Spaceflight news— Superheavy (twitter.com/elonmusk) — Raptor 2 will produce 230+ tons of thrust (twitter.com/elonmusk) — McGregor will only perform Raptor 2 testing (twitter.com/elonmusk) — B4/SN20 will be used for the orbital flight test (twitter.com/elonmusk) — A guess about Starship stretching (reddit.com/r/spacex) — Possible tank volumes (HT Birkeland: forum.nasaspaceflight.com)Short & Sweet— JWST delayed (blogs.nasa.gov) (spacenews.com) (spaceflightnow.com)— Stoke Space receives funding (spacenews.com) (sbir.nasa.gov)Questions, comments, corrections— From the intro: PSP’s inside the Sun video (planetary.org) (youtube.com) (nasa.gov)— Jon P via email: Apollo CM was a sphere section, not biconic. (en.wikipedia.org)This week in SF history— 24 Dec, 1979. First launch of Ariane 1, first of the Ariane family. (sci-hub.se) (sci-hub.se) (en.wikipedia.org) (en.wikipedia.org)— Next week (1/4 - 1/10) in 1973: Smash the scram button

The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

Episode 339: Season's Yeetings from JWST

Short & Sweet— Astra to launch next from Cape Canaveral (spacenews.com)— SpaceX gets FCC approval for Starship launch, starts construction on launchpad (dailymail.co.uk) (spaceflightnow.com)— NASA investigates Ingenuity helicopter’s transmission problem (cnet.com)— SpaceX Crew-5 to fly with cosmonaut (spacenews.com) (twitter.com/Rogozin)This week in SF history— 15 Dec, 1976. Launch of Kosmos 881 and Kosmos 882 (en.wikipedia.org) (1lib.us) (google.com/books)— Next week (12/21 - 12/27) in 1979. Some vikings and their kitty cat.

Episode 338: Junk in the Frunk

Spaceflight news— Raptor issues (spacenews.com) (twitter.com/thesheetztweetz) (spaceexplored.com)— Neutron, a 2050 rocket (youtube.com) (spacenews.com) — Electron thermal protection system is aerogel/graphite composite! (HT Andrew Z: twitter.com/Peter_J_Beck)Short & Sweet— ESA tests tanks for its reusable launch vehicle (esa.int)— Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin select future astronauts (spacenews.com)— Northrop Grumman wins SLS booster contract (spacenews.com)— Fatigue, debris, and rumors of debris (spacenews.com) (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Pangea tests an aerospike! (HT Andrew Z: youtube.com)This week in SF history— 10 Dec, 1974. Launch of Helios A, a West German/NASA collaboration (en.wikipedia.org) (bernd-leitenberger.de)— Next week (12/14-12/20) in 1976: Two tickets, I mean, just one ticket to space, please!

Episode 337: Oh, Craptor…

Spaceflight news— JWST bonk (spacenews.com) (nasa.gov) (esa.int) (youtube.com) — The clamp came off “in a way that it was not designed to come off” (HT deltaV+Deathkin: twitter.com/wapodavenport)Short & Sweet— Japan to recruit astronauts for first time in 13 years (spacenews.com) (spacenews.com) (blogs.nasa.gov)— Hubble makes a partial recovery (space.com)— Rocket Lab to manufacture more spacecraft components (smallsatnews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— From the intro: Reusable satellites (smallsatnews.com)This week in SF history— 2 Dec, 1990. Launch of Soyuz TM-11 (sen.com) (spacefacts.de) (nytimes.com) (weathernews.jp)— Next week (12/7-12/13) in 1974: Hitze und Geschwindigkeit.

Episode 336: Bad Vibrations

Spaceflight news— Astraaaaaa! (space.com) (spacenews.com) (en.wikipedia.org) — Astra issued an update after we recorded this episode (twitter.com/thesheetztweetz) (HT DeltaV: twitter.com/thesheetztweetz)Short & Sweet— Tyvak wins contract for very low-earth orbit mission (spacenews.com)— European startup tests aerospike engine (spacenews.com)— Satellite maneuvers to avoid near collision around Moon (cnet.com)Questions, comments, corrections— ThrustMe paper (nature.com)— From the intro: ASAT test (spaceflightnow.com) (youtube.com) (HT Andrew Z: airforcemag.com)Interview -- Matthew Kuhns, Head of R&D at Masten Space Systems— Masten in-Flight Alumina Spray Technique (masten.aero)— This study was a 2020 NIAC Phase I selection (nasa.gov) (researchgate.net)— Tests were run on a modified car lift (youtube.com)— The FAST concept is similar to the High Velocity Oxygen Fuel spray coating technique (sciencedirect.com)— Find more about Matthew and Masten: — linkedin.com — matthewkuhns.com — masten.aeroThis week in SF history— 26 Nov, 1965. Launch of Astérix, the first French satellite (pt deux?!) (en.wikipedia.org)— Next week (11/30 - 12/6) in 1990. The antihero.

