Posts Tagged: rocket
SpaceX loses another Starship and Super Heavy rocket in double explosion during test
SpaceX's second test flight of its Starship spacecraft — which it hopes will one day ferry humans to the moon and Mars — ended in an explosion Saturday morning minutes after taking off from the company's spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. Starship launched just after 8AM ET atop a Super Heavy rocket, the largest rocket in the world.
Moments after completing stage separation, when the Super Heavy booster detached itself from Starship, the rocket's first stage exploded. Starship, however, continued on for several more minutes, surpassing the flight time of its predecessor. A faint explosion could be seen in the livestream around the 8-minute mark, and hosts confirmed soon after that they'd lost contact with the craft.
The booster experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after stage separation while Starship's engines fired for several minutes on its way to space
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023
But, as with the last test that ended in an explosion, SpaceX is still billing it as a success. Kate Tice, one of the livestream's hosts and a quality engineering manager for SpaceX, said it was “an incredibly successful day, even though we did have a RUD — or rapid unscheduled disassembly — of both the Super Heavy booster and the ship. We got so much data and that will all help to improve for our next flight.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spacex-loses-another-starship-after-rocket-explodes-during-test-flight-143503845.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
NASA is launching a rocket on Sunday to study a 20,000-year-old supernova
A sounding rocket toting a special imaging and spectroscopy instrument will take a brief trip to space Sunday night to try and capture as much data as it can on a long-admired supernova remnant in the Cygnus constellation. Its target, a massive cloud of dust and gas known as the Cygnus Loop or the Veil Nebula, was created after the explosive death of a star an estimated 20,000 years ago — and it’s still expanding.
NASA plans to launch the mission at 11:35 PM ET on Sunday October 29 from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment, or INFUSE, will observe the Cygnus Loop for only a few minutes, capturing light in the far-ultraviolet wavelengths to illuminate gasses as hot as 90,000-540,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s expected to fly to an altitude of about 150 miles before parachuting back to Earth.
The Cygnus Loop sits about 2,600 light-years away, and was formed by the collapse of a star thought to be 20 times the size of our sun. Since the aftermath of the event is still playing out, with the cloud currently expanding at a rate of 930,000 miles per hour, it’s a good candidate for studying how supernovae affect the formation of new star systems. “Supernovae like the one that created the Cygnus Loop have a huge impact on how galaxies form,” said Brian Fleming, principal investigator for the INFUSE mission.
“INFUSE will observe how the supernova dumps energy into the Milky Way by catching light given off just as the blast wave crashes into pockets of cold gas floating around the galaxy,” Fleming said. Once INFUSE is back on the ground and its data has been collected, the team plans to fix it up and eventually launch it again.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nasa-is-launching-a-rocket-on-sunday-to-study-a-20000-year-old-supernova-193009477.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Blue Origin pins last summer’s NS-23 rocket failure on a faulty engine nozzle
Blue Origin now has an explanation for the booster failure that cut a New Shepard flight short last September. Jeff Bezos' company has determined that a "thermo-structural failure" in the NS-23 rocket's engine nozzle was to blame. Operational temperatures for the nozzle climbed higher than expected following cooling system design changes, creating fatigue that misaligned the thrust and activated the crew capsule's escape system.
Engineers are already taking "corrective actions" that include redesigning the combustion chamber and operating conditions. Blue Origin has also tweaked the nozzle design to improve its structural integrity. The capsule wasn't damaged and will fly again, Blue Origin says.
The company says it hopes to resume flights "soon," but hasn't provided an exact date. It intends to restart operations by re-flying the research payload from the aborted mission. The Federal Aviation Administration has to accept the incident findings before Blue Origin can move forward.
There's plenty of pressure on Blue Origin to address the issues. The company recently obtained a NASA contract to fly a science mission to Mars using its yet-to-launch New Glenn rocket, and has been pushing for a lunar lander agreement. The sooner Blue Origin can prove that its rocketry is trustworthy, the sooner it can secure customers that include governments and space tourists.
Rivals are facing problems of their own. Relativity Space's first 3D-printed rocket failed to reach orbit earlier this month. SpaceX, meanwhile, has yet to successfully fire all of Starship's engines at the same time. That's not including past problems like Rocket Lab's setbacks. Private spaceflight remains difficult, and Blue Origin is just the latest to illustrate that fact.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blue-origin-pins-last-summers-ns-23-rocket-failure-on-a-faulty-engine-nozzle-195714293.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
SpaceX’s reusable Falcon Heavy rocket can now carry US spy satellites into orbit
SpaceX may soon handle some of the US government's highest-priority satellite missions. Bloombergreports the Space Force has certified SpaceX to launch top secret spy satellites using Falcon Heavy rockets equipped with reusable boosters. The move gives SpaceX more high-profile government missions, of course, but also promises to save federal money by reducing the costs of ferrying these satellites to orbit. The Space Force has already saved over $ 64 million for GPS missions by using reusable Falcon 9 rockets, Space Systems Command's Falcon chief Walter Lauderdale said.
