SSI News
Soyuz TMA-08M manned mission reaches International Space Station in quick time
The Soyuz TMA-08M/ISS-34S mission carrying NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Alexander Misurkin and Pavel Vinogradov was launched successfully on a Soyuz FG rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (near Tyuratam) in Kazakhstan at 2043 GMT on 28 March 2013. Using a faster approach multi-burn rendezvous profile, the vessel managed to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station’s Poisk module at 0228 GMT, only 5 hours 45 minutes after launch from Baikonur. This launch was the first time the rapid rendezvous technique was used for a manned launch, cutting two days from the usual rendezvous time. This new technique was first tested on three previous Progress cargo craft launches.
Elon Musk hints at the next Dragon
In a press conference today to talk about the 26 March return of the second Dragon resupply flight from the International Space Station, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk let slip a few details about Dragon's Version 2. The capsule will evidently have thrusters mounted along the...
Soyuz TMA-08M mission rocket is sent to the pad
NASA has released film of the Soyuz FG rocket carrying the Soyuz TMA-08M spacecraft being transported via train to its launch pad in Kazakhstan. The flight to the International Space Station is due to lift off on 28 March using the new shorter transport time approach. The spacecraft will have Cosmonaut and Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA astronaut and Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy and Cosmonaut Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin aboard.Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineers Chris Cassidy and Alexander Misurkin
On a lighter if disturbing note: get a CatNav to prevent Tiddles having a spicy demise
While Flightglobal’s Hyperbola blog previously referenced the science fiction movie Soylent Green (1973) as a warning as to how far the current European horsemeat scandal may go – as Charlton Heston’s character exclaimed about mankind’s futuristic food stuff “Soylent Green is People!” – it seems it might have been prophetic. As reported by the BBC documentary Horsemeat Banquet, recent DNA tests carried out on dishes from curry houses and take away restaurants have found a lamb curry to have no lamb in it. Nor, for that matter, did it have chicken, beef, horse or goat. Instead.the meat used was described as being an “unspecified meat” which had the UK press speculating that it could be dog or cat or perhaps an even more terrifying alternative.
Satmex 8 is launched successfully by a Proton M Breeze M
The commercial launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) announced that an ILS Proton Breeze M has successfully launched the commercial communications satellite Satmex 8 satellite into orbit at 1907 GMT on 26 March from the Baikonour Cosmodrome (near Tyuratam) in Kazakhstan.
The commercial launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) announced that an ILS Proton M Breeze M launch vehicle has successfully launched the commercial communications satellite Satmex 8 satellite into orbit at 1907 GMT on 26 March from the Baikonour Cosmodrome (near Tyuratam) in Kazakhstan.
SpaceX Dragon CRS-2 departs International Space Station and splashes down successfully
After delays due to high seas in the landing area, the SpaceX Dragon CRS-2 cargo craft was finally splashed down in the Pacificon 26 March ready for recovery. Previously on the same day Dragon CRS 2 had unberthed/undocked with the International Space Station’s (ISS) Harmony module at 0810 GMT and after being initially moved away using robotic arm it was fully released 1056 GMT. After making a series of three burns to move away from the space statio Dragon CRS-2 made a de-orbit burn completed at 1556 GMT. Dragon CRS 2 re-entered at 1615 GMT and made splashdown at 1634 GMT in Pacific Ocean.
Film Review: The Challenger
The review for the TV Movie The Challenger can be found here.
Dinosaur-ending impact may have been fast comet rather than asteroid
Scientists from the Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA have presented their findings at the 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, that the event that killed the dinosaurs may have been a comet impact rather than a meteorite or asteroid strike.
Echostar Corp awards Space Systems/Loral construction contract for Jupiter 2 (Echostar 19)
The US spacecraft manufactuRer Space Systems/Loral (SSL) has recevied an order from US commercial satellite operator, Echostar Corp, to construct world’s highest capacity broadband satellite named Jupiter 2/EchoStar 19 using a version of its LS-1300 series bus design. Designed to offer broadband services for the HughesNet Gen4 high-speed satellite internet service in North America, the spacecraft carries a multi-spot Ka-band communications payload. The satellites is expected to be launched on a Ariane ECA mission in 2016 and will have a life span of 15 years.
Astrium looks for partners in its Earth observation effort
While the European space firm Astrium’s communications satellite services division continues to build on its revenues, so far its Earth observation and radar imagery business has not quite delivered the revenues it expected. But Astrium continues to sense “gold in them there fields” when in comes to radar and optical Earth observation but now realises that to progress further it has to have some strategic partnerships.
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