Blastoff! SpaceX launches classified USSF-124 Space Force mission, nails landing. - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station - 14 February 2024

This mission is a collaboration between the Missile Defence Agency,and the Space Force's Space Systems Command and Space Development Agency,delivering two prototype hypersonic and ballistic tracking space sensor programme;as well as the SDA's final four Tranche 0 tracking layer satellites.

SpaceX sets December 28 launch date for US military’s X-37B space plane | Oneindia News

First there was a weather delay.Then there were technical concerns as it is the first time the Boeing X-37B has launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy.*Boeing (BA)

X-37B to be Launched on Seventh Mission

On 2 November 2023,it was announced by the Air Force News Service that the Boeing X-37B space plane would be launched on a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket on 7 December 2023 from the NASA Kennedy Space Center.It is the first time the space plane will be launched on a Falcon Heavy,indicating the unprecedented weight of the cargo.The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office is partnering with the US Space Force on the mission,which has a wide range test and experimentation objectives.These tests include operating the reuseable space plane in new orbital regimes;experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies;and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.* Said X37-B Program Director Lt.Col. Joseph Fitscher:We are excited to expand the envelope of the reuseable X-37B's capabilities,using the flight-tested service module and Falcon Heavy rocket to fly multiple cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners.*X-37B Mission 7,aka Orbital Test Vehicle-7,will expand the United States Space Force's knowledge of the space environment by experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies.These tests are integral to ensuring safe,stable,and secure operations in space for all users of the domain,AFNS said.For his part,Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzmann said:The X-37B continues to equip the United States with the knowledge to enhance current and future space operations.X-37B Mission 7 demonstrates the USSF's commitment to innovation and defining the art of the possible in the space domain.*NASA's experiment will expose plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight.The Seeds-2 experiment will build upon prior experiment successes to pave the way for future crewed missions to deep space destinations.The previous X-37B Mission 6 introduced a service module that expanded the spacecraft's capabilities and allowed it to host more experiments than any other previous mission.*Director of the DAF RCO,William B. Bradley,said that:The X-37B and Boeing teams have worked together to produce a more responsive,flexible,and adaptive experimentation platform.The work they've done to streamline processes and adapt evolving technologies will help our nation learn a tremendous amount about operating in and returning from a space environment.*So it may be inferred that the OTV-7 will continue to develop space surveillance capabilties.* On 20 October 2023,the Space Operations Command (SpOC) unveiled its first official painting,"High Ground Intercept" during a ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base,Colorado.SpOC provides orbital warfare and intelligence capabilities to the USSF.The painting depicts a delta-shaped space plane called a "future intercept vehicle" opening its payload bay doors as it moves into position to engage an adversary satellite that is targeting a friendly spacecraft.Artist Rich Hunter was commissioned to create the painting without access to classified materials.It would be fair to assume that OTV-7 will also enhance USSF's orbital warfare capabilities along with space domain awareness.Indeed,the painting,which this blog has studied,depicts a space plane that is a fair approximation of the X-37B itself.* Boeing (BA)

NROL-87 Mission - Vandenberg Space Force Base,California - national security payload launch for the National Reconnaissance Office

SpaceX launches Crew-3 mission to ISS | NBC News - NASA Astronauts Col.Raja Chari,USAF;Thomas Marshburn ;Lt.Cdr. Kayla Barron,USN ;and ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer - 10 November 2021

