launch updates
1 for 2. NASA falls short one more time with one more chance set for Wednesday. This isn't like a late grade on a paper, though. There's some serious negotiations with the Russians involved. There's a cargo resupply headed to the ISS and the Russians are eager to keep their almost clockwork-like reputation for on-time, on-target delivery. Unlike a satellite or even GEO satellite launch which requires proper positioning, launching things to a moving target, ie a space station, is tricky business. This is doubly true with an automated payload on relatively low fuel reserves. So NASA asking Roskosmos to push out their window is a bit akin to a high-school play asking a highly choreographed ballet if they can cut their performance a few minutes short so they can get in their curtain call. Granted NASA's mission is no walk in the park, but there's a little more wiggle room there.
And the big news is SpaceX's Falcon 1 has now successfully put a paying payload into orbit. Working like clockwork, each stage fired at the right time and for the right duration, putting Razaksat right where it should be. So they've gone 2 for 5 on launches. Now they need to build a reputation for dependability and get their Falcon 9 airborne. Reports are that Falcon 9 will make it's maiden launch later this year. Let's hope they have better luck than Falcon 1. The big boy has some history to help it out. Lessons learned from vibration issues with April's Razaksat scrub, improvement in parts, baffle dampening of slosh, and ground crew experience with separation timing all add up to some serious learning. In theory Falcon nine is just a bunch of parts from Falcon 1 strapped together, but NASA's Ares is just a reconfiguration of STS (shuttle) and that hasn't had a good reputation thus far. We'll see what Musk and his engineers can pull off.
Meep out
And the big news is SpaceX's Falcon 1 has now successfully put a paying payload into orbit. Working like clockwork, each stage fired at the right time and for the right duration, putting Razaksat right where it should be. So they've gone 2 for 5 on launches. Now they need to build a reputation for dependability and get their Falcon 9 airborne. Reports are that Falcon 9 will make it's maiden launch later this year. Let's hope they have better luck than Falcon 1. The big boy has some history to help it out. Lessons learned from vibration issues with April's Razaksat scrub, improvement in parts, baffle dampening of slosh, and ground crew experience with separation timing all add up to some serious learning. In theory Falcon nine is just a bunch of parts from Falcon 1 strapped together, but NASA's Ares is just a reconfiguration of STS (shuttle) and that hasn't had a good reputation thus far. We'll see what Musk and his engineers can pull off.
Meep out