https://twitter.com/SpaceNosey/status/1379846832919023617
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) inspires the Nation by sending astronauts and robotic missions to explore the solar system, advancing understanding of the Earth and space, and developing new technologies and approaches to improve aviation and space activities. The 2022 discretionary request invests in developing new technologies to improve the Nation’s space and sustainable aviation capabilities; human and robotic exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond, including returning Martian rocks and soil to earth; and development of Earth-observing satellites that would produce breakthrough science and support the Nation’s efforts to address climate change.The President’s 2022 discretionary request includes $24.7 billion for NASA, a $1.5 billion or 6.3-percent increase from the 2021 enacted level. It: Supports Human Exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Beyond. The discretionary request provides $6.9 billion, an increase of $325 million above the 2021 enacted level, for the Artemis program, a series of crewed exploration missions to the lunar surface and beyond. This funding supports the development of capabilities for sustainable, long- duration human exploration beyond Earth, and eventually to Mars. Furthers the Robotic Exploration of the Solar System and the Universe. Following the successful landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars, the discretionary request funds the Mars Sample Return mission, the first mission to transport Martian soil samples back to Earth. The discretionary request also supports the Clipper mission to explore Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, the Dragonfly mission to fly a drone-like rotorcraft on Saturn’s largest moon Titan, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to build on the discoveries of the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes. Enhances Research and Development at NASA. The discretionary request increases funding for NASA’s Space Technology research and development portfolio to$1.4 billion, a $325 million increase above the 2021 enacted level. With this investment, the program would enhance the capabilities and reduce the costs of the full range of NASA missions and provide new technologies to help the commercial space industry grow. In addition, the discretionary request encourages novel early-stage space technology research that would support the development of clean energy. The discretionary request also provides $915 million, an increase of $86 million above the 2021 enacted level, for Aeronautics research and development that would enhance U.S. competitiveness in the global aviation industry that employs hundreds of thousands of Americans. This increased funding would broaden and accelerate the testing of technologies that would enable highly efficient, next-generation airliners. Advances Climate Science. NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to enhance understanding of Earth systems and to observe the effects of climate change. The discretionary request provides $2.3 billion for Earth Science programs, an increase of $250 million above the 2021 enacted level, to initiate the next generation of Earth- observing satellites to study pressing climate science questions. Builds a Diverse Future Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce. The discretionary request provides a $20 million, or 16 percent, increase for the Office of STEM Engagement to expand initiatives to attract and retain underserved and underrepresented students in engineering and other STEM fields, in partnership with minority serving institutions and other higher education institutions. Continues Research on the International Space Station (ISS). The discretionary request provides more than $3 billion to operate the ISS and use it as a research laboratory in space. ISS funding would support space station operations, cargo and crew transportation, and research that benefits the exploration of space and life on Earth.
Launch counts of 3 for Apr, 4 for May, and a possible another 4 or even an eake out a 5th one for June.
Starship: A side item is that with a possible Orbital Test Demo flight NET July. I would actually believe Aug or Sept a more likely launch date.
Quote from: oldAtlas_Eguy on 04/11/2021 10:44 pmLaunch counts of 3 for Apr, 4 for May, and a possible another 4 or even an eake out a 5th one for June.This would require additional Starlink FCC licenses (see Spacenews, 7 April). Current licenses allow 1584 sats in 550 km inclined orbits and 10 sats in polar orbits. 1376 of 550 km inclined sats and 10 polar sats are already up there. So without additional licenses, only 4 more Starlink launches.QuoteStarship: A side item is that with a possible Orbital Test Demo flight NET July. I would actually believe Aug or Sept a more likely launch date. The NET July goal was published by Elon on 17 March, i.e. 105 days in advance. Translated to real time this is >= 210 days, which means NET mid October.
As for the Starlink FCC licenses allowing launch into an operational altitude of 550km there is 45 days to resolve before the 5th launch from now in the end of May. There are currently FCC licencesse modifications pending FCC approval and have been for some time. 3 of those 4 approved 550km sat deployments remaining are needed to fulfill the coverage to bring the constellation to a minimum of operational status. It is always possible to just start parking sats at the higher orbit allowed (for which there exists a FCC license) and await approvals for a lower orbit FCC license then move them. They do not have to stop launching. The primary constraints on deployment speed is the max launch per month. If you stop launching Starlinks and you are already at the max launch rate possible there is no way to make up for the pause when latter you start back up. So do not assume that Starlink launches will stop just because the lower 550km altitude license modification has not been approved.
