Universe Today » Space Flight

Masten wins $1 million X-Prize on Last Possible Day

Nicholos Wethington — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:22:27 +0000

The X-Prize competition for building a lander vehicle capable of making a simulated landing and liftoff on the Moon has come to a close, with the 1st place, $1 million award going to Masten Space Systems for their vehicle, Xoie (pronounced like the name 'Zoey'). Armadillo Aerospace came in a close second, and received $500,000 for their Scorpius rocket. The Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X-Prize challenge was initiated to spur development of lunar landing vehicle by a privately funded institution. The last of the challenge flights occured Friday, October 30th, and the competition came down to the wire, as Masten encountered problems on Wednesday and Thursday challenge windows that delayed their final flight to the last day of the challenge.(...)
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Space Junk Threatens Future Missions

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:45:06 +0000

The U.S. Air Force began upgrading its ability to predict possible collisions in space after two satellites collided in February 2009, and has now done a collision analysis on over 800 maneuverable satellites. They hope to be able to track 500 more non-maneuvering satellites by year's end. But maneuverable satellites aren't the problem. The amount of space debris has risen by 40 per cent in the past four years alone. The Air Force Space Command now tracks 21,000 orbiting objects that are 10 centimeters or more across – including the 800 working satellites – and estimates that there are 500,000 smaller fragments in orbit.
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Will Russia's Next Rocket be Nuclear?

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:27:57 +0000

RD-0410 NTP Engine developed by Russia in the 1960's. Credit - Dietrich Haeseler

Russia's space agency chief is proposing to build a new spaceship with a nuclear engine. Reportedly,
Anatoly Perminov told a government meeting Wednesday that the preliminary design could be ready by 2012. It would take about nine more years and 17 billion rubles (about $600 million or 400 million euros) to build the ship. This ambitious proposal is a stark contrast to the current state of the Russian space program.
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Ares I-X at the Launchpad

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:10:03 +0000

Ares at the pad. Credit: NASA

"The Stick" made it out to launchpad 39B without falling over. I have to admit, NASA's new rocket looked tall, super-skinny and pointy (as Dr. Brian Cox described it), as it rolled out on the crawler transporter. Somehow, it seems the Ares I-X should be wider. It's definitely tall — at 100 meters (327 feet,) it is 43 meters (143 feet) taller than the space shuttle. But appearances aside, this is an historic occasion. For the first time in more than a quarter century, a new vehicle is sitting out at the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

More pictures below:
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Launches and Dockings and Robots, Oh My!

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:14:20 +0000

It was a busy weekend in the world of space flight — both present and future — and so we'll try to fit it all in one article, and include a couple of videos to help tell the stories. Before that, however, just a reminder that the Ares-I-X is slated to roll out to launchpad 39-B early Tuesday morning at 12:01 am EDT, to begin preparations for the scheduled Oct. 27 first test launch. If you're an early bird, (or a night owl) watch the six-hour trip on NASA TV.

And now on to this weekend's launch story:
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Post tags: Atlas Rocket, NASA, Space Flight

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Space Shuttle Loses Battle of Launch Dates

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:46:44 +0000

It's the old shuttle shuffle. The launch of Atlantis for the STS-129 mission has been pushed back by four days to November 16 (at 2:28 pm EDT) to accommodate two unmanned rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, as well as the inaugural launch of the Ares I-X, scheduled for October 27. Right now the shuttle launch window lasts one day – the 16th. A second launch attempt on November 17 is being negotiated with a Delta IV launch, but NASA will stand down the 18th for the Leonid Meteor Shower (NASA won't launch the shuttle into a shooting gallery), so if weather or technical issues don't allow liftoff then, the next window opens from December 6-14. But there are issues with that time frame, too.
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Trips to Mars in 39 Days

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:50:24 +0000

Using traditional chemical rockets, a trip to Mars – at quickest — lasts 6 months. But a new rocket tested successfully last week could potentially cut down travel time to the Red Planet to just 39 days. The Ad Astra Rocket Company tested a plasma rocket called the VASIMR VX-200 engine, which ran at 201 kilowatts in a vacuum chamber, passing the 200-kilowatt mark for the first time. "It's the most powerful plasma rocket in the world right now," says Franklin Chang-Diaz, former NASA astronaut and CEO of Ad Astra. The company has also signed an agreement with NASA to test a 200-kilowatt VASIMR engine on the International Space Station in 2013.
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Soyuz Launch Video

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:25:56 +0000

The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft launched today at 07:14 GMT (2:14 CDT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. On board were Soyuz Commander Max Suraev, NASA Flight Engineer Jeff Williams and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil . They will arrive at the International Space Station on Friday.

