March 2024
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. 017 - 1 March 2024
- Quantum Gravity
- Aggressive
- Dreaming Closer
- Competition
- My Latest Obsession
- Other Things
Tai here.
This is the state of space as of March 1st.
Let’s get started.
Quantum Gravity
Physicists have just measured the smallest gravitational pull ever recorded.
Detecting gravitational pull at super-small scales is a big deal. The reason is that physics has a problem. We’ve got the big equations figured out (how galaxies move, how rockets orbit planets, etc.), and we’ve got the tiny equations figured out (atoms, quantum action, etc.), but the rules we use for one don’t apply to the other.
Basically the rules for gravity (big stuff) and quantum (tiny stuff) don’t mix.
Mostly this isn’t an issue. We know how to work with the tiny stuff, we know how to work with the big stuff, and as a result we’re able to get plenty done, but ... with one set of rules that tells us how both work, we’d have a unification of the big picture.
Which would be huge. If we had a single set of rules for all physics it could open up all sorts of new applications.
Warp drives?
Maybe.
First we have to figure out that unification.
With this latest breakthrough – the detection of gravity at quantum (tiny) scales – we’ve taken a huge step toward that Holy Grail.
The following article summarizes things quite nicely ...
Measuring Gravity On A Quantum Scale
Aggressive
Kevin Coleman of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), the federal body that issues launch licenses, said recently, with regard to Starship, “(SpaceX) is looking at, I believe, at least nine launches this year. That’s a lot of launches.”
No doubt, Kevin. And great news.
We’ve been reporting on progress when it comes to the next planned launch of Starship, the third flight test out of its Starbase facility in South Texas, but we had no idea SpaceX was planning such an aggressive launch cadence for the year.
Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised. SpaceX is nothing if not intense and determined.
Good thing is the FAA appears to be coming around to the idea of allocating the resources to keep stepping up the pace. The number of US launches has grown from a few dozen a year to more than a hundred, with an expectation of 150 this year.
We’re glad to see the players in this grand game of space exploration (government bodies and commercial enterprises) coming together to move faster and faster still.
Dreaming Closer
We’ve talked about the Dream Chaser spaceplane, in development for more than a decade by Sierra Space out of Colorado, and it’s starting to get some major coverage.
Of everything happening in the pursuit of our future in space, this one brings with it a level of visual impact to command the attention of a broad audience.
And that, friends, is a good thing.
In addition, of course (and primarily), to being a much-needed option for on-orbit resupply, cargo and other deployment needs, the Dream Chaser spaceplane is guaranteed to generate curiosity and photo-ops among the average human. Whether currently interested in space or not.
As I say, this sort of high-profile exposure will definitely help the cause.
It’s currently preparing for its first trip to the International Space Station.
USA Today did a piece on the exciting, upcoming new addition to our space fleet …
Ready For The Runway: Dream Chaser Debut
Competition
China is planning a national record 100 orbital launches in 2024, according to the country’s main space contractor.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) plans around 70 launches to send more than 290 spacecraft into orbit. The remaining launches will be performed by China’s growing commercial launch sector.
You saw in the above article the US plans for about 150.
The race is on.
Thanks for tuning in.
Never forget: Space is the answer.
- Tai
#FortySuns
#40suns
My latest Earth-culture obsession:
The American Wild West. Of all the richness of culture you’re swimming in here on Earth, that moment in history really speaks to me. True grit, the pioneer spirit, the willingness to stand against the vastness of a wild frontier, the courage to act alone – even as cooperation and handshakes led to ever-improving conditions and the creation of a new ideal. In my mind the spirit of the West sets the perfect precedent for what’s coming. These first stages of the push into the unknown, the expansion of us humans into space, will require that spirit in abundance. Good thing is, from what I’ve seen, we have it.
Dad Joke (of the week):
Waiter: Be careful, this plate is really hot.
Me: No worries, I'm not that into plates.
Last week's reader feedback:
Have you seen all the celebrities with tickets to space? I saw your article on Ms. Mendler and how she’s starting a space company, so I looked for more celebs starting space companies but instead I got tons of results on stars GOING to space. Ha. Stars to the stars.
