The Orbital Mechanics Podcast

Spaceflight news— Mars Perseverance and Ingenuity on their way to Mars (spaceflightnow.com) (americaspace.com) — SHERLOC calibration target includes spacesuit samples (collectspace.com)— Crew Dragon is coming home (arstechnica.com)Short & Sweet— Airbus to build Mars sample return mission’s orbital element (spacenews.com)— Cause of Rocket Lab’s recent launch failure has been identified (spaceflightnow.com)— Hayabusa2 releases details on its extended mission (hayabusa2.jaxa.jp)Questions, comments, corrections— Andrew via email: Nuclear reactor on Moon (designdevelopmenttoday.com)— Also from Andrew: Winged Gemini (woodtv.com)— Alex via email: Michigan Spaceport (woodtv.com)This week in SF history— August 8, 1989: Launch of STS-28 (americaspace.com)

Spaceflight news— Progress MS-15 encounters KURS docking issue (rocketrundown.com) (russianspaceweb.com) (youtube.com)Short & Sweet— Astra will make another attempt at orbit (spacenews.com) (twitter.com/Astra)— LauncherOne failure update (spacenews.com)— NASA still has concerns with Starliner (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— twitter.com/amyinorbit: STS-93 wasn’t aborted (youtube.com)This week in SF history— July 30 1980: Svetlana Savitskaya selected in the second group of female cosmonauts (en.wikipedia.org) (americaspace.com) (spacefacts.de) (spacefacts.de)— Next week in 1989: listen in for an audio clue

Spaceflight news— Dream Chaser trunk, Shooting Star, finds its own life (americaspace.com) (sncorp.com) (space.com)Short & Sweet— Hayabusa2 now has a sample return date! (spaceflightnow.com)— Florida’s Mk 2 Starship is being scrapped. (teslarati.com)— Crew Dragon planned to return in early August. (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— From the intro: the closest images ever taken to the Sun (americaspace.com)Interview-- Kathryn Crowe, NASA Human Landing System Deputy Lead for Integrated Performance— twitter.com/kat_cr— Linkedin.com— Artemis (nasa.gov)— Contractors on HLS (twitter.com/dynetics) (twitter.com/spacex) (twitter.com/blueorigin)This week in SF history— 23 July 1999: Launch of STS-93 (waynehale.wordpress.com) (astronautix.com) (spacefacts.de) (nasaspaceflight.com) (nasa.gov)— Next week in 1980: “get to work” on Soyuz

Spaceflight news— Starliner has more work to do (americaspace.com) (spacenews.com)— Starship construction update (HT Andrew Z: wccftech.com)Short & Sweet— X-ray space telescope’s launch date delayed. (spaceflightnow.com)— Cost overruns result in changes to Europa Clipper instruments. (spacenews.com)— NASA has new planetary protection directives. (spacenews.com)— NASA doesn’t own a Falcon 9. (americaspace.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Mentioned in the intro: 360° video front he first F9 landing (HT Andrew Z: twitter.com/PPathole)This week in SF history— July 15, 1975. The start of Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (wikipedia.org) (astronautix.com)— Next week in 1999: Pumpkin in a paper bag

Spaceflight news— Perseverance launch slips again (spacenews.com) — Centaur has been repaired (twitter.com/thesheetztweetz)Short & Sweet— Rocket Lab suffers second-stage failure and loss of vehicle. (arstechnica.com) (spacenews.com) (twitter.com/RocketLab)— ULA receives its first BE-4. (spacenews.com)— First indigenous-owned ground station to be built in Australia (satnews.com)Interview: John Z. Kiss, Professor of Biology and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of North Carolina Greensboro— twitter.com/jzk60— linkedin.com— UNC bio and publication list (biology.uncg.edu)— Read more — Exploratory study ahead of sending Arabidopsis on CLPS (content.sciendo.com) — Feature article on Dr. Kiss’ work (researchmagazine.uncg.edu) — TedX talk “Someday We Will Live on Mars) (youtu.be) — Seedling Growth-2 (youtube.com) — Seedling Growth-3 (nasa.gov)This week in SF history— 7 July 1998: first orbital launch from a sub (en.wikipedia.org) — Based on R-29RM (en.wikipedia.org)—

