Important Innovations

  Looking To Launch Starliner First Un-crewed, Then Crewed                                                       Source:  Boeing Spaceship with Checkered Past Boeing has built the Starliner, a next generation spacecraft, that's designed to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).  It is an alternative vehicle to the highly successful SpaceX Crew Dragon that brought two astronauts back and forth to the ISS this past summer.   The Starliner has been plagued with development problems, test failures and schedule slippages.  Now it has lost its astronaut Commander Chris Ferguson.  Ferguson is an engineer who helped Boeing develop the space vehicle. December 2019 Test Starliner has experienced a rocky road to development.  In December 2019, during an un-crewed flight, software problems caused the engines to misfire.  Starliner entered the wrong orbital path, never reached the ISS and was forced to return to Earth.  Now, for "personal reasons" Boeing e

SpaceX To Build Hypersonic and Ballistic Missile Tracking Satellites                            Source: Artist Image of Hypersonic Missile New, Highly Advanced Satellite Technology The US Department of Defense has awarded SpaceX a $149 million contract to build hypersonic and ballistic missile tracking and warning satellites.  The satellites will be positioned in low-Earth orbit similar to Starlink.  Starlink is SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's mega-constellation of satellites to provide the world broadband internet at inexpensive prices.  The Pentagon contract is a first for SpaceX and yet another major win for CEO Elon Musk.  This contract comes 3 weeks after US Defense Secretary Mark Espey announced that China and Russia have weaponized space with killer satellites and directed energy weapons. New, Advanced Satellite Technology The new satellites for the military will have wide field of vision, infrared sensors that can pinpoint and track potential missile threats coming in from space at

  Top Ranked on Amazon's Automotive Engineering                                                  Source:                                          Amazon  https://amazon.com/author/ekane My Book on Musk's SpaceX & Tesla Breakthroughs Journalist Edward Kane's just published book "The Elon Musk Factor" is ranked as the #1 new release in Amazon's Automotive Engineering category.  It's also on Amazon's Hot New Releases list.  For a free preview, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08KHCYGY9&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_JkAFFbC7T0C4C    I co-authored the book with Ed.

  60 More Broadband Satellites Launched Today                                                 Source:  NASA/SpaceX Elon Musk's Promise of More Inexpensive Internet  SpaceX has just deployed 60 more Starlink satellites into orbit.  SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk tweeted, when the satellites reach their targeted points, SpaceX will be able to roll out a fairly wide, public beta test in the northern United States and possibly in southern Canada.  And, he says, as soon as SpaceX receives regulatory approvals from more nations, he will roll the system into other countries.  Musk's space system is designed to deliver inexpensive internet services globally. Starlink Mega-Satellite Constellations for Global Internet This is the 13th Starlink low-earth orbit satellite launch so far.  SpaceX plans on dozens more as it grows its broadband mega-satellite constellation into thousands of small satellites.  The promise is for much less expensive internet availability on a global basis.  Tha

  SpaceX and Tesla Breakthroughs 2020                                         https://amazon.com/author/ekane My Latest Book On Amazon & Kindle Journalist Edward Kane's just published book "The Elon Musk Factor" showcases the biggest accomplishments and technology breakthroughs by one of the greatest innovation moguls of our time - Elon Musk.  2020 for SpaceX, Tesla and Elon Musk has rolled out a series of fascinating successes, all documented in the book.  For a free preview, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08KHCYGY9&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_721DFb3EC2CX2    I co-authored the book with Ed. The content is fascinating

Crew Dragon & US Astronauts Splash Down August 2  Source:  Crew Dragon From ISS and Back to Earth For NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Robert Behnken, it's been historic days on the International Space Station since May 30, 2020, after they launched in the SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and boarded the ISS.  They have made history for the US.  They are the first US astronauts to be launched from US soil in a decade. For SpaceX it was their first human flight into space. And for humanity, we had the opportunity to witness the 2 astronauts' bravery, leadership and scientific accomplishments, including their incredible space views of comets from the ISS.  Now, it is time for the two astronauts to make history again. NASA Schedule NASA has decided the two US astronauts will start the journey back to Earth on August 2, after 64 days onboard the ISS.  The departure plan is the equivalent of technological daring-do with a lot of expert te

DARPA's Blackjack Satellite Program on a Space Rideshare Source:  DARPA Blackjack Satellite Program Small Sats, Low Cost, Low Earth Orbit Ridesharing is a growing megatrend in Space.  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will fly on a ridesharing mission, early in 2021, carrying a Loft Orbiting satellite with a DARPA Blackjack Pit Boss mission system inside for a space demonstration.  Loft buys space buses (satellites) and rents space.  The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will be flying onboard the SpaceX rocket with many other customer payloads.  DARPA's Blackjack programs aims to deploy low cost, small, low earth orbit satellites into operation for the US Military. Space Experiment DARPA's testing of Blackjack will commence in early 2021.  The experiment is called Sagittarius A.  It's designed to demonstrate any risks or problems before the main Blackjack satellites go into production and launch in late 2021. Pit Boss Pit Boss

SpaceX Crew Dragon & ISS Source:  NASA ISS 2 US Astronauts Hop Onboard ISS This past weekend SpaceX Crew Dragon with US astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley onboard made it to the International Space Station.  It's an historic accomplishment for a private company and NASA.  The two astronauts will be up there for up to three months doing scientific experiments and celestial observations. What's Up There? To learn about the big, upcoming space missions of the 2020's including NASA and SpaceX plans, check out journalist Edward Kane's book "Space 2020's: What's Up There?" Until June 2 at 11AM ET, it's on sale as an Amazon Countdown Deal.   The link is  ASIN: B087DV4DZ6 To view Ed's  Amazon bookshelf of books, go to amazon.com/author/ekane   I co-authored the books with Ed.