- Shelby
Tai's response:
Yes, there are a lot. Some people take issue with this so-called “space tourism”, but honestly it plays a role in the overall advancement of our space capabilities. Pick your past technology or new thing, and it never would’ve seen the light of day if it weren’t for “early adopters”, willing to spend way-big sums of money to be among the first. At the end of the day it’s great for all of us to have the interest of these high-value influencers.
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No. 018 - 8 March 2024
- Hooking Up
- Push Push
- Another Reusable
- Crew-8
- Cycle 3
- My Latest Obsession
- Other Things
Tai here.
This is the state of space as of March 8th.
Let’s get started.
Hooking Up
When it comes time to go to the moon, NASA's Artemis astronauts will ride from Earth to lunar orbit in the Orion spacecraft, where they'll dock with Starship.
Dubbed the Human Landing System (HLS), Starship will then take them down to the surface of the moon. Then, when it's time to go home, the HLS will take the crew back up to the Orion capsule waiting in orbit.
This, as you can see, involves multiple docking operations. NASA and SpaceX recently undertook qualification testing for those procedures ...
Push Push
Have you been loving the Formula 1 shows on Netflix as much as I have? One of the common things they radio to the drivers, when they want them to focus and hammer-down, is "push push".
So simple, so great. I love everything that stands for.
When it comes to launches, the US Space Force seems to be sharing that message. Specifically, they have their eyes on ULA (United Launch Alliance) and Blue Origin, wanting both companies to stand on it and go fast.
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force in charge of Space Force acquisitions, Frank Calvelli, said recently, "I think it’s going to be really important for us to watch two amazing companies: ULA and Blue Origin.” Adding: “They need to scale."
He noted ULA is projecting to launch its Vulcan rocket at least once a month, and ramp up to two launches per month by 2025.
I'm digging this positive pressure.
ULA & Blue Origin Need To Scale
Another Reusable
Rocket Lab says it could launch its first Neutron medium-lift reusable rocket before the end of the year, as it outlines a long-term vision for the company that involves its own satellite constellation …
Crew-8
Crew Dragon Endeavour, the world’s most-traveled crew transport spacecraft, has lifted off again, taking Crew-8 to the International Space Station (ISS).
Godspeed, to both crew and capsule.
Interesting tidbit of info – and an indication of the progress being made – SpaceX alone, a single private company, has now long-since exceeded two major Space Shuttle milestones:
Trips to the ISS, and
Time in orbit.
Forty years for the Shuttle, five years since SpaceX launched the first Crew Dragon spacecraft on an unpiloted test flight to the space station, nearly four years since their first astronaut mission took off in May 2020.
Yet another example of that "push push" drive to survive.
Cadence, baby.
Cycle 3
JWST's third-year targets, or Cycle 3, have been announced, and will build upon the previous two years of scientific advancements.
Among the targets: exomoons, supermassive black holes and dark energy, oh my!
SPECIAL NOTE: There's a chance, when you hear from me next week, Starship will have made a go at flight test number 3. We shall monitor this closely.
Thanks for tuning in.
Never forget: Space is the answer.
- Tai
#FortySuns
#40suns
My latest Earth-culture obsession:
The guitar. (Note, I chose a guitar-themed dad joke below.) I’ve started picking up this Earth instrument. It gets used a lot in most of your popular music. We had instruments back on Proxima B, but not many; mostly percussion, with a few strings and wind. My favorite was one that was kind of like a cross between your harp and cello. I can tell you the guitar sounds so much better. I’ve been practicing.
Dad Joke (of the week):
I always keep my guitar in the car now.
It's good for traffic jams.
Last week’s reader feedback:
It was refreshing to see your report on the minor breakthrough in the study of quantum gravity, both for the breakthrough itself, and the fact that you elected to include a story covering the broader sciences. Those are and will be the foundation of our space-based activities.
- DG
Tai’s response:
True enough. I try to keep the balance. Thanks for noticing.
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No. 019 - 15 March 2024
- Eins, Zwei, Drei ...
- Competitive Advantage
- Goooo!
- Fusion Fusion Fo-Fusion
- My Latest Obsession
- Other Things
Tai here.
This is the state of space as of March 15th.
Let’s get started.
Eins, Zwei, Drei …
SpaceX is killing it. Third flight test for Starship in the books and it was (literally) a roaring success.
This is the model to emulate.
