For a full rundown of all of the stories covered in this live show, check out the wiki page: http://wiki.spacevidcast.com/en/4.22 In this community live show we explore what role NASA should take in 2012, a new Space Code of Conduct being developed, life on Venus and community questions.

For the after dark show as well as additional great content check out our epic subscription. Bringin you even more space coverage and helping us produce the show, Spacevidcast epic is available in monthly or yearly subscriptions. http://www.spacevidcast.com/epic

Read More

The deserts of Promontory, Utah came alive with fire and thunder as NASA and ATK tested the Development Motor-2 (DM-2). The five-segment, first-stage of the Ares rocket was activated at 9:27 a.m. MDT on Aug. 31. The still morning air surrendered its silence to the sound of unleashed technological thunder. The surrounding countryside was bathed in the colors of fire as a huge plume of fame shot out the back of the solid motor.

The DM-2 test was conducted to gain data on some 53 designs incorporated in this system. Some of the elements tested include the redesigned rocket nozzle, new insulation used in this design and the motor casing’s liner. When activated the DM-2 produced an estimated 3.6 million pounds of thrust – equaling 22 million horsepower. The motor had 760 instruments incorporated into it these instruments worked to collect vital information regarding the rocket’s performance when it was fired.

The horizontal ground test firing is what is known as a “cold motor” test. This is accomplished by chilling the DM-2 down to 40 degrees F. This is done to measure how the motor performs at very low temperatures. The test also was held to prove out design specifications of new materials used in the motor joints.

These new elements will eliminate the need for the joint heaters that are currently used. (these heaters were required in the 4-segment version of the motor’s design). It is hoped that with the addition of these new modifications weight will be dramatically reduced, launch operations will be simplified and the overall system will be far less complicated

DM-2 is a combination of Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) segments that have flown on 57 shuttle missions total. These segments are recycled after every mission. Once they have been jettisoned from the space shuttle they are recovered out in the Atlantic Ocean by recovery ships (named Freedom Star and Liberty Star). From there, they are shipped back to ATK’s plant where they are broken down into segments again and refurbished for the next mission.

We talk about NASA’s proposed FY2011 budget with Chris Radcliff of SpaceUp as well as how to continue the conversation during SpaceUp.

Read More

With Constellation woefully over budget, what does that mean for the Ares I and Ares V rockets? If rumors are right, it could mean that the DIRECT team’s Jupiter 241 stretched heavy configuration will be NASA’s new launch vehicle of choice. Of course no one will really know until official announcements are made, and at this point it is all educated speculation.

What a fantastic interview to close out the year! Douglas Mallette is the author of “Turning Point” and joins us to talk about what we can do to better advocate space. What it we made not one but FOUR more Apollo sized space programs in the US? What impact does space have on our economy and quality of life?

Help start a new space UnConference!  SpaceUp needs your help to raise $2,000 before the first of the year! They are almost half way there now and every little bit helps.
http://spaceup.org/
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chris-radcliff/spaceup-san-diego

In space news we had a couple of breaking items such as rumors of the Obama Administration shutting down the Ares I program and going with a ‘Heavy Lifter’ program. Ares V? Other? Real or just rumor?
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/12/exclusiveobama.html

XCOR won a contract with South Korea for sub orbital flights. They plan on being able to launch around the same time Virgin Galactic is slated to launch. Can they pull it off?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704238104574602492468293788.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Other misc news about rovers and landers we have on Mars. This is the last epicsode of 2009, enjoy!

Read More

While the Ares I-X was technically a success, there was a bit of damage to both the pad and solid rocket booster. According to NASASpaceFlight.com’s L2 section the vehicle actually was supposed to launch at a bit of an angle to help it clear the Fixed Service Structure or FSS.  The known downside of this was a couple of seconds of the massively hot Ares first stage exhaust hitting the FSS. While we were speculating about the apparent angle at liftoff during our live coverage, that was in fact planned but did damage pad 39B in the process.

NASASpaceFlight.com L2 Resources:

Ares I-X SRB additional pics – http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19398.0

LC-39B additional pics – http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19300.0

Underwater SRB pictures – http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19283.0

The launch of the Ares I-X test vehicle from NASA at 15:30 UTC on October 28th, 2009.
To view just the launch jump to 5:07 in the video!