by David Todd | Jan 16, 2015 | ESA, exploration, Science, Technology
While there were recriminations and bitterness following the “landing failure” of the UK’s first space probe to Mars on Christmas day in December 2003, Beagle 2’s originator and planetary scientist, the late Professor Colin Pillinger, who died...
by David Todd | Jan 12, 2015 | commercial launch services, Launches, Seradata News, SpaceX, Technology
At 0947 GMT on 10 January 2014 a Falcon 9v1.1 was launched successfully from the Cape Canaveral Air Station, in Florida, USA. On board was the Dragon CRS-5 freighter spacecraft carrying 2,400kg of vital supplies and experiments to the International Space Station...
by David Todd | Jan 6, 2015 | ESA, SpaceX, Technology
Noting the progress that SpaceX is making with its Falcon 9 reusable first stage technology (its first landing attempt is to take place in January), and that India is planning tests of a winged reusable first stage, Europe is, at last, re-examining the case for...
by David Todd | Jan 2, 2015 | China, exploration, Russia, SLS, Soyuz, Space Insurance, SpaceX, Technology, Virgin Galactic
2014 was an interesting space year in many ways. It had elements of great achievement, some notable failures, and confirmed some industry trends that are looking unstoppable. Record breaking year for number of launched payloads Driven mainly by commercial factors and...
by David Todd | Dec 19, 2014 | commercial launch services, Russia, Seradata News, Technology
While the reliability of Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket’s ancient (if refurbished) NK-33/AJ-26 engines were found wanting, Orbital Sciences Corp has now decided to change these engines in favour of another rocket engine. According to Aviation Week, the...
by David Todd | Dec 1, 2014 | International Space Station, JAXA, Satellites, Seradata News, Technology
On 28 November 2014, the Japanese JEM-RMS robot arm grabbed the 57kg SpinSat (Special Purpose Inexpensive Satellite) and its Cyclops deployer from the Kibo airlock and moved it outside ready for release. The Cyclops then ejected SpinSat into orbit at 1700 GMT that...
