SpaceX has shared dramatic slow-motion footage showing a Raptor engine powering down at the end of a recent test fire.
“Shutdown of a Raptor vacuum engine in slow motion,” SpaceX said in a message accompanying the video (below). It added that the engine’s nozzle “is sized for use by Starship in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and outer space, so operation at sea level and low chamber pressures results in flow separation creating visible rings in the exhaust.”
SpaceX’s upcoming Starship launch and Elon Musk’s ambitious plans for the rocket’s production and capabilities have generated excitement and anticipation among fans and industry observers Questions to inspire discussion What is SpaceX’s upcoming Starship launch? —The upcoming Starship launch refers to SpaceX’s ambitious plans for the rocket’s production and capabilities, generating excitement and anticipation among fans and industry observers.
Nanomaterials manufacturing, 3D bioprinting, and astronaut eye health were the main research topics aboard the International Space Station on Friday. The Expedition 71 crew members also continued servicing spacesuits and conducted an emergency drill.
The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft recently delivered to the orbital outpost a biotechnology study to demonstrate the in-space production of nanomaterials that mimic DNA. NASA Flight Engineers Jeanette Epps and Mike Barratt worked on the second portion of that experiment on Thursday mixing then treating the research samples for analysis. Epps began her day mixing solutions in the Life Science Glovebox to create specialized nanomaterials. During the afternoon, Barratt applied sound and light treatments to the samples then stowed them aboard Dragon for analysis back on Earth. Results may lead to advanced therapies for space-caused and Earthbound health conditions.
The duo partnered back together at the end of the day for eye scans using standard medical imaging gear found in an optometrist’s on Earth. Barratt operated the hardware with guidance from doctors on the ground peering into Epp’s eyes and examining her retina and optic nerve for the B Complex eye health investigation.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Masahito Moriyama have signed an agreement to advance sustainable human exploration of the Moon.
Japan will design, develop, and operate a pressurized rover for crewed and uncrewed exploration on the Moon. NASA will provide the launch and delivery of the rover to the Moon as well as two opportunities for Japanese astronauts to travel to the lunar surface.
Today, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida also announced, “a shared goal for a Japanese national to be the first non-American astronaut to land on the Moon on a future Artemis mission, assuming important benchmarks are achieved.”
These in-space manufacturing modules might provide an alternative to large-scale commercial space stations.
The company aims to launch the first module on a SpaceX rideshare trip in 2026.
The SpaceX Raptor engines are becoming far more powerful and should reach over 330 tons of force while not needing a heat shield. Removing the need for a heat shield will lower the overall mass and increase the thrust to weight ratio.
Congestion in LEO is on its way up, and in response, the US military is looking to move down.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has tapped RF-powered in-space propulsion pioneer Phase Four to develop and build a thruster that utilizes the thin air in VLEO as propellant.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket hasn’t flown space tourists for over 18 months, following an explosive incident in 2022.
NASA is embarking on an ambitious plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface. The Artemis program, named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, aims to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2026. This mission will mark the beginning of a new era of lunar exploration, paving the way for long-term scientific research, resource utilization, and technological advancements that will ultimately enable human missions to Mars and beyond.
The Artemis program is not just about returning to the Moon; it is about staying there. NASA envisions a future where humans live and work on the lunar surface for extended periods, conducting scientific experiments, extracting resources, and testing technologies that will be critical for deep space exploration. The establishment of a sustained lunar presence will require the development of robust infrastructure, including habitats, power systems, and communication networks.
One of the key elements of NASA’s plan is the Artemis Base Camp, a permanent outpost near the Moon’s South Pole. This location was chosen because it offers access to water ice in permanently shadowed craters, which can be used for life support and rocket propellant production. The base camp will consist of a foundation surface habitat for short-term crew stays, a habitable mobility platform for long-duration missions, and a lunar terrain vehicle for transportation.
