Tai Rade ( / tie rah-day / ) is our space correspondent and spokesperson.

This is her weekly take on what’s happening in space.

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No. 022 - 5 April 2024

• A Fiery Finale
• Lady Boss
• Giant Quantum Tornado
• New Texas Space Commission
• My Latest Obsession
• Other Things

Tai here.

This is the state of space as of April 5th.

Let’s get started.

A Fiery Finale

Heard of the Delta IV Heavy?

It’s the world’s third highest-capacity launch vehicle in operation, behind NASA’s Space Launch System and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, closely followed by China’s Long March 5.

And it’s about to retire.

(Once Starship is in service, of course, the rest will pale behind its might.)

Target date for launch — as of this moment — is Tuesday the 9th.

If you happen to be near the Cape (Kennedy, in Florida), you might want to swing over.

It puts on quite a show.

This is the rocket that literally lights itself on fire before it heads to space. It’s the world’s largest rocket entirely fueled by liquid hydrogen.

In fact the Delta IV Heavy was America's most powerful launch vehicle for nearly a decade.

“This is such an amazing piece of technology, 23 stories tall, a half-million gallons of propellant and a quarter-million pounds of thrust, and the most metal of all rockets, setting itself on fire before it goes to space,” said Tory Bruno, ULA's president and CEO. “Retiring it is (key to) the future, moving to Vulcan, a less expensive higher-performance rocket. But it’s still sad.”

Read more about how it self-immolates here:

Great Balls Of Fire – The Delta IV Heavy

The Delta IV Heavy is an icon of a different age, one not that old in terms of years (roughly 20). Our space industry has been evolving so rapidly, I take this retirement as a testament to how much progress we’ve made with our low-cost, reusable launch technologies and the cadence they’re able to maintain.

We truly are in a new space age.

Example: SpaceX, pioneer in this new age, just celebrated the 217th consecutive successful landing of its Falcon booster.

And so we bid the mighty Delta farewell. Delta IV, you captivated us with your fiery ascent, and you will be missed.

The new breed is on the pad now, and they’re lighting up the sky like never before.

Stay tuned for launch updates …

ULA Delta IV Heavy NROL-70

Lady Boss

A few weeks ago we talked about Gateway, the lunar space station that’s part of NASA’s Artemis moon program.

When NASA builds Gateway near the moon, how will we ship items out there?

Teresa Kinney — who just happens to be NASA’s first female chief engineer at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) — is working to put the Gateway lunar space station together in orbit around the moon.

Gateway will support Artemis program landing missions on the moon, but (duh) it needs to be built first.

This is where Kinney and her team come in.

There’s a great interview at Space.com with her discussing the project ...

Putting A Space Station Around The Moon

Giant Quantum Tornado

Combining Einstein’s theory of general relativity (the physics of the very large) with quantum mechanics (the physics of the very small) is one of science’s Holy Grails.

At the moment the two are incompatible.

When it comes to black holes, known laws of physics break down in the presence of extreme — and theoretically infinite — gravitational forces. Meaning for those out to combine Einstein’s theory of general relativity with quantum mechanics, black holes’ warping of space-time offers an alluring … pull.

Badump bump.

Get it? “Pull”? Gravity?

Moving on. Scientists have now created a giant quantum tornado inside a helium superfluid, and they want to use it to probe the enigmatic nature of black holes.

Perhaps leading closer to that elusive Grand Unification of theories.

This is not directly space stuff, but all bleeding edge science is, in the end, “space stuff”.

The things we learn here help us advance out there ...

Physicists Make Record-Breaking 'Quantum Vortex'

New Texas Space Commission

Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched the new Texas Space Commission this week to improve the state’s position in the national space industry.

“Since its very inception, NASA’s Johnson Space Center has been home to manned spaceflight, propelling Texas as the national leader in the U.S. space program,” said Governor Abbott. “Now, with the Texas Space Commission, our great state will have a group that is responsible for dreaming and achieving the next generation of human exploration in space.” He added: “Texas is the launchpad for Mars, innovating the technology that will colonize humanity’s first new planet.”

Space is heating up, people.

Have I said that before?

I feel like I've said that before.

The Lone Star Aims For The Stars

Thanks for tuning in.

Never forget: Space is the answer.

- Tai

#FortySuns

#40suns

My latest Earth-culture obsession:
Rock band Queen. They’re, like, the kings of anthems. Guess that means Queen is the king. They came up with so many catchy hooks. Fun fact, Brian May, co-founder of the band, is not only a rock legend, he has a Ph.D. in astrophysics and has been a consultant for NASA. Very cool. (Oh, and notice how I tie the band in with the Dad Joke below. I know. Pretty brilliant.)

