by David Todd | Jul 3, 2019 | NASA, Orion, Technology, test
While NASA left off the parachutes for schedule reasons (the parachute system has already been tested) the Orion crew module capsule (in unmanned condition) had its tractor rocket tower escape system fitted above it, successfully fired in a test on 2 July 2019 to...
by David Todd | Oct 15, 2018 | Launches, NASA, SLS, Technology
While the SLS Block I variant is nearly certain to achieve flight status, new heavy-lift rockets on the block threaten to usurp later variants of this huge US$20 billion Heavy Lift launch vehicle (HLV). Nevertheless, during the Heads of Agencies’ press conference,...
by David Todd | Feb 25, 2017 | exploration, NASA, Seradata News, SLS
A couple of years ago a UK/Irish bookmaker (Paddy Power) was offering odds on which US spacecraft would carry the next humans into space. Its wisdom is now becoming apparent. For instead of choosing commercial crew contractees, Boeing or SpaceX, with their respective...
by David Todd | Dec 17, 2015 | Apollo, China, exploration, NASA, Orion, Russia
Just as most modern jet airliners look the same as they optimise their shapes for their mission, so manned spacecraft are starting to look very similar. Sinodefence.com has revealed that China is working on a new manned spacecraft design that appears to be a close...
by David Todd | Oct 28, 2015 | Apollo, ESA, exploration, NASA, Orion, Seradata News, SLS
While the recent film “The Martian”, starring Matt Damon, whetted the appetite of the general public for long-range human exploration, in truth, any mission to Mars is at least 20 years away. Similarly, while NASA has recently revealed its initial “Journey to Mars”...
