Success Despite Failure
SpaceX has successfully completed their mission to resupply the International Space Station, and return safely home. Falcon 9 lost an engine during launch, but the onboard system adjusted to place the Dragon spacefraft safely in orbit. On the downside, ORBCOMM's satellite (secondary payload) was placed in the wrong orbit to save the primary mission in line with NASA regulations. An investigation board has been assembled by NASA and SpaceX to determine the cause of the engine failure. In other SpaceX news, Grasshopper has been granted an experimental permit for launches, and Dragon is scheduled to fly 23 student payloads. Press Releases at SpaceX, FAA, and NASA
All's Well That Ends Well
With NASA's announcement of the Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative, the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev2) program must come to an end. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) has completed its final milestone for CCDev2, and Blue Origin has completed a rocket engine thrust chamber test and a pad abort test. Press Releases at NASA and Blue Origin
Prospective Prospecting Prototype
Astrobotic has completed the prototype of their lunar prospecting rover, which will search the Moon's poles for water ice and other useful substances. According to the company's President, John Thornton, "this rover is a first step toward using off-Earth resources to further human exploration of our solar system." Press Release at Astrobotic and Video at YouTube
Teamwork
Google Lunar XPrize contender Omega Envoy will be carrying a competitor's rover to the Moon. Omega Envoy's parent company Earthrise Space has established itself as a non-profit, and added Trelleborg Sealing Solutions and RAL Space as partners. Press Releases at Earthrise Space
Achievements, Acquisitions, and Anguish
WhiteKnightTwo has completed its 100th test flight, and is nearly ready for scheduled flights...depending on who you ask. Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Galactic, is less enthusiastic stating that he "has stopped counting the days" until the vehicle is ready. Not all is lost, as Virgin Galactic has acquired full ownership of the Spaceship Company. Doug Messier at Parabolic Arc, Press Release at Virgin Galactic, and Article at Washington Post
Come One, Come All
NanoRacks has selected a winning proposal for their open-source Announcement of Opportunity for off the shelf NanoLabs on the International Space Station. NanoRacks has also completed their first Interim Design Review (IDR) for the External Payload Platform (EPP), which is being developed jointly by NanoRacks and Astrium. Press Releases at NanoRacks
Open For Business
Well, not quite. Stratolaunch has opened their production facility in Mojave, which is a big step, but they have a while before they will be making any money. Announcement at Stratolaunch
Moving Along
The B612 Foundation, the organization in charge of the SENTINEL mission, has formed their Sentinel Special Review Team (SSRT). The team is comprised of scientists and aerospace experts selected by B612 leadership and NASA, and will provide technical advice and assistance during the development and operation of the Sentinel Space Telescope mission. Release at B612 Foundation
Hipster Rocket
Aerojet has been awarded a contract to conduct their Green Propellant Infusion Mission, under NASA's Space Technology Program. They will be testing a new monopropellant blend that has lower toxicity than the commonly used hydrazine. Release at Aerojet
CubeSat Dispenser
Andrews Space (Andrews) has signed an agreement with ISIS of the Netherlands to begin manufacturing a US version of the ISIPOD, branded the EZPOD, in the United States. The units will be available as early as January 2013. Announcement at Andrews Space
CelebrityNaut
Space Adventures has signed Sarah Brightman, their first "celebritynaut", to fly to the International Space Station (ISS). Brightman is the first true celebrity to fly into orbit; all other ISS tourists were relatively unknown to the general public until after their trips. Press Release at Space Adventures
Can't Win Them All
Armadillo Aerospace successfully launched their STIG-B rocket, but executed an abort resulting in the vehicle not reaching its target altitude of over 100km (the boundary of space). The cause of the abort is still under investigation. Press Release at Spaceport America
The Space Show
Wayne White, Walt Anderson, and Paul Breed share their respective NewSpace initiatives with Dr. David Livingston on The Space Show.
ISU Call for Papers
The International Space University (ISU) has made their Call for Papers for their 17th annual symposium next March. ISU's 17th annual symposium will address 'Tele-reach' which refers to technologies and applications that allow remote presence, participation, interaction or control.