If you've ever wondered about some of the unusual rituals the Russians partake in before a launch, an article on Discovery Space outlined the following traditions witnessed over the years by reporters for The Associated Press, or reported in the Russian media:
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Reaching Near Space For Less Than $150

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:47:41 +0000

A group of MIT students have launched a low-budget satellite to near space, taking images of the curvature of Earth and the blackness of space. Their approach was to use low tech, off the shelf equipment, which included a Styrofoam beer cooler, a camera from eBay, open source software and an inexpensive helium balloon as the launch vehicle in order to do their complete mission launch for less than $150. Total cost? $148. The experience? Priceless, including getting interviewed on CNN and Fox News about their achievement. The best news for the rest of us? They'll soon be sharing an illustrated step-by-step guide on how to launch your own low-budget satellite.
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Armadillo Powers Toward $1 Million Prize

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:58:15 +0000

A rocket powered vehicle successfully completed the first step toward qualifying to win a $1 million prize for NASA's Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Armadillo Aerospace's "Scorpius" lander set world records for vertical landings and takeoff flights by flying up 50 meters (164 feet) into the air, maneuvering over to land on a simulated rocky lunar surface 50 meters (164 feet) away, and then rising and flying back to land where it started. The flight included a requirement of at least 180 seconds of flying time. Watch the video from the second qualifying flight here. Armadillo is the first team of three teams looking to nab the prize this year.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Returns Home (Video)

Nancy Atkinson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:09:22 +0000

There's nothing prettier than watching the space shuttle land. Sure, it drops like a rock, a piano, a safe; but when the vehicle makes the final turn and lines up with the runway, and then the commander sticks the landing like Rick Sturckow did tonight, it's a work of art. If you missed the landing in real time, here's a great video of Discovery's landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, at 5:53 PDT on Friday, ending the 14-day mission to the International Space Station.
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Japan Launches New Era of ISS Resupply Ships

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:00:44 +0000

Japan successfully launched its first re-supply spacecraft to the International Space Station today. After liftoff at 17:01 GMT (12:01 CDT) from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, flight controllers confirmed the HTV-1 spacecraft separated from the H-2B rocket and now is in its preliminary orbit. The flight profile has the HTV taking seven days to reach the ISS so controllers can run various tests and demonstrations on its maiden voyage before rendezvousing with the space station. Unlike previous re-supply ships that dock directly to the station, the HTV will fly to within 10 meters from the ISS on September 17, and then astronaut Nicole Stott will reach out and grapple the spacecraft with the space station's robotic arm, Canadarm 2, and connect it to the Harmony module on the ISS.
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Top 10 (or so) Images from STS-128

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:12:04 +0000

Christer Fugelsang during the third EVA of STS-128. Credit: NASA

As the crew of the STS-128 mission pack up and prepare to get ready to undock from the International Space Station on Tuesday, it's time to look back at the very successful mission that worked on space station construction. Here's some of the best images of the mission.

Above, ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang works (and waves) during the third and final EVA of the mission. Fuglesang and NASA astronaut John "Danny" Olivas installed several items and did work to prepare for the installation of Node 3, which will take place next year.
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COLBERT, Leonardo and a Neutralino Heading for Space Station

Nancy Atkinson — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:00:29 +0000

Discovery lift off. Credit: flyingjenny on Twitpic. Click image for more of flyingjenny's images

