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Thanks Martian Republic, Larry for the putting it so well that I might understand.
Ah, "Menasco MADE THE LANDING GEAR FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITOR" thats good that your corporation could do something for the vehicle.
If one were to desire to purchase that item, if they had wanted to for a robust but smaller shuttle, would it be very expense or is it restricted though contract with Nasa?
What are the problems with America's Space programs?
Using the same old big boy's in the game, unions, civil servants and more are these the real issue or is there something else.
Can just changing the mission scope to one of Exploration for Nasa be enough to drive space cost down?
Another telescope in the news.
ASTRO-F Telescope Passes Cryogenic Vibration Test
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/telescopes-04v.html
Translated last link
The Kliper vessel The project of spaceship Kliper was made public at the time d'une conference press of Rosaviakosmos on February 17, 2004. With current l'heure it n'est absolutely not financed by the Russian government, and the studies which were already carried out l'ont be on the own capital stocks of the R.K.K. Energuia. They began in l'an 2000 on order from Rosaviakosmos. The Russian authorities will propose soon Kliper with l'inscription with the space budget federal 2006-2015. If the financing is accepted (approximately 10 billion Roubles is necessary), the first flight could take place since 2010. Kliper has the form d'un bearing body (face lift body) of 14,5 T and has l'énorme favours d'être reusable. It is able d'emporter six members d'équipages (including two pilots) and 700 kg of loading. With l'atterrissage, it still weighs between 9,5 and 10 T. As the Soyuz-TMA qu'il has to replace, it is composed of three modules: A tower of rescue. A reusable module of re-entry 25 times. L'équipage penetrates there by l'arrière; five or six seats are installed. The mass of the module is 9 800 kg. L'atterrissage is carried out with l'aide d'un parachute; a system of automated guidance allows a precision of l'ordre kilometer. The module is able d'opérer a side offset of 500 km thanks to four control surfaces placed at l'arrière. Between two flights, the only parts which require d'être changed are the parachute, the frontal heat shield and the system d'atterrissage carefully. A module of service, made up roughly speaking d'un orbital module of Soyuz embedded in a cylindrical compartment. The orbital module thus used provides an additional livable volume to l'équipage as well as the equipment necessary to a mooring with a complex such as the International Space Station (M.K.S.). The cylindrical compartment containing the orbital module shelters the propellant tanks, d'eau and d oxygene like l'ensemble of the electric components. It is the support of several solar panels. The mass of the module of service reaches 4 700 T This part of the vessel n'est not reusable. Kliper has an endurance in 10 days orbit, but as Soyuz it can remain to moor at a space station for one length of time much larger. Total livable volume reaches 20 cubic meters. Kliper has a maximum diameter of 3,06 m and a 10 m length. It is placed on orbit by the Onega launcher, derived from the Soyuz, whose l'existence was also revealed at the time of the press conference of February 2004. L'annonce of l'existence of the Kliper project was made little of time after the American President George W BUSH does not launch his "initiative spatiale" whose l'objectif d'un able vessel d'atteindre is construction the Moon and Mars. At the time of the conference of February 17, 2004, Youri KOPTIEV stressed well that Kliper had "déjà reached the stage of serious project whereas the Americans make for l'instant only to discuss in connection with their vaisseau". It thus seems that Kliper represents a direct response to the ambitious projects of the United States. On the other hand, it n'est intended to evolve/move qu'en terrestrial orbit you not beyond. Its vocation is indeed d'assurer the connections between the Earth and the International Space Station after the withdrawal of the American shuttles, planned for 2010. It could also be used for independent missions with scientific or tourist vocation. Kliper could be launched since Baïkonour, Plesetsk or even since the Space Center Guyanais. In June and July 2004, space agencies European (E.S.A.) and American (N.A.S.A.) were respectively invited to join to the project. To the month d'août 2004, a survey carried out by company R.B.K. near 6 005 people gave the following results: 49% think qu'il is necessary to carry out Kliper with exclusively Russian means. 22% think qu'il is necessary to carry out Kliper in co-operation with China. 15% think qu'il is necessary to carry out Kliper in co-operation with the United States. Bibliography: Encyclopedia Astronautica, Mark LAGGING, http://www.astronautix.com Russia to build new spacecraft, dispatch AP, February 17, 2004 Rassiïa priedlagaïet evropeïckamou kosmitcheskamou aguientsvou vmiestie sozdavat novii pilotirouemii karabl, Itar-Tass dispatch, June 29, 2004 Air&Cosmos n°1938, May 28, 2004 Rassiïa priedlagila S.Ch.A. obiedinit oucilia v sosdanii kosmitcheskovo korablia, Itar-Tass dispatch, July 27, 2004 Rassiïa dolzhna razrabativat Kliper samostoïatielno, article d'Aleksandr ZHELEZNIAKOV published on the site of Novosti Kosmonavtiki. Last update: August 10, 2004 PHOTOGRAPHS ASSOCIEES RETURN TO THE MENU "VAISSEAUX" RETURN A The PRINCIPAL PAGE
BREAKING NEWS: TEAM DA VINCI SCORES SUCCESS IN TEST
X PRIZE competitor The GoldenPalace.com Space Project: Powered by the da Vinci Project passed a key milestone
September 12, testing out the concept of balloon-assisted launch. The "EO-OS SEVEN" polyethylene test balloon carried a 200 lb payload to 40,000 feet from a launch site in Colorado, USA.