Air Force Department Celebrating Milestones

With the commissioning of 86 US Air Force Academy cadets into the US Space Force and the impending Launch America mission to the ISS by NASA Astronaut COL Robert Behnken,US Air Force, things have seldom been more exciting at the US Department of the Air Force.The new Space Force 2nd lieutenants include 57 space operators;3 intelligence officers;4 cyber experts;10 engineers; and 12 acquisition professionals.
As well, about 1800 personnel from 23 USAF organisations are to be transferred within 180 days to the USSF.Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, however,expects some of them to be shifted within closer to 60 days, Space Force vice-commander LTG David Thompson told a Space News virtual chat in April 2020.*
The USSF also aspires to recruit from the general public.For now,though, aspirants are being directed to Air Force recruiting.*
On 21 May 2020,SecAF Barrett and USSF chief of space operations GEN John Raymond held a phone conversation with COL Behnken.Ms.Barrett and GEN Raymond both expressed intense pride in Behnken's achievement.On 27 May,Behnken and his NASA colleague COL Doug Hurley,US Marine Corps (retired) are to be launched to the ISS by the SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft from Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.The public is barred from the launch because of COVID-19.Nevertheless, Raymond said:
I tell you, we are excited for your upcoming mission.It's going to be great to have an Airman on that first rocket launch (since the Space Shuttle retired in 2011) and an Airman on the ISS.We're cheering for you.*
Both Behnken and Hurley are Space Shuttle veterans.They will spend 1-5 months on the ISS, NASA said, depending on how the mission evolves.It could include up to 5 spacewalks to replace a battery and refurbish other ISS parts.*
COL Behnken noted:
We've had some interesting twists and turns.Our mission was originally a test mission exclusively focused on a week or a week and a half or so to make sure we achieve the test objectives and get this flight certified for the next set of crews so they would do a long duration mission.*
The mission has been upgraded to ensure there isn't a gap in American presence on the ISS until the next launch of NASA astronauts to the space station.*
Thunderstorms may cause a postponement of the launch.*

SpaceX CRS-18 Mission live from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway Planning Accelerated as the ISS Partnership Met In Holland

Construction of the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway,as the ISS successor is now being called,is projected to begin in the first half of the 2020s.The LOP-G is the main destination for the Orion Program in the 2020s,building up enough experience for missions beyond the Moon and possibly to Mars and even a Venus flyby in the 2030s.The LOP-G is being designed by the five space agencies of the ISS Partnership to succeed the aging Low Earth Orbit station:NASA,ESA,Roscosmos,the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency.The second meeting for LOP-G planning was held in August 2017 at the European Space Centre,ESTEC,in Noordwijk,the Netherlands.*
An outline of the LOP-G initiative has been drawn up.It lays out establishing a cislunar presence as Phase 1 of the project,the core of which is the new space station.The LOP-G is not meant to be continually staffed,unlike the ISS;instead,with the Orion spacecraft docked,a crew of four would work in space for 42 day periods.The LOP-G would consist of a power/propulsion module;a habitation module;a possible airlock for space walks,similar to the Space Shuttle setup;likely an updated Canadarm robot arm;and possibly an advanced glass cupola for a 360-degree view of the Moon and Earth.
The core LOP-G would be assembled by 2025 over three SLS flights,each with a crewed Orion capsule.This could possibly be changed to two SLS flights plus a less expensive SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy flight for the power/propulsion module deployment,given the President's 2019 NASA budget proposal.
Commercial or international partners could provide the resupply flights.The final construction mission,to bring up the airlock,is projected for 2026.*
With the LOP-G,NASA will practice complex deep space rendezvous,while learning to live and work where a quick return to Earth is not possible.The 40kw solar-electric propulsion system,more powerful than any SEP currently operating,will allow LOP-G to transition between an always-sunlight halo lunar orbit to other orbits that could be used for other applications,including lunar landings.Anyone can come and use the LOP-G,both the commercial and international partners.*
In Phase 2,the Deep Space Transport,depicted as a cylindrical vehicle in concept artwork,will be developed.The LOP-G will be a lunar port of call for a large crew vehicle,the DST.Between each trip,the DST will be resupplied,refurbished and maintained at the LOP-G.Each DST will be good for a total of three roundtrips to Mars.One SLS cargo flight will carry a DST to lunar orbit in 2027.No other launch vehicle but the SLS can carry the 41 metric tonnes of the DST to the Moon in one piece,the minimum size for a Mars-class transport.*
In 2029,a crew would board the DST for a one-year shakedown mission.In 2033,there will be the first crewed flight to a Mars orbit.If a Venus assist,or slingshot,is used to reach Mars,the astronauts could observe the clouds of Venus and the volcanoes of Mars on one mission.*
This is the basic outline sketched by the ISS partners in Holland last summer.Details may be altered,but President Donald Trump and the National Space Council under Vice President Mike Pence are committed to the Orion Program and its commercial and international partnerships.The President's 2019 NASA Budget proposal funds both EM-1 and EM-2,which are the first two Orion missions;the ISS through 2024;as well as the Parker Solar Probe,James Webb Space Telescope and other important missions such as New Horizons.

