by David Todd | Mar 3, 2015 | commercial launch services, Launches, Satellites, SpaceX, Technology
At 0350 GMT on 2 March 2015, two commercial communications spacecraft, ABS-3A and Eutelsat 115West B (Satmex 7) were launched from Cape Canaveral by a Falcon 9V1.1. For performance maximisation reasons, the SpaceX rocket flew without its a reusable first stage and...
by David Todd | Feb 23, 2015 | Apollo, NASA, On a Lighter Note, Technology
NASA often likes to mention how its programmes have given the world new technologies – most noticeably in the fields of new materials and digital computing. Among the spin-offs it remains rather coy about is a hi-tech lubricant, developed for the Space,...
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...
