Report: SpaceX Falcon 9 Boosters Statistics as of June 4, 2023 (@_rykllan 2023)
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Read More Report: SpaceX Falcon 9 Boosters Statistics as of June 4, 2023 (@_rykllan 2023)Category: Launch Segment
Declassification of the Manned Orbital Laboratory: An Analysis of Materials Released by the NRO
The Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) was a major initiative by the U.S. Air Force in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) during the 1960s. MOL was a secretive yet highly significant chapter in the annals of space exploration history. Despite its cancellation in 1969, the MOL program has remained a subject of intrigue for researchers and historians due to its classified nature. Over the years, the NRO has declassified a considerable amount of information about the MOL, providing an intriguing look into the Cold War era’s covert space operations.
Read More Declassification of the Manned Orbital Laboratory: An Analysis of Materials Released by the NRORedefining Space Missions: The Disaggregation of Satellite Functionalities
In the realm of space technology, a significant shift is underway: the disaggregation of satellite functionalities. This approach deconstructs traditional satellite capabilities into smaller, specialized units. It marks a departure from the ‘one satellite, many functions’ principle towards a model where multiple smaller satellites, each dedicated to a specific function, collaborate to accomplish a common mission.
Read More Redefining Space Missions: The Disaggregation of Satellite FunctionalitiesMoore’s Law, Wright’s Law, and their Relevance to the Space Economy
Moore’s Law and Wright’s Law serve as valuable models for understanding trends in the space industry.
Read More Moore’s Law, Wright’s Law, and their Relevance to the Space EconomyAerospike Engines: Their Past, Present, and Future
What, why, and when?
Read More Aerospike Engines: Their Past, Present, and FutureThe VentureStar Project: NASA’s Abandoned Hope for Reusable Spacecraft
The VentureStar project was one of NASA’s most ambitious programs aimed at creating a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) reusable spacecraft. Conceptualized in the mid-1990s, the VentureStar was intended to replace the aging Space Shuttle fleet, promoting cost-efficiency, safety, and frequent access to space. However, despite its innovative vision, VentureStar never made it past the prototype stage due to technical challenges and budget constraints.
Read More The VentureStar Project: NASA’s Abandoned Hope for Reusable SpacecraftReport: Large Constellations of Low-Altitude Satellites: A Primer (CBO 2023)
In this report, the Congressional Budget Office provides an introduction to the advantages of and challenges for constellations of low-altitude satellites. In particular, the report describes the effects that orbital altitude has on the design of satellites and constellations of those satellites, focusing on DoD’s Earth-observation and communications missions.
Read More Report: Large Constellations of Low-Altitude Satellites: A Primer (CBO 2023)Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO): Pioneering the Future of Space Exploration
Ever since the advent of space exploration, human beings have employed similar types of vehicles to journey beyond the confines of our planet. The concept of Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO) vehicles represents a significant shift in our approach to space travel. This fascinating technology has the potential to revolutionize space exploration by offering a more cost-effective and efficient means of reaching orbit.
Read More Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO): Pioneering the Future of Space ExplorationSpace Activity Environmental Impacts: Examples
This article provides examples where space economy activities have resulted in environmental impacts.
Read More Space Activity Environmental Impacts: ExamplesInsights into Starship’s Announced Commercial Flights 2024 to 2030
More than 1/3 of the announced commercial missions are space tourism flights.
Read More Insights into Starship’s Announced Commercial Flights 2024 to 2030The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation: An In-depth Examination
Space exploration has captivated our collective imagination for generations. However, it is by no means an easy feat. Among the many challenges space engineers grapple with, one particularly notorious hurdle is often referred to as the “tyranny of the rocket equation.”
Read More The Tyranny of the Rocket Equation: An In-depth ExaminationReport: China’s Space Ambitions – Drivers, Goals, and Capabilities (AFPC 2023)
The mission of China’s space program is to protect its national rights and interests and to build up its overall strength–the space program serves China’s overall national strategy. This article provides insights into Chinese intentions.
Read More Report: China’s Space Ambitions – Drivers, Goals, and Capabilities (AFPC 2023)Report: Space Sustainability Isn’t Just About Space Debris – on the Atmospheric Impact of Space Launches (MIT 2022)
Throughout their life cycle, space launch vehicles impact their local and global environments on Earth and in space. Given the space industry’s projected growth, recent literature suggests that the atmospheric consequences of these activities are understudied and insufficiently addressed.
