by David Todd | Jan 28, 2014 | Commercial human spaceflight, Space tourism, Suborbital, Technology, Virgin Galactic
While the space tourism firm, Virgin Galactic, has conceded that US security regulations preclude it accepting bookings from high paying Chinese would-be space tourists, the firm does seem set on finally flying into space later this year. Nevertheless, many...
by David Todd | Jan 20, 2014 | Commercial human spaceflight, NASA
After budget negotiations with Congress, US President Barack Obama has now signed off NASA’s budget as part of the overall US government spending plans. While NASA’s budget was increased by $700 million over last year’s sequestrated effort, NASA...
by David Todd | Dec 17, 2013 | Commercial human spaceflight, NASA, Personal spaceflight, Space Shuttle
Sierra Nevada has announced that the company has successfully completed all milestones under NASA’s Commercial Crew Development 2 (CCDev2) phase. Milestones achieved include a systems requirement review, flight simulator development, creation of a vehicle avionics...
by David Todd | Nov 4, 2013 | Commercial human spaceflight, commercial launch services, On a Lighter Note, Space Shuttle
As already mentioned, the Dream Chaser aerodynamic prototype with which NASA hopes to hire to fly its astronauts to orbit, worked very well (see above) during its October test glide and approach phases. Nevertheless, its final landing went awry after its port...
by David Todd | Oct 29, 2013 | Commercial human spaceflight, NASA, Personal spaceflight, Technology
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kovJUvkO55E[/youtube] In a telephone press conference, Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president for Sierra Nevada’s space systems division confirmed that the Dream Chaser aerodynamic prototype (officially known as the...
by David Todd | Oct 28, 2013 | Commercial human spaceflight, commercial launch services, Personal spaceflight, Space Shuttle, Technology
The Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser, one of the commercial spacecraft hoping to be used to provide regular transportation services to NASA astronauts has had its first glide test after being airdropped from a helicopter – and crashed on landing. The pilotless test...
