by Rob Coppinger | Apr 1, 2009 | China, exploration, space station, Technology
In a 23min 44s one-on-one interview with Flight the head of China’s manned space programme, Dr Zhou Jianping, talked about the future of the Shenzhou spacecraft, the country’s space laboratory plans, how the docking missions will be organised, what...
by Rob Coppinger | Mar 26, 2009 | Ares, Constellation, exploration, NASA, Technology
NASA’s first Ares I crew launch vehicle (CLV) five-segment solid rocket motor (SRM) firing test has been delayed by up to six-months from 2 April to September at the latest or August Ares I uses an SRM for its first stage and its prime contractor Alliant...
by Rob Coppinger | Mar 24, 2009 | Commercial human spaceflight, Personal spaceflight, Space tourism, Suborbital, Technology
Hyperbola had heard that EADS Astrium had shelved for the time being its aspirations for the suborbital market and now the European space company has confirmed the rumour to this blog with the following statement: “The world economic situation has created a...
by Rob Coppinger | Mar 13, 2009 | Commercial human spaceflight, Personal spaceflight, Space tourism, Suborbital, Technology, Virgin Galactic, White Knight
click here to listen to Hyperbola’s 16min 16s interview with Virgin Galactic’s chief test pilot David Mackay (pr.Mack-eye) David Mackay is Virgin Galactic’s chief test pilot on a part time basis while he still works for Virgin Atlantic, which he...
by Rob Coppinger | Mar 9, 2009 | Technology
credit ARCA / caption: the test firings are another milestone in ARCA’s progressThe European Google Lunar X Prize team ARCA has conducted propellant firing tests for its Stabilo suborbital vehicle and the Lunar injection stage engine for its European Lunar...
by Rob Coppinger | Mar 5, 2009 | Technology
credit Flometrics / caption: the vernier rocket engine was fired for 6s in January 2009 Flometrics’ Steve Harrington is planning to test fly his biodiesel rocket this Saturday. A successful static firing test of a vernier rocket engine using the...