ALL SCI-FI

[Gord Green]

China developing advanced lunar mission spaceship
FROM ABC NEWS;

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/report-china-developing-advanced-lunar-mission-spaceship-46012078

China is developing an advanced new spaceship capable of both flying in low-Earth orbit and landing on the moon, according to state media, in another bold step for a space program that equaled the U.S. in number of rocket launches last year.

The newspaper Science and Technology Daily cited spaceship engineer Zhang Bainian as saying the new craft would be recoverable and have room for multiple astronauts. While no other details were given in the Tuesday report, Zhang raised as a comparison the Orion spacecraft being developed by NASA and the European Space Agency. The agency hopes Orion will carry astronauts into space by 2023.
China's Shenzhou space capsule used on all six of its crewed missions is based on Russia's Soyuz and is capable of carrying three astronauts in its re-entry module.

China came late to crewed space flight, launching its first man into space in 2003, but has advanced rapidly since then. In its most recent crewed mission, two astronauts spent a month aboard a Chinese space station late last year.

A fully functioning, permanently crewed space station is on course to begin operations in around five years and a manned lunar mission has been suggested for the future.

Now firmly established among the big three in space travel, China last year moved ahead of Russia for the first time in number of rocket launches and equaled the United States at 22, according to Harvard University astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.

Russia had 17 launches, while the U.S. might have had several more if Space X's Falcon 9 rocket fleet hadn't been grounded following a Sept. 1 launchpad explosion.

[Brent Gair]

[Gord Green]

There may be some hope....

From SPACE NEWS

Congress Passes Bill Funding NASA's Future Human Exploration In Mars By 2033

For the first time in six years, Congress passed a NASA authorization bill that involves numerous human exploration programs, including a long-term goal of sending individuals to Mars by 2033, Space News first reported.

The bill, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (S.442), was approved on March in the House of Representatives by a voice vote with no members against it, weeks after the legislation passed the Senate unanimously on Feb. 17.

The bill allocates $19.5 billion in spending for NASA in fiscal year 2017. The legislation instructs the space agency to look into a "Mars human spaceflight mission to be launched in 2033."

The American Astronomical Society provided a breakdown of the budget last September, which lists funding for human exploration, space operations, science, aeronautics, education and more.
What Does The New NASA Bill Include?

Congress asks NASA to "develop a human exploration roadmap" for a Mars flight mission in 2033. The bill also includes the To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act (TREAT Astronauts Act), which focuses on long-term medical monitoring of former astronauts.

Another section of the bill, titled Assuring Core Capabilities For Exploration, asks NASA to "continue the development of the fully integrated Space Launch System, including an upper stage needed to go beyond low-Earth orbit, in order to safely enable human space exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond over the course of the next century." That section also requests NASA to continue working on an uncrewed exploration missions by both the Space Launch System and Orion by 2018.

The bill also calls for the development of a Mars rover for a 2020 mission. The rover would bring back samples of the planet to Earth so scientists can better understand Mars in preparation for potential human exploration.

The legislation also backs NASA's interest in Europa, Jupiter's moon, since it "may provide a habitable environment, as it contains key ingredients known to support life,' the bill said.

Congress expressed its support for a robotic exploration mission to Europa.

The bill will now have to be signed by President Donald Trump, but it seems likely. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said at Thursday's press briefing Trump is "very keen on America's role in space," although Spicer avoided talking about the budget.
Trump has previously praised NASA and has voiced support for space exploration.

In his inauguration address, Trump said he was "ready to unlock the mysteries of space."

[Brent Gair]

[Gord Green]

Unfortunately that's all too true Brent.

Look at the complete runaround MARS DIRECT went through!

The future of manned spaceflight may well be in the hands of private enterprise. At least the spark is still glowing with Space - X, Virgin, Bigelow and Blue Origin.

If they can reduce government regulations so they can get it going, real progress may come about after all.

[Brent Gair]

I think Blue Origin may be one to watch in the near future.

They have been in the shadow of SpaceX for some time. Blue Origin has been doing a lot of small scale proof-of-concept and development while SpaceX has been flying with paying customers.

But it looks like Blue Origin is about to get serious. It has signed up a customer for the extremely impressive (on paper) New Glenn booster. And they've just unveiled the first complete BE-4 engine. Assuming the New Glenn and BE-4 stay on track, they stand to leap frog past Spacex...in fact, I think they would leap frog past everybody in the launch business today in terms of ability to loft weight.

I wish them luck.

[Bud Brewster]

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A very cool chart, Brent! Thanks.

But I'm puzzled. Isn't anybody putting fins on these rockets? I really miss fins! (On cars, too. )
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Gord Green]

No Bud, with the development of adequate gyroscopicic
navigation, aerodynamic fins aren't necessary.

except , maybe, at SPACEX.

[Bud Brewster]

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Ah-ha! I was just joking, but you're right!







And I love the fact that the spacecraft in Men into Space bear a certain resemblance to the SpaceX vehicle!





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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Gord Green]

Form recapitulates art!

Wonderful observation Bud!

[Brent Gair]

As I understand it, the fins on the trunk of the crewed Dragon capsule are to provide aerodynamic stability in the event of an abort.

The trunk (the part behind the capsule...it was called a "service module" in the old days) stays with the capsule until just before reentry at which time it is jettisoned. The capsule has been designed to orient itself "blunt side forward" for reentry.

In the old days, the escape tower would pull the capsule away in an abort. The Dragon has those Super Draco engines built into the sides of the capsule. In an abort, the Super Dracos want to push the capsule "pointy end forward" but the natural stability of the capsule is designed to be blunt end forward...a potentially dangerous unstable conflict.

So, in the even of an abort, the finned trunk will stay with the crew capsule. That has the effect of making a much more stable escape stack.

[Bud Brewster]

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Gair Aerospace Engineering created this model of their design for the next generation of spacecraft. It offers several advantages over all previous designs, including a corium powered engine that gives it the ability to go into space without rocket stages or boosters that must be jettisoned during the flight.

It also returns to Earth using fully controlled flight, like the space shuttle.

This is the vehicle that GAE proposes we use for mankind's first flight to mars. Click on the image to view a short film they produced to illustrate the mission.


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)