February 1, 2019: Weekly Spatial Resolutions

CIA And Skunk Works Secretly Planned To Turn The A-12 Spy Plane Into A Space Launch Mothership An A-12 airplane, one that preceded and likely inspired the SR-71, was studied a long time ago to see if it would be a great way to launch rockets into orbit. The answer in the article is that […]

SpaceX a Catalyst for Change to European Space Launch

Most of this site’s readers are somewhat familiar with the kerfuffle concerning SpaceX and the US government’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) contract. For those who aren’t, there are quite a few sources for the story, including this site. But the US government isn’t the only one on the defensive from SpaceX’s aggressive launch development program […]

30th Space Symposium Pictures

The 30th Space Symposium is done. It was fun and there were a lot of interesting displays. Every company present was chest-thumping–some more than others. Some booths were quite big. Others were of typical size. I realize the ticket prices are a little steep and some of you don’t have the option of volunteering. So […]

What’s Old Is New Again

From childhood, I’ve had this weird fascination with dirigibles. Not blimps, but dirigibles. The kind of airships people associate with the words, “Oh, the humanity!!” In spite of the horrific Hindenburg episode, I always thought the zeppelins produced in Friedrichshafen, Germany, were always majestic in movement. It also looked like a relaxing and luxurious way […]

Eighteen years after its start, SBIRS still not quite replaces DSP (or, the Air Force gets less by spending more)

Sad but true. According to this post on Spaceflightnow.com’s site, prime contractor Lockheed Martin and its customer, the United States Air Force (USAF), are slowly and expensively achieving a goal. That is, they are replacing older USAF Defense Support Program (DSP–and more DSP info here) satellites with Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO satellites. The SBIRS GEO-2 satellite is officially operating as […]