Dad Joke (of the week):

Interviewer: Can you perform under pressure?

Applicant: I don't know, but I can take a stab at Bohemian Rhapsody.

Last week's reader feedback:
Thanks for last week’s article India’s spaceplane. I was surprised to learn their space agency is 4th in the world.

- JT

Tai's response:
India’s been on a roll, JT. The ISRO’s vision (India Space Research Organization) is stated as “Harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.” They’ve been making some pretty big strides in that direction.

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No. 023 - 12 April 2024

• Moon Time
• Exoplanets
• Competition = Good
• My Latest Obsession
• Other Things

Tai here.

This is the state of space as of April 12th.

Let’s get started.

Moon Time

It’s Moon Time, in more ways than one this week. That cold hearted orb that rules the night (Nights in White Satin) is being worked toward on so many fronts, by so many countries, so many companies and individuals, I thought I’d cover a few quick neat-things going on when it comes to our lunar future.

For starters, there is, in fact, about to be an actual “moon time” — a time zone for the moon.

Called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), NASA has been directed to establish this official time reference to help guide lunar missions.

Read More About LTC Here

Secondly, three companies have officially been selected to advance moon mobility for the upcoming Artemis missions.

Basically, they got the go-ahead to start working on moon buggies.

Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab will present solutions to advance capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) that Artemis astronauts will use to travel around the lunar surface, conduct scientific research during their campaigns at the Moon, and prepare for human missions to Mars.

Some of the concepts already on the table look awesome ...

NASA Moon Mobility (aka Moon Buggies) Selections

Lastly, Moon Suits.

As we forge deeper into the Artemis era, a new spacesuit will define humanity’s return to the Moon, and it’s being created by Axiom Space in Houston, Texas.

That’s right, a private company is designing the suits that will be worn by Artemis astronauts.

Even cooler? The suits are Forty Suns colors; dark gray and light orange.

You have to check these out ...

Making NASA’s New Moon Suits

Exoplanets

From moons to planets, a couple of interesting news items this week when it comes to our search for Earth-like destinations in other star systems.

JWST detected the first light from an exoplanet, TRAPPIST-1 b in the TRAPPIST system.

The light detected is the infrared spectrum, with Webb able to use its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to do so.

“The result marks an important step in determining whether planets orbiting small active stars like TRAPPIST-1 can sustain atmospheres needed to support life,” NASA said in a statement.

James Webb Space Telescope Finds Light On Earth-Like Planet

Also this week, Spitzer, another infrared telescope, confirmed the first known observance of a tidally locked super-Earth. (A super-Earth is a type of exoplanet with a mass higher than Earth’s, but substantially below that of the ice giants, Uranus and Neptune.)

Tidally locked exoplanets have been suspected, but until now have been unable to be proven.

First Tidally Locked Super-Earth Exoplanet Confirmed

Nothing like the results from a little planetary science to remind us what’s out there waiting.

Competition = Good

Competition is good.

Nay, competition is vital. At least to achieve the rapid progress we’ve come to expect from our technologies and our innovation in general.

Healthy competition drives our best results. A high degree of cooperation within rival groups, combined with high-spirited competition between them, leads to rapid gains.

You know how I hate it when I get too philosophical. A little philosophy is good, results are better. Sufficient philosophical framing of purpose in order to yield the clearest possible path to results, sure, but the meat of our future endeavors —

Gah! There I go again.

My point? Within our space industry many successful enterprises stand out, and they’re each in healthy competition. That spirit of play drives results.

A stellar example (badump bump) is Rocket Lab. Only SpaceX launches more rockets from U.S. soil each year, and when it comes to new ways of doing things Rocket Lab is innovating just as aggressively.

The first rocket with a full carbon-composite build? Check. The first 3D-printed and electrically pumped rocket engine? Also check.

And they’re very near full reusability, much like the SpaceX fleet.

Gizmodo did an interview with founder Peter Beck …

The Aesthetic Drive Behind Rocket Lab’s Rise In Aerospace

Thanks for tuning in.

Never forget: Space is the answer.

- Tai

Dad Joke (of the week):

I've started a boat building business in my attic.

Sails are going through the roof.

Last week’s reader feedback:

It’s sad to see ULA’s Delta IV go. Space is moving fast and it’s a dinosaur now, but there’s something epic about the way it was consumed in its own fire. Like a Phoenix. Plus it only burned Hydrogen so it was clean and green!

- BT

Tai’s response:

True. There’s something to be said for spectacle, and the Delta IV delivered. My guess, though, is that once Starships are firing off routinely we’ll have enough epicness on hand to keep us happy for a while. Until, of course, the next breed of even more awesome launch platforms arrive.

