Tag Archives: Space

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SpaceX Space Force contract

[Image credit: SpaceX]

SpaceX Secures $733M Space Force Launch Contract

SpaceX has once again proven its dominance in the space launch industry by winning a major contract from the U.S. Space Force. This time, the company secured an eight-launch contract worth $733 million. The new deal comes as part of the Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, specifically for Lane 1, which focuses on lower-risk, near-Earth missions.

Details of the SpaceX Space Force Launch Contract

The contract covers seven launches for the Space Development Agency and one for the National Reconnaissance Office. All of these missions will likely use SpaceX’s reliable Falcon 9 rockets but not earlier than 2026. This massive deal highlights the continued trust the U.S. government places in SpaceX’s launch capabilities.

SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin are the main companies competing for these launches. The contract is part of the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s (SSC) ongoing efforts to ensure national security through reliable and cost-effective space launches.

National Security Space Launch Phase 3

The National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program was divided into two lanes: Lane 1 for near-Earth and lower-risk missions, and Lane 2 for heavy-lift missions and more complex orbits. SpaceX’s contract falls under Lane 1, which has an expected total value of $5.6 billion over five years. Other companies will have the chance to bid for future contracts as competition increases.

The Future of SpaceX and National Security Launches

SpaceX’s success in securing this contract may seem inevitable, but the landscape is changing. With new launch providers and technologies on the horizon, competition is expected to intensify. The Space Force has committed to “increasing competition and diversity,” with future opportunities to onboard new providers. The next round of bidding for Lane 1 contracts is set for 2024, and more missions will be awarded between 2025 and 2029.

SpaceX remains at the forefront of space innovation, and this $733 million Space Force launch contract further solidifies its role in supporting national security missions. However, with new players entering the market, the future of space launches could look very different in the coming years.

Source: Yahoo

Science

SpaceX Starship Test

[Image credit: Screenshot from SpaceX livestream]

SpaceX Starship Test Flight: Successful Booster Catch Marks New Milestone

SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space travel with its latest Starship test flight. On Sunday morning, at the company’s Starbase in Texas, SpaceX not only launched its massive Starship but also achieved something unprecedented: catching the Super Heavy booster with a pair of oversized “chopstick” arms attached to the launch tower.

First Booster Catch Success

The primary objective of this test was two-fold. SpaceX aimed to catch the Super Heavy booster at the launch site for the first time and successfully land Starship in the Indian Ocean. The company had already nailed a controlled reentry and splashdown in a previous mission, but this booster catch was something entirely new in the world of rocketry.

Using the “chopstick” arms, the booster slowed to a hover before gently positioning itself within the catch zone. The arms then secured the booster as its engines shut off—a technique that could transform how reusable rockets are recovered.

SpaceX’s Vision for Reusability

SpaceX envisions rapid reuse of both the Starship upper stage and its booster. This approach would revolutionize space travel by allowing spacecraft to be quickly refurbished for future missions. The Starship test flight, which focused on catching the booster and demonstrating controlled reentry, is a vital part of making this vision a reality.

While the FAA had initially expected to approve this launch by late November, SpaceX managed to move up the timeline. The FAA confirmed that all safety, environmental, and licensing requirements had been met, including approval for the next test flight.

Future of Starship

Though this test didn’t aim to recover the Starship upper stage, future launches will focus on landing it as well. Each flight builds on lessons from the last, as SpaceX improves hardware, software, and operations. The company’s goal is to make Starship fully reusable, a crucial step for both NASA’s Artemis missions and SpaceX’s long-term plans for interplanetary travel.

With every test flight, SpaceX is bringing us closer to a new era of space exploration.

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NASA: SLS And Orion Launch To The Moon On Saturday

NASA has made its decision: On Saturday, a new attempt for the world’s largest rocket to fly to the moon will start. The space agency has made some changes to increase the chances of success.

After a botched start last Monday, NASA is making a new attempt for the Artemis 1 mission . Next Saturday, September 3rd, the “biggest rocket in the world”, SLS (Space Launch System) , will launch.

Initially, the space agency had considered Friday, but the weather forecast speaks against it. There was a 60 percent chance that the weather would result in an aborted takeoff. On Saturday, however, only sporadic rainfall is expected. The launch will be broadcast live on various NASA channels.

Image: NASA, Free Stock Picture, MorgueFile.com.

Loading procedures are changed

NASA reports that the teams are working on an approach to prevent an error like Monday’s. One of the engines could not be cooled down to -252 degrees Celsius. A hydrogen leak was also discovered.

