| | According to Space.com, SpaceX has scheduled the maiden launch of its Falcon 1 partially reusable launch vehicle for this Friday afternoon (4:00 p.m. EST). This is a potentially important milestone for commercial space, as Falcon represents the first to launch of a new generation of clean-sheet rocket designs coming from several better-funded commercial space companies.
The launch had been held up for further work on Falcon's Merlin engine. Problems with booster stage engines in new vehicle development is something that seems to happen with nearly every project. Indeed, problems with the very large first-stage engine on Beal Aerospace's now defunct BA-2 design, another clean-sheet design that never made it to the pad, were rumored to have been one more nail in the coffin of that project, which was ostensibly stopped because of unfavorable market conditions for private launchers. Beal's McGregor, Texas engine test facility, in fact, was later sold to SpaceX and is where the Merlin has been tested.
There will likely be at least three critical issues looked at with the first launch. First, of course, is that the launcher stages work (i.e. don't explode, go out of control, etc.). Second will be that the FalconSat-2 student-built satellite is inserted into the right orbit with the fairing and separation systems working properly (while this sounds simple, studies have found that failure to separate properly is historically one of the most common causes of launch failure). Third will be a successful recovery of the reusable first stage.
In other commercial space news, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' very quiet Blue Origin has reportedly purchased a sizable manufacturing facility outside Seattle. Blue Origin, which is apparently aiming directly for some sort of manned spacecraft, is also apparently hiring technical staff who have a "genuine passion for space."
Finally SpaceDev has announced it, too, is now working on a manned spacecraft called the Dream Chaser, based on NASA Langley's 1980s HL-20 concept. The HL-20 was a good idea somewhat modified for NASA Johnson's later X-38 design, which was unfortunately cancelled. Lifting bodies may prove to be the best approach for manned launch vehicles, and it will be interesting to see how SpaceDev's project progresses. |
| | Posted 11/22/2005 2:31 AM - 90 views - 3 comments
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