So many great new milestones achieved with yesterday's successful launch, so many more to come.
I don't want to take too much of your time, but it's important to note this is barely the beginning. Soon enough Starship and launches in general will be nearly as commonplace as air travel. We don't much celebrate milestones in air travel anymore (though if you make all your connecting flights at Thanksgiving, that might be worth celebrating), but at the inception of flight it was important that we did. Support for new, civilization-defining technologies is crucial to our advance.
Meaning this was a great opportunity to test the air when it comes to perceptions being pumped into the public domain. Did our news outlets choose to report properly? Did they stick to a supportive narrative? (They love crafting narratives.)
Turns out they mostly did.
One of our objectives at Forty Suns is to correct the news cycle toward a focus on wins rather than failures (an uphill battle, no doubt), and a brief report card from a few headlines following the third Starship launch shows we made progress in that direction.
Our sample set:
Fox Business
“SpaceX launches massive Super Heavy-Starship rocket into space in most successful test yet.”
The Wall Street Journal
“SpaceX’s Starship Makes Major Progress in Third Flight Test.”
ABC News
“SpaceX loses Starship in reentry over Indian Ocean.”
The New York Times
“SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship for a Third Time.”
The Washington Post
“SpaceX’s Starship completes third test flight, its most successful yet.”
Great job, most of you. ABC News not so much.
Come on, ABC. You can do better.
Let’s keep the focus on what matters: Progress.
Space is the answer.
Competitive Advantage
Competition has always been good for growth. Everything from gnats to nations compete to rise above, to pass on their legacy, to dominate, to be the ones that survive.
We humans go a bit further by considering our fellows, by doing what we can to ensure that not only do we survive but that those around us do as well. Still, as we’ve seen time and again, that altruistic impulse can get shoved aside by our greater impulse to win.
When it comes to nations at odds this creates, perhaps, more friction than harmony, but that prime directive of competition can, in fact, drive faster advancement.
The current space race between the US and China is an example. Though it would be nice if we were more in cooperation as we charge ahead on our extraplanetary objectives, the threat of one beating the other is – so far – driving both faster.
Maybe this is good in the short term? As long as we don’t grow so far apart we start actually fighting each other, maybe such competition works to our advantage.
Or maybe not?
The chief of US Space Command recently told Congress China is advancing so “breathtakingly fast” in space that America is at risk of losing its advantage if officials don’t prioritize investment in the national security space architecture.
You be the judge.
China Moving Quickly To Boost Space Capabilities
Goooo!
“Could you imagine if I had walked up to you five years ago and said our constraint to launch is launch pad availability?”
So said Matthew Dominick, NASA commander of the recent Crew-8 mission.
“You would have thought I was crazy, but we’re at a cool spot in spaceflight right now. We’ve got rockets competing for launch pads, so you’re not waiting on payloads. You’re not waiting on rockets. You’re waiting on launch pads now.”
Turns out our biggest commercial space company, SpaceX (remember them?), wants to make these kinds of challenges the norm, not the exception.
Hear hear. Let’s get all our launch companies up to speed and demanding more and more facilities, getting us rapidly into orbit and beyond …
SpaceX Showed Us What Every Day Could Be Like In Spaceflight
Fusion Fusion Fo-Fusion
Banana-fana mo-fusion.
Engineers at MIT reported the successful test of a novel high-temperature superconducting magnet capable of generating a world-record 20-tesla magnetic field strength, a crucial milestone for enabling practical fusion power plants.
We’re getting closer.
MIT Researchers Fusion Breakthrough
Thanks for tuning in.
Never forget: Space is the answer.
- Tai
#FortySuns
#40suns
My latest Earth-culture obsession:
Tacos. The crunchy kind. Of all the incredible food options you have here, Mexican is rapidly becoming my favorite.
Dad Joke (of the week):
Interviewer: So, tell me a little about yourself.
Applicant: I’d rather not. I really need this job.
Last week’s reader feedback:
Speaking of the James Webb Space Telescope (last issue), JWST and Hubble tag-teamed to check the expansion rate of the universe and NASA is saying there are no measurement errors – meaning we may have misunderstood the universe. Something else (dark energy?) is influencing the universe's expansion. I keep hoping we not only find this stuff, but that we figure out how to harness it. My life’s ambition is to be able to shoot dark-side electric beams out of my fingers like Emperor Palpatine.
