Tag: Space
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Ars Live: Three space journos pick apart NASA’s Mars plans
I’m incredibly excited, as part of the Ars Live series, to host a conversation with some of the very best space reporters in the business this afternoon, May 29, at 3 pm EDT about the future of NASA and its deep space exploration ambitions. You can watch Ars Live here. Joining me in a virtual…
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Rocket Report: Northrop backs Firefly and names its rocket; Xodiac will fly no more
Welcome to Edition 7.46 of the Rocket Report! As I write this, the date is May 29. From a meteorological standpoint, “spring” ends in fewer than three days. Summer lasts from June 1 through August 31. Consider this a public service announcement for launch companies targeting “spring” and “summer” launches for various missions. As always,…
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What is Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) in Space?
Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components refer to hardware or software products that were originally designed for commercial, industrial, or consumer markets not for space or military environments. These parts are typically mass-produced, standardized, and widely available, making them attractive alternatives to custom-developed aerospace hardware. COTS components used in space are often repurposed or qualified through tailored…
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Elon Musk: There is an 80 percent chance Starship’s engine bay issues are solved
On Tuesday afternoon, just a few hours before a launch attempt of the ninth flight test of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, Elon Musk spoke with Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger to talk about where his space company goes from here. In recent weeks, Musk has dialed back his focus on politics and said he…
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The Pentagon seems to be fed up with ULA’s rocket delays
In recent written testimony to a US House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees the military, the senior official responsible for purchasing launches for national security missions blistered one of the country’s two primary rocket providers. The remarks from Major General Stephen G. Purdy, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration,…
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Tuesday Telescope: Finally, some answers on those Martian streaks
Welcome to the Tuesday Telescope. There is a little too much darkness in this world and not enough light—a little too much pseudoscience and not enough science. We’ll let other publications offer you a daily horoscope. At Ars Technica, we’ll take a different route, finding inspiration from very real images of a universe that is…
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Rocket Report: How is your payload fairing? Poland launches test rocket.
Welcome to Edition 7.44 of the Rocket Report! We had some interesting news on Thursday afternoon from Down Under. As Gilmour Space was preparing for the second launch attempt of its Eris vehicle, as part of the pre-launch preparations, something triggered the payload fairing to deploy. We would love to see some video of that.…
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What is ESCC QPL Class 2?
The European Space Components Coordination (ESCC) is a governing body under the European Space Agency (ESA) that oversees the qualification and standardization of electronic components for use in space applications. Through its meticulous testing protocols and documentation standards, ESCC ensures that every component listed in its Qualified Parts List (QPL) meets predefined benchmarks for quality,…
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What is ESCC QPL Class 3?
The European Space Components Coordination (ESCC) plays a vital role in standardizing the qualification and approval of electronic components for space applications. Given the extreme conditions faced in orbit such as vacuum, cosmic radiation, temperature fluctuations, and launch-induced vibration components must undergo rigorous evaluation to ensure mission safety and reliability. To address varying levels of…
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For the first time in the US, a rotating detonation rocket engine takes flight
A US-based propulsion company, Venus Aerospace, said Wednesday it had completed a short flight test of its rotating detonation rocket engine at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company’s chief executive and co-founder, Sassie Duggleby, characterized the flight as “historic.” It is believed to be the first US-based flight test of an idea that has…