Spaceflight news— Demo-2 and spacewalks (spacenews.com) (americaspace.com)— Suborbital Crew (spacenews.com)— SpaceShip Two news (spacenews.com)Short & Sweet— ISRO opens up spaceflight to the private sector. (deccanchronicle.com)— ULA completes wet dress rehearsal ahead of Perseverance launch (americaspace.com) (HT Andrew Z: twitter.com/TJ_Cooney)— SpaceX plans a booster recovery for a military satellite. (spacenews.com)— Canadarm3 contract signed (spacenews.com)This week in SF history— 4 July, 2005. Deep Impact strikes comet Tempel-1 (en.wikipedia.org)— Next week in 1998: Low slung rocket

Spaceflight news— Astrobotic to deliver VIPER rover to Moon (spaceflightinsider.com) (nasaspaceflight.com) — Some instruments will fly on earlier CLPS payloads (geekwire.com) (nasa.gov)— Crew Dragon Endeavour is still nominal. (teslarati.com)Short & Sweet— Another trickle of Boeing Artemis HLS information (HT deltaV: washingtonpost.com)— Small launch company Astra to make new orbital attempt. (spacenews.com)— NRO awards Rocket Lab with back-to-back launches. (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— From the intro: Crew Dragon reuse: (spacenews.com) (HT Ben Hallert: spaceflightnow.com)This week in SF history— June 25, 1997: Progress M-34 collides with Mir (history.nasa.gov) (books.google.com) (astronautix.com) (PDF: spaceflight.nasa.gov) (youtube.com) — Ben Hallert’s excellent photoshop (twitter.com/chairboy)— Next week in 2005: Smarter than a deformed copper disc

Spaceflight news— Loverro misconduct update (wsj.com via marketscreener.com) — Kathy Lueders selected to lead HEO Mission Directorate (twitter.com/JimBridenstine) (arstechnica.com)Short & Sweet— InSight’s mole is fully underground (livescience.com) (reddit.com/r/InSightLander) (twitter.com/InSightImageBot)— Northrup Grumman received contract to develop Gateway module (spaceflightnow.com)— Raytheon gets a DARPA contract. (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Ben Hallert: Demo-2 things (twitter.com/chairboy) (twitter.com/chairboy)This week in SF history— 1977 June 15: First shuttle SRB drop test from NB-52 Balls 8 (PDF: commons.erau.edu) (youtube.com)— Next week in 1997: Full of menace, like a shark

Some black voices and hashtags to amplify and listen to— twitter.com/astrotoya— twitter.com/astronaia— twitter.com/astro_eustice— twitter.com/_xPrecious— twitter.com/itsafronomics— #BlackAndStem— #BlackBirdersWeekFind local black-owned businesses— officialblackwallstreet.com/directory Learn about the problem— mappingpoliceviolence.org

Spaceflight news— Demo-2 mission: Endeavor docks with ISS (spacenews)(twitter.com/lorengrush) — A bell in Unity is rung twice to announce the arrival and departure of vehicles (twitter.com/planet4589) — A fantastic CollectSpace thread with lots of suit zipper images (collectspace.com) — Note that the A7L Apollo suit had the pressure zipper on the outside. The inside zipper was just to close the garment — Crew Dragon/Falcon 9 believed to have lower risk factor than Shuttle (spacenews.com) — Mark 3 parachutes (spacenews.com)Short & Sweet— Virgin Orbit’s first launch attempt fails. (spacenews.com)— Launch vehicle for China’s Mars mission arrives at space center. (spacenews.com)This week in SF history— 8 June, 1966: Saturn 500F moved from the pad to the VAB as Hurricane Alma approached (drewexmachina.com) (wikipedia.org) — The famous tennis shoe test (youtube.com)— Next week in 1977: Bombs away!

Spaceflight news— Loverro quit! (spacenews.com) (spaceflightnow.com) (arstechnica.com) (washingtonpost.com)— Crew Dragon launch prep (HT Andrew Z: nasaspaceflight.com) (planetary.org) (americaspace.com) — Commercial crew is an amazing deal. (planetary.org) — NASA & SpaceX: Journey to the Future to air May 25 at 9 p.m. PT/ET on Science and at 10 p.m. PT/ET May 26 on Discovery (deadline.com)Short & Sweet— WFIRST renamed after pioneering astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman (spacenews.com)— Skyrora completes first full static firing in the UK in half a century (skyrora.com)— Northrop Grumman gets a Space Force contract (spacenews.com)— Relativity hires SpaceX executive to lead launch vehicle production (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Ben Hallert on Artemis orbit limitations (twitter.com/chairboy) — Also quoted in an article on the cult of Elon Musk (theatlantic.com)This week in SF history— 1971 May 30: launch of Mariner 9 (sci-hub.tw) (en.wikipedia.org) (space.skyrocket.de)— Next week

