Posted on September 28, 2008, at 8:01 pm .
Congratulations are due to Elon Musk and his team at SpaceX. On Sunday, they successfully launched the Falcon 1 rocket from the Marshall Islands. The rocket took off at 16:16 PDT; the second stage reached an orbital velocity of 52,00 meters per second at 8 minutes and 21 seconds after launch.
The rocket carried a “payload mass simulator of approximately 165 kg (364 lbs), designed and built by SpaceX specifically for this mission. Consisting of a hexagonal aluminum alloy chamber 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall, the payload attaches to the standard Falcon 1 payload mounting structure. It does not separate, but remains attached to the second stage as it orbits the Earth,” according to SpaceX.
Posted on September 28, 2008, at 12:23 pm .
Elon Musk posted the following update on his blog:
Falcon 1 is currently cleared for liftoff sometime between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (California time) tomorrow, Sunday September 28th. Of course, if we see anything that requires investigation, the launch will be postponed, but we’ll let you know as soon as we know. As with prior flights, you can access the webcast from the SpaceX site: www.spacex.com
Posted on September 28, 2008, at 12:18 pm .
Elon Musk (Credit: SpaceX)
NASA at 50: Privatizing Space
Washington Post
The results of a webchat Q&A with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who discusses the progress of his Falcon rockets and his dreams for Mars.
Aiming for Stars, Entrepreneurs May Also Fill Gaps
Washington Post
As NASA turns 50 this week, the space agency faces increasing competition from entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson who are pushing for space tourism in low Earth orbit and trips to the moon and Mars.
Posted on September 28, 2008, at 11:57 am .
The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft touched down in Northern China on Sunday afternoon, successfully returning taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng to Earth after a 68-hour flight that thrilled the Chinese nation.
The flight’s main highlight was a 20-minute spacewalk in which Zhai climbed outside of the spaceship clutching a Chinese flag. The nation’s first spacewalk was broadcast live throughout China.
This was the third successful manned flight of the Shenzhou, which is similar to the Russian Soyuz transport. China plans to eventually construct a space station in Earth orbit.
Posted on September 28, 2008, at 11:30 am .
Rob Coppinger reports that the first test flight of Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo carrier ship may be slipped until closer to the end of the year.
“There have been various taxi trials outside the hangar already, but undertaken at night. The first flight trials will take place when we are ready and will definitely be this year and possibly within the next few weeks,” Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn told Coppinger.
Meanwhile, Bill Deaver has taken a spin into space aboard SpaceShipTwo – a good eighteen before any paying passengers will. Sort of.
Continue reading ‘WhiteKnightTwo Flights Set to Begin Later This Year’
Posted on September 28, 2008, at 10:48 am .
Spacemen: Two men behind the future of American space exploration and commerce compete to launch little white balls into the unknown
Washington Post Magazine
“Early this year, I learned that Peter Smith, the principal investigator and driving force behind NASA’s astoundingly successful Phoenix Mission to explore Mars via remote-controlled robots, was also a golf enthusiast. I did a quick calculation: [Burt] Rutan, space flight pioneer + Smith, nation’s leading Mars authority + golf, male-bonding session = irresistible story.”
Posted on September 25, 2008, at 9:14 am .
Wannabe Space Tourist Wants $21 Million Back Over Scuttled Mission
Wired
“The Japanese internet tycoon who paid $21 million to become the first space tourist to walk outside the International Space Station wants his money back.
In a lawsuit, Daisuke Enomoto, 37, claims that Space Adventures, the private firm with connections to the Russian Federal Space Agency, ‘deceptively and fraudulently’ induced him to pay $21 million for a 10-day orbital sojourn that never materialized.”
Posted on September 25, 2008, at 9:07 am .
China launches mission for first spacewalk
Associated Press
“China successfully launched a three-man crew into space Thursday to carry out the country’s first spacewalk, beginning the nation’s most challenging space mission since it first sent a person into space in 2003.
“The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, China’s third manned mission, blasted off atop a Long March 2F rocket shortly after 9 a.m. EDT under clear night skies in northwestern China.
“The spacewalk by one of the astronauts is expected to take place either on Friday or Saturday.”
Posted on September 25, 2008, at 8:59 am .
NASA postpones shuttle launch to October 14
Reuters
“NASA on Wednesday delayed the launch of its last mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope by four days to make up training time lost due to Hurricane Ike.
“The shuttle Atlantis is now expected to lift off at 10:19 p.m. on October 14 (0219 GMT on October 15) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“The six-man, one-woman crew completed a three-day training exercise at the space center on Wednesday, which culminated with a dress rehearsal for launch.”
Posted on September 25, 2008, at 8:53 am .
Space exploration key to mankind’s survival: NASA chief
AFP
“Mankind’s very survival depends on the future exploration of space, said NASA chief Michael Griffin in an interview with AFP marking the 50th anniversary of the US space agency.
“This journey, said the veteran physicist and aerospace engineer, is full of unknowns and has only just begun.
‘Does the survival of human kind depend upon it? I think so,’ he said.”
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