Quote from: oldAtlas_Eguy on 04/12/2021 06:37 pmAs for the Starlink FCC licenses allowing launch into an operational altitude of 550km there is 45 days to resolve before the 5th launch from now in the end of May. There are currently FCC licencesse modifications pending FCC approval and have been for some time. 3 of those 4 approved 550km sat deployments remaining are needed to fulfill the coverage to bring the constellation to a minimum of operational status. It is always possible to just start parking sats at the higher orbit allowed (for which there exists a FCC license) and await approvals for a lower orbit FCC license then move them. They do not have to stop launching. The primary constraints on deployment speed is the max launch per month. If you stop launching Starlinks and you are already at the max launch rate possible there is no way to make up for the pause when latter you start back up. So do not assume that Starlink launches will stop just because the lower 550km altitude license modification has not been approved.The modified constellation also has different inclinations (anywhere from .6deg to 17deg), and SpaceX really doesn't want to have them climb to 1000km and then back down. The number of sats per launch would go down to accommodate higher fuel loads.
NOTE is that these are all V1.0 sats and are likely to be obsolete and may even be deorbited early in 2 or 3 years. Such that no changes . No extra prop. Just use the the existing design as is and deorbit these early. As they runn out of prop. Also due to higher orbit these use significantly less orbit maintenance prop. The V1.0 were designed for high orbit maintenance prop use. So there may not be much of a problem.
Quote from: oldAtlas_Eguy on 04/12/2021 06:56 pmNOTE is that these are all V1.0 sats and are likely to be obsolete and may even be deorbited early in 2 or 3 years. Such that no changes . No extra prop. Just use the the existing design as is and deorbit these early. As they runn out of prop. Also due to higher orbit these use significantly less orbit maintenance prop. The V1.0 were designed for high orbit maintenance prop use. So there may not be much of a problem.There has to be extra fuel for satellites going to the higher altitude. The current prop load is to maximize the number of satellites they can launch to 550km and still recover the booster. There is no reason for them to replace v1.0 satellites in a couple years. That would be very expensive.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/astranis-satellite-internet-raises-250-million-from-blackrock-others.htmlAstranis is Q4 now
NASA, in a statement provided to SpaceNews April 14, said it has yet to formally authorize SpaceX to proceed on the Gateway Logistics Services contract because the agency is studying the overall schedule of the Artemis lunar exploration program, of which development and use of the Gateway is just one part.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1385527271671226368
Was able to confirm with NASA that SpaceX now, essentially, chooses which rockets it will use from its fleet to launch astronauts. SpaceX can propose a new booster, or a first stage that has flown once. Further certification is needed for boosters used more than once.
Crew Dragon Launch statistics (04/22/2021) all times in GMT/UTC:=DM-2Prime: = = = = =Dock = = = = = =MET (d:h:m:s)(05/27/2020)148:20:32:32? 149:15:29? +0:18:56:28148:20:33:31 149:15:39:55 +0:19:06:23Backup #1(05/30/2020)152:19:22:45 153:14:16:00 +0:18:53:14= =Crew-1Prime: = = = = =Dock = = = = = =MET (d:h:m:s)(11/15/2020)320:00:49:49 320:09:20:00 +0:08:30:10Backup #1(11/16/2020)321:00:27:17 322:04:00:00 +1:03:32:42= = = Crew-2Prime: = = = = =Dock = = = = = =MET (d:h:m:s)(04/22/2021)112:10:11:35 113:09:30:00 +0:23:18:25112:10:11:45 113:11:05:00 +1:00:53:15?Backup #1(04/23/2021)113:09:49:01 114:09:10:00 +0:23:20:59Launch: 4/23 09:49:01 Dock: 4/24 09:10:00Backup #2(04/26/2021)116:08:38:10 117:08:00:00 +0:23:21:50Launch: 4/26 08:38:10 Dock: 4/27 08:00:00Backup #3(04/27/2021)117:08:15:37 118:07:40:00 +23:24:23Launch: 4/27 08:15:37 Dock: 4/28 07:40:00= = = =Any comments are welcome.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/23/2021 09:34 amhttps://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1385527271671226368QuoteWas able to confirm with NASA that SpaceX now, essentially, chooses which rockets it will use from its fleet to launch astronauts. SpaceX can propose a new booster, or a first stage that has flown once. Further certification is needed for boosters used more than once.This is a huge transfer of power, and opens up a lot of flexibility for SpaceX on the launch manifest.
