Outer-Space.org

Author: ChrisDMarshall

  • Falling Behind

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    China are on the verge of surpassing the US for second place in the number of spacecraft launched in a single year.  Last year we were tied for second place and so far this year have one more mission than China but with no more planned US launches this year and at least one more…

  • The History of Mars Exploration (NASA)

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    To follow up the successful launch of MSL, which NASA confirmed last night was inserted into an almost perfect trajectory towards Mars, today we take a look at the history of successful Mars Exploration missions by NASA. The History of Mars Exploration Year Name Type Summary 1964 Mariner 4 Flyby First spacecraft to flyby of…

  • MSL – Launch Pictures

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    Pictures from this morning’s launch of MSL (captured from NASA TV)

  • Mars Science Laboratory – Curiosity

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    This morning the massive Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launched torwards Mars.  Scheduled to land in August 2012 the rover will bring a host of scientific instruments to the planet and continue the exploration that started in 1975 with the Viking landers. Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) By far the largest rover every launched to another planet…

  • Mars Exploration Rovers

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    Tomorrow NASA will be launching the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) to begin an eight month journey to the red planet.  Today we take a look at it’s predecessors the highly successful Mars Exploration Rovers. Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) Launched in 2003 the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity were sent to explore the surface and geology…

  • Happy Thanksgiving

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    Today we take a break from Commercial Space to remember Thanksgiving. I think we all have things to be thankful for, personally I am very thankful for my family, friends, Church and jobs.  It has been amazing to see just how much has happened in the last year. This time last year I was still…

  • NASA Budget

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    This week the new Budget was signed into law and NASA’s funding for the Commercial Crew development has been slashed.  So what does this mean for the future? As we are currently looking at Commercial Space and the different teams who are involved it seems appropriate to review this further and see what real impact…

  • Commercial Space – Part Six

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    Today we continue our look at Commercial Space with Boeing and there contribution to the CCDev/CCDev2 programs. Boeing Working with Bigelow the CST-100 will provide crew and cargo missions to the International Space Station.   The CST-100 was first announced by Robert Bigelow in June 2010, just last month NASA announced that Boeing had signed an…

  • Commercial Space – Part Five

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    Today we look at Blue Origin and there contribution to the CCDev/CCDev2 programs. Blue Origin Blue Origin are working on the New Shepherd sub-orbital craft to provide customer’s trip to the edge of space, allow a period of time of weightlessness before returning to the launch site.  Unlike Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo this will be a…

  • Commercial Space – Part Four

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    ChrisDMarshall
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    Now we move onto the NASA Commercial Crew Development (CCDev/CCDev2) providers. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) SNC are currently working on the Dream Chaser spacecraft, designed to lift off on top a man-rated launcher with Delta-V as the current preferred booster.  The craft is designed to transport up to seven astronauts as well as cargo.  Exact…