- Steve
Tai’s response:
You had my interest there for a minute, Steve.
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No. 020 - 22 March 2024
- FAA Is Upping Its Game
- Turn & Burn
- Tipping Point
- Moon Moon Double Double
- My Latest Obsession
- Other Things
Tai here.
This is the state of space as of March 22nd.
Let’s get started.
FAA Upping Its Game
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), the guys who issue launch approvals, has requested a 36% increase to its budget for 2025.
The funding would be used to both hire additional staff and contractors to support licensing and oversight work, along with additional funds for addressing other areas, such as potential changes to streamlined launch regulations.
“We’ve seen increased demand for our services over the last few years,” says Kelvin Coleman, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation. “Right now we’re at about 140 people and they’re all pedaling as fast as they can.”
This increased budget request is great news. We've talked in our Forty Suns blogs about the need for regulatory bodies to match pace with the demands of a greatly increased national launch cadence.
Overcoming the inertia of the methodical mindset that's been the foundation of our space industry so far is a great place to start.
Turn & Burn
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX boss (and general badass), gave the opening keynote at the Satellite 2024 conference, where she revealed the next test of Starship could take place as soon as May.
She added that SpaceX hopes to successfully manage reentry in its next flight attempt.
Is it an exciting time to be alive or what?
Fourth Starship Test Date Discussed
Tipping Point
Great article link ahead.
Typically I summarize things here and you don’t usually need to click away (though I always give the link). In this case I recommend that you do.
This is a take from Jess Bush, the famous Nurse Chapel from the new Star Trek, and I think we should all have a look at her perspective.
Jess says: “I’ve learned that the way we venture out into space could reshape humanity’s activities on Earth in a real way; and that that impact is happening now, today, under our feet.”
My favorite is a comment on the tipping point at which we sit.
“With space exploration, we’re at a monumental inflection point that could go one of two ways for humanity. Towards conflict, which is our dominant societal model, or towards cooperation, which is what we need to survive. How we think and act now in this delicate beginning will impact everyone’s future on Earth and beyond.”
Carve out 5 minutes when you can and give it a read …
Moon Moon Double Double
Two short bits on moon stuff. As we all know, the moon is on everyone’s wish list, and it’s heating up.
(1)
Lunar Gateway is NASA’s program aimed at establishing a strategic outpost orbiting Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor to support scientific research, lunar surface expeditions, and deeper space ventures.
The architectural blueprint of the Lunar Gateway incorporates a modular design, facilitating phased construction and scalability. Two critical components, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), form the infrastructure’s backbone.
Read more about the progress of this crucial piece in our next steps toward an extraplanetary existence ...
The Global Alliance Pioneering NASA’s Lunar Gateway
(2)
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion of a ‘lunar economy’ in spaceflight but precious little clarity on what that means. Most firms that have announced business plans to launch rockets to the Moon, land on the Moon, or perform other activities there have been doing so with the intent of selling services or lunar water to NASA or other parties fulfilling government contracts. Put another way, there has been no wealth creation, and ultimately, NASA is the customer.
The present lunar rush is rather like a California gold rush without the gold.
By harvesting helium-3, which is rare and limited in supply on Earth, startup company Interlune could help change that calculus by deriving value from resources on the Moon ...
Oh, and coming up on April 3rd NASA will announce the company (or companies) selected to build the Lunar Terrain Vehicle that will chauffeur astronauts across the lunar surface.
Let’s hear it for the moon.
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Next time you’re outside looking up at our nearest celestial neighbor, pale white in the day, bright white in the night, take a moment to look around, wherever you’re at on Earth. Find a few things of interest. Maybe a car, maybe a few of your friends. Then look back at the moon.
We’ve put stuff like that up there.
In fact, the moon you’re looking at … some of that stuff is still up there.
Stuff from Earth, up there even now, right where you’re looking.
Not only that, lots more will be going soon.
Did I say it’s an exciting time to be alive?
Thanks for tuning in.
Never forget: Space is the answer.
- Tai
#FortySuns
#40suns
My latest Earth-culture obsession:
Board games. Mostly strategy games, like versions of your classic Risk game, including even more complicated ones like Catan and Civilization. I’m also finding the lighter options like Clue and Monopoly fun to play. A great way to socialize, a great way to get out of your head for a while. Wish we’d had things like this back on Proxima B.