Episode 335: DOWNLINK--Matthew Kuhns, Masten Space Systems

Spaceflight news— SpinLaunch spins (spinlaunch.com) (cnbc.com) (youtube.com) (youtube.com) (spacenews.com) — Nike Sprint is one of several other “instastart” vehicles (HT Andy Z: youtube.com)Short & Sweet— Virgin Orbit to launch from Japan (spaceref.com)— Amazon to launch first Kuiper satellites on ABL rocket (spacenews.com)— South Korea to develop reusable launch vehicle (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Ben Hallert via twitter: 53 not 60 Starlinks (twitter.com/chairboy)— ISS tour (HT Andrew Z: youtube.com)This week in SF history— November 16, 1973. The launch of Skylab 4 (bbc.com) (wiki.org) (youtube.com) (spacefacts.de) (nasa.gov) — Episodes 59 and 60 of The Space Above Us focused on SL-4 (thespaceabove.us) (youtube.com) (youtube.com)— Next week (11/23 - 11/29) in 1965: Unmitigated gall in the face of invading Romans

Episode 334: Dizzy

Spaceflight news— Blue lawsuit (spacenews.com)Short & Sweet— Dragons Passing in the Night (americaspace.com) (spacenews.com) (blogs.nasa.gov)— Shijian-21 has a companion (spacenews.com)— A Chinese Mars Sample Return Mission (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Ben Hallert: Speaking of expandable space stations... (twitter.com/chairboy)This week in SF history— 9 Nov, 1970: Launch of the Orbiting Frog Otolith (wiki) (skyrocket.de) (scribd.com)— Next week (11/16 - 11/22) in 1973: I refuse to work under these conditions, at least my stomach does.

Episode 333: #1 Concern

Spaceflight news— Orbital Reef announced (blueorigin.com) (orbitalreef.com) (nasaspaceflight.com) (youtube.com) — Other Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) proposals so far: — Axiom Station (axiomspace.com) — Nanoracks/Lockheed/Voyager’s Starlab (cnet.com) — Sierra Space Station (sierraspace.com)Short & Sweet— James Webb Space Telescope prepares for launch (spacenews.com) (planetary.org) (spacenews.com)— Russia gives Crew Dragon the green light (spacenews.com)— Hubble Space Telescope returns to safe mode (cnet.com)This week in SF history— 8 November, 2011: Failed launch of Fobos-Grunt/Yinghuo-1 (en.wikipedia.org) (en.wikipedia.org)— Next week (11/9 - 11-15) in 1970: Parietal eye in the sky

Episode 332: Boo Origin and Spider Webbs

Spaceflight news— Starliner investigation continuation continues (spacenews.com) (arstechnica.com)Short & Sweet— Lucy solar array issue (spacenews.com) (blogs.nasa.gov) (space.com)— Space Adventures ends plans for Crew Dragon tourist flight (spacenews.com)— Nanoracks announces plans for commercial space station (cnet.com) (nanoracks.com)— Rocket Lab prepares for first recovery involving a helicopter (businesswire.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Lucy launch vehicle changes (twitter.com/sawdey)Interview --  Will Henry (Writer/Producer) and Dylan Taylor (Executive Producer) of The High Frontier: The Untold Story of Gerard K. O’Neill— Space Studies Institute (ssi.org)— highfrontiermerch.com— thehighfrontiermovie.com— willhenryfilm.com— dylantaylor.orgThis week in SF history— First launch of the Saturn 1 (en.wikipedia.org) (youtube.com) (astronautix.com) (youtube.com) (youtube.com)— Next week (11/2-11/8) in 2011: Tune into the show for an audio clue

Episode 331: DOWNLINK--The High Frontier: The Untold Story of Gerard K. O'Neill

Spaceflight news— Rocket 3.3 follow-up (spacenews.com) (astra.com)— Lucy’s in the sky (americaspace.com) (spacenews.com) (planetary.org) (americaspace.com) (planetary.org) (blog.ulalaunch.com)Short & Sweet— Brazil Space Agency successfully tests new rocket motor (avibras.com.br)— Virgin Galactic gets postponed (spacenews.com)— China launches nation’s first solar observatory (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Roton Revision — Andy Z via email: Check out the WWI Le Rhone engine (youtu.be) — Ben Hallert via Twitter: Autorotation is complicated and interesting enough to be more specific about. (twitter.com/chairboy) (twitter.com/chairboy) (youtube.com)— From the intro: ISS takes another tumble (HT Andy Z: twitter.com/liamkennedy)This week in SF history— 19 Oct, 2014. Comet Siding Spring has closest approach to Mars (nasa.gov) (nasa.gov) (nasa.gov) (arxiv.org) (skyandtelescope.org)— Next week (10/26 - 11/1) in 1961: Cluster thruster

Episode 330: We Got Some Lucy Splainin' To Do

Spaceflight news— Artemis funding (spacenews.com)— Starliner stuff — Valves (spacenews.com) — Reassigned crew (spacenews.com) (spacepolicyonline.com)Short & Sweet— Taiwan launch company to attempt orbital launch again (spacenews.com)— Planetary Protection might be revised (spacenews.com)— UAE announces plans for next interplanetary mission (cnet.com)Interview -- Kevin Rice, Director of Project Business Management JPL ret., Lockheed Martin ret.— Kevin can be found on LinkedIn (linkedin.com)— thebusiness.space— thebusiness.space/consultingThis week in SF history— 12 Oct, 1999: Final flight of Rotary Rocket’ Roton ATV (en.wikipedia.org) (web.archive.org) (youtube.com) (HT Mike Stewart: web.archive.org) (hobbyspace.com) (sfgate.com)— Next week (10/19 - 10/25) in 2014: Duck and cover.

