2014 was a busy year for spaceflight, although it only really started in the latter half of the year. We were witness to many incredible achievements, and yet our spirits were dampened by the devastating week where both the flights of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo and Orbital Science’s Antares ended prematurely. The following list is eight (four in this post) of the most important events in spaceflight this year, in order of when they happened.
16 Sept: Boeing and SpaceX win commercial crew contracts
On the 16 September NASA announced the two companies who’d earn multibillion contracts to develop, test and fly manned spacecraft to and from the ISS by late 2017.
The two companies that were chosen was Boeing and SpaceX. Boeing received $4.2 billion to fund the development of the CST-100 spacecraft. SpaceX received $2.6 billion to fund the Dragon v2, the manned version of their Dragon capsule. It is planned the CST-100 will fly on ULA’s Atlas 5 rocket, and the Dragon 2 will fly on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, that should be largely reusable by then.
It is hoped that by the end of 2017 NASA’s reliance on Russia’s Soyuz capsule will finally be over.
The two companies that were chosen was Boeing and SpaceX. Boeing received $4.2 billion to fund the development of the CST-100 spacecraft. SpaceX received $2.6 billion to fund the Dragon v2, the manned version of their Dragon capsule. It is planned the CST-100 will fly on ULA’s Atlas 5 rocket, and the Dragon 2 will fly on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, that should be largely reusable by then.
It is hoped that by the end of 2017 NASA’s reliance on Russia’s Soyuz capsule will finally be over.
24 Sept: India reaches Mars with Mangalyaan orbiter
Launching in November 2013, the Mangalyaan orbiter set sail for a Mars intercept in 2014. This mission was significant as it was the first time India had put anything in Mars orbit, showing to the world that they mean business.
The Mars orbit insertion occurred on 24 September, just two days after NASA’s Maven mission. The insertion put MOM into a highly elliptical orbit around Mars so that it can perform all the science experiments on the probe. After orbit insertion, MOM was left with double the amount of fuel than expected, so its lifetime is much longer than first thought.
The Mars orbit insertion occurred on 24 September, just two days after NASA’s Maven mission. The insertion put MOM into a highly elliptical orbit around Mars so that it can perform all the science experiments on the probe. After orbit insertion, MOM was left with double the amount of fuel than expected, so its lifetime is much longer than first thought.
28 Oct: Antares rocket explodes at liftoff
Expected to deliver supplies to the International Space Station, the Orbital Sciences Antares rocket erupted on launch and fell back to the launchpad.
It is believed the cause of failure was one of the rocket’s AJ26 first stage engines. It is suspected the turbopump for the engine failed to perform as expected, resulting in the horrifying scenes that followed.
Orbital Sciences plans to upgrade the Antares rocket using the RD-181 engine instead. The new Antares rocket will begin flying in 2016. Until then at least one supply mission will be performed on behalf of Orbital Sciences by a ULA Atlas 5 rocket.
It is believed the cause of failure was one of the rocket’s AJ26 first stage engines. It is suspected the turbopump for the engine failed to perform as expected, resulting in the horrifying scenes that followed.
Orbital Sciences plans to upgrade the Antares rocket using the RD-181 engine instead. The new Antares rocket will begin flying in 2016. Until then at least one supply mission will be performed on behalf of Orbital Sciences by a ULA Atlas 5 rocket.
31 Oct: Virgin Galactic disaster
Virgin Galactic’s space plane, which is one day hoped to take willing customers on suborbital flights, took a heavy blow on 31 October with the crash of its SpaceShipTwo. The incident resulted in the death of co-pilot Michael Alsbury. The pilot Peter Siebold, although injured, survived.
This tragic event led to many questioning Virgin Galactic and its aims. Some argue the risks are just too high for space tourism to take off. However, supporters refute that claim, instead arguing that this crash was an Apollo 1 type of scenario and that the future is much brighter for space tourism.
Part two will be posted later today (31/12/14).
This tragic event led to many questioning Virgin Galactic and its aims. Some argue the risks are just too high for space tourism to take off. However, supporters refute that claim, instead arguing that this crash was an Apollo 1 type of scenario and that the future is much brighter for space tourism.
Part two will be posted later today (31/12/14).