Today marked yet another milestone moment for SpaceX, which successfully launched and then landed its Starship SN10 prototype. The prototype launched to a height of around 32,000ft before nailing an impressive landing...and then, minutes later, it exploded. Despite the dramatic conclusion to this launch, the entire event was an impressive display of SpaceX's growing capabilities.
When it comes to satellite launches, we typically think of SpaceX. It's not the only company putting satellites into space for NASA and other agencies and companies. A satellite launch company called Astra based in Alameda has announced that it secured a contract to delivered six cube satellites into orbit for NASA. The launch contract is worth $7.95 million once fulfilled.
After losing out on a Space Force contract, private space company Blue Origin has announced that its New Glenn maiden flight will be bumped to the fourth quarter of 2022. The company says that it hopes it will be able to launch National Security Space Launch (NSSL) payloads in the future in addition to civil contracts, among other things.
The SLS rocket is the massive booster that is expected to push the Artemis missions into orbit and towards the moon at some point in the future. Ahead of that launch, the rocket has to complete its testing regime, and NASA and Boeing have announced they will attempt the second hot fire test of the SLS rocket on February 25. The test is critical and is the last step in an eight-part green run test that has spanned an entire year to ensure the rocket functions as intended.
On Saturday, February 20, Northrup Grumman will launch its latest cargo resupply run for the International Space Station, delivering the supplies and other items astronauts need to live and conduct experiments. The launch will involve the Antares rocket and the Cygnus spacecraft -- but may end up delayed if the weather fails to cooperate.
A report recently published by the National Academies committee concluded NASA needs to kick off an aggressive technology development campaign for space nuclear propulsion technologies. The aggressive campaign is necessary if NASA wants to use the technology for human missions to Mars within the next two decades.
Yesterday we mentioned SpaceX was forced to scrub the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket only minutes before launch due to weather. SpaceX was quick to point out that there was no problem with the rocket or the payload. The launch was scrubbed due to a violation of the electrical field rule for a safe launch at the launch site. The launch window for the mission is open again this morning, and SpaceX will attempt the launch today.
Private space company Blue Origin has announced the successful demonstration of upgrades made to its New Shepard program's crew capsule. For this launch, the NS-14 capsule featured various updates that are intended to improve the astronaut experience, including easier access to Mission Control, cushioned wall linings, and more.
A new research contract has been formed between the UK Space Agency and Rolls-Royce Defence that will have planetary scientists working together to explore nuclear power's potential as a plentiful source of energy to make deep space exploration possible in the decades to come. One area of research will be nuclear propulsion that would involve channeling energy released by splitting atoms to accelerate propellants, like hydrogen, at high speeds.
SpaceX landed a contract at the end of 2020 for the Space Development Agency. SpaceX estimates the first launches under the contract will happen in late 2022, and they were awarded $150.4 million. Under the contract, as many as 28 satellites will be put into orbit.
SpaceX has pretty much nailed every Falcon 9 landing in the past year or two. Landing a jumbo-sized spacecraft, however, was never going to be easy. CEO Elon Musk already set fans' and spectators' expectations low when he warned that mishaps would happen when it tries to land its Starship SN8 prototype. Mishap did happen, resulting in the giant rocket becoming scrap metal, but the crash was not enough to mar the success and significance of SpaceX's most recent leap for space travel and mankind.
SpaceX wasn't to conduct its Starship high-altitude test yesterday. The test was meant to put Starship SN8 much higher into the atmosphere than any Starship vehicle had gone before. However, the launch was auto-aborted at T-1 second by the Raptor engine auto-abort process.