Huge Wins for SpaceX & NASA Source:  SpaceX Historic Space Travel Firsts History was made on May 30, 2020 when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with 2 US astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, strapped onboard the SpaceX spacecraft Crew Dragon.  Within 12 minutes, Crew Dragon separated from the rocket and hurtled into space to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS).  Next day, May 31, 2020, Crew Dragon autonomously docked with the ISS. The docking happened 19 hours after launch. Crew Dragon used 12 separate latches to create an air locked seal between Dragon and the ISS for the 2 US astronauts to go onboard the ISS and join 3 other astronauts - 2 Russians and 1 American, already there.  History was made by SpaceX, NASA and the two brave, US astronauts.  SpaceX had never carried humans into space before this. Crew Dragon is an autonomous space vehicle that the astronauts can also do some fly time in.  The

NASA, SPACEX, US Astronauts & Elon Musk Source:  NASA - Crew Dragon Capsule Many Historic Firsts on Earth and Space On Wednesday, May 27, 2020, Elon Musk's SpaceX will carry two US Astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).  This will be the first time in nearly a decade that there has been rocket launch carrying astronauts into space orbit from US soil.  It is also a first for SpaceX to carry humans - NASA astronauts - into space. And it is the first time that a private commercial vehicle has taken US astronauts into orbit.  Experts say, if all goes well, this could be the beginning of a new era of human spaceflight for the US. Launch Time The launch is set for Wednesday afternoon from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  President Donald Trump says he will be there.  Two veteran US astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will be the crew aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will rocket into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket.

Tesla Roadster SpaceX Package Source:  Tesla Roadster "Full-On James Bond" SpaceX & Tesla CEO Elon Musk has combined the best technologies from his space company and from his electric car company and is incorporating them into his next generation Tesla Roadster.  The electric sportscar is equipped with rocket thrusters including the main one behind the license place.  Musk calls the Roadster's SpaceX package: "It's like full-on James Bond."  Part Car - Part Rocket The SpaceX Tesla Roadster is due out in 2022.  The SpaceX package option include cold air thrusters.  In Musk's words, he's using ultra high pressure compressed air. "It's a cold gas thruster.  The main thruster is behind the license plate.  For acceleration, it drops the license plate and behind the plate is a rocket thruster." Specs Musk has been saying that the new Roadster will go 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds with a battery range of 620 miles.  He is worki

NASA Awards Contracts for Moon Spacecraft Source:  Blue Origin & Jeff Bezos Humans Back on the Moon by 2024 NASA just awarded contracts to three companies to build spacecraft capable of landing astronauts on the Moon.  Blue Origin, the space company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, SpaceX founded by Tesla's Elon Musk and Dynetics, a  subsidiary of the IT company Leidos, are the winners. Is There Life in Space? The contract is a big win for Bezos and Blue Origin.  He has been urging NASA to explore the Moon's south pole where scientists have discovered water in the form of ice.  Water is the key ingredient that NASA targets in its search for life in space.  Bezos has  been pushing his Blue Moon lunar lander. He's pulled in Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman and Draper Labs as part of his Blue Moon development team.  According to Bezos, "We're not going back to the Moon to visit.  We're going ba

Starlink Internet Satellites Launched into Orbit Super:  SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Promise of Cheap, High Speed Internet Connectivity Most of the world is at a standstill from the pandemic. But, SpaceX appears to be operating business as usual as it launched another batch of  Starlink internet satellites into space. 60 broadband satellites were lifted into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center yesterday. The launch was on schedule and flawless. The satellites are climbing into a low Earth orbit of 340 miles above the ground. This brings the total number of Starlink satellites now in orbit to 400. Multi-Billion Dollar Communications Business SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has a vision. He wants to place 40,000 Starlink satellites in space in order to provide the entire globe with cheap, high speed internet connectivity.  His vision has the potential of generating billions of dollars in revenue.  Wit

Starlink Constellation of Internet Satellites Source:  NASA Launchdate - Tomorrow April 22 SpaceX plans to launch its seventh group of Starlink Satellites on April 22, 2020. The batch of 60 new satellites will join thousands already in orbit.  Starlink is entrepreneur Elon Musk's system to deliver broadband internet  connectivity to the world and provide faster and stronger communications services. New FCC Request From Musk for Starlink Musk has just sought US Federal Communications Commission approval to operate all of his 4,400 first generation Starlink sats at a lower  level than previously approved.  The request is for approved orbits at 550 kilometers for some  of the launched satellites. Most of his sats had  been okayed for about 1200 kilometers orbit above the Earth.   One reason cited by SpaceX for this request is that it will result in  less space debris. B ecause at a lower altitude, expended satellites