The Mission Readiness Review Episode 15: Alexa, have FEDOR assassinate John Connor

On this episode, we talk about:

• Russian Robots May Replace Cosmonaut Crews one day
• The pressure is on for Swarm Technologies
• And, a California startup finally launches, but it’s a secret

Download the latest podcast from the following link:

https://tmrr.podbean.com/e/episode-15-alexa-have-fedor-assassinate-john-connor/

A Launch from Alaska Stays Under Wraps

From SpaceNews:

Astra Space carried out a launch on July 20 from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska

• Astra Space is a California company
• Launch was apparently suborbital
• The rocket is able to place 100 kilograms of payload into low Earth orbit (assuming Polar)
• Confusing statements coming from the FAA and Astra Space about the mission’s success

The Spacebees might get permission to talk

From IEEE Spectrum:

Swarm Technologies would like to get satellite health information of its SpaceBee satellites

• But to do so, it needs permission from the FCC
• No comment from the FCC
• Swarm Technologies is making its problem everyone else’s, including the FCC’s, using terms like urgently

More from Geekwire:

Spaceflight Industries

• The company who took the SpaceBees from swarm and integrated them into a deployer, and then to an Indian rocket
• Result from Swarm’s small missteps: SpaceFlight has developed a set of policies to make ensure U.S. customers have FCC approval prior to launch

New U.S. satellite companies are in a bind

• They need FCC permission to operate
• Because they are new, they don’t have much money
• quick decisions by the FCC would help them
• But the FCC doesn’t move fast…certainly not for companies just starting up

Answering the Question of “What could possibly go wrong?” –Space Robots

From engadget:

Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency gave tentative approval to send robots instead of humans on ISS crew flights

• Called FEDOR–Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research
• A few years ago, a Russian also noted these robots could handle and shoot weapons, such as guns
• The Russians have denied these FEDOR are Terminators

Show links

Launch schedule: https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

Falcon 9 Telstar launch: https://www.spacex.com/news/2018/07/21/telstar-19-vantage 

Ariane 5 ES launch: http://www.arianespace.com/mission/ariane-flight-va244/

Falcon 9 Iridium launch: https://www.spacex.com/news/2018/07/25/iridium-7-next-mission

Long March 3B launch: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/07/beidou-3m5-and-3m6-launched-by-long-march-3b/ 

1 launch: https://spacenews.com/alaska-launch-shrouded-in-secrecy/

SpaceBee Permission: https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/satellites/swarm-wants-you-to-know-where-its-rogue-satellites-are

Spaceflight Industries policy change: https://www.geekwire.com/2018/swarm-satellite-snafu-led-spaceflight-sharpen-launch-license-policy/

Russian Space Robots: https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/23/russia-send-robot-crew-space-2019/ 

Intro background music POD Dreams by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/56307 Ft: Debbizo, Michael Bacich.