Spaceflight news— Three-part NASA Lunar News — Plans for Gateway and Artemis undergo refinement (spacenews.com) — NASA advisory committee skeptical of 2024 landing goal (spacenews.com) — Artemis Accords (spacenews.com) (PDF: nasa.gov)Short & Sweet— 3D printing had a good week. (cnbc.com) (upi.com)— First real task for Space Force is… on the ground. (spacenews.com)— SkySat to hitch a ride with Starlink. (spacenews.com)This week in SF history— 19 May 2000: The launch of STS-101, the first Shuttle mission with a glass cockpit (wikipedia.org) (PDF: spaceflight.nasa.gov) (nasa.gov) (nbcnews.com)— Next week in 1971: 9 ate 6 and 7

Spaceflight news— China’s big Long March 5B (Chang Zheng 5B) flight— — The flight (spaceflightnow.com)— — The capsule landing (spaceflightnow.com)— — Flexible Inflatable Cargo Re-entry Vehicle (spaceflightnow.com)— — The unguided first-stage reentry (spaceflightnow.com)Short & Sweet— Next big step completed for Martian rover. (spaceflightnow.com)— SN4 takes a step towards flight (twitter.com/elonmusk) (twitter.com/elonmusk) (twitter.com/elonmusk)Questions, comments, corrections— Email conversations about Artemis HLS with Andrew and EspenInterview--Dan Hegel, Director of Advanced Development, Blue Canyon Technologies— List of BCT’s Small Business Innovation Research contracts (sbir.gov)— bluecanyontech.com— instagram.com/bluecanyontech— twitter.com/bluecanyontechThis week in SF history— 15 May 1987. The failed launch of Polyus-Skif. (airspacemag.com) (astronautix.com) (youtube.com)— Next week in 2000: No stones thrown

Spaceflight news— NASA selects companies to develop Human Landing System (HLS) for Artemis (nasaspaceflight.com) (twitter.com/SciGuySpace) — Source Selection Statement (PDF: beta.sam.gov) — Scott Manley’s summary (youtube.com) — Excellent scaled image of all HLS’s, and Apollo’s LEM (reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge) — Superheavy update (twitter.com/Kristennetten)— Prepping for Crew Dragon (spacenews.com) — Flag to be captured: (reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge)Short & Sweet— UAE Mars mission arrives at launch site (nasaspaceflight.com)— Starlink sun visor testing to begin. (spacenews.com)— OmegA is ready to go into production. (spacenews.com)— Rocket Lab tests at Wallops (spacenews.com)This week in SF history— May 8 1962: The First launch of Atlas-Centaur ends in an explosion (twitter.com/RocketRundown) (youtube.com) (wikipedia.org)— Next week in 1987: Pew-pew boom

Spaceflight news— Firefly signs Launch Services Agreement with Spaceflight, Inc. (spacenews.com) (spaceflight.com) — Originally autogenously pressurized tanks (space.stackexchange.com) — Fire in Jan due to misconfigured software (youtube.com/watch) — Spaceflight Industries In process of being bought by Mitsui and Yamasa (techcrunch.com)Short & Sweet— Starliner requires more than a reflight to be fit for crew (HT Sam in the chat twitter.com/thesheetztweetz)— Dream Chaser gets its wings. (nasaspaceflight.com)— Design narrowed for future Mars Ascent Vehicle. (spaceflightnow.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Stygarfield via Discord: Possible Starlink configuration (reddit.com/r/Starlink)This week in SF history— 1954 April 29: Launch of Nike Nike Deacon (space.skyrocket.de) (astronautix.com) — More info on Deacon (astronautix.com)— Next week in 1962: Don’t take your jacket off too early!

