Space Station about to get blown out of orbit (maybe)

[tangent4ronpaul]

http://www.space.com/11300-space-junk-station-astronauts-shelter.html

A piece of space junk from a Chinese anti-satellite test will fly uncomfortably close to the International Space Station today, forcing the outpost's crew to take shelter in a Russian lifeboat as a safety measure, NASA officials said.

The threatening space debris will zoom within 2.7 miles (4.5 kilometers) when it makes its closest approach at about 4:21 p.m. EDT (2021 GMT) today, NASA spokesman Josh Byerly told SPACE.com from the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

[tangent4ronpaul]

it missed.

For all you folks talking about privatizing space....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/us-space-business-rocket-idUSTRE73468B20110405

SpaceX to build heavy-lift, low-cost rocket

The new booster, called Falcon Heavy, is based on the company's Falcon 9 rocket, which has made two successful flights and which NASA has purchased to fly cargo to the International Space Station after the shuttle program ends this summer.

Falcon Heavy can put about 117,000 pounds (53,071 kg) into orbit, twice the shuttle's 50,000-pound (22,680-kg) lift capability.

With a price tag of about $100 million per launch, Falcon Heavy is about half the price of existing heavy-lift U.S. rockets built by Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp.

Currently, it costs about $10,000 per pound to reach orbit. Falcon Heavy would cut that price to about $1,000 per pound, Musk said.

[Fox McCloud]

it missed.

For all you folks talking about privatizing space....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/us-space-business-rocket-idUSTRE73468B20110405

SpaceX to build heavy-lift, low-cost rocket

The new booster, called Falcon Heavy, is based on the company's Falcon 9 rocket, which has made two successful flights and which NASA has purchased to fly cargo to the International Space Station after the shuttle program ends this summer.

Falcon Heavy can put about 117,000 pounds (53,071 kg) into orbit, twice the shuttle's 50,000-pound (22,680-kg) lift capability.

With a price tag of about $100 million per launch, Falcon Heavy is about half the price of existing heavy-lift U.S. rockets built by Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp.

Currently, it costs about $10,000 per pound to reach orbit. Falcon Heavy would cut that price to about $1,000 per pound, Musk said.


Why am I not surprised they're so much more efficient than the government contractor's rockets?

[Carehn]

I don't think any government will ever have the power to keep space off the market. Its to big.