ULA and Blue Origin are having trouble delivering engines for their new launch platform.
The Chinese are looking to build a moon lander. Hopefully Elon will get there before them.
A Russian rocket is going to fall out of orbit and burn up. (metaphor alert)
(All links in memory of Mike Nofsinger who would love the crap out of all of this.)
Elon Musk claims that SpaceX is cranking out a Raptor rocket engine every 48hrs. If that is true it is an amazing production feat. It is also what is required to get to the level of spaceflight that the US needs. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
They did it again. This time with a used booster and a used capsule. SpaceX is making space a bunch cheaper. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger, who is up there somewhere, smiling.)
It appears that SpaceX has determined that catching the fairings prior to their hitting the water isn’t worth the extra effort. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
Rocket Lab is racking up some impressive statistics for its space launch business. Good. The more private companies we have doing this the better chance we’ll get out there sooner and we;; ahead of our national competitors. (Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)
SpaceX has launched another 60 Starlink satellites. The plan is to provide worldwide satellite broadband access. Apparently, you can already sign up to beta test the service. It is reportedly pretty good. In a rare miss, the booster failed to land on the recovery ship. That booster had already flown 6 previous times. Amazing.
Normally, I am rooting for all space exploration attempts. However, I can’t say I am sad about this.
SpaceX launched their Starship SN9 test vehicle on a 10km high test flight. All went according to plan until the landing, which for the second time ended in an explosion. Looks like they are having the same teething troubles they had trying to land the first stage of the Falcon rockets. I hope they get the problems ironed out, and soon.