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No. 024 - 19 April 2024

• Moon Train
• The 'Overview Effect' For More Of Us
• Fail Fast
• Let's Hear It For The ... Entrepreneurs
• My Latest Obsession
• Other Things

Tai here.

This is the state of space as of April 19th.

Let’s get started.

Moon Train

Last week we talked moon buggies, this week let’s talk trains.

When it comes to living and working on the moon we’ll need reliable ways to cover distance, same as we do here on Earth. Trains may be one solution.

Of course we all realize the moon is big, but sometimes it’s easy to forget. For reference, our closest neighbor has a surface area roughly equal to that of Africa.

In case you’ve forgotten how big that is, consider this: If you made a puzzle out of it, 14 different countries — some of them quite big — would fit at one time into the same geographical footprint as the Dark Continent.

1. Portugal
2. Netherlands
3. Belgium
4. Spain
5. France
6. Germany
7. Switzerland
8. Italy
9. Eastern Europe
10. India
11. China
12. Japan
13. Great Britain
14. America

Meaning ... things on the moon could end up being pretty far apart. Getting places will be one of our many challenges.

Enter the idea of moon trains.

To prepare for this, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to develop a lunar railway concept, as part of the 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study ...

DARPA Contract For A Railway On The Moon

The ‘Overview Effect’ For More Of Us

The Overview Effect, if you haven’t heard of it, is the visual and emotional effect of seeing our world from space. It’s been described as a profound experience that leads to a greater appreciation for Earth and its apparent fragility, along with a deep connection to humanity as a whole.

A few companies are working on options for delivering that experience, balloons being one way to go about it.

HALO Space is one such space-balloon company.

In a press conference HALO Space CEO, Carlos Mira, said: “So far, only 650 humans have had the opportunity to experience this overview effect ... We hope to offer this experience to 1,000 people by 2030.”

Prices, of course, will be steep to start, but that’s where everything new and advanced begins. As more and more who can afford to go go (Ha. I said go go), a view of Earth from high above will become more and more affordable and, thus, more and more accessible.

Soon enough we’ll all have an opportunity to feel the Effect, should we choose.

Side note on that: It’s been suggested (by those who’ve been to space) that experiencing that Overview Effect should be a prerequisite for any leader. Before a new official assumes office, they should have to go up there and look down here.

To see.

To get that perspective.

To viscerally understand the reality that we are, all of us, in this together.

Sounds like a pretty damn good idea to me.

HALO Space Unveils Capsule Design For Stratospheric Views

Fail Fast

Recently Elon Musk updated us on plans to increase Starship launch rate and performance. We should be seeing a fourth flight test soon.

The goal of that test, he said, will be for the Starship upper stage to get through the “high heating regime” of reentry and make a “controlled splat” into the ocean.

I love the terminology. SpaceX is not just running a fast-moving, expanding enterprise, they’re having fun while they do it.

I believe that sort of spirit of play is vital to our success.

Production of Starship vehicles is being accelerated to support higher flight rates. Before the last launch, company officials said they had four pairs of ships and boosters at Starbase for upcoming launches.

With the increased production rate will also come more muscle. Planned improvements to the Raptor engines will increase thrust from 230 to 280 metric tons-force, then “ultimately” to more than 330 tons.

Oorah.

That’s a lot of lifting power.

Rapid advance through rapid testing. I love it.

Plans To Increase Starship Launch Rate And Performance

Let’s Hear It For The … Entrepreneurs?

This week NASA held a news brief to reveal that their original plan for returning samples from Mars won’t be working out as planned.

[ Read more on the MSR mission (Mars Sample-Return) here. ]

Despite this gloomy assessment, returning samples from Mars remains a key scientific priority. NASA, therefore, is turning to the commercial space sector to figure out a cheaper and faster way to make it happen.

Which, to me, is epic.

Not the budget cuts that led to the decision. Those suck. Rather, the fact that we now have a commercial space sector that can be consulted for legitimate solutions to a mission of this scale.

Think about that.

NASA Administrator, Bill Nelson, said, “I’m expecting to get everybody in high gear, and we have the answers to this by next fall.”

Space Age 2.0 is here, folks.

Industry To Save The Day On MSR

Thanks for tuning in.

Never forget: Space is the answer.

- Tai

#FortySuns

#40suns

My latest Earth-culture obsession:

Pizza. Ordering it, having it delivered, devouring it while I watch whatever of the thousand different show options streaming to my TV I happen to choose. I don’t know why I haven’t mentioned this one yet; I’ve been loving ‘za pretty much since I got to this world. It was one of the first things the Forty Suns team gave me. That was when I began to wonder if I’d arrived in paradise. Pizza rules.