The third launch attempt was a charm for space shuttle Discovery and her crew. The STS-128 mission is now underway with a successful liftoff one minute before midnight, local time, from Kennedy Space Center. Discovery is carrying the Leonardo supply module to the International Space Station, and tucked away inside is the COLBERT treadmill, along with several refrigerator-sized racks of science equipment, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment, an air purification system, and other supplies, plus another unusual object packed in Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang's belongings: a theoretical particle called a neutralino.
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South Korea Launches Rocket; Satellite Fails to Reach Its Orbit

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:18:33 +0000

South Korea successfully launched its first rocket on Tuesday, but the satellite payload failed to reach its designated orbit, officials said. The rocket, a two-stage rocket, called the Naro lifted off on schedule at 5:00 pm local time, (0800 GMT). The first stage separated successfully less than five minutes after lift-off and the South Korean-built 100-kilogram (220-pound) scientific research satellite was placed into Earth orbit. But science and technology minister Ahn Byong-Man said it was not following the designated orbit, hampering communications with mission control. "All aspects of the launch were normal, but the satellite exceeded its planned orbit and reached an altitude of 360 kilometres (225 miles)," Ahn said.
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The Navigators: How We Fly Spacecraft Around the Solar System

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:36:20 +0000

Navigating a spacecraft through the heavens has been compared to sailing a ship on the open seas or driving a vehicle on a long, cross country journey. Analogies are necessary, since spacecraft navigation is performed by a relatively small sampling of the human race, and the job usually involves doing things that have never been done before. Those of us who have trouble making sense of a road map here on Earth stand in awe of what these celestial navigators can accomplish.

Literally, this is rocket science.
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South Korea Launch No Go, Shuttle Launch a Go

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:55:17 +0000

The launch of South Korea's first domestic rocket launch was aborted on Wednesday just minutes before scheduled liftoff because of a technical problem, delaying South Korea's mini space race with North Korea. The two-stage rocket, called the Naro will be South Korea's first launch from its own territory. Officials expect another liftoff will be attempted in a few days. Another launch attempt on July 30 was also aborted. The satellite was domestically built, with help from Russia and will observe the atmosphere and ocean. The launch attempt came about four months after North Korea was widely criticized for firing its own rocket in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

Meanwhile, NASA officials have cleared space shuttle Discovery to launch on August 25 for the STS-128 mission to the International Space Station. As of now, weather is the only issue that might delay the mission.

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NASA Tests Inflatable Heat Shield

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:11:19 +0000

Screen shot of the IRVE inflatable heat sheild during Monday's test flight. Credit: Wallops Flight Facility

NASA conducted a successful test Monday morning of a new type of heat shield that could make it possible to land larger payloads on Mars. The Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE) demonstrated an inflatable heat shield which could slow and protect spacecraft entering atmospheres at hypersonic speeds. "This was a small-scale demonstrator," said Mary Beth Wusk, IRVE project manager, based at Langley Research Center. "Now that we've proven the concept, we'd like to build more advanced aeroshells capable of handling higher heat rates."
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How We Really Watched Television From the Moon

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:05:50 +0000

Ed von Renouard working at Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station in Australia was the first person to see images from the Apollo 11 moonwalk. Image courtesty of Bruce Ekert.

Six hundred million people, or one fifth of mankind at the time, watched Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon in 1969. But seeing live transmissions from that historic event wouldn't have been possible – and the Apollo missions wouldn't have possible either – without reliable communications and accurate tracking capabilities. To support the Apollo Program, NASA built the Manned Space Flight Network (MSFN) with three 85 foot (26 meter) antennas equally spaced around the world at Goldstone, California, Honeysuckle Creek, Australia and Fresnedillas (near Madrid), Spain. Because of the movie "The Dish" however, most people think the Parkes Radio Antenna was the only dish used in Australia. But the Honeysuckle Creek dish was the real star of the Apollo missions. Most notably, it supplied voice and telemetry contact with the lunar and command modules but it also provided the first televised pictures of the Apollo 11 moonwalk. "It was a job well done by many people all over the world," said Bruce Ekert, a technician with the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station. "When I reflect that we were part of history, it is still amazing that it came together and worked so smoothly."
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The Perils of Wearing a Spacesuit

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:23:45 +0000

Scott Altman, in front of a portait presented to him by the Lakeview Museum in Peoria, IL and painted by artist Bill Hardin. Photo: N. Atkinson

