Author Topic: Masten Space Systems (Read 539744 times)

jongoff · « **Reply #680 on:** 03/24/2014 09:47 pm »

Other interesting thing to note is that they still don't have a name for their Xombie replacement. Here were a few more I sent to Dave and Sean:

Xorr (pronounced Zorr) -- XOmbie Replacement Rocket
Xorf (Zorf) -- XOmbie Rocket Follow-on
Xorro (Zorro--you probably saw that coming) -- XOmbie Replacement ROcket

Xero (pronounced either like zero or using the spanish "x" pronunciation like "hero")

Xeno (Zeno) -- self-deprecating humor on how slow the bootstrapping process can be. But you'd need to make two of them in order to be a proper paradox.

~Jon

Proponent · « **Reply #681 on:** 03/25/2014 11:58 am »

How about Xoom, ("zoom"), not standing for anything in particular.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #682 on:** 03/25/2014 02:17 pm »

Xion.

simonbp · « **Reply #683 on:** 03/25/2014 02:49 pm »

Quote from: jongoff on 03/24/2014 09:47 pm

Xeno (Zeno) -- self-deprecating humor on how slow the bootstrapping process can be. But you'd need to make two of them in order to be a proper paradox.

And then one more.

And then one more.

And then one more.

And then one more.

...

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #684 on:** 03/25/2014 08:58 pm »

Xinir - from Sinir one of the horses belonging to the Norse gods.

Sinir means "Sinewy" = very strong.

catdlr · « **Reply #685 on:** 03/31/2014 07:50 pm »

Moon Landing Technology Flight Test -- Astrobotic and Masten Flight Video

Published on Mar 31, 2014
On February 21, 2014, Astrobotic Technology tested the hazard avoidance capabilities of the Astrobotic Autolanding sensor in a flight aboard the Masten Space Systems XA.01-B "XOMBIE" rocket-powered commercial vertical testbed.

The test was made possible through funding by the NASA Flight Opportunities Program, which is managed by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.

jongoff · « **Reply #686 on:** 05/01/2014 02:56 am »

Masten got selected under the Lunar CATALYST program (along with MoonEx and Astrobotics). As I understand it, this is for non-reimburseable Space Act Agreements that will allow them access, on a no-exchange-of-funds, to NASA support, technology, and facilities to help develop Xeus. I think they'll still need to come up with their own funding for their side of the project, but hopefully this will lower the cost of getting to some sort of flight demo.

http://www.nasa.gov/lunarcatalyst/#.U2G2XVfijvD

I really like the technology and hope they can find a commercial or gov't end-user to justify the development.

Edit: Looks like this is being discussed over in this thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34596.msg1182846;boardseen#new

~Jon

jongoff · « **Reply #687 on:** 07/01/2014 01:54 am »

As mentioned on the DARPA XS-1 thread (here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32829.msg1221179#msg1221179), Masten was awarded a ~$3M Phase I study contract for doing a reusable first stage for the XS-1 program. So far the only details are from the FedBizOps award announcement. No word yet on who their Phase 1 competitors are.

~Jon

AnalogMan · « **Reply #688 on:** 07/03/2014 10:57 pm »

Masten's Xombie Flight Tests Astrobotic's Autonomous Landing System
June 27, 2014

Astrobotic Technology's newly developed autonomous landing system was put to the test recently when it controlled Masten Space Systems' XA-0.1B Xombie suborbital technology demonstration rocket during a NASA-sponsored launch and landing at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California.

In a June 20 test funded by the Flight Opportunities Program of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, the vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing Xombie ascended to about 853 feet (260 meters) in 25 seconds. During the boost phase, the Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS) was activated and it navigated the vehicle to a precise landing location, avoiding sand bags that had been placed as mock hazards. If the AAS had chosen a landing point other than one of the two open pads, Masten software would have overridden the prototype system to land the vehicle safely.

The test objectives included accurately tracking Xombie's location, detecting hazards larger than 10 inches (25 centimeters) and finding an acceptable landing location. The AAS uses cameras and an inertial measurement unit for navigation, because the Global Positioning System used on Earth would not be available for a landing on another planet or the moon.

"Conceptually, this is like the Apollo missions where the astronauts navigated to a safe landing by looking out the window of the lunar landing module," explained Kevin Peterson, Astrobotic's chief technology officer. "In this case, we have an onboard computer instead of an astronaut, and the cameras, inertial measurement unit and software are so precise that they can track the craft's location to within a few meters."

