DailyDirt: Racing Into Space Again...

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

After the Cold War ended, the space race enthusiasm evaporated as the funding for ambitious projects to explore space dried up. Launching dozens of satellites into space to form communications networks was (and still is) a risky business -- with a lot of upfront costs and a lot of equipment that's nearly obsolete by the time it reaches orbit. But it's becoming a bit cheaper to get stuff into space, and maybe we're seeing a bit more of a commercial space race. Check out a few of these space-bound projects.

• NASA recently tested its Space Launch System (SLS) engine that will send an uncrewed Orion capsule beyond the orbit of the moon in 2018 (assuming no delays). Someday, NASA's SLS could take people to Mars, but there are still some engineering challenges to solve before that actually happens.
• Tom Markusic, the founder of the small satellite venture, Firefly Space Systems, wants to clean up the artificial space junk in geo-stationary orbit and recycle it for future moon and mars missions. Markusic proposes using solar electric propulsion-powered space tugs to push old satellites to potential staging bases for human colonies on mars.
• Vector Space Systems is a space vehicle startup just getting off the ground, aiming to put small satellites into low earth orbit -- at a price of 45 kilograms for a $2-3 million. The company plans to have commercial launches ready in 2018, targeting very small satellites that normally go up as secondary payloads on larger launch systems. Smaller payloads with their own dedicated launches won't be subject to the delays or requirements of other payloads, and Vector's launch vehicle claims that its missions could be ready to go within a relatively short 3-month window.
• Russia's new space port at Vostochny has had some delays, but it seems to be up and running. However, the mis-management of this cosmodrome has caught the attention of president Putin who warned that some of the senior managers involved in an embezzlement scheme could go to jail for a few years. The description of the first launch with a visit from Putin sounds a bit like a scene from Return of the Jedi.

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Filed Under: cosmodrome, iridium, mars, satellites, sls, space, space exploration, space launch system, space port, tom markusic
Companies: firefly space systems, nasa, vector space systems

DailyDirt: Making A Trip To Mars

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

It's been decades since a human being has traveled beyond low earth orbit. Last year, NASA tested its human-rated Space Launch System to an altitude of 3,600 miles, but getting people to a "human accessible surface" that isn't part of the earth is going to take some time. China could have a taikonaut on the moon before 2030. NASA can say it's "been there, done that" -- but when will it be able to top a manned lunar landing?

• NASA is working on its (potentially Mars-bound) spacecraft, Orion -- to get astronauts deeper into space. At the same time, NASA is also developing its Space Launch System (SLS) that will get Orion beyond low earth orbit, and if everything goes as planned the first manned crews will be taking off in 2023. [url]
• It might make sense to create a moon base as a pit stop before launching manned missions to more distant locations like Mars. If we can mine the moon for resources, that could reduce the expense of sending everything from the earth. However, it'll take a bit longer to figure out how to process and manufacture anything on the moon, especially if it's going to be done autonomously somehow. [url]
• NASA's 2013 class of astronauts are being trained to possibly go to Mars. There are only 8 of these astronauts (and 4 of them are women), and presumably, their training on vomit comets will be pretty intense. [url]
• Making a trip to Mars in the near future is going to be expensive and probably controversial. Arguably, billions of dollars could be better spent to solve problems on Earth, and Mars is going to be around for quite some time. Still, it doesn't hurt to make some goals and try to scope out potential landing sites on the red planet, does it? [url]

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Filed Under: astronauts, human accessible surface, leo, lunar base, manned missions, mars, moon, orion, sls, space, space exploration, space race, taikonauts, vomit comet
Companies: nasa

DailyDirt: It *IS* Rocket Science, Actually...

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Getting stuff into space is difficult. There are a bunch of different rockets that have been used over the last few decades, but the odds of a launch failure isn't quite zero yet. A few companies are making cheaper launch systems, but a perfect track record is hard to maintain over more than a handful of launches. Perhaps that's why sentient robots in the movies never think about leaving the Earth behind.

• SpaceX's recent Falcon 9 failure is a huge setback for SpaceX -- because the exact problem hasn't been identified yet. This incident will delay future launches until the cause of the explosion can be reasonably explained. [url]
• NASA's development of its Space Launch System (SLS) is going through its own delays, as reviewing committees are concerned that NASA is wasting $150 million on an interim rocket stage that will not be used again -- instead of putting that money towards a more powerful Exploration Upper Stage (EUS). Building an unmanned rocket stage that will need to be replaced someday by a stage that is rated for a crew doesn't seem to be a great use of limited NASA funding, but lacking the full funding to directly build an astronaut-friendly, Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO) vehicle forces NASA to create interim test stages. Our tax dollars at work.... [url]
• Three failed resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) have occurred over the last 8 months. Orbital Sciences is shifting away from using 1960s-era Soviet rocket engines that were probably the cause of its launch failure last October. In May, a Russian re-supply mission put its cargo in the wrong orbit. And SpaceX's investigations are ongoing for its recent Falcon 9 explosion. There are actually a few other options for getting supplies to the ISS, and Orbital Sciences will be employing alternative launch systems to fulfill its contract while it works on its replacement engines. [url]
• The idea of using reusable rockets isn't unique to SpaceX. Blue Origin's New Shepard is being tested for its re-usability. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) has plans for a reusable Vulcan rocket that is recovered by helicopter. Airbus has also unveiled its reusable Adeline design which could start test launches in 2025. [url]

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Filed Under: adeline, beo, eus, falcon 9, iss, new shepard, re-usable rockets, rocket technology, rockets, sls, space, space exploration, vulcan
Companies: airbus, blue origins, nasa, orbital sciences, spacex, ula

DailyDirt: Mars Is Not A Pleasant Vacation

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Getting on a rocket to Mars has been a dream for space exploration enthusiasts for decades. However, there are a lot of engineering problems that still need solutions before people can safely get to Mars (and back, unless you favor the one-way trip strategy). Optimists might expect humans to walk on Mars sometime in the 2030s, but realistically, there would have to be a significant change in the way deep space exploration is funded for that to happen. If you're just entering 5th grade or so, maybe you can consider a career on Mars. But perhaps you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket.

• Boeing has a promotional video for its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that could get people to Mars. Boeing suggests that six spacecraft elements need to be built, and two of them are already in the works. Getting those other four pieces might be difficult to do without several billion dollars more funding. [url]
• British astrophysicist Maggie Lieu wants to be the first woman to have a baby on Mars. She's a 24yo PhD candidate who is also on the shortlist for the Mars One project, so it's possible that her wish could come true. It sounds more than a bit risky to give birth on another planet, but it's been done in Antarctica.... [url]
• For a manned mission to Mars to work, an extremely sophisticated life support system will have to be developed to shield astronauts from radiation and keep bodies from atrophying in microgravity. When astronauts who have been in space for months come back to earth, there are plenty of able-bodied people to help them re-adjust to earth's full gravity -- but that's not really an option for landing on Mars. [url]

If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post via StumbleUpon.

Filed Under: astronauts, maggie lieu, manned missions, mars, mars one, microgravity, sls, space exploration, spacecraft
Companies: boeing, nasa