T+12: The Competition of Reusability Between Falcon 9, Vulcan, and Ariane 6
Ted Cruz called a hearing on NASA’s space exploration policy in the next president’s administration. The president of France’s CNES discussed some policy statements, and I went on a rant about his tho...
13 Jul 201623min
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 u...
6 Jul 201625min
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—specifi...
29 Jun 201627min
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...
22 Jun 201617min
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 c...
15 Jun 201613min
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 and Elon Musk at Code Conference. And a hard look at the economics of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan. Jeff Bezos | Full interview | C...
8 Jun 201625min
T+6: Orbital ATK’s Next-Gen Vehicle, Falcon 9 Proving Its Reusability, and ULA’s Tough Future
Orbital ATK shared some more details about their next-generation launch vehicle, SpaceX is working out their certification process for reflown stages, and how these events affect the industry and othe...
1 Jun 201615min
T+5: Space Stations Around the Moon and Mars, ExoMars 2016, and China’s Momentum in Space
Orbital ATK and Lockheed Martin unveiled proposals for space stations around the Moon by 2020, and Mars by 2028. ExoMars 2016 completed a functionality analysis test ahead of its October arrival at Ma...
25 Mai 201616min
