Archive for the ‘space travel’ category: Page 371
Feb 2, 2019
Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft Will Be Ready for 1st Test Flight in March
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: robotics/AI, space travel
WASHINGTON — Boeing is on track to launch its new astronaut taxi to the International Space Station (ISS) next month.
Along with SpaceX, the private spaceflight company was contracted by NASA to begin launching astronauts from U.S. soil again for the first time since the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner won’t be taking any astronauts along for its first flight to the ISS, however. After docking robotically with the orbiting lab, it will return to Earth for a parachute landing in Texas.
If this test flight goes according to plan, Boeing will be ready to launch its first crew of astronauts to the space station in August, Boeing spokesperson Maribeth Davis told Space.com during a presentation of Boeing’s future vision for space travel here. [How Boeing’s Commercial CST-100 Starliner Spacecraft Works].
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Feb 2, 2019
See the SpaceX rocket engine that will zip Elon Musk’s Starship to moon
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: Elon Musk, space travel
The Raptor engine is designed to power Starship to our lunar neighbor and beyond.
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Amanda Kooser
Feb 1, 2019
In new Starship details, Musk reveals a more practical approach
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: business, space travel
For example, Musk said, “Initially making one 200 metric ton thrust engine common across ship & booster to reach the Moon as fast as possible. Next versions will split to vacuum-optimized (380+ sec Isp) & sea-level thrust optimized (~250 ton).”
This comment is notable for a couple of reasons. First of all, the company appears to have decided to streamline the Raptor engine to a single design that will power both the rocket at liftoff, and the spaceship in the upper atmosphere and outer space. It will take less time to develop, test, and qualify a single engine. It will also cost less money.
Additionally, Musk notes that the goal is “to reach the Moon as fast as possible.” The company still appears to be focused on lunar orbital flights, such as the #dearMoon project for Japanese businessman Yusaku Maezawa, as the first missions for Starship.
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Jan 31, 2019
Former NASA Rocket Scientist On Why We’re Still Going Nowhere Fast
Posted by Bruce Dorminey in categories: innovation, space travel
Interstellar propulsion breakthroughs will require research that is motivated by more than mere hype, says former NASA breakthrough propulsion physicist.
Jan 31, 2019
Cutbacks at Stratolaunch, Virgin Galactic show the space industry is entering a second stage
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in category: space travel
January has been unforgiving for commercial space firms. SpaceX and Virgin Galactic laid off employees earlier this month, while Stratolaunch recently announced it would stop development of its rockets and rocket engine.
Jan 28, 2019
SpaceX Revs Its Engines as It Gets Closer to Crewed Flight
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space travel
Next month SpaceX’s passenger capsule is expected to launch on an uncrewed mission—a big step towards bringing human spaceflight back to the US.
Jan 26, 2019
SpaceX Just Test Fired the Rocket That’ll Launch Its Crew Dragon
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space travel
Jan 26, 2019
Blue Origin breaks ground for BE-4 factory
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space travel
WASHINGTON — As Blue Origin breaks ground on a new factory for producing rocket engines, the company says development of its BE-4 engine will be completed later this year.
Blue Origin held a groundbreaking ceremony in Huntsville, Alabama, Jan. 25 to formally mark the start of construction of a factory that will be used for building BE-4 engines. The company announced plans to build the factory there in June 2017, contingent on the selection of the engine by United Launch Alliance for its Vulcan rocket. ULA picked the BE-4 in September 2018.
The factory, scheduled for completion in March 2020, will build dozens of BE-4 engines a year for both Vulcan as well as Blue Origin’s own New Glenn vehicle. Both rockets are scheduled to make first launches in 2021. Vulcan will use two BE-4 engines in its first stage while New Glenn’s reusable first stage will be powered by seven BE-4 engines.
Jan 24, 2019
Blue Origin wants to launch a person into space by the end of this year
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space travel
The company owned by Jeff Bezos is also expected to launch tickets sales later this year for space tourism flights.