Dad Joke (of the week):

What has five toes and isn't your foot?

My foot.

Last week’s reader feedback:

Nada.

- No one

Tai’s response:

That’s right. No one wrote me last week. Can you believe it? I thought at least someone would comment on my chibi drawing. If I was one for crying, I might be shedding a few tears right now.

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No. 025 - 26 April 2024

• She's Back
• Extra Mustard
• Better Than Earth?
• My Latest Obsession
• Other Things

This is our 25th issue (does that make it the silver edition?), so, in celebration, this week I’m throwing on a little more mustard. In the section aptly titled “Extra Mustard” I hit several top news stories at once, with a short bit on each. It was a busy week in space.

Plus a double dad joke.

Could it get better?

Here we go.

She’s Back

NASA’s Voyager 1 is answering the phone.

For the first time since November the probe is returning usable data about the health and status of onboard engineering systems. It’s been that long since we’ve heard back.

Voyager 1 and its sister, Voyager 2, are the only spacecraft to ever fly in interstellar space, and while by all rights both should be long kaput by now, their continued operation has kind of made us forget we’re long past anything they were ever meant to do.

Launched over 46 years ago, the twin Voyagers are the longest-running and most distant spacecraft in Earth history. Before the start of their current interstellar exploration, both probes flew by Saturn and Jupiter, and Voyager 2 flew by Uranus and Neptune.

So come on, V’Ger, keep hanging in there.

Your family back here on Earth will be super sad when we (eventually) get your last postcard from the edge.

Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Engineering Updates To Earth

Extra Mustard

US aerospace company Vast announced it will bring Starlink’s “laser link” to Haven-1, a private space station slated to launch in 2025.

Super cool for two main reasons:

It’s a private company building space stations.

Orbital broadband, baby.

SpaceX To Light Up Starlink On Upcoming Private Space Station

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China is ratcheting up the pressure. Its space capabilities are advancing at an impressive clip, with an eye toward challenging the United States’ long-held supremacy in the final frontier, US officials say ...

Space Force: China Moving At ‘Breathtaking Speed’ In Final Frontier

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My favorite space plane, Dream Chaser, continues to make the news. The company behind it, Sierra Space, is eyeing an IPO as early as next year.

Sierra Space boasts one of the most diverse space and defense tech portfolios of the private sector, spanning space transportation, space habitation, propulsion and satellites.

Dream Chaser is expected to make its maiden flight later this year ...

Sierra Space Unveils … Many Things

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More on Starship, and yes I keep talking about it, but this is a paradigm shift and a key one in our space future.

After the historic IFT-3 (Integrated Flight Test) launch in March, the Starship program is proceeding with plans to fly Ship 29 and Booster 11 on IFT-4, potentially in May, while future versions of the vehicle are starting to take shape.

This is news worth knowing ...

Starship’s Future Is Coming Into Focus

Better Than Earth?

Our planetary scientists, God love them, have come up with a new index to help determine which exoplanets – any planet beyond our solar system – are most likely to be able to sustain life.

More interestingly, going by that new formula our very own Earth clocks in with a habitability rating of 0.829.

Huh.

You figure we’d be a “1”, right?

Apparently not.

So … there could be even better places to live than Earth?

Turns out we may have found one.

Kepler-442b orbits within the Goldilocks zone of the star Kepler-442, about 1,200 light-years from Earth, and with a rating of 0.836 (using the new index), is one of the more promising candidates for potential habitability ...

More Habitable Than Earth

Thanks for tuning in.

Never forget: Space is the answer.

- Tai

#FortySuns

#40suns

My latest Earth-culture obsession:

Top Fuel drag racing. Of all things. Someone turned me on to this and I kind of got hooked on a bunch of YouTube videos. The idea of going for absolute max speed and acceleration over such a short distance is kind of wild. Did some searches and found out what it takes to do that; the specs on these mind-melting wheeled darts are insane. Apparently, for a few seconds, they squeeze the power of three or four freight locomotives out of those normal-sized engines. Crazy. Oh, and the YouTube and Google searches I used to find that out? Also very cool. The amount of info and entertainment at your fingertips here on Earth is – and I’m pretty sure I’m using this word right – staggering.

Dad Joke (of the week):

Ladies, if he can’t appreciate your fruit jokes you need to ...

... let that mango.

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I did some financial planning, and it looks like I can retire at 97 and live comfortably for eleven minutes.

Last week’s reader feedback:

I heard they’re even looking at using Starship for the Mars sample return mission?

- FT

Tai’s response:

Yes, that’s been proposed. I’m most excited by the fact that our private space industry is being tasked with this mission. As I said in the last issue, this is a great indication of how our space industry is growing as a whole. Space is the answer.