Since we probably do not have a Darpa topic or one on Falcon I thought this was the best place to post.
News release page
http://www.darpa.mil/body/news.html
Award for work
Airlaunch LLC, Reno Nev.; $11,372,342
Lockheed Martin Corp., Space Systems Co., New Orleans, La.; $11,691,215
Microcosm Inc., El Segundo, Calif.; $10,498,353
Space Exploration Technologies Inc., El Segundo, Calif.; $8,000,000
DARPA, AIR FORCE KICK-OFF FALCON PHASE II SMALL LAUNCH VEHICLE
EFFORT
http://www.darpa.mil/body/NewsItems/pdf … ph2_t1.pdf
Program fact sheet
http://www.darpa.mil/body/NewsItems/pdf … s_rev3.pdf
Word is spreading slowly about how fun it is, but you are right to not though caution to the wind over the sue,sue mentality that some will have.
Farewell to Gravity
This must be what it feels like when your soul leaves your body. That's all I could think when the first parabola hit, and I floated in zero gravity for the first time.
Four Countries Create Space Corporation
The new corporation will include space enterprises in the four countries and will operate the Kliper manned shuttle spacecraft, according to Itar-Tass. Kliper was proposed in 2004 by the Russian Energia Corp. and was designed to replace the Soyuz.
Had made other references to this story with other links also in the topic Human subject area.
Russian Klipper or US CEV
why can we not get it done sooner
A nature progression and step. With each sucesfull mission they are gaining in the knowledge of wht it will take to go to the moon. Also this could ignite a new space race and interest if American past pride of apollo is still in our hearts. Not wanting to see them there first since we have not gone back ourselves.
Even creating Nasa style jobs in every town or city still would not necessarily garner any more interest in actual space. Those that have an interest are still the only ones that would still care.
I do agree that the frontiering spirit is a necessity and that multiple missions all of the same building blocks of comonality be used is another.
Here is a couple more stories on robotics from spacedaily:
ROBO SPACE
Cockroach-Like Robot Leads New Effort
Berkeley CA (SPX) Sep 17, 2004
A cockroach-like robot named RHex is the starting point for a major project to understand animals' most distinguishing trait - how they move without falling over.
Proving Shape-Shifting Robots Can Move It
Arlington VA (SPX) Sep 17, 2004
It started with tennis balls. As a former collegiate tennis player, Daniela Rus habitually rolls two tennis balls around in her hand as she paces her office.
Yes I breifly glanced though it, kind of stopped once they started saying that it would build with ice blocks and window pane glass.
SpaceShipOne structurally was not designed to withstand the vacumm of space but maybe number two would or will be able.
I am sure if they are the currier for the X 37 for Darpa's drop mission that they will attent to take a seek peek at how best to do just that.
Actually a very important thing to do for discusion of just there capabilities. As for there power in space flight They are definately catching up with each sucessful flight. I will not be long before we are in a new space race out of pride from the past achievements from apollo if it is important enough for this Nation.
We must remember no matter how we get there to Mars we must stay on its surface for the approximate 2 years cycle before the window to return can be made.
