SpaceX CRS-9 launch sucessful

Still here, but has been a quiet few weeks in the Newspace scene (unlike the UK political scene!). Hopefully things will start to pick up again, this morning for example saw another successful SpaceX CRS launch. The full webcast cane be seen here:

In other news am off to Europe tomorrow for 10 days travelling round, so probably won't post again until I return.

Random speculation: Falcon 9 v2

Following on from yesterdays landing failure, a few thoughts on how the data gathered from these flights could be put to use and what features the next version should have.

First of all, it should be designed for increased ruggedness and for reusability from the start (natch). This should mean an aim for aircraft like performance and an eventual aim of 'gas and go' operations. These vehicles should undergo an incremental test programme to determine reliability before putting on second stages and payloads. The staging and mass ratio between first and second should be optimised for reusability, if they find that the GTO missions put too much stress on the vehicles or don't have the margins for landing then keep flying them as expendables and only reuse for low orbit missions.

Second, I think should be a wider, shorter vehicle. Maybe around 6 metres wide first stage (compared to the current ones 3.8m) This is to increase stability on landing and to allow a larger fairing to be used. I would also attach the fairing directly to the first stage and put the second stage and payload (for unmanned launches) inside, a la Antares and Delta heavy. This way the fairing can be recovered with the first stage (I'm imaging it opening to deploy at separation a bit like the rocket in Thunderball). Another advantage is that larger, Raptor powered upper stages could be used on the heavy version. These could then lead to a reusable upper stage (one idea I have is a conical stage that incorporates a Dragon capsule for manned missions)

Finally, the 6m tanking can the used for the next generation raptor powered first stages, which could be built in various lengths and with different numbers of engines to replace F9 and heavy prior to MCT launchers coming online.

Of course, it is most likley the announcement in September will render these points all moot. Or I could have been prophetic....

Latest SpaceX webcast

Latest webcast just started, 10 mins to launch.

Update: successful launch, unsuccessful landing.

Todays space news

First story- Luxenbourg's investment in Planetary Resources,

Second; Blue Origin to fly Friday. What with SpaceX's next launch scheduled for Wednesday I look forward to the next round in the Bezos/Musk Twitter p*ssing context...

The week in review 6

After catching up from the previous week on Monday, has been a bit of a quiet week.

I posted a bit of speculation on future suborbital tourist vehicles, then a video Masten, practically the last firm standing that's not backed by a billionaire. I have a post I'm still drafting on this which hopefully will be done next week...

In other news, BAE systems showed yet again how they are unable to build anything on time, budget and that actually works with a type 45 destroyer breaking down in the gulf. This editorial has more details on the MOD's inability to old contractors to account and get value for money.

In addition more details are coming out on SpaceX's Mars plans:

By the next launch window, in 2020, Musk said the company would aim to fly at least two Falcon Heavy rockets and Dragon spacecraft, loaded with experiments. “By that time there will be quite a few organizations … that are interested in running experiments on Mars,” he said.

Then in 2022, Musk said he hoped to launch what the company now sometimes refers to as the Mars Colonial Transporter, designed to bring a colony to Mars.

Linking was this piece on the long term issues we need to resolve for colonisation to become a reality,

A good update on the small launcher scene and what this means for Orbital ATK,

A good summary of suborbital research's new renaissance,

Finally, making spacecraft out of asteroids? Paging Greg Bear....

Random thoughts on Tourist suborbital RLV's

After the news last week that Xcor's Lynx is not quite dead, the only serious Space tourism projects left now are Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic's (and I have serious doubt about the latter ever flying passengers, but that's another story). Could anyone else get in the game if the market shows there is demand?

First idea I had was for a quick and simple SpaceX Falcon 9 derived vehicle. Once reusability of the first stage and Crew Dragon are proved, why not put a Dragon on a F9 first stage and use for a RTLS (return to launch site) flight? It could be made lighter and simpler by removing the heat shield, docking adaptor, trunk and interstage. It might even be worth removing some engines as the thrust required would be a lot lower (maybe reviving the Falcon 5 name?), and cutting the stage down. (though it may be easier to build from scratch if you'd do this).

Sadly this is unlikely to ever happen unless someone was to ask SpaceX to build it for them, given Musk's focus on Mars.

The other idea I had was after reading this piece of Northrop's XS-1 bid. Their team includes Virgin, who presumably are building the upper stage (based on Launcher 1?) If they get the contract, I'd guess that Virgin would order some for commercial use launching payloads bigger than L1 can do). If the system proves robust enough, and SS2's performance proves a disappointment, how about putting a crew compartment on the back to carry passengers on suborbital flights? They could even use the SS2 cabin and fuselage as the basis to reduce cost and development time (I'd expect it to remain attached to the XS-1 throughout the flight unless there was an emergency, for which I'd give it a LAS and parachutes). If the keep the whole fuselage design they could enlarge the cabin to give more seats. Overall this would have the advantage over SS2 of higher flight rates, quicker turnaround times, lower costs and more passengers being flown higher (longer time weightless/better views).

Even if this doesn't happen, I hope NG get XS-1, build something that actually flies and can be scaled up.

The week in review 5

Busy week for me, the school term ended and with and my contract at the school I'd been at for the last 5 weeks. I did work as a different school for 3 days and was hoping to be booked until the school year ends but it was not to be.

Was a busy week in space too, with a number of events, including;

India's suborbital  RLV test,

Orbital ATK's plans,

an update from Blue Origin,

and more info on XS-1 (and additional details here)


An additional positive story was the Expansion of Bigelow' BEAM module at the ISS (on the second attempt),

I also found another new UK Small launcher, Horizon's Black Arrow 2 (Should really be using High Test Peroxide-HTP-  with that name!),

and an interesting article from Space New's magazine on Red Dragon.

Speaking of SpaceX, one he biggest stories this week was of course was latest launch, making a total of 3 barge landings in a row.

In sadder news it appears XCOR's Lynx space plane is dead (for now, but am not optimistic it will every fly at this date. XCOR has been going pretty much since I first started to follow RLV development so it a real shame.

Also this week Planetary Resources cancelled their Kickstarter funded space selfie telescope (which I had donated to. In more positive news they did raise money for a new Earth observation system.

And fnally, a cool poster showing every vehicle in the US military.

Latest SpaceX launch

Webcast starts in about 10 mins, watch live here

Updated launch was scrubbed, new webcast just stated

Updated: Nailed it! 4 successful landings now :) Was a shame that the video cut out right at the key moment through.

(c) SpaceX (image from their twitter feed)

More details on SpaceX Mars plans

A couple of articles in Avweek on SpaceX's plans and NASA's involvement.

The week in review 3

Biggest story this week was the delays in Boeing's CST-100.

Only other links of interest this week was this piece on the V-280 Valour, which I hadn't heard of before.

Very short list this week, so to finish this cool pic of SpaceX's used rocket hanger:

(c) SpaceX

Quick thoughts:1), there going to need a bigger hanger soon, 2) maybe they should paint black in future to hide the scorch marks, 3) enough now for a Falcon heavy! 

Video of the day 1

Not one...

...but two videos of rocket vertical landings. 

It won't be much longer (hopefully) before these cease to be newsworthy

From the archives 1: Nautilus and other Private spacecraft

One of the main reasons I took down my old blog was that I as I began by teaching career I  was uncomfortable with some of my old writings being not found by students/colleges/whoever and causing issues. However there were quite a few good, non controversial things that I was sad to see removed from the web. With that in mind this is the first in a series of filler posts look backs on my prior writing. This was originally published 03/04/2011. Since then I think a Biglow/SpaceX manned interplanetary mission is even more likely

Had been meaning to post this vid for a while, which I came across the other week on Hobbyspace. I have been pondering the possibility of craft like this, and the possibility of them being privately funded ever since reading this blog post at Samizdata.

Another kernel of inspiration came from a newsletter I picked up at the BIS the other week, one of which had a summary of this study done by Lockheed-Martin on using Orion capsules to visit a NEO (Near Earth Object). As Orion has been cancelled now this study joins the pile of could have beens proposed over the last 40+ years. It did remind me of a chapter in Bob Zubrin's book Entering space on asteroids missions. It struck me that something similar to this could be put together over the next few years very cheaply.

