Tag: SpaceX

SpaceX successfully launches satellite into geosynchronous orbit. A very big deal.

On 12-3, SpaceX put a satellite into a high-earth orbit. The Luxembourg satellite operator SES will settle their sat into geosync orbit.

This is a major deal for SpaceX because it proves they can lift into geosync orbit. That means the satellite will appear to remain in the same place relative to the ground.  They have a lot of contracts to do so and can now try breaking into the market for lifting Pentagon satellites. Up to now, they have only lifted to low-earth orbit.

Two great articles today explain the launch:

As an accountant, here are some tidbits from the articles on the market and economics of launching payloads that caught my eye.

Continue reading “SpaceX successfully launches satellite into geosynchronous orbit. A very big deal.”

More good stuff on the open frontiers – 11-27-13

More good stuff on the open frontiers – 11-27-13

Education

Via Meadia – Winter for Higher Ed– How would you handle a double-digit drop in volume over the last three years? That’s the status for one-fourth of private colleges.  Add in high uncertainty whether the enrollment trends will change.

Space

11-26 – Space News – SpaceX Challenge Has Arianespace Rethinking Pricing Policies –   Continue reading “More good stuff on the open frontiers – 11-27-13”

Successful test of rocket hovering and making soft landing

SpaceX had a successful test of their Grasshopper rocket.

News 92 FM in Houston reports – SpaceX Rocket Launches, Hovers, and Lands:

The ten-story tall vertical takeoff, vertical landing vehicle slowly lifts off the ground and climbs to a height of around 850 feet, then hovers effortlessly in the air before slowly lowering back down to the launch pad, successfully nailing one of the softest landings you’ll ever see.

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NoxiK7K28PU]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NoxiK7K28PU

I’m no rocket scientist, sitting here in my comfy armchair, but seems like a soft landing from an 850’ hover proves a critical skill for space travel to, say, asteroids or Mars. The jaw-dropping news here is this effort was privately designed, built, funded, and operated. Very cool.

Faster please, as Glenn Reynolds says.

Update 10-13-13: I don’t know if this is the same test. It appears to be from the same site. Regardless, a superb test and a superb view:

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9ZDkItO-0a4].

Space frontier is open – legal analysis of mining asteroids and private round-trip supply runs

Who Has the Right to Mine an Asteroid gives an overview of the legal issues involved in getting minerals and water from asteroids. The discussion is from Professor Glenn Reynolds, of course.

What’s the payoff?

Here’s the possible yield from mining asteroids: Continue reading “Space frontier is open – legal analysis of mining asteroids and private round-trip supply runs”

Private resupply spaceship arrives at Space Station on resupply run #2

The space frontier is open.

Today a Dragon capsule from SpaceX arrived at the International Space Station delivering 1,300 pounds of supplies and experiments.

A glitch in a valve or pressure line delayed arrival while the engineers figured out a solution.

The capsule will remain docked with the space station for a month before bringing back a load of material to earth.

Space.com points out SpaceX Dragon Capsule Glitch (and Recovery) Shows Why Spaceflight Is Hard.

The article expands at length on the lede: Continue reading “Private resupply spaceship arrives at Space Station on resupply run #2”

4 private companies are developing space flight capacity to lift cargo to International Space Station

The space frontier is open.

Popular Mechanics reports in The 4 Spaceships Vying to Send Crews to the ISS just what their title says.

There are four companies developing lift capacity:

Continue reading “4 private companies are developing space flight capacity to lift cargo to International Space Station”

Dragon splashes down – first commercial space travel ship returns

First privately designed, funded, operated, recovered, and paid space ship splashed down May 31. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule returned from its resupply mission to the International Space Station. It will be towed to Los Angeles. How’s that for a more efficient recovery methodology?

See Space.com’s article – Space Dragon Capsule Splashes Down in Pacific, Ending Historic Test Flight.

The article points out this is the first resupply ship that brings things back. It returned with 1,367 pounds of cargo, including completed experiments.

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule docks with Space Station and the cost per pound for delivery

On Saturday, astronauts on board the International Space Station docked with and entered a privately designed, built, and funded resupply ship. Count that as a major victory for SpaceX specifically and private space travel in general.

The Wall Street Journal has two great articles:

Here is a one paragraph summary of the plan:

Continue reading “SpaceX’s Dragon capsule docks with Space Station and the cost per pound for delivery”

Private space travel is here

The Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station.

This is significant because SpaceX privately developed and funded the Falcon 9 lift vehicle and Dragon capsule.

The Dragon had to pass quite a few tests before it was allowed to draw near the ISS and then be grabbed by the remote arm.

Very cool. Congratulations to the SpaceX team.

AP has an article – Dragon arrives at space station in historic 1st

Private sector rocket launches will resupply space station

SpaceX will launch it’s first space shot on a resupply flight to the space station in late November.  NASA gave technical approval to the launch.

Update – the SpaceX resupply mission was a success.

Why is this discussion in a blog about nonprofit issues? Three reasons.

First, is a superb illustration of stretching our brains. In the nonprofit sector we need to be intentionally thinking about the future. See my discussions here, here, here, here, here, and here.  Just the idea of private space flights will stretch our brain.

Continue reading “Private sector rocket launches will resupply space station”