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— Christopher Johnson (@ChrisJohnsonEsq) April 9, 2020
Category Archives: Space
Space Transport
Clark Lindsey has the latest roundup, including the most recent Chinese launch failure, the second within a month.
The 737 MAX
It was using Clinton-era flight computers. This is a common problem in aerospace. New avionics can’t necessarily be trusted for mission-critical tasks. The Shuttle computers were basically IBM-360s, all the way into the 90s.
Launch Delayed By Virus
OK, can someone explain why the Space Command (I refuse to call it a force) is delaying a GPS launch on a Falcon 9 until the end of June, but NASA still plans to go ahead with the Commercial Crew test flight in May?
A New Netflix Series
This may be entertaining, but the notion that the purpose of the Space Force is to go back to the moon is a false premise. But of course, now everyone will think that it is, because they saw it on a teevee show.
Masten
Congratulations on the award. Let’s hope they can do it, and on schedule. We’re going to see a lot of lunar activity in the coming years, regardless of Artemis.
Apollo 13
Hard to believe it’s the half-century anniversary.
The Best And The Brightest
Sheila Jackson “Did the Mars rover see the Apollo site?” Lee is one of the stupidest people on the Hill (and that’s pretty stiff competition).
[Mid-morning update]
Jim Acosta, ace reporter.
Starliner
Boeing took a $400M charge in the fourth quarter last year to pay for an uncrewed reflight. Today they announced that they’re going to do it, probably in the fall. Unless something goes very wrong, SpaceX is almost certain to be first. I suspect that the Boeing board is regretting taking on the contract now.
[Update a few minutes later
Eric Berger has the story.
Artemis Alternatives
Plus, it considers only the extra $35B that NASA wants for Artemis, while ignoring the money hemorrhaging of SLS.