Using a Bigelow BA330 for the main habitat, Dragon for crew launch and return, F9 upper stages (modified for refueling in orbit and long term propellant storage) and F9/F9 heavy to launch it all an asteroid or Mars orbit mission (to Phobos and Deimos) could be put together for less than $2 billion.

Even cheaper and closer at hand could be a lunar landing, using 2 Falcon heavies to launch fuel pods, a Dragon and a lunar lander developed by Armadillo/Masten. At a guess this could cost less than half a billion all in all.

It would be really cool if this could be done to mark the Apollo 11 50th anniversary landing in 2019!

The week in review 2

This week turned out to be busier than expected for me, with a bank holiday, 2 job interviews and a seminar on property investing leaving me little free time. Thankfully there were only 2 major news items this week, which I have already mentioned; SpaceX's third successful first stage landing (more commentary here regarding their ability to takes risks), and an update on Textron's Scorpion jet. (more here on whether it will actually get any sales)

Other interesting articles/pieces I came across this week:

A series on Avweek on the next 100 years of aerospace, featuring opinions from Burt Rutan and Norm Augustine,

More news from Textron, this time a UAV,

A cool concert from ESA for a personnel VTOL transport,

An update on Virgin Galactic,

And finally, I came across this cool old promo video for the X-20 Dyna-soar programme from the 60's. (which I came across on this page), Enjoy!

Spacex land a Falcon 9 first stage on droneship a second time

Falcon 8 first stage on Droneship Of Course I Still Love you this morning:

                                                    (image (c) SpaceX)

Luckily for me the launch was just before the time I usually get up so was able to watch it all live on youtube. Very cool

Photo gallery of the launch can be found here.

Questions to which the answer is 'yes'

Will SpaceX get people to Mars before NASA?

I'd also like to see them land a manned Dragon on the moon on July 20th, 2019.

Also on the subject SpaceX, an interesting (and long) series of articles on Elon Musk, Tesla, Mars Colonisation, Solar City,  Hyperloop and finally on the difference between men like Musk and the the rest of us mere mortals. I especially like the analogy in the last part between 'cooks' and 'chefs'; could easily describe myself as a 'Self-hating cook' at the moment....

The week in review 1

Due to various circumstances, I now have a lot more free time and have decided to start a new blog. This is the third time (I think) I have tried this out in the last 15 years, and my main aim with this one is to focus on my interests in space, aviation, military and other advanced technology. It is the 21st century after all, and I'd like this site to be a log of new developments with a bit of commentary and speculation of what may come.

And to so to start what I plan to be a weekly feature, a round-up of the biggest developments of the past week that have caught my eye. In future I'm also planning on linking back to my own posts, but today will just be external links.

Space flight

The biggest news this week has to be SpaceX's announcement that they plan to land a Dragon capsule on Mars in 2018. I have been dwelling on this a lot and have some thoughts I'd like to share soon on a near tern manned mission using this technology.

Additionally we saw a new very small launch vehicle unveiled by Vector Space. I'm not sure how much demand there will be for launchers in this payload range but will be the more competition the better. It will also be interesting to see how far this design can be scaled up. More info here.

Blue Origin posted (by email) some information on the development of their BE-4 engine. Here's a summary.

Finally, a good piece on Buzzfeed on the SLS and its lack of uses, and an Economist article on Billionaire philanthropists that mentions Elon Musk and Jeff Bezo's space projects. 

Aviation:

Saw this week about the Cobalt Valkyrie on Popsci. Is a very pretty plane and will be following its future development with interest.

Also this week Japan's' X-2 5th generation fighter prototype made its first flight, and while slightly older news I saw this article on Lockheed-Martins' return to the civil aviation market with the LM-100.

Military:

Australia orders 12 subs from France. Compared to the problems with the Royal Navy's Astute program seems a good deal.

That's it for this week! Check back for more news and commentary.