HUMANS IN SPACE
HUMANS IN SPACE NEWS
Another Setback for SpaceX Starship: Building out a new major technology is difficult, especially for something as complex, massive, yet delicate like a rocket. There will be a lot of failures along the way.
The explosion of Starship IFT-7 was not the first setback for the Starship program. On April 20, 2023, the first Integrated Test Flight 1 (IFT-1) of Starship suffered what is officially termed a “mishap” as defined in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), 401.7, paragraphs (2), (6), and (7). From the cover letter of the FAA Final Report: “During lift-off, structural failure of the launch pad deck foundation occurred, sending debris and sand into the air. On ascent, the vehicle deviated from the expected trajectory, resulting in the Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) issuing a destruct command. After an unexpected delay following the AFSS activation, Starship broke up, resulting in the loss of the launch vehicle.” Sixty-three corrective actions were required prior to the FAA issuing a permit for the next Starship loss. I’d list a reference to the FAA Final Report, but it became a dead link yesterday (1/17).
IFT-2, launched on November 18, 2023, had a similar test profile, with some improvements made to the pad protection system and the use of “hot staging,” firing the second stage while the first stage was still under power. The pad protection system, first stage, and hot staging all worked well. However, when the booster flipped over as planned to fire engines to start its descent (“boostback”), filter blockage caused some of the engines to quit. One exploded and blew the booster apart. The upper stage started its descent normally, but a communications failure caused a premature engine shutdown and subsequent destruction via the AFSS.
The plan for the third IFT called for a full-duration burn of the booster and second-stage engines, launching on March 14, 2024. The booster engines worked well through staging. Thirteen engines fired during the boostback burn, but six failed before the planned burn was complete, due again to filter blockages. The Starship broke up during re-entry.
IFT-4 did better (6/6/2024). Its flight plan was similar to that of IFT-3, with a ship landing burn and soft splashdown (in the water this time; no attempt at a landing platform was planned). One Raptor engine failed in the booster shortly after launch, but the others still had the oomph needed to complete the test. The spacecraft portion suffered flap damage, and was a bit off-course at the end, but this test was mostly successful.
IFT-5 was mostly successful, too (10/13/2024). It was the first flight test to suffer no engine failures. The booster stage successfully completed the boostback phase and was successfully caught by the launch tower arms. The spacecraft suffered the same type of flap damage as seen on IFT-4, but made its landing burn right on target. Again, no barge landing was attempted, and the spacecraft exploded after landing in the water.
IFT-6 was mostly successful, too (11/19/2024). The launch tower site was damaged during take-off, preventing a landing attempt by the booster, which was lost. The spacecraft experienced little flap damage, and its cargo, a stuffed banana, survived, a weird nod to Ham and his buddies.
IFT-7 was launched last week (1/16/2025). This time, a Block 2 spacecraft was the upper-stage, and it was to test the deployment system for ten Starlink satellites. There were a series of premature engine shutdowns, followed by a massive explosion, high over the Turks and Caicos Islands. The booster functioned as planned, and was caught by the launch tower arms. Debris from the exploded spacecraft and the dying satellites put on a pyrotechnic display now prevalent on mainstream and social media. Aircraft plying the Caribbean had to be diverted to avoid falling Starship parts, causing a number of fuel emergencies to be declared. There may have been some damage on the islands below.
As of this writing, the FAA has suspended all Starship flights pending the outcome of an investigation. Elon Musk has threatened to sue the FAA in the past for its regulatory actions over SpaceX accidents. Stay tuned, there is likely to be more to this story.
Meanwhile, New Glenn Launched Successfully on the very same day IFT-7 exploded. NASA shouldn’t want to “have all its eggs in one basket.” For more information on the launch, see: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/blue-origins-new-glenn-rocket-finally-takes-flight and https://www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-1. Stay tuned, indeed.
Toyota Gets into the Space Biz, Too: Interstellar Technologies, a Japanese rocket builder, received a sizable grant from the Toyota Group recently, looking to expand its rocket construction capability. “Interstellar Technologies is seeking to emulate SpaceX’s vertical integration strategy by manufacturing launch vehicles and communications satellites in-house. … Interstellar aims to leverage automotive industry expertise, including Toyota’s production methods, to transition rocket manufacturing into a high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable process. … Toyota and Interstellar both hint that the partnership’s long-term goal goes beyond launch vehicles and satellites and is aimed at human transportation.” For the full quotes and more information, see: https://aviationweek.com/space/launch-vehicles-propulsion/toyota-partners-interstellar-mass-production-rockets.
