The roll out to the launch pad of NASA's Ares 1-X rocket has been delayed at least a day due to a glitch in the hydraulic system. The specific piece involved deals with the steering and stabilization of the rocket. The delay getting to the launch pad may or may not delay the scheduled test flight.
That test flight is set for October 27, but it's a short window. If the flight doesn't occur on the 27th or 28th, there will be a longer delay. For political reasons, if nothing else, NASA clearly wants a successful test flight as soon as possible to show that the Constellation program and its workhorse launcher is in fact making progress.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rocket Plane
Last Saturday morning, Lochheed Martin and UP Aerospace teamed to quietly conduct a test flight of the prototype for what was termed a "reusable rocket plane." The flight took place at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
The companies gave out few details of the flight, except to say the test flight was a success and the vehicle was recovered. This was the third flight of a small, winged craft designed to test new technologies and how they work together, and new proceedures for supporting quick launches using fewer support crewmembers. The power source of the craft was not disclosed.
That would seem to suggest at least some Lochheed execs think the energing NewSpace industry is on to something-- and they see Lochheed being the 800-pound gorilla in that new room. For all the competition a giant like Lochheed could give the smaller companies in the industry short term, such a development might be good for everybody in the long term.
The companies gave out few details of the flight, except to say the test flight was a success and the vehicle was recovered. This was the third flight of a small, winged craft designed to test new technologies and how they work together, and new proceedures for supporting quick launches using fewer support crewmembers. The power source of the craft was not disclosed.
That would seem to suggest at least some Lochheed execs think the energing NewSpace industry is on to something-- and they see Lochheed being the 800-pound gorilla in that new room. For all the competition a giant like Lochheed could give the smaller companies in the industry short term, such a development might be good for everybody in the long term.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Sailing Titan's Seas?
NASA may be looking at sending a nuclear-powered ship to Saturn's gigantic moon Titan to sail one of the many lakes of ethane there. Most lakes on Titan are fairly small, but two rival North America's Great Lakes in size. One of those would make a relatively easy target.
Such a probe would need to be nuclear powered because solar cells wouldn't work that far from the Sun, especially given Titan's dense atmosphere, and batteries would only provide hours of power. NASA's nuclear power generators depend on radioactive decay to produce heat and energy; they are not nuclear reactors. The generators could power the ship for months.
The same Discovery-class mission that would deliver the ship might also deliver a balloon to ride the currents of Titan's active atmosphere. The moon is incredibly cold, but it has weather patterns and organics. Scientists liken it to the early Earth.
Such a probe would need to be nuclear powered because solar cells wouldn't work that far from the Sun, especially given Titan's dense atmosphere, and batteries would only provide hours of power. NASA's nuclear power generators depend on radioactive decay to produce heat and energy; they are not nuclear reactors. The generators could power the ship for months.
The same Discovery-class mission that would deliver the ship might also deliver a balloon to ride the currents of Titan's active atmosphere. The moon is incredibly cold, but it has weather patterns and organics. Scientists liken it to the early Earth.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Enceladus Controversy
Since the Cassini probe detected water vapor in plumes exploding from Saturn's moon Enceladus, many scientists have worked on the theory that an ocean of liquid water could exist under the moon's shell of ice. That, in turn, opened the door to possible life in the ocean.
Enceladus may have liquid water, but a new study puts forth an alternative explanation for the water vapor in the plumes. Scientists conducting the new study recalculated Cassini's data and came up with far less water vapor in the plumes than initially thought. While the first results had enough water vapor to argue for substantial liquid water under the ice, the new study's reduced amount could be produced by sublimation-- water phasing from ice to vapor without passing through the liquid state. In that model, there could be no ocean inside Enceladus, and, therefore, no life.
Scientists involved in each study acknowledge the other's results can't be ruled out. The actual situation might lie somewhere between the two current models. The insides of Enceladus may feature icy slush, not liquid water, for example. Presumably that would reduce the chances for life. Everyone does agree that more study is needed.
Enceladus may have liquid water, but a new study puts forth an alternative explanation for the water vapor in the plumes. Scientists conducting the new study recalculated Cassini's data and came up with far less water vapor in the plumes than initially thought. While the first results had enough water vapor to argue for substantial liquid water under the ice, the new study's reduced amount could be produced by sublimation-- water phasing from ice to vapor without passing through the liquid state. In that model, there could be no ocean inside Enceladus, and, therefore, no life.
