The Federal Communications Commission approved an application by SpaceX to provide broadband services using satellite technology in the United States and around the world. With this action, the Commission takes another step to increase high-speed broadband availability and competition in the United States. This is the first approval of a U.S.-licensed satellite constellation to provide …
SpaceX has launched a small satellite provided by the Surrey Space Center known as RemoveDEBRIS that will be deployed through an airlock in the Japanese Kibo module and released into space by the laboratory’s Japanese robot arm. The idea is to test technologies that could one day be used to snag and de-orbit space junk. …
Ars Technica reports that SpaceX has flown seven rockets in 2018—six Falcon 9 missions and one Falcon Heavy. This is one launch every 13 days in 2018. * SpaceX cab use three launch pads in Florida and California * 18 launches in 2017 * Falcon 9 Block 5 will start flying soon and is designed …
SpaceX had a successful launch of a Falcon 9 using a previously used booster. They successfully deployed 10 Iridium NEXT satellites. Successful deployment of all 10 @IridiumComm NEXT satellites to low-Earth orbit confirmed. — SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 30, 2018 Brian WangBrian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million …
Ars Technica reports that Bill Gerstenmaier, chief of human spaceflight for NASA is still supporting the wasteful development of the multi-billion per year Space Launch System. The justification is that the SpaceX Falcon Heavy can deliver 18-22 tons to lunar orbit while Space Launch System could deliver a bit more. There are currently no payloads …
There is a 49-page report that has updated analysis on sending a small probe towards the Alpha Centauri system in a 50 year total mission time traveling at an average cruise velocity of 10% of light speed. The Andromeda Study: A FemtoSpacecraft Mission to Alpha Centauri Andreas M. Hein, Kelvin F. Long, Dan Fries, Nikolaos …
The current SpaceX Falcon 9 boosters that have been recovered were only designed to be reused 2-3 times but the new SpaceX Falcon 9 block 5 are expected to last for ten reuses. SpaceX has about 6 recovered boosters which will be reused. Most will be reused and not recovered in the next several launches. …
Relativity Space is 3D printing rockets. Rocket Labs is also trying to 3D print rockets. Relativity Space is making a rocket that has 4 times the thrust of the Rocket Labs rocket. Relativity rocket engine will still have ten times less thrust than the SpaceX merlin engine. Relativity Space wants is reimagining the way rockets …
The US Air Force announced two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch service contracts. SpaceX has been awarded a $290,594,130 firm-fixed-price contract, for launch services to deliver three GPS III missions (1 base and 2 options) to the intended orbit. United Launch Alliance (ULA) has been awarded a $351,839,510 firm-fixed-price contract, for launch services to …
There were MIT presentations about getting into space and beyond the cradle of the Earth There were presentations by Blue Origin, SpaceX, StarLabs and Planetary Resources. Vision of Blue Origin is millions of people living and working in space. Planetary Resources sees a $6 billion per year market for fuel in space by 2032. SpaceX …
At the Satellite 2018 conference, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell revealed that SpaceX plans to conduct the first orbital launches of BFR (Big F**ing Rocket) as early as 2020, with suborbital spaceship tests beginning in the first half of 2019. Musk: People have told me that my timelines historically have been optimistic. I am …