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Rocket 3.1 flew...briefly (links)
Hello All,
Alameda, California-based Astra https://astra.com/ launched their Rocket 3.1 vehicle from the Pacific Spaceport Complex—Alaska (PSCA) on September 12. A few seconds after a promising liftoff (see: https://www.youtube.com/results?sea...cket+3.1+launch ), the two-stage LOX/kerosene-powered launch vehicle began to stray from its planned ascent path, and its five battery-powered Delphin first stage engines shut down. After coasting upward for a few more seconds, it fell to Earth, exploding on impact (TMRO:News [pronounced “Tomorrow News”] Space News covered it and the Chinese launch failure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP5f1VtEjxM ), and: As usual, Scott Manley provided an informative analysis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2izFjTEBKQ , with unusual video and still views, of what apparently went wrong. Astra may make a second launch attempt this year, as early indications are that the problem was software-related (see: https://www.space.com/astra-rocket-...tempt-2020.html ). ALSO, TMRO:News reported last week that Rocket Lab, on its Electron launch vehicle’s successful return to flight (after a recent launch failure caused by a faulty electrical connector in the second stage), flew a surprise DIY—“Do It Yourself”—spacecraft (a new product, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svhozSwDQIA ), which used their Curie kick stage as the DIY spacecraft bus! Not only can this be used to quickly create new satellites (and lunar, solar orbit, and planetary, asteroid, and comet probes), but it could also be used to quickly create exoplanet-hunting Earth satellites or solar orbit spacecraft, including types that would use the Moon’s darkened limbs—or deployed, separate occulter discs—to block stars’ light, making their planets visible to the spacecraft instruments. I hope this information will be useful.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
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