Spaceflight news— Intuitive Machines selects lunar landing site (spacenews.com) — Nova-C’s publicity page (intuitivemachines.com) — Maps of Vallus Schröterie in Oceanus Procellarum (cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net)— SpaceX and Gateway Logistics Services (spacenews.com) (PDF: beta.sam.gov/) — Fan cross-section speculations (nasaspaceflight.com)Short & Sweet— MEV-1 completes Intelsat-901 relocation. (spacenews.com)— SpaceX has a Demo-2 launch date. (spacenews.com) (twitter.com/SciGuySpace)— LauncherOne captive carry. (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Amy Parent: Rocket Lab will use a ballute (twitter.com/amyinorbit)This week in SF history— April 23, 1971, Soyuz-10 fails to dock with Salyut-1 (wikipedia.org)— Next week in 1954: Puma Puma Priest

Spaceflight news— Rocket Lab completes successful demonstration of mid-air capture. (rocketlabusa.com) (youtube.com) (spacenews.com) — Tim Dodd published a great interview with Peter Beck (youtu.be)Short & Sweet— Mars helicopter has been attached to NASA rover. (nasa.gov)— Starliner gets a second flight test. (spacenews.com)— Long March Fails to loft Nusantara Dua (spacenews.com) (spaceflightnow.com)— Masten Space Systems wins lunar lander award from NASA. (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Chris Hofmann: It’s not LOX vents that have flares, it’s Methane.— Ben Hallert and Chris Hofmann: Grasshopper didn’t explode, that was F9R dev (twitter.com/chairboy/)— Ben Hallert: “Starpopper” was the same thing as SN1. (twitter.com/chairboy)— Eric Blood via email: worm logo (PDF: nasa.gov)— Apollo 13: Home Safe viewing party — April 14, Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern — Join us on Discord and Watch2Gether! (discordapp.com) (watch2gether.com)This week in SF history— 16 April 1965: first five-engine te

Spaceflight News— Starship SN3 Collapse (space.com) (arstechnica.com) (twitter.com/elonmusk) — RIP Starship Mk1 (twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) — RIP Starship SN1 (twitter.com/WyattJGeorge/) — Starship SN2’s thrust puck (https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/41761/what-is-a-thrust-puck-on-starship)— Jamestown Base considered for real (spacenews.com) (PDF: nasa.gov) — Laura Forczyk poll: “What’s a reasonable new goal [for Artemis 3]?” (twitter.com/LauraForczyk)Short & Sweet— Virgin Orbit selects site in Japan for horizontal launches. (spacenews.com)— NASA selects SunRISE. (nasaspaceflight.com)Interview: Jordan Noone, Cofounder/CTO, Relativity Space— USC rocket propulsion lab (uscrpl.com)— twitter.com/theJordanNoone— twitter.com/Relativityspace— relativityspace.comThis week in SF history— March 7 1962: launch of OSO-1 (nasa.gov) (wikipedia.org) (PDF: ntrs.nasa.gov)— Next week in 1965: Five alive

Spaceflight news— Gateway Logistics Services Program awarded to SpaceX (arstechnica.com) (spacenews.com) (nasaspaceflight.com) — Dragon XL (youtube.com) (twitter.com/Caspar_Stanley) — OIG is investigating NASA’s acquisition strategy (twitter.com/NASAOIG)— Crew Dragon Mk 3 Parachute Test (spacenews.com)Short & Sweet— NASA files a request for new engines. (spacenews.com)— Astra suffers damage in pre-launch test. (spacenews.com)Questions, comments, corrections— Artemis-1 flight profile detailsThis week in SF history— April 3, 1926: The birth of Gus Grissom (en.wikipedia.org) — Tough and Competent speech (garrett.co.uk)— Next week in 1962: sail and wheel

Spaceflight news— Artemis-1 Orion tests complete (spacenews.com) (americaspace.com) — Ships to KSC March 23 (twitter.com/NASAKennedy) — Cubesat ridealongs (en.wikipedia.org)Short & Sweet— L3Harris wins NASA contract for LISA observatory. (nasa.gov) (Our interview on the LISA Pathfinder: theorbitalmechanics.com)— Long March 7A is unsuccessful. (spaceflightnow.com)— SpaceX launches Darksat, with lackluster results. (spacenews.com) (arxiv.org) (PDF: arxiv.org)Questions, comments, corrections— ICPS, not IUS (twitter.com/Jeff_Snively)— From the intro: OneWeb considers bankruptcy (bloomberg.com)This week in SF history— March 24, 2006: HiRISE takes first test images of Mars (mars.nasa.gov) (mars.nasa.gov) — Detector Chip Assemblies (DCAs) (PDF: asprs.org) — Uses push-broom method (hirise.seti.org)— Next week in 1926: Listen in for an audio clue