The Space Force issued the certification in June, but didn't disclose the approval until now. SpaceX can carry spy satellites aboard Falcon 9 rockets, but they don't always have the power needed for heavier payloads. The first Falcon Heavy-based launch is expected sometime between October and December, when SpaceX will deliver a National Reconnaissance Office satellite.
This could represent a significant if temporary blow to rival rocket producers. The Boeing and Lockheed-Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance still hasn't received similar approval for a version of its Vulcan rocket using Blue Origin motors. Air Force officials are still reviewing the approach to 39 national security launches slated for fiscal 2025 through 2027. SpaceX isn't guaranteed to win business that would otherwise go to ULA, but its earlier certification could influence any decisions.
NASA rolls back SLS Moon rocket for repairs after multiple failed fueling tests
After multiple attempts to complete a critical fueling test of its next-generation Space Launch System, NASA has decided to finish the rocket’s “wet dress rehearsal” at a later date. On late Saturday evening, the agency announced it would move the SLS off from its launch pad and back to the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building to give one of its gaseous nitrogen suppliers time to complete a critical upgrade. Nitrogen supply issues had delayed two previous countdown rehearsals, according to Space News.
NASA will also use the opportunity to replace a faulty helium check valve and repair a minor hydrogen leak technicians found in one of the “umbilical” fuel lines running from the rocket’s mobile launch tower. “During that time, the agency will also review schedules and options to demonstrate propellant loading operations ahead of launch,” NASA said. It promised to share more information about the decision, as well as its plans moving forward, during a press conference scheduled for April 18th.
Since April 1st, NASA has tried three times to complete a “wet dress rehearsal” of the Artemis 1 Moon mission. The test is designed to replicate the countdown procedure the SLS will undergo when the mission hopefully gets underway later this year. NASA most recently attempted to complete a modified version of the test on April 14th, but that trial was cut short after it discovered the aforementioned hydrogen leak in the rocket’s mobile launch tower. Initially, the agency left the door open for another attempt as early as April 21st but then had a change of mind.
The delay may have a domino effect on the timeline for the Artemis 1 Moon mission. NASA has yet to set a date for the flight, and won’t do so until the SLS wet dress rehearsal is complete. Despite all the issues NASA has run into with its next-generation rocket, the agency remains confident it will fly. "There's no doubt in my mind that we will finish this test campaign, and we will listen to the hardware, and the data will lead us to the next step," said Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson on Friday. "And we will take the appropriate steps, and we will launch this vehicle.”
NASA’s SLS Moon rocket arrives at launch pad for the first time
NASA's Space Launch System has finally reached the pad — although an actual launch is still some ways off. The SLS rocket and the Orion spacecraft it carries arrived at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B for the first time at 4:15AM Eastern today (March 18th) for one last test before the uncrewed (and delayed) Artemis I mission to the Moon. The team will conduct a "wet dress rehearsal" that replicates the mission short of liftoff, including the propellant load, countdown procedures and draining tanks.
The test will help NASA set an exact target launch date for Artemis I. The SLS won't stay out for very long., though, as the agency plans to roll it back to the Vehicle Assembly Building several days after the test. There, crews will remove rehearsal sensors , top up batteries, add "late-load" cargo and conduct final checks. The rocket will return to the launch pad about a week before the real launch, tentatively slated for May or later.
The preliminary deployment still marks a few important milestones. NASA officially began development of the SLS in 2011, and spent over $ 23 billion (in 2021 dollars) on the project in roughly a decade — the launch pad rollout shows the investment is finally bearing fruit. It's also an important moment for Orion, which is edging closer to crewed flights.
More importantly, the arrival indicates that the next chapter of NASA's exploratory missions is about to begin. The SLS will not only be used for Artemis missions, but is expected to serve as NASA's primary deep space exploration launcher throughout the 2020s. As important as private rockets like SpaceX's Starship may be, it's likely the SLS that will carry the most historic missions in the years ahead.
