Source: SpaceX calls ULA NASA launch contract "vastly" overpriced in official protest SpaceX has filed an official protest with the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) after NASA awarded competitor United Launch Alliance a launch contract for Lucy, an interplanetary probe meant to explore a belt of unique asteroids clustered around Jupiter’s orbital swath. Announced on January 31st, SpaceX believes that NASA made a decision counter to the best interests of the agency and US taxpayers by rewarding ULA the Lucy launch contract at a cost of $148M, a price that the company deemed “vastly more [expensive]” than the bid it submitted for the competition. . . . Source: Pentagon’s inspector general to launch probe into certification of SpaceX rockets … but it’s unclear why The Pentagon’s inspector general is launching an investigation as to whether the U.S. Air Force improperly certified SpaceX launch systems, it announced Monday. “Our objective is to determine whether the U.S. Air Force complied with the Launch Services New Entrant Certification Guide when certifying the launch system design for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle-class SpaceX Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles,” Michael Roark, deputy inspector general for intelligence and special program assessments, wrote in a memo addressed to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. Exactly what is prompting this review is unclear. The IG’s memo does not specify what, if anything, raised suspicions about the Air Force’s 2015 certification of Falcon 9 and 2018 certification of Falcon Heavy. . . . Gosh darn, you don't suppose Space X having a cheaper, more advanced launch system might play a role? Bob Wilson
All of this rocket-science stuff about "full flow staged combustion cycles" is interesting, and it would appear that Space-X, a company unencumbered by being publicly traded, had a pretty good week with their Raptor. Raptor (rocket engine family) - Wikipedia
When you' all go to Florida, do you witness the rocket launches? I've seen a silent rocket launched from Vandenberg from Marine Camp Pendleton, SR-71s operating from Okinawa, and witnessed the 4th Starship launch. Even though fog kept me from seeing the vehicle, it set off my car alarm 6 miles away!SpaceX is launching Falcon 9 rockets in Floridia roughly weekly. Furthermore, SuperHeavy Falcon is second only to Starship and at least one scheduled later this year. It is well worth driving close to Cape Kennedy for dinner and a launch watch. Bob Wilson
if there were one when we were there, we would have to make plans and maybe even a hotel room. last time we tried, we sat in a traffic jam on highway 528 from orlando to cocoa for 4 hours and missed it.
Next Starship will be November(ish), maybe before next Falcon Heavy. While making low-earth orbits go Kessler is not Starlink's aim, it could happen. If not, Starlink has following competitors that could fill LEO right up. Making fast internet available everywhere is a laudable goal (and profit center!), but I am not convinced that unique usefulness of LEO should be risked/squandered for this.
EV GOBSMACKED! I have seen a 'human cannon ball' fired at a circus. This much, much, more! Bob Wilson
Safely bobbing on the ocean! Well done! Bob Wilson ps. Unlike some space vehicles, it returns with all thrusters and crew.
Other satellites have been in polar orbits of this height and measured ionizing radiation fluxes there. But this is the first 'with meat' and fluxes vary through time. During this flight there was enough solar flux to light up polar auroras. Two went out in SpaceX suits to ... have that experience. I am 100% sure there was radiation monitoring inside the aluminum can. It would also have been an excellent idea to have something akin to dosimeters on the bodies and outside the suits. Those things were probably done also. ISS and China space stations (with people on board) are in lower inclination orbits and lower. They are Van Allen shielded (incompletely) but still get zinged. Van Allen does not protect polar. Also of note, during Polaris trip there were more people in earth orbit than ever before. N minus 4 now still are.
Speaking of auroras, keep watch tonight and tomorrow night. A strong flare yesterday threw out a CME (coronal mass ejection) that may graze Earth. See 30 minute and 24 hour forecasts here: Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
Current solar cycle max is well above previous one, and leaves predicters (of a weak one) veerry quiet
See also: NOAA predicts above-normal 2024 Atlantic hurricane season | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Climate deniers universally see man made effects as an on off switch, not an additive effect to ongoing natural causes. And they don’t want to see it any other way for some unknown ridiculous stubbornness reason.
Climate = Wx. Wx = Climate, eh? Gee and all this time I thought that Sol's output was constant..... meh. Wake me up when we get to Zeta (again.) However.... (comma!!!) Be not afraid.... Thair's an orange 'gumdrop' in the Gulf on the +7 scan, so you may yet get your confirmation that 'all is lost', although people in this part of the world who are older than Katrina (or Camille) might be a tougher sell.