HUMANS IN SPACE FYI
Latest Moon to Mars Plan Architecture: NASA released several documents on December 13 that update its Moon to Mars planning. An Architecture Concept Review was conducted, resulting in a revision to the Architecture Definition Document, inclusion of an Executive Overview, and 12 new White Papers on key Moon to Mars topics. Two new architecture elements were identified: a lunar surface cargo lander and an initial lunar surface habitat. Seven key decisions regarding Mars exploration planning were made, including the use of nuclear fission to power a Mars exploration base. For a summary of these planning changes, see: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-outlines-latest-moon-to-mars-plans-in-2024-architecture-update; for details on the changes, see: https://www.nasa.gov/moontomarsarchitecture.
A National Academies of Science Panel Outlined Human Mars Exploration Priorities: A NAS Engineering and Medicine panel was convened to determine the science objectives for the first Mars campaign. Four general areas of study were prioritized: geological science, astrobiology, atmospheric science/Space physics, and biological science/human factors. The panel’s goals include identifying the science priorities that require a human presence to explore, identifying the types of samples and measurements that will be necessary, identifying a subset of overall priorities that can be accomplished by the first three crewed landings, and related issues. Such NAS guidance is an important part of NASA’s operational planning! For more, see the Aviation Week article at: https://aviationweek.com/space/space-exploration/national-academies-outlines-human-mars-exploration-priorities!
The Not-So-Notorious R.T.G. Could be a Boon to Mars Exploration! Radioisotope Thermal Generators have been used in remote areas on Earth and in spacecraft exploring the Solar System for decades. Recently, a team of chemists at the University of British Columbia has shown that an off-the-shelf RTG could be used on Mars to power the conversion of atmospheric CO2 into a range of chemicals. “The research team determined when the temperature difference between the two faces was at least 40 °C, standard model thermoelectric generators provided enough steady current to power an electrolyzer that converts CO2 to CO.” The power from the RTG could then be used to convert the CO into a number of useful chemicals, including plastics and rocket fuel. For more info, see the summary at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241107115225.htm and the UBC note here: https://science.ubc.ca/news/november-11-2024/shelf-thermoelectric-generators-can-upgrade-co2-chemicals-combination-could.
New Insights into How Space Travel Affects the Human Body: “Space Medicine” has been a topic of research for decades, but a package of recent scientific papers summarizes our increased understanding of the issues relating to Space flight. “(A)s space flight becomes more commercialized and more people outside of just NASA's Astronauts pursue orbit, the need to understand the molecular level of humans in Space becomes more important in ensuring their health and safety.” For more information on this issue, see: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240620194013.htm.
Find Out More About Science on the ISS: Check out “Upward,” the “Official Magazine of the ISS National Lab,” here: https://www.issnationallab.org. It’s put out by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, in partnership with NASA. It has a lot of information about the ISS, including a really good education page.
Why Go to Space? See how NASA answers here: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/why-go-to-space.
Aviation Week Webinar: Momentous Times for the Space Industry: https://aviationweek.com/webinars/webinar-momentous-times-space-industry (no cost, but registration is required).
National Air and Space Museum On-line Exhibition on Human Spaceflight: Check out the UHC’s spaceflight artifacts at: https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/human-spaceflight!
Have You Ever Wondered about Living in Space? There’s a lot to consider when planning any long-term mission, but especially so when you are going to be in a totally hostile, resource-less environment! A number of issues arise, among them: how your body responds to long-term free-fall; how you would eat in Space, or even grow some of your own food; and more. You can find out much more about these topics at: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/living-in-space.
HUMANS IN SPACE LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION
See the latest from NASA at: https://www.nasa.gov/topics/humans-in-space
See NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate’s website: https://www.nasa.gov/exploration-systems-development-mission-directorate.
See NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate’s website: https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/space-operations.
For a roster on U.S. Astronauts, see: https://www.nasa.gov/content/human-missions-list
Pre-Apollo, from NASM: https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/apollo-to-the-moon/online/early-steps/humans-in-space.cfm
Who’s in Space NOW? See: https://www.worldspaceflight.com/bios/currentlyinspace.php
Space Travel’s Effect on the Human Body: https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace and https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-happens-human-body-space-180958259
From Arizona State University: https://askanearthspacescientist.asu.edu/explore/humans-in-space ATTENTION TEACHERS: Be sure to check out the “Teacher’s Toolbox” on this website.