Quote from: Katana on 04/06/2018 04:04 pmNo ITAR?ITAR is a US regulation.
No ITAR?
For some reason, FutureSpaceTourist's Astra Space topic was locked, so I'll post this here. Chris Kemp, CEO of Astra Space (AKA "Stealth Space Startup") will be on a panel at 2018's Space Tech Symposium in Berkeley, CA. His panel is 6:45-7:25pm PST, April 30.https://stac.berkeley.edu/sts
And another short video from the "Launcher" control room for their test stand.
Watch live from our test site a static fire attempt of Launcher's 3d printed Engine-1 (E-1): LOX/RP-1, regen chamber, 500 pounds-force of thrust, Augmented spark igniter (GOX/RP-1), all 3D printed in three Inconel 718 parts. Whats' new: Updated chamber design with improved cooling.
Quote from: Bananas_on_Mars on 04/02/2018 05:53 pmAnd another short video from the "Launcher" control room for their test stand.Launcher is currently hosting a livestream for an Engine-1 test firing. Expected in less than 15 minutes.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClpfWREerz8Xdt-UNJHeJ5A/liveQuoteWatch live from our test site a static fire attempt of Launcher's 3d printed Engine-1 (E-1): LOX/RP-1, regen chamber, 500 pounds-force of thrust, Augmented spark igniter (GOX/RP-1), all 3D printed in three Inconel 718 parts. Whats' new: Updated chamber design with improved cooling.EDIT (5:25 EDT): Now "probably 10 minutes away."EDIT (5:32 EDT): T-45sEDIT (5:34 EDT): Successful test! 30 second run, max (mentioned) chamber pressure 280 psi.
The team cohesion is also fascinating and deeply satisfying.
Here's the archive link:
That is a lot of good news. Gradually getting through the presentations.Has anybody heard about these Aevum guys? Airlaunched, completely new airplane design as far as I can tell. Supposed to start launching next year. Are they for real? Their segment starts at 1:38Their site mentions a ground test of a subscale vehicle and tests of subsystems already done, but it's also very heavy on the feelgood stuff. Not to be a cynic, but that always makes me cautious. How have these guys managed to stay under the radar if they actually tested all their subsystems?The presentation is quite inconsistent as well. Their mission is to improve communications and internet. But they want to achieve this by creating a launch vehicle that incidentally allows payloads to launch at 1100$/kg?! Not by designing the satellite network themselves. And actually, it's the autopilot of the airlaunch vehicle they're designing. They're not vertically integrated, so I assume the airplane and rocket themselves are built by contractors?Unusually, they're apparently not looking for money. Which is the only reason I'm not quite sure what to make of them.
Robin Hague, Skyrora: now planning initial suborbital test flight next summer. Using hydrogen peroxide and kerosene propellants since they’re non-cryogenic and dense; reduces volume and weight of vehicle. #FIA18 #LaunchUK
A satellite launch operator is to begin an engine testing programme at Cornwall Airport in Newquay.Skyora will begin testing its liquid engine at the site, which is aiming to be an operational spaceport in 2021, by the end of the year.The announcement was made at the Farnborough International Airshow.Skyrora will carry out a series of test firings at Newquay for their LEO engine, which will eventually be used to propel their satellite launch vehicle’s upper stage.The company will use a hardened aircraft shelter which was previously used by the Bloodhound Super Sonic Car project for rocket tests in preparation for a world land speed record attempt next year.Skyrora’s deployment at Cornwall Airport Newquay is being supported by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), through its Enterprise Zone Infrastructure Fund.Daniel Smith, director of business development at Skyrora, said: "Newquay is a great fit for us because of the enthusiasm and support from the team, combined with the immediate availability of the facility, providing us with a perfect short-term solution while we work towards establishing our own strategic capability north of the border for our larger engines."Mark Duddridge, chairman of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP, said: "Our recently published Space Action Plan outlines how we intend to build a £1bn space economy by 2030, so we are delighted to welcome Skyrora to Cornwall where we are laying the foundations for tomorrow’s global space industry."Spaceport Cornwall director Miles Carden said: "This partnership demonstrates the collaborative culture throughout the UK space sector to offer a world class satellite launch environment from research to design, test, launch and tracking."
Did you know that @SmallSat makes their conference proceedings available online for *free*? #smallsatCopies of my #SmallLVSurvey paper can be found at:https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2018/TPS09-2018/
Tweet from C. G. Niederstrasser:QuoteDid you know that @SmallSat makes their conference proceedings available online for *free*? #smallsatCopies of my #SmallLVSurvey paper can be found at:https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2018/TPS09-2018/
Let's see how many run the maze and survive till next year.
Most people seem to be confining their thinking to LEO. What could you put in Lunar orbit? Mars? Venus? Sun Synch? Solar? Can you turn a cubesat into an interplanetary probe? If you can do it its a market segment (probably not a very big market segment) and every launch helps.
Quote from: john smith 19 on 08/12/2018 10:02 am Most people seem to be confining their thinking to LEO. What could you put in Lunar orbit? Mars? Venus? Sun Synch? Solar? Can you turn a cubesat into an interplanetary probe? If you can do it its a market segment (probably not a very big market segment) and every launch helps. A SEP upperstage tug for cubesat riding on big launchers could reach any orbit above, and challange the concept of "dedicated small launcher for dedicated orbit".
Quote from: Katana on 08/16/2018 08:40 amQuote from: john smith 19 on 08/12/2018 10:02 am Most people seem to be confining their thinking to LEO. What could you put in Lunar orbit? Mars? Venus? Sun Synch? Solar? Can you turn a cubesat into an interplanetary probe? If you can do it its a market segment (probably not a very big market segment) and every launch helps. A SEP upperstage tug for cubesat riding on big launchers could reach any orbit above, and challange the concept of "dedicated small launcher for dedicated orbit".That's (potentially) an intriguing piece of enabling technology for cubesat payloads. IIRC 3U is about the biggest a cubesat gets. Obvious questions would be 1) Would the tug have to provide braking burns on the target orbit, and if so can it get back from the orbit multiple times?2)Is the market big enough to justify it as a primary payload, or would the tug need to go as a secondary?3) Since propellant load is critical for it to be useful (unless on orbit refueling is planned) if it had to go as a secondary could some kind of "LCROSS" architecture, using the whole PLA as the tugs structure, be an option?