Dad Joke (of the week):
At the zoo yesterday I saw a piece of toast in a cage.
When I asked the zoo keeper why, he said it was “bread in captivity.”
Last week’s reader feedback:
I saw a cool video by the Limitless Space Institute on going fast. It really breaks down what will be needed to reach far-off places. I think your readers would really enjoy the video.
- Anna
Tai’s response:
Thanks, Anna. Agreed. I'm including the link here.
Go Incredibly Fast - 4-minute video
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No. 021 - 29 March 2024
- Human Interest
- Become An Astronaut
- Antariksh Vimaan
- My Latest Obsession
- Other Things
Tai here.
This is the state of space as of March 29th.
Let’s get started.
Human Interest
It's easy to get caught up in the major events happening each week in our space industry, centered as they are by the major players making them happen.
But those major players and those major events, like all things, are able to soar only because there are those of us who are the proverbial wind beneath their wings.
What we do, as fans, as players at every level, matters.
I recommend the linked article. It’s a great human interest story about the bond between some of those players as they come together over a major milestone on the road to our space future.
That milestone? The launch of the Psyche Probe, a mission meant to investigate 16 Psyche, an all-metal asteroid.
Yes, all metal. And not just any metal. Bling metal. Rare metal we love to pay big money for.
It’s a cool mission, to an incredibly incredible destination, and I thought this would be a fun spot for an interjection.
Ready?
That asteroid the probe is headed for is worth an estimated $100 quintillion dollars.
A hundred what?
Annual global GDP (the output of the entire world) is around 100 trillion, meaning Psyche, by the numbers, is worth a million times what all 8 billion of us produce in a year.
Meaning a person in possession of such an asteroid and its resources could, in theory, own planet Earth—at its current output—for the next ten thousand centuries.
Take that, Powerball.
Of course that’s absurd on many levels, but it does brilliantly illuminate one very important point:
There’s a lot of stuff out there.
We have only to get to it.
Become An Astronaut
NASA astronaut Victor Glover is headed to the moon as part of the Artemis program, but at the moment he's acting the part of job ambassador as NASA looks to build its next class of astronauts.
It’s not super easy to qualify, of course, but becoming an astronaut isn’t quite as tough as I imagined. Victor mentioned two character qualities in particular NASA is seeking:
Resilience and Coachability.
Sounds like I may have this one in the bag.
Check out his Today Show interview ...
NASA Astronaut Details Training
Antariksh Vimaan
Did you know India's ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) is the 4th largest space agency in the world? Behind only the ESA (European Space Agency), China and the US (NASA), India has been moving rapidly up the ladder.
Now they're testing their own spaceplane.
(By the way, “antariksh vimaan” is Hindi for “space plane”.)
They have only limited competition.
The U.S. Space Force's robotic X-37B is currently on its seventh flight and its first high-orbit mission after a December launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, while China’s own mysterious space plane just passed 100 days in low Earth orbit, now here comes ...
India.
Let’s go, global space competition.
Watch India's Space Plane Ace A Landing
Thanks for tuning in.
Never forget: Space is the answer.
- Tai
#FortySuns
#40suns
Wonder what’s happening in space?
Now you know.
My latest Earth-culture obsession:
Theme parks. Our Forty Suns HQ is near Disney in Florida, and not only is there Disney but there’s about a hundred other theme parks of all sizes within an hour of where we are. It’s like the mecca of theme parks. I love coasters, plus I’m a sucker for that “fair food”. I’d go on about how the mere concept of a theme park is completely unheard of on my world, but by now you know how bleak I had it. Let’s just say: Theme parks rock.
Dad Joke (of the week):
What do you call a fake noodle?
An impasta.
Last week’s reader feedback:
Do you think the Lunar Gateway is actually realistic?
- Celeste
Tai’s response:
Of course. All things are realistic given time. Human flight, for example, was realistic even a thousand years ago, just not in their immediate future. It took time. The real question is, will we make our timetables? Will these targets be in our near future? The moon and all the things that go with it are for sure happening; it will just be a matter of + or - years (not decades), depending on what delays get introduced.
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