Now NASA is changing the start procedure: Those responsible now want to complete the tap test 30 to 45 minutes earlier in the countdown process. This would put him in the fast-fill phase with liquid hydrogen. The technicians should practice the new procedure beforehand. NASA has already tested them at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

Check containers and connection points

In addition, NASA is reconfiguring the platforms on the launch pad to give engineers access to the rinsing tank. That’s where the leak had occurred. You should check the affected lines and connection points and tighten them if necessary.

If the launch is successful this time, the SLS will transport its Orion probe the longest distance that has ever been covered by a space capsule. It will also remain in space longer than any other spacecraft used to transport people. This is mainly possible because the capsule transports plastic dummies instead of astronauts .

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Nasa to send 2 more Ingenuity drones to Mars

Two more drones are scheduled to land on Mars in 2027 bring samples to Earth.

Nasa announced that it plans to send two more Ingenuity drones to Mars aboard its upcoming Sample Retrieval Lander. As early as 2020, the US space agency sent a model to Mars along with the Perseverance rover, which landed on the red planet in February last year. The small helicopter made a total of 29 flights – scanning the surface and taking lots of photos. The new Ingenuity drones not only have additional wheels, but also a slightly different task: They are supposed to collect samples from the surface of Mars so that they can be sent back to Earth.

Image: Nasa/JPL-Caltech

First Ingenuity drone has exceeded expectations

It’s no surprise that NASA is using two Ingenuity drones for its next big mission. After all, the almost 1.20 meter tall helicopter exceeded the expectations of the researchers. The first flight was a hover at a height of three meters. The drone only flew over the surface of Mars for 40 seconds – but successfully. Subsequent flights became increasingly ambitious as the time allotted to operate the helicopter became increasingly scarce. No one at NASA expected the drone to survive a full 29 flights, making it a year older than planned. That’s why two successors to the Ingenuity model are now to be sent to Mars.

First time to bring Mars samples to Earth

This time, however, the drones have a different mission: instead of taking photos, soil samples are to be collected from the surface of Mars. The Sample Fetch Rover and the associated second lander will therefore have to stay at home for the next mission. The Mars Sample Retriever, which – as the name might suggest – accepts and collects the samples from the two Ingenuity drones is also allowed to come along . Also part of the Retriever is the Mars Ascent Vehicle . Here, too, the creative naming can be traced back to the function: the rocket is to take off from Mars together with rock and oil samples and bring them safely to Earth.

Anyone who is looking forward to being able to hold a Mars sample in their hands in a short time will have to be disappointed. The joint mission of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) is not scheduled to start until autumn 2027. A second launch is scheduled for summer 2028. We’ll have to wait a lot longer for rehearsals. If everything goes according to plan, it will take more than ten years until 2033 for the samples to arrive on Earth. However, once the samples are here, we can learn a lot more about the history of the planet. One can only hope that no grim discovery is made in the process.

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SpaceX is already breaking the record from the previous year

At the weekend, SpaceX brought its number of rocket launches to 33 with two more missions. Elon Musk’s group broke its record from the previous year – and that in July. 

Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX launched 31 rockets last year. In 2022, the group already exceeded this number when the Falcon 9 rocket sent a load of 46 Starlink satellites into space on Friday, setting off on its 32nd mission. On Sunday, SpaceX added 53 satellites – rocket launch number 33.

The company has already broken its existing record for most rocket launches in a year, as confirmed by Elon Musk on Twitter , where he congratulated his team. In addition, there are still several months left to further expand the record.

Screenshot: Twitter

Elon Musk’s goal for 2022: 52 rocket launches

SpaceX intends to do the same, because at the beginning of the year the ambitious goal was announced of sending 52 rockets into space this year. So far, SpaceX is on track to meet its schedule. This is made possible by the reusable rocket stages of the Falcon 9. The rocket, which was launched on Sunday, has already completed four missions. Another rocket already has 13 missions under its belt. These cycles allow SpaceX to ramp up its rocket launch cadence every year except for 2019, when the number dropped.

In addition, SpaceX is its own customer for a large number of the rocket launches. The company is using the missions to increase its fleet of Starlink Internet satellites. Around 2,900 have been sent into orbit so far, of which around 2,600 are currently active. SpaceX has approval for a total of 12,000 but is seeking to relax international rules to allow up to 30,000 satellites into orbit.

SpaceX has big plans

But even without its Starlink project, SpaceX will not run out of work. Thanks to the cooperation with NASA, the company repeatedly sends off Dragon-type space capsules to send people and cargo to the ISS. There are also SpaceX’s commercial space flights, which take tourists into space, and launches for the US Department of Defense.

In the long term, Elon Musk is pursuing particularly ambitious plans with SpaceX. The billionaire has never made a secret of the fact that he has set himself the goal of populating Mars – and even wants to outperform NASA in the race for the red planet .