Space Travel – Lifeboat News: The Blog

Dec 24
2018

Elon Musk shows off stainless steel ‘Starship’

It was just last month that Elon Musk took to Twitter to unceremoniously announce that he was changing the name of the crew module and rocket booster of SpaceX’s BFR rocket program to “Starship” and “Super Heavy,” respectively. Now, in another spontaneous update from Musk via Twitter, we’re getting our first good look at the Starship section in all its stainless steel glory.

In the early morning hours, Musk tweeted out an image of the top section of the spacecraft with the simple caption “Stainless Steel Starship,” before following up with a few additional details about the progress of the program.

Dec 23
2018

SpaceX is building a ‘test hopper’ Mars spaceship in Texas — and Elon Musk says it could launch

Elon Musk said SpaceX is building a “test hopper” spaceship in Texas that could launch by March or April. The vehicle may help the company reach Mars.

Dec 21
2018

On this day 50 years ago, Apollo 8 was en route to the Moon on the first human flight to lunar orbit

Three days later, on Dec. 24, astronauts Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell became the first people to see the Moon’s far side, did a memorable reading from Genesis and took this famous Earthrise photo. Discover more about our #Apollo50 anniversary: https://go.nasa.gov/2EImzGq

Dec 21
2018

That feeling when Saturn V’s 7.6 million pounds of thrust propel you on the path to the Moon

Blast back to the past: https://go.nasa.gov/2EGhX3v

Dec 20
2018

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine Highlights Moon and Mars Exploration

We’re returning to the Moon, to stay, and nine American companies will work on developing technologies to get there. Watch the latest episode of Watch this Space with NASA’s Administrator Jim Bridenstine to learn how we’re going forward to the lunar surface.

Dec 20
2018

NASA is using HoloLens AR headsets to build its new spacecraft faster

Lockheed Martin engineers wear the goggles to help them assemble the crew capsule Orion—without having to read thousands of pages of paper instructions.

Dec 18
2018

NASA Begins America’s New Moon to Mars Exploration Approach in 2018 — The Year @ NASA

2018 was a huge success! We launched a mission to “touch” the Sun, stuck another nearly flawless #MarsLanding, marked our #NASA60th anniversary of opening our doors for business, welcomed NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and began #Apollo50 celebrations! That’s just some of what happened This Year @ NASA — there’s even more at http://www.nasa.gov/2018.

Dec 17
2018

Nine NASA Technology research payloads are set for a valuable testing opportunity in microgravity

In other words, they’re launching 🚀 to suborbital space! Liftoff aboard the Blue Origin #NewShepard reusable rocket is no earlier than 9:30 a.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 18. You can watch live on NASA Television: https://go.nasa.gov/2Es92Sc

Dec 17
2018

Tuesday may deliver a triple-header of big launches to cap 2018

SpaceX, Arianespace, and United Launch Alliance all are on the docket.

Dec 17
2018

Israeli spacecraft gets final element before 2019 moon launch

At 60,000 km (37,000 miles) above Earth, the spacecraft will split off from the Falcon launch vehicle. It will at first orbit Earth in expanding ellipses and, about two months later, cross into the moon’s orbit. It will then slow and carry out a soft landing which should cause no damage to the craft.

“Our landing site is located somewhere between the landing sites of Apollo 15 and Apollo 17,” Anteby said. “It’s a flat area. But still it has small craters and a lot of boulders.”