Ready To Ignite: Fiery Motivation Awaits!

It is interesting to consider how society binds itself together, both physically and emotionally. For example, in some cultures it

• 31 engines make fire
• A mission for Blue Origin’s New Glenn
• News from Rocket Lab, Seraphim and more

SpaceX’s 31-engine test on Thursday of Starship’s Super Heavy Booster was a major accomplishment for the company. The static fire test proved that all engines are firing correctly, providing a major milestone in the development of this important new rocket engine technology. If everything goes according to plan, Starship’s Super Heavy Booster will be powerful enough to take humans to Mars within 30 years.

SpaceX is confident that their new booster can propel heavier payloads, but the 7.9 million lbf thrust test was only a small fraction of the booster’s true capability. SpaceX plans to conduct further tests in order to determine the Booster’s actual thrust capacity as they strive to achieve previously unachievable launch goals.

SpaceX’s president Gwynne Shotwell has stated that a launch attempt within a month or so is looking likely. The company is still awaiting the launch license from U.S. Federal Aviation Administrator, but progress has been made in getting the necessary permits and preparations are underway. With success finally seeming within reach, SpaceX enthusiasts are anxiously awaiting news of whether or not their beloved space program will finally take off.

SpaceX, founded by South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, has been one of the most successful companies in history. It developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets, both of which made history by being the

The planned NASA science mission to Mars aboard a New Glenn launch vehicle is notable for its participation by Blue Origin, which demonstrates the yet-untested launch vehicle’s potential for government contracts. The heavy lift capacity and low cost of New Glenn make it an attractive option for large science missions, such as the one planned.

The forthcoming New Glenn rocket was announced in 2016 with the intention of competiting with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and other heavy-lift options. However, six years later the launch vehicle remains incomplete, and there is no indication when it will be ready to launch a Mars mission. Whether or not this ambitious project will ever come to fruition is an open question, but given the magnitude of its ambition it deserves closer scrutiny.

According to new information released by SpaceX, the first flight of their new spacecraft – dubbed “New Glenn” – was originally scheduled for late 2021, but the date was “refined” earlier that year due to a contract with the Pentagon falling through. With only ~4 months remaining in 2022, it’s safe to say that New Glenn won’t reach orbit until at least early 2024.

With the launch contract through the VADR program, there is now a low-cost option for noncritical missions. This opens up opportunities for smaller companies and startups to participate in spaceflight. These new players can provide services ranging from launches to data analytics and beyond, providing cost-effective alternatives for larger incumbents. This could be a boon for the spaceindustry as a whole, giving more people access to spaceflight and opening up new marketshare opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

Blue Origin offers 5k and 10k price points for customers looking to purchase a space flight ticket. The company also offers “skip-the-line” passes which guarantees access to the launch pad prior to general public arrivals.

• Amazon’s Project Kuiper is one step closer to launching its first internet satellites with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approving its orbital debris mitigation plan. (FCC)
• CAPSTONE, the NASA spacecraft that’s currently gathering data on a unique lunar orbit, is “happy and healthy” as it continues its long mission around the moon. (Advanced Space)
• Exotrail, a French space mobility startup, has raised $58 million to scale its electric propulsion system and grow its other products. (Exotrail)
• Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission to the lunar surface has been pushed back to late June, and will now go to the moon’s South Pole. (Intuitive Machines)
• Rocket Lab debuted two new products as part of its space systems business line, including a software-defined radio and a reaction wheel for constellation-class satellites. (Rocket Lab)
• Seraphim Space Accelerator, the accelerator arm of Seraphim Space VC firm, is partnering with the European Space Agency to identify early-stage startups in Europe. (Seraphim)
• Virgin Orbit said a malfunction with a relatively inexpensive part may have contributed to the company’s most recent LauncherOne mission failure. (SpaceNews)

Max Q is a fun and interesting format that allows users to share short, quick thoughts on a variety of topics. After reading Max Q, I had some thoughts about the topic of leisure time.

When I was growing up, my parents would always tell me to “take time for myself”. This advice was important to them because they believed that if I took the time to relax and enjoy myself, it would lead to long-