How Serving in the US Marine Corps Helped a NASA Mission Manager-Commercial Crew Program

Trip Healey,a former US Marine Corps sergeant and helicopter squadron door gunner with 550 hours flying time,is one of two Mission Managers for NASA's Commercial Crew Program,which is scheduled to launch its uncrewed test in November 2017 of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket.Healey himself is assigned to the Boeing Starliner spacecraft,which is slated for its uncrewed test launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in June 2018.He described for the NASA website how his four years in the Marines helps him do his NASA work today:
I am a Marine,and as a Marine,it's all about mission accomplishment,taking care of your troops,and getting the job done.I think that background helps me in my position here.
I grew up around helicopters,jets,flying on helicopter missions,and just being on the flight line-aviation became part of my blood.There are so many lessons learned from that environment that translated into the NASA workforce-like teamwork;mission accomplishment;and watching out for one another.
I learned and applied the thought of only focusing on what was within my span of control and not focusing on those things I could not affect.What I did for the team as the daily planner was lay out a battle rhythm to get the work done,which seemed to change in scope and complexity on a daily basis.That is a great trait of a Marine-to be expeditious and get the job done-and a commonality shared with NASA.But the real analog between the Marines and NASA is that everyone is fully committed,no matter what the sacrifice,because the team feels as though what we are doing is bigger than any of us.*
After the Marines,Trip earned a BS in aeronautical engineering and a Master's in technical management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.*
Boeing (BA)

After the Shuttle:Preparing for Orion Flight Tests

Even as progress is made toward turning over routine low earth orbit transport to contractors such as SpaceX and Orbital Sciences,below the radar,NASA'a deep space team is quietly building momentum,preparing the Orion spacecraft for its upcoming Exploration Flight Test-1 in 2014.The EFT-1 will be conducted by Lockheed Martin Space Systems.It is an unmanned mission to evaluate the spacecraft's readiness for a subsequent manned flight test.Orion will be launched on the Delta IV Heavy rocket for EFT-1.The manned test flight to follow will be launched on the new deep space rocket,the Space Launch System,or SLS.The SLS will carry astronauts to the asteroids and beyond,its upper stage powered by the J2X engine.A number of engineering studies and spacecraft fabrication activities,along with Kennedy Space Center renovations,are underway to prepare the Orion spacecraft for EFT-1 and the decades of exploration ahead.Mission Control has also begun to transform itself for this first major step of the Orion program,Exploration Flight Test-1.These preparatory industrial,construction and engineering moves,as well as software integration,parachute and splashdown tests are perhaps not very exciting to the mainstream media,but are the essential underpinnings of the bold new Orion era of manned space flight. Lockheed Martin(LMT),Orbital Sciences(ORB)

After the Shuttle:SpaceX Prepares For ISS Demonstration Mission

Good progress is being made in the successor to the space shuttle program,even as the shuttles are being retired to museums.On May 7,NASA contractor SpaceX is set to launch its unmanned Dragon spacecraft on its Falcon 9 rocket toward the International Space Station.According to NASA,this date now appears unlikely,however,because of a software problem.A firm date will be announced when the issue is resolved.The spacecraft and rocket were successfully sent into low earth orbit in 2010-the first time a commercial entity had achieved low earth orbit,or LEO.
On this mission,the goal is to rendezvous with the ISS.At that point,the ISS will grapple the Dragon,which is a capsule atop a module,draw it close with its robot arm and dock with it.The ISS astronauts will enter the Dragon,retrieve 1200 pounds of cargo,and insert a return load into the Dragon.
The Dragon spacecraft will undock,reenter earth's atmosphere and splash down.The spacecraft and its return cargo are then to be retrieved.Should this mission succeed,SpaceX will begin regular resupply missions to the ISS under its 12 mission contract with NASA that has a renewal option.
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by South African native Elon Musk,a noted engineer and billionaire entrepreneur,who cofounded PayPal.
Another NASA contractor,Orbital Sciences,is to conduct an unmanned demonstration mission with its Cygnus spacecraft later this year.Once the cargo missions are underway and further testing is completed,manned low earth missions with NASA astronauts in commercial spacecraft are slated to begin.SpaceX and Boeing are vying for the manned LEO mission contract.
The low earth orbit contractors allow NASA to husband its resources for deep space exploration with the new Space Launch System and Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle,which are to be capable of taking astronauts to the asteroids and Mars,as well as the Webb Space Telescope,successor to the Hubble.Initial testing of the SLS and MPCV have been going well.The first launch of the SLS is planned for 2017.
Orbital Sciences(ORB),Boeing(BA)