In February, Mojave-based Masten and Astrobotic, headquartered in Pitttsburgh, had flown the Xombie in an open-loop test in which the AAS payload was running and collecting data. The open-loop flights followed a pre-set trajectory, but the vehicle did not accept any data or commands from the autonomous landing system.

The June 20 flight test was a closed-loop flight where the Astrobotic landing technology sent both data and commands to Xombie, influencing its flight path to avoid hazards and land safely.

“I am very excited by the preliminary results of this test," said Chris Baker, Flight Opportunities Program campaign manager. "Terrain relative navigation and autonomous hazard avoidance are on the technology road maps for missions to Mars, Europa and elsewhere in the solar system. Two small companies working together have successfully demonstrated technologies that will not only assist them in their future endeavors, but have also been identified as enabling future NASA missions.”

Through NASA's Flight Opportunities Program, officials have been working with commercial companies, universities and government organizations to coordinate testing of innovative space technologies on research flights through the use of commercial suborbital flight platforms.

The Flight Opportunities Program is managed at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California. NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, manages the solicitation and selection of technologies to be tested and demonstrated on commercial flight vehicles. For more information on the Flight Opportunities program, visit: http://flightopportunities.nasa.gov

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. Over the next 18 months, the directorate will make significant new investments that address several high priority challenges for achieving safe and affordable deep-space exploration. For more information about NASA's investment in space technology, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

Read more on Astrobotic's autonomous landing system.

Photo Captions:

Top: Masten's rocket-powered Xombie technology demonstration vehicle rockets skyward during a flight test of Astrobotic Technology's autonomous landing system.

Middle: Engineering intern Nick Robbins and aerospace engineer Tyler Roberson of Masten Space Systems complete installation of Astrobotic's autonomous landing system atop the Xombie technology demonstration vehicle.

Bottom: Astrobotic Technology's autonomous landing system is mounted atop Masten Space Systems' Xombie vehicle prior to launch from the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Image Credit: NASA photos by Ken Ulbrich

AnalogMan · « **Reply #689 on:** 07/03/2014 11:00 pm »

Video of June 20 flight to go with above article.

[youtube]f_GZvygaEH4[/youtube]

strangequark · « **Reply #690 on:** 07/15/2014 04:19 pm »

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32829.msg1227143#msg1227143

jongoff · « **Reply #691 on:** 07/15/2014 07:43 pm »

Yeah, I'm particularly excited that they brought XCOR on as a subcontractor (my guess is for the propulsion side of things). Always wanted to see that happen while I was still out there, but glad they're working together. Hope they are allowed to open the kimono a bit on what they're proposing.

~Jon

Nilof · « **Reply #692 on:** 07/29/2014 01:02 pm »

Dave Masten was interviewed the other day by the TMRO space show:

solartear · « **Reply #693 on:** 01/26/2015 05:39 pm »

Dave Masten to appear on TMRO again this Saturday, 2015 January 31 @ 21:00 UTC. http://www.tmro.tv/live/

solartear · « **Reply #694 on:** 02/01/2015 02:31 pm »

Dave Masten as guest for first 28 minutes, discusses company status, and architecture of plans for sending cargo and humans to/from the Moon and Mars, among other things.

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #695 on:** 02/04/2015 03:06 pm »

When flying horizontally with a heavy payload (e.g. ~5 tonne SEV) the Xeus currently has centre of gravity problems. The SEV will probably need a ramp to enter and leave the spacecraft. By making the ramp fixed heavy duty struts can be extended from the Centaur. The front engines can then be attached to the struts instead of the Centaur. A payload bay producing stability.

catdlr · « **Reply #696 on:** 03/18/2015 10:36 pm »

Successful Test Flight for Mars Landing Technology

Published on Mar 18, 2015
NASA-JPL | NASA Flight Opportunities | Masten Space Systems
Successful Test Flights for Mars Landing Technology
December 2014

Rocket Surgeon · « **Reply #697 on:** 10/15/2015 12:48 am »

Looks like Masten is still going strong for the XS-1. Also love how their concept is starting to look like one of the x-33 proposals

http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a17574/masten-space-systems/

Elmar Moelzer · « **Reply #698 on:** 10/16/2015 04:07 pm »

Congrats to Masten and yes, their design looks very much like the McDonnell Douglas X33 proposal

Lars-J · « **Reply #699 on:** 01/20/2016 05:04 pm »

Orlando Sentinel: New player Masten eyes Space Coast for launches, research

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-masten-space-kennedy-20160120-story.html