Episode 329: DOWNLINK--Kevin Rice

Spaceflight news— Blue Origin’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week — Blue experienced morale issues related to remote work (cnbc.com) — An essay was published with sexism and safety allegations (lioness.co) (cnbc.com) — Eric Berger reports his sources say allegations of sexism go too far (twitter.com/SciGuySpace) (wsj.com) — FAA say they take the Lioness essay seriously (spacenews.com) — Legal documents regarding Blue’s HLS bid were FOIA’d (theverge.com)Brief & Bitter— Shiyan 10 test satellite fails after launch (spaceflightnow.com)— SLS likely to slip to 2022 (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Kevin L via email: NASATV’s empty schedule is probably due to the potential government shutdown.— Ben Hallert via twitter: Blue engines are built in Kent Washington, and a factory is being staffed in Huntsville.This week in SF history— 10 Oct, 1967: Outer Space Treaty is put into force (en.wikipedia.org) (unoosa.org) (wiki.org)— Next week (10/12 - 10/18) in 1999: Strange shares half this with Down. All three accurately describe this event.

Episode 328: Employee-Rich Combustion

Short & Sweet— Space Operations Mission Directorate and Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate split (spacenews.com) (arstechnica.com)— Starliner likely to slip to 2020 (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— From the intro: New Glenn hardware! (HT Andy Z: floridatoday.com)Interview -- Othniel C. Mbamalu, Founder and CEO of Advanced Rockets Corporation— Airbreathing.space— twitter.com/RocketsAdvanced— othnielcreator.com— twitter.com/othnielcreatorThis week in SF history— 30 Sept, 2001. First orbital launch from Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (en.wikipedia.org) (PDF: nasa.gov) (astronautix.com) — DeltaV: recommendation for VASTS, particularly Langley Experience (vsgc.odu.edu) — Launched on an Athena I rocket (wikipedia.org) — Starshine 3 was a hobby radio repeater/disco ball (en.wikipedia.org) — DoD Space Test Program sats included PICOSat and Sapphire (en.wikipedia.org) (en.wikipedia.org) (en.wikipedia.org) — PCSAT was an APRS repeater operated by midshipmen (aprs.fi)— Next week (10/5 - 10/11) in 1967: This event in spaceflight history requires a total of 88 articles if you want the whole story.

Episode 327: DOWNLINK--Othniel C. Mbamalu, Advanced Rockets Corp.

Spaceflight news— First Perseverance sample collection (spacenews.com) (nasa.gov) (nasa.gov) — “Where Is The Rover” map, featuring Ingenuity (mars.nasa.gov)Short & Sweet— Shenzhou 12 crew returns to Earth (spaceflightnow.com)— Vande Hei to remain on ISS (spacenews.com)— NASA awards five companies for Lunar Lander studies (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— From the intro: Inspiration4 (spacenews.com)— Are you free Sep 21-23? Sit in on a NIAC session! (nasa.gov)This week in SF history— 24 Sept, 2011: UARS burns up on re-entry (en.wikipedia.org) (directory.eoportal.org)— Next week (9/28 - 10/4) in 2001: A first from the last frontier.

Episode 326: Martian Alps

Spaceflight news— NASA and the Giant Budget Reconciliation (spacenews.com)— Starlink antennas again (spacenews.com) — Thanks to Ben Hallert for the TCM! (twitter.com/chairboy)— Chang’e 5 returned to the Moon (spacenews.com) — Trajectory animation (twitter.com/coastal8049) — Possible TCM Sunday 9/12, or maybe not (https://twitter.com/coastal8049)Short & Sweet— DOD wants to go nuclear (spacenews.com) (diu.mil)— James Webb Space Telescope launch pushed to December (space.com) (planetary.org) (spacenews.com)— Smoke detected in Zvezda module (reuters.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Anonymous source: Different ranges have different fts requirements. Federal ranges have fts handled by the space wing. Commercial range - kodiak - uses white sands missile range on contract as flight safety— Asif Sadiqi’s book “Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration 1958-2016” is free for download! (twitter.com/historyasif)This week in SF history— 18 Sept, 2013. Cygnus Demo mission launches (nasa.gov) (en.wikipedia.org) — Orbital Sciences (now NG) won their CRS contract in 2008. (spaceflight101.com) (en.wikipedia.org) (PDF: nasa.gov)— Next week (9/21 - 9/27) in 2011: You ares on fire!

Episode 325: Wandering Fragment

Every other week we cover the latest spaceflight news, discuss past, current and future exploration efforts, and take a look at upcoming events. Tune in to hear about how humans get to space, how they stay in space and how unmanned craft reach farther and farther into the universe around us.

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The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

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