Blue Origins Successfully Launches and Softly Lands Rocket
It is expensive to launch a satellite or spacecraft. One of the biggest expenses is the one-time use of the engine and the fuel tanks.
The Visual Inspection Poseable Invertebrate Robot For Satellite Repairs In Space
It is expensive to launch a satellite. If there is a problem with a satellite, it would be better to be able to repair it in orbit than to send up another satellite to replace it.
Robotic Manipulator Arms Developed For International Space Station
Working in space is difficult and complicated.
Rocket Engine Combustion Chambers
The rocket engines currently in use for the exploration and exploitation of space are liquid fueled. Because they have to work in the vacuum of space, the fuel must be mixed with an oxidizer in order for combustion to occur. Elaborate systems have been developed to hold the different varieties of fuels and oxidizers in use. Complex systems of pipes and pumps deliver the fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber where they are mixed and burned.
Hackers and Junk Increase Cost of Satellites
I have spent a lot of blogs talking about all the exciting projects of governments and private companies in the exploration and exploitation of space.
Head of Chinese Lunar Exploration Discusses Chinese Plans for Space Exploration
I started this blog with a series of articles about the Chinese space program.
New Report Details Chinese Space Weapons Development
I have talked about space weapons in general and Chinese militarization of space in particular in past blog posts. A new report expected soon from the congressional U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will provide details of the Chinese space weapons programs. These weapons are referred to as counterspace arms because they are intended to destroy or jam U.S. satellites and limit American combat operations around the world.
SpaceX Angers Texas Town
I am a booster of human space exploration. I enjoy writing this blog about it. Up until recently, space exploration was the exclusive province of the national governments. In the U.S. NASA is the primary federal agency responsible for space exploration. However, in the past few years, private entrepreneurs have begun building and launching spacecraft.
Boeing Plans for the new Starliner
I have previously mentioned that Boeing was awarded a contract by NASA for building their CST-100 spacecraft. (see Boeing and SpaceX Awarded NASA Contract for Reusable Manned Spacecraft) Now Boeing has renamed their reusable crewed spacecraft the Starliner. It will be built in a "repurposed" shuttle processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center.
Boeing Launches 702SP Communications Satellites Which Are First To Be Ion Thruster Powered
Conventional propulsion systems for satellite and spacecraft maneuvering in space utilize some sort of combustive fuel to direct explosive products out of the rear of the vehicle to move it forward. Because there is no oxygen in space, these systems must combine a flammable substance with an oxidizer.