module technology developed by NASA.
One thing you won’t find in Bigelow’s Las Vegas headquarters, are plans for any revolutionary rockets. They are a consumer of launch services, and have no intention of getting into the business. Rather, they expect to purchase quite a few launches from other aerospace startups. In 2004, to encourage the development of the launchers he needs, Robert Bigelow established a competition along the lines of the X Prize. To claim the $50 million prize a privately funded team will need to demonstrate the ability to dock with a Bigelow module in a five-man spacecraft.
Bigelow has also announced its preference for purchasing launches from private US companies, and ordered several launches from SpaceX, but they are not relying on just the startups. Last month, they penned an agreement with aerospace giant Lockheed Martin to explore the possibility of using the Atlas V to fly crews and equipment to Bigelow modules.
Bigelow realizes that any project this complex is bound to break down periodically. To mitigate the impact of failures, they have instituted a rigorous testing program. First everything is tested out on the ground and pushed to the breaking point. Then, they will fly as many test flights as they can. In July, they launched Genesis I, a one third scale demonstrator. They plan a second before the year is out, and their current plans call for six to ten more before the first full sized module flies in 2010. With any luck, they intend to launch their first fully commercial habitat by 2015.
Can a business succeed by launching habitat modules? Many have described Bigelow Aerospace as a “space hotel” business. They’ve missed some important clues. Bigelow is not building hotels; rather they are creating space real estate. Once in orbit, they plan to lease space to everyone from space tourists, to drug manufacturers, to university scientists. While most aerospace startups are racing to build launchers, Bigelow is investing the next step, the destination.