Rocket League Sideswipe Season 2 brings Volleyball mode and casual games
Season 1 of Rocket League Sideswipe kicked off for mobile devices during December 2021, and now we have the second season going live on February 2nd (tomorrow), bringing with it a new volleyball mode along with new modes and features. Besides the new, and still free, Season 2 Rocket Pass, you’ll find classic items such […]
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Space startup Astra’s first orbital rocket launch ends prematurely
The relatively small private rocket industry just got a little larger, if not quite in the way its new entrant hoped. The American startup Astra conducted a brief first orbital launch attempt (via TechCrunch) late on September 11th, with a successful…
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Rocket Lab gains FAA approval to launch satellites from US soil
Rocket Lab is on a roll this week. After successfully returning to launch following a failure in July, the company announced that it has received FAA clearance to launch small satellites from its Electron rockets in the US. So far, all its missions h…
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Rocket Lab proves it can recover a rocket in mid-air
Last year, Rocket Lab announced that it would attempt to reuse the first stage of its Electron rocket. The company’s goal is to catch the stage as it falls back towards the ocean by plucking it out of mid-air with a helicopter. While that’s ambitious…
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NASA’s Psyche asteroid mission will use a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
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Russia tests new Soyuz rocket by sending a humanoid robot to the ISS
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Russian rocket test explosion leads to radiation leak
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Virgin Orbit preps the LauncherOne rocket for its first drop test
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Three teams will compete for millions in DARPA’s rocket launch challenge
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Rocket Lab launches NASA’s first dedicated cubesat mission
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Soyuz rocket failure blamed on a bent sensor pin
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Flat Earth advocate finally launches his homemade rocket
For years, "Mad" Mike Hughes has not only insisted that the Earth is flat, but has maintained he could prove it by launching himself into space with his own rocket. He even claimed to have launched a homebrew rocket in 2014, but didn't have evidence…
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SpaceX rocket survives an intentional water landing
Right now, SpaceX is only reusing rockets to a limited degree — it's disposing of vehicles after a short while when they're unlikely to survive their next flight. With its latest launch, though, it got lucky. Elon Musk has confirmed that the Falco…
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First ‘Rocket League’ Halloween event kicks off October 16th
There may be an emerging backlash to loot boxes in video games, but that isn't stopping Psyonix from hyping them up. Rocket League is holding its first-ever Halloween event between October 16th and November 6th, and it's ushering in a new event syste…
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‘Rocket Man,’ ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and ‘Tiny Dancer’ reimagined for YouTube, by … you!
A little while back, we asked you if you’d like to create the official music videos for three of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s biggest hits: “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets” and “Tiny Dancer.” And, well, you answered. Entries flooded in from over 50 countries around the world and you reminded us what magic is made when technology and creativity collide.
These iconic hits – released in 1971, 1972 and 1973 – were made before the emergence of music videos, yielding an opportunity to breathe new creativity into some of the most loved music of all time. We’re so excited to share the results of The Cut, Supported by YouTube with you here, a project dreamed up and made possible by Elton John and Bernie Taupin on the 50th anniversary of their songwriting partnership and designed to support new talent, just like you. The concept was beautifully simple. And the results are amazing.
Video: “Rocket Man”
Visual Medium: Animation
Winner: Majid Adin
Majid Adin’s winning video for “Rocket Man” is a poignant animated work that draws on his personal experiences as an Iranian refugee making his way to England — reimagining the song and giving a new perspective to the lyrics to tell a thought-provoking story of adventure, loneliness and hope. A fine art university graduate working in animation production, Adin travelled across Europe during the 2015 refugee crisis, spending time in the infamous Calais Jungle camp before being granted asylum in the U.K. and now rebuilding his life as an artist in Britain.
Video: “Bennie and the Jets”
Visual Medium: Choreography
Winner: Jack Whiteley and Laura Brownhill
The “Bennie and the Jets” video has been interpreted by director Jack Whiteley and choreographer/artistic director Laura Brownhill and tells the story of the formation of Bennie and her Jets. The set and central structure takes its inspiration from Fritz Lang’s 1927 science-fiction film, “Metropolis,” while the synchronized choreography is inspired by Busby Berkeley films, and the black-and-white aesthetic is a nod to the classic Hollywood era.
Video: “Tiny Dancer”
Visual Medium: Live action
Winner: Max Weiland
Max Weiland’s winning video for “Tiny Dancer” is a tribute to Los Angeles. The British director’s work shows people from all walks of life traveling around the city, all listening to the same song – “Tiny Dancer.” It’s inspired by Elton and Bernie’s love of California, Max Weiland captures the free-spirited characters of L.A, in this sun-soaked homage to the Golden State.