Now that said, That makes for a pretty big Mars lander for supplies for the crew to survive on, Another one just as big for all equipment to mine, process and refuel return vehicle. Lets not forget in addition science equipment, other habitat modules and or green houses.
Also if the plan leaves the return vehicle in orbit for that long what could or might happen will happen to it, so where is the back up if only one set of them are sent.
As you can see it is a fleet of ships just to support a minimal crew safely.
From last link page:
Estimated cost of development 10 billion rubles or aproximate $342,000 US dollars.
This figure includes the construction of the first flight version of the vehicle, but it does not include the development of the launch vehicle.
Current Exchange Rates
As of Sep 16, 2004, the exchange rates are:
29.230 Russia Rubles per United States Dollars
0.0342 United States Dollars per Russia Rubles
This is just a new capsule being developed for existing rockets. 6 seats, reusuable and low cost
I am not sure how much each of the current vendors just got but it should have been enough to design and even build the prototype unit for first flight of the CEV if we were Russian.
One compelling reason for speeding up developement is if Russia does not provide the US any more seats to the ISS once the agreements pass. As we have already started talking about under the ISS Russia hardball topic.
James Webb Space Telescope has been talked about under several links. It is time to put it under its own topic.
Canada to build key component of NASA's next giant space telescope.
This major new observatory will take over where Hubble, Spitzer, and other space telescopes leave off.
When launched in 2011, JWST will peer into the past to greater distances than ever before.
Lots of stuff still yet to come as we move down that timeline to launch and hopefully on time for those still wishing to save Hubble or to send up a Hubble II.
Buzz Aldrin Returns to Lunar Gravity & Weightlessness Aboard Zero Gravity Corporation's G-Force One
Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin returned to Lunar gravity and weightlessness aboard G-Force One.
ZERO-G's specially modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft is the first and only company approved by the FAA to conduct Weightless Flight for the general public.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin....&EDATE=
While it has been only a little while since the leak (feb 25 and on June 30)
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4355783/#040224a
http://www.projectconstellation.us/news … 4/02/index
http://www.projectconstellation.us/news … 4/06/index
of the Russian Klipper http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kliper.htm
reusable ship they have still been able to progress even with little to no funding.
Russia space agency considers options of shuttle launch:
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.htm … &PageNum=0
The Russian Federal Space Agency (FSA) considers three options of booster rockets for launching the new shuttle Kliper.
I believe there rocket of choice is the same one that is currently in build. Much less delay than our own cev which is like you noted a long ways off not only for first flight but being manned is a period of 6 yrs beyound first flight. Theirs could be up and in use if given a little more funding I think before our first flight of the cev.
Found another article on the klipper this one with a photo of ship being built not just 3D drawings some where. First launch may take place in five years.
Russia Prepares Launch of New Space Shuttle
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/09/16/kliper.shtml
Russian space agency page
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/kliper.html
Bush and Kerry battle over science
The leading international science journal Nature has focussed the US presidential election campaign on science by asking both President George Bush and Senator John Kerry for their views on the major issues.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/natu … .stm#space
The major questions:
Stem-cell research
Climate change
New nuclear weapons
Missile defence
Manned space exploration
GM crops
US lifestyles
More news on the x 37:
The X-37's body flap was made longer and narrower to better fit onto one of the (alternate) launch vehicles like the Delta IV rocket.
Arnold testing concludes on NASA's X-37 demonstrator
http://www.spacetoday.net/getarticle.php3?id=51568
I think we were all hopefull that private industry would be given a chance to prove itself but that is not the case with this story for at least the x 37.
But it seems that the doors are finally starting to open for companies to at least submit concepts.
Snipet:
To better understand the full range of commercial participants interested in meeting all or a subset of NASA's emerging space transportation requirements, please provide the following information:
1.Space Transportation Capability
a. Description of capability
b. Planned launch site/infrastructure
c. Current/planned production/annual launch capability
d. Technology maturity level, for new developments
e. Order-of-magnitude estimate of recurring service price (identify key assumptions, e.g., flight rate)
f. Order-of-magnitude estimate of non-recurring price (identify key assumptions, e.g., government/industry cost sharing, if any)
g. Estimated schedule from a service contract award to Initial Operational Capability (IOC)
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
NASA Special Notice: Commercial Space Transportation Services in Support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration