Short Takes – 7-29-24 – Space Geek Edition

NASA Aims to Restore Space Station Traffic After SpaceX and Boeing Problems. NYTimes.com article. Pull quote: “NASA has to juggle the comings and goings because there are only two ports at the space station where the Crew Dragon and Starliner can dock. With Starliner and one Crew Dragon already there, someone has to leave before the next Crew Dragon can arrive.”

SpaceX prepares for Starship flight with first 'chopstick' landing. NewScientist.com article. Pull quote: “Flight five is likely to be the first attempt at catching Starship’s Super Heavy booster – the first stage of the rocket – on the launch pad. SpaceX’s launch tower, called Mechazilla, is equipped with a pair of “chopsticks” that will ultimately grab the booster at a specific point and secure it, allowing it to be later lowered the remaining distance to the ground.”

SpaceX in talks to land and recover Starship rocket off Australia's coast. Reuters.com article. Pull quote: “The plan would be to launch Starship from a SpaceX facility in Texas, land it in the sea off Australia's coast and recover it on Australian territory. Getting permission to do so would require loosening U.S. export controls on sophisticated space technologies bound for Australia, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.”

NASA Supports Burst Test for Orbital Reef Commercial Space Station. NASA.gov article. Pull quote: “Demonstrating the habitat’s ability to meet the recommended factor of safety through full-scale ultimate burst pressure testing is one of the primary structural requirements on a soft goods article, such as Sierra Space’s LIFE habitat, seeking flight certification.”

Announcing the launch of Starris: Optimax Space Systems, lifting precision optical payloads from idea to orbit in one year. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “Starris will develop payloads from idea to launch-ready in less than one year for applications that include earth observing (land use, weather, natural resources, supply chain, emissions monitoring), space infrastructure (star trackers, navigation, docking), resource exploitation (survey and mining of the moon and asteroids), space manufacturing (microgravity production of pharmaceutics and advanced materials), and defense (earth orbiting and surveillance).”