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
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.
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.