Thank you for the music … and the videos!
Maya Amoils, Product Marketing Manager, YouTube, recently watched “Katy Perry Goes Undercover as an Art Exhibit at the Whitney Museum | Vanity Fair.”
Rocket Lab is almost ready to take small payloads into space
Rocket Lab is ready to start testing the rocket it developed to ferry small payloads to space. The US- and New Zealand-based company has decided to launch its Electron rocket anytime within a 10-day window that starts at 5PM Eastern on May 21st. It w…
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MIT fires a rocket motor made using 3D-printed plastic
If you're going to 3D-print rocket parts, you'd want to make them out of metal to handle the stress, right? Not necessarily. MIT has successfully test-fired what it believes is the first completely 3D-printed rocket motor to be made with plastic casi…
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Elon Musk wants to reuse more of the Falcon 9 rocket for future flights
SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk tweets his plan to reuse parts of the Falcon 9 rocket for future flights to test before the rocket debuts this summer, despite low odds of success.
The post Elon Musk wants to reuse more of the Falcon 9 rocket for future flights appeared first on Digital Trends.
Japan’s experimental mini rocket launch ends in failure
Japan's space program troubles aren't over yet, apparently. The country's Aerospace Exploration Agency reports that the launch of its miniature SS-520 rocket ended in failure. The first stage went off without a hitch, but communications problems prev…
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‘Bennie and the Jets,’ ‘Rocket Man,’ ‘Tiny Dancer’ and You
Ever wanted to direct a music video? How about a video for some of the most loved songs ever written? And then collaborating on that vision with one of entertainment’s most imaginative minds? Well then step up and see if you can make “The Cut.”
“Elton John: The Cut Supported by YouTube” is a global competition to create the official music videos for three of the legendary singer’s most iconic songs—“Bennie and the Jets,” “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer.”
Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg (“Shrek,” “Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” “How to Train Your Dragon”) Grammy Award-winning video director Melina Matsoukas (Beyonce’s “Formation”; Rihanna’s “We Found Love”) and Barry Jenkins, writer-director of Golden Globe Best Picture (Drama) “Moonlight,” will serve as judges for the competition that gives aspiring creators from all over the world the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to apply their creative vision to these hits.
Entries officially opened to the public on Jan. 9, 2017, and close on January 23, so now is the time to get started!
Entries will require different artistic elements for each music video entry—submissions for “Rocket Man” should feature animation, “Tiny Dancer” should be live-action, and “Bennie and the Jets” should feature choreography.
Need inspiration?
YouTube creators Kurt Hugo Schneider, PES and Parris Goebel, who will shortlist the entries and present their selections to the judges, will put together some inspirational videos to kick things off.
PES, an Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, gives some inspirational examples of how he would apply his unique stop-animation style to “Rocket Man.”
The competition is open to anyone over 16, subject to local terms and conditions. To find out more about “Elton John: The Cut,” supported by YouTube, and how to enter, please visit https://thecut.eltonjohn.com/.
Good luck!
Maya Amoils, Product Marketing Manager, YouTube, recently watched “James Corden Auditions for James Arthur.”
Your move, Elon Musk: Blue Origin unveils massive New Glenn rocket
Forget the space race between the U.S. and Russia — it’s really Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk who are competing for dominance off the planet. Bezos has made the latest move, introducing the New Glenn, the future rocket of Blue Origin.
The post Your move, Elon Musk: Blue Origin unveils massive New Glenn rocket appeared first on Digital Trends.
SpaceX will attempt yet another high-velocity rocket landing tonight. Here’s where to watch
SpaceX hopes to safely bring another Falcon 9 rocket home tonight after launching a Thai telecommunications satellite over 20,000 miles above Earth, into a high-elliptical orbit known as geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
The post SpaceX will attempt yet another high-velocity rocket landing tonight. Here’s where to watch appeared first on Digital Trends.
Experience the awesome power of a rocket launch with this close-up 360 video
Ordinarily you wouldn’t want to get too close to a rocket launch, as it’d likely result in your demise. A new 360-degree video, however, offers the next best experience, allowing you to stand on a launch pad as a 22-story rocket blasts off.
The post Experience the awesome power of a rocket launch with this close-up 360 video appeared first on Digital Trends.
SpaceX announces tentative launch timeline for its massive Falcon Heavy rocket
Elon Musk’s aerospace manufacturer SpaceX recently announced it plans to launch its massive Falcon Heavy rocket in either late April or early May of 2016.
The post SpaceX announces tentative launch timeline for its massive Falcon Heavy rocket appeared first on Digital Trends.