October 2018
Sustainable ways of living on the Moon and Mars
... rocket propellant from the Earth is unrealistic. Currently a launch to low Earth orbit (LEO) via the Atlas V booster costs US$20,000/kg while SpaceX promises a reduction to US$1,700/kg with its partly reusable Falcon Heavy rocket. Of course...
October 2019
Reusability is key to expanding future space launch business
.../liquid hydrogen engine, which is being adapted for use as the upper stage engine for the larger booster. We’re also taking the avionics, flight control and landing systems from New Shepard to use on the New...
April 2020
European spaceports compete for recognition and business
... million loss for SpaceX, including the lost launch vehicle, possible future revenue from reusing the booster and repairs to the launch pad. In addition, SpaceX lost an estimated $200 million to $500 million in revenue for...
April 2020
Replacing hydrazine fuel with a greener alternative
..., but proper infrastructure can’t be counted on. Some Chinese civilians, for example, have suffered when Long March boosters impacted their villages, emitting thick clouds of yellow smoke, while Russian civilians have watched the yellow...
July 2020
Key technologies for space exploration
... for the Operational Fires* (OpFires) programme, a joint DARPA/US Army programme that seeks to develop an advanced booster capable of delivering a variety of payloads at a variety of ranges. In this case, SNC applied the VORTEX injection approach...
September 2020
Tackling space debris - a global priority
..., spacecraft designers in the USA and Europe introduced measures to ensure that residual propellants in their rocket boosters could be eliminated to prevent debris generation from explosions. This was the only debris mitigation activity of any...