Scientists involved in each study acknowledge the other's results can't be ruled out. The actual situation might lie somewhere between the two current models. The insides of Enceladus may feature icy slush, not liquid water, for example. Presumably that would reduce the chances for life. Everyone does agree that more study is needed.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Another Martian Meteorite
NASA's Mars rover Opportunity has discovered its third meteorite on the planet, and its second this year. The two rocks are within a half-mile of each other.
Opportunity spent six weeks studying the first one, and engineers are maneuvering the rover to get it in position to make contact with the second so analysis can begin. Presumably, a big question to pursue is whether the two were once part of the same body, or in fact represent two separate falls.
The story of the Mars rovers is amazing, but note-- Opportunity spent six weeks on one rock. A human expedition would have taken samples off the meteorite for analysis and moved on. The proceedure may have taken a couple hours. The question is: Are we in any hurry to understand Mars? If not, continuing with robotic probes is probably good enough. However, if the point is to put together the big picture within the next two or three decades, that may well require putting humans on Mars.
Opportunity spent six weeks studying the first one, and engineers are maneuvering the rover to get it in position to make contact with the second so analysis can begin. Presumably, a big question to pursue is whether the two were once part of the same body, or in fact represent two separate falls.
The story of the Mars rovers is amazing, but note-- Opportunity spent six weeks on one rock. A human expedition would have taken samples off the meteorite for analysis and moved on. The proceedure may have taken a couple hours. The question is: Are we in any hurry to understand Mars? If not, continuing with robotic probes is probably good enough. However, if the point is to put together the big picture within the next two or three decades, that may well require putting humans on Mars.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Laliberte Home
Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte safely returned from his visit to ISS, landing in his Soyuz capsule on the steppes of Kazakhstan.
Laliberte's trip was arranged by Space Adventures. So far, SA has had the space tourism industry all to itself, but that is scheduled to change over the next few years. Virgin Galactic plans to start offering suborbitil flights. SpaceX and Interorbital Systems are working on privately-owned spacecraft capable of orbital flight. Bigelow Aerospace is looking at establishing space hotels based on its inflatable structure technology. BA is also looking for a partner to deliver people to and from the hotels, which could give SpaceX and IOS a market for their craft.
Space Adventures is trying to maintain its leadership in the industry by offering a trip around the Moon aboard a Soyuz, which was originally designed to fly lunar missions. SA is not unchallenged, however. IOS plans its own lunar base, not simply for tourism, but to begin the creation of a diversified lunar economy. BA is touting its inflatable structures for bases on other worlds.
If even some of the projects now underway work out, Space Adventures' strategy will need to change radically for the company to prosper.
Laliberte's trip was arranged by Space Adventures. So far, SA has had the space tourism industry all to itself, but that is scheduled to change over the next few years. Virgin Galactic plans to start offering suborbitil flights. SpaceX and Interorbital Systems are working on privately-owned spacecraft capable of orbital flight. Bigelow Aerospace is looking at establishing space hotels based on its inflatable structure technology. BA is also looking for a partner to deliver people to and from the hotels, which could give SpaceX and IOS a market for their craft.
Space Adventures is trying to maintain its leadership in the industry by offering a trip around the Moon aboard a Soyuz, which was originally designed to fly lunar missions. SA is not unchallenged, however. IOS plans its own lunar base, not simply for tourism, but to begin the creation of a diversified lunar economy. BA is touting its inflatable structures for bases on other worlds.
If even some of the projects now underway work out, Space Adventures' strategy will need to change radically for the company to prosper.
Friday, October 9, 2009
LCROSS Slams Into Cabeus
NASA's LCROSS lunar probe and its Centaur rocket stage slammed into the Moon as planned this morning in an attempt to obtain more evidence of lunar water.
The rocket stage and the probe barreled into Cabeus crater, a formation in the south lunar polar region that is sixty miles across-- big by lunar standards, but not huge. The idea of crashing into Cabeus is to study the ejecta for signs of water vapor. So far, NASA has not announced the results of that study. Actually, a complete analysis of the data produced will take some time.
The rocket stage and the probe barreled into Cabeus crater, a formation in the south lunar polar region that is sixty miles across-- big by lunar standards, but not huge. The idea of crashing into Cabeus is to study the ejecta for signs of water vapor. So far, NASA has not announced the results of that study. Actually, a complete analysis of the data produced will take some time.
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