ASTM is launching a working group today to develop them.
Category Archives: Space
The Week In Space
It’s going to be a busy one in DC.
The Idiotic California Launch Tax
Doug Messier has more details. If I were SpaceX, my public comment would be, “See ya later, we’re going to Alaska.”
[Update a while later]
OK, according to this article, the launch companies requested this rule, apparently to clarify their tax situation.
The Engine Competition
The race between Aerojet Rocketdyne and Blue Origin heats up. But as noted in comments over there, there’s a big word missing in the story: Reusability. And the issue isn’t so much reusability of the engines themselves (though I’ve heard nothing to indicate that the AR1 will be reusable), but in the vehicle design. ULA does not want to continue Atlas with a new engine; they know they need at least a recoverable propulsion/avionics unit of Vulcan to even hope to be competitive with SpaceX (and Blue Origin).
X-37
It landed this weekend, but this drives me crazy.
It's not a "space shuttle." Stop calling it a space shuttle. https://t.co/34UyNn94cv
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) May 8, 2017
Made In Space
New details on their plans for optical fiber production on orbit.
The Urey Variation
Thoughts from Derek Lowe on the abundance of pre-cursors for life in the solar system (and probably universe).
California Rocket Taxes
If this is true, it’s good news for Kodiak. Dave Masten seems to think it’s overblown, though.
Robots
Microrobots. That can team up to pull a car.
Vector Space Systems
Congratulations on a successful test fight in Mojave today. That’s pretty good progress for a year-old company. There’s going to be a shakeout in this market, but they seem to be real.
[Mid-afternoon update]
If this isn't the coolest damned angle for a rocket shot then I don't know what is. @vectorspacesys Vector-R B0.1 first launch today #space pic.twitter.com/rd3Tt33JH4
— Jim Cantrell (@jamesncantrell) May 3, 2017
I like how the shadow stays in the frame as the rocket disappears from it.
[Thursday-morning update]
Eric Berger has the story.