Read More Report: Space Sustainability Isn’t Just About Space Debris – on the Atmospheric Impact of Space Launches (MIT 2022)Time in Space: A Review of Typical Milestones and NET/NLT Designations in Space Projects
Timing is paramount, particularly in the sphere of space exploration. Each mission can be likened to a complex puzzle, requiring each piece to slot perfectly into place for the broader picture to emerge. To ensure all parts align just right, there are two significant types of checkpoints used: ‘No Earlier Than’ (NET) and ‘No Later Than’ (NLT). These terms effectively bracket the ‘earliest’ and ‘latest’ dates for task completion. This article reviews these critical markers relative to their importance in maintaining the timely progression of space missions and ensuring the successful attainment of their objectives.
Read More Time in Space: A Review of Typical Milestones and NET/NLT Designations in Space ProjectsRocket Launches: Environmental Concerns
The environmental impact of launch vehicles can be significant, with the main concerns being air pollution, noise pollution, resource consumption, and potential impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
Read More Rocket Launches: Environmental ConcernsInto the Unknown Together: The DOD, NASA, and Early Spaceflight – Free e-book
Published by Air University 2005
Read More Into the Unknown Together: The DOD, NASA, and Early Spaceflight – Free e-bookUS Air Force Manned Orbital Laboratory: The Best of the Declassified Materials
This article is not an analytic piece; it is a guide, offering a curated selection of the most significant declassified materials from the MOL program. As such, this article serves as a compass, pointing you towards the most illuminating declassified documents, drawings, and photographs from the MOL program.
Read More US Air Force Manned Orbital Laboratory: The Best of the Declassified MaterialsHuman Spaceflight Launch Service Providers 2022
This article provides an overview of the launch technology used by SpaceX, Roscosmos, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic; specifically focusing on spaceflight systems and flight profiles.
Read More Human Spaceflight Launch Service Providers 2022Report: US Government Support of the Entrepreneurial Space Age (NASA 2019)
This paper describes how the government continues to fuel the growth of the Entrepreneurial Space Age in established industries like Launch, while supporting new companies in emerging industries like Logistics and Interplanetary.
Read More Report: US Government Support of the Entrepreneurial Space Age (NASA 2019)The New Space Race: Counterspace Capabilities and Satellite Defense
Satellite counterspace capabilities have become increasingly important in the modern world, as space has become an integral part of various sectors, such as communication, navigation, military, and scientific research. With nations vying for dominance in the space domain, this article provides an overview of the various counterspace capabilities and reviews satellite counterspace defensive options.
Read More The New Space Race: Counterspace Capabilities and Satellite DefenseProject Dyna-Soar: A Leap into Hypersonic Technology
The Dyna-Soar program, also known as Dynamic Soarer or X-20, was an ambitious space project launched by the United States Air Force (USAF) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Intended to be the first manned spaceplane, it was a pioneering endeavor in the field of hypersonic flight and reusable spacecraft.
Read More Project Dyna-Soar: A Leap into Hypersonic TechnologyWhat are Launch Brokers and Launch Service Providers?
This article provides an explanation of these two roles and their associated services.
Read More What are Launch Brokers and Launch Service Providers?Press Release: Conference Board of Canada Report Confirms Economic Potential of Commercial Space Launch Innovator, Maritime Launch Services (MLS, May 2023)
“Once Spaceport Nova Scotia fully ramps up operations, the Conference Board of Canada projects it will add $300 million to Canada’s GDP annually, boost revenue to governments by more than $100 million, and create 1,000 full time jobs”
Read More Press Release: Conference Board of Canada Report Confirms Economic Potential of Commercial Space Launch Innovator, Maritime Launch Services (MLS, May 2023)The Fusion of Entertainment and the Space Economy
The entertainment industry within the space economy is a multifaceted sector that merges technology, innovation, and creative storytelling to deliver entertaining content related to space activities and exploration. It is an emerging market segment, providing audiences worldwide with an array of experiences and knowledge about the universe beyond our planet. This article explores several key aspects of the space economy’s impact on the entertainment industry.
Read More The Fusion of Entertainment and the Space EconomyThe US Air Force Manned Orbital Laboratory: A Legacy of Innovation
The Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL), an ambitious project by the U.S. Air Force, remains an important footnote in the history of human space exploration. This program, which ran from 1963 to 1969, aimed to develop a manned space station with a dual purpose: scientific research and military reconnaissance. Although the MOL never reached operational status, its advances and the human capital it developed made significant contributions to America’s subsequent space endeavors.
Read More The US Air Force Manned Orbital Laboratory: A Legacy of InnovationThe Role of Space-Based Solar Power in Future Military Conflicts
This article reviews potential military applications, and associated research, related to space-based solar power systems.
Read More The Role of Space-Based Solar Power in Future Military Conflicts