A spacesuit is a complicated conglomeration of switches, dials, hoses, tabs, and multiple layers of high-tech material. It serves various functions and is part miniature spacecraft, part atmospheric re-creation, and part medical necessity — with the number one priority of protecting those who wear it. But that doesn't mean a spacesuit is always comfortable. "The whole suit is like a big bladder and it weighs about 80 lbs," said astronaut Scott Altman, explaining the intricacies of the orange ACES launch and entry space suit to a group of children, "and it's not always easy to move around in it." But, undoubtedly today's suit is more advanced and slightly more comfortable than the spacesuit Altman's STS-125 crewmate, John Grunsfeld assembled as a child, concocted from vacuum cleaner parts and ice cream tins.
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STS-127: A Mission in Pictures

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:17:19 +0000

Astronaut Tim Kopra during an EVA. Credit: NASA

As space shuttle Endeavour undocks from the International Space Station today (Tuesday), now is a good time to look back at the very successful STS-127 mission. Here's some great images which tell the story of the mission. Above, astronaut Tim Kopra is pictured in the forward port side area of Endeavour's cargo bay during the first of five planned spacewalks performed by the STS-127 crew. Kopra is now part of the ISS crew, and is staying onboard the space station to serve as flight engineer.
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Long Duration Space Underwear

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:34:34 +0000

Koichi Wakata on board the ISS. Credit: NASA

As Japan's first astronaut to spend long duration missions on board the International Space Station, Koichi Wakata has had the opportunity to do all sorts of interesting experiments the past few months. For example, he conducted several different cellular growth and crystal growth experiments, and has even flown a magic carpet in space. One other experiment has been – shall we say – kept under wraps. Wakata has been wearing the same underwear on board the ISS for two months.

"(For) two months I was wearing these underwear and there was no smell and nobody complained,” Wakata, speaking in Japanese, said through an interpreter during a press conference this weekend from the ISS. “I think that new J-ware underwear is very good for myself and my colleagues."
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Company Flies Biofuel Rocket (Video)

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:21:22 +0000

Flometrics, Inc. successfully flew a liquid fueled rocket with a 100% renewable fuel, a version of JP-8 (Jet Propellant and liquid oxygen. The 180 lb (81 kg) rocket was 20 feet (6 meters) tall, 1 foot (.3 meters) diameter and it was powered by a RocketDyne LR-101 rocket engine that was originally used as a steering engine on the early Atlas and Delta rockets. The rocket performance during the 15 second long burn was better than the performance of a similar rocket using RP-1 refined kerosene rocket fuel. It reached an altitude of approximately 20,000 ft (6096 m) and may have exceeded Mach 1. The biofuel ran cleaner than the standard rocket fuel that has been used before. Since the biofuel was originally designed for jets, it may be possible to tune it for better performance in rocket engines. The fuel was developed by the Energy and Environment Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota.

Source: Flometrics

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Watch the STS-127 Launch Video in HD

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:54:34 +0000

The storm clouds stayed far enough away so that space shuttle Endeavour and her STS-127 crew finally launched on July 15 on its sixth attempt. The video here shows spectacular views, from the camera mounted on the shuttle's external tank, showing the launchpad dropping away below, and then the separation of the shuttle's twin boosters two minutes and five seconds into the flight. Watching the video here, multiple pieces of foam insulation can be seen falling away from the external tank during the early moments of flight. The crew is working today on heat shield inspections to see if any significant damage occurred from any foam strikes on the belly of the orbiter.
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Listen to Apollo 11 Conversations the Earth Didn't Hear

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:07:00 +0000

The whole world watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the surface of the Moon. Everyone listened intently to every word said between the Eagle lander and mission control. But what did Neil and Buzz say to each other when the microphone was off? Now you can find out. NASA has made the onboard audio tapes available online, so everyone can listen in the what happened inside the spacecraft. These are not necessarily major milestones of the mission but are some of the more interesting and clearly recorded conversations the crew members had among themselves as the mission progressed.

For example, here's one exchange between Armstrong and Aldrin:
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