A Pilot’s Blog
A blog about aviation, aviation news, and space.

There was some good news this week regarding cargo transportation to the International Space Station after the Space Shuttles are retired in 2010.

Orbital Sciences Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies – SpaceX – today won NASA contracts valued at up to $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion respectively for 20 unmanned space station cargo flights to deliver experiment hardware, crew supplies and replacement components after the space shuttle is retired.

This will greatly reduce our need to rely on Russian or European transports to send our supply obligations up to the ISS. And, if SpaceX is successful with their DragonX manned capability, we may also be able to avoid using any non-US transport for crew rotations as well. This is wonderful news.

STS-126 Mission Specialist, Dr. Don Pettit, demonstrates how you can drink a cup of coffee even in the weightless environment of space. A very fascinating video.

Thirteen months ago today, Steve Fossett took off from Baron Hilton’s ranch in Nevada to scout for dry lake beds to use as a possible test site for his next record-setting goal: the world land speed record. Tragically, he never returned from that flight. Until this week he remained missing, though declared dead in February, and neither he or his aircraft was found. This week, however, brought news that a hiker in California had found items possibly belonging to Fossett.

He had found, not far over the border between Nevada and California, Fossett’s pilot certificate, two soaring-related certificates, a pullover jacket, and a little over $1000 in cash. Once confirmed authentic by the authorities, a new search began in the area to try and find any more clues. Two days ago, they found and identified what was left of his aircraft. And yesterday, they found human remains at the crash site. These remains have been sent in for DNA analysis to see if they are indeed human, and if so, if they are those of Mr. Fossett.

Judging from the crash site and condition of the debris, the initial thoughts of the NTSB and other law enforcement are that for some reason, his aircraft impacted a hillside slightly above 10,000′ at a very high rate of speed. The cause of the crash – be it mechanical, weather, or medical related – may never be known, but I’m very confident that the highly skilled investigators of the NTSB will give everything they can to try and determine it.

While the confirmation of what everyone at this point knew was true is sad, I hope that finally finding the crash site, and possibly his remains, will bring much-needed closure to his family and friends.

Related: Steve Fossett Missing | Help Find Steve Fossett | Search Halted | Reflection

Today, on their 4th launch attempt, SpaceX successfully sent their Falcon 1 spacecraft into orbit, becoming the first private company to do so with a fully liquid fueled rocket. Congratulations SpaceX!

Related: Falcon 1 – Flight 3 | Second Launch of “Falcon 1″ A Partial Success

The public was introduced to the Space Shuttle Enterprise on this date in 1976. After her came Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. We celebrate the incalculable benefits mankind has gained from their collective service, and will never forget Challenger and Columbia and their crews for giving their lives in the advancement of human knowledge.

The 3rd flight of SpaceX’s “Falcon 1″ rocket is scheduled to happen in about 30 minutes. This is the first customer cargo flight, and it’s carrying three pieces of equipment, including a satellite for the US Government.

You can watch a live feed here and see the mission status page from SpaceFlightNow here.

Update @ 7:56p: It appears that the launch has been delayed for some reason. The chatter from Mission Control indicates that the rocket is currently being defueled. Not sure what’s going on.

Update @ 9:10p: The countdown has been reset to 51 minutes and has resumed!

Update @ 11:15p: The launch occurred and seemed to be going normally about thirty minutes ago when the live feed from the rocket suddenly cut out and the SpaceX webcast was abruptly halted with word that there “was an anomaly”. I’m afraid the rocket didn’t make it to orbit. That’s very unfortunate, but hopefully it will have provided some good data to the launch team so that whatever happened can be corrected for the next launch. Sorry guys.

Related: Second Launch of “Falcon 1″ A Partial Success

Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July, 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.

These words were on the Apollo 11 LEM Plaque as read by Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969 from the Sea of Tranquility on the Lunar surface.

In memory of all the brave men of the early space program who made the journey first to Earth orbit, and then to the Moon…and those who weren’t able to.

In a stunning development this week, the GAO sustained Boeing’s protest of the Air Force’s decision to award its next-generation tanker contract to Airbus (via middle-man Northrup Grumman). This was widely unexpected as the GAO rarely upholds such protests, but leaves hope for a new bid on the contract that will be evaluated fairly. And if that is the case, then I’m confident that Boeing will eventually win the day. Congratulations Boeing!

Related: The Tanker Deal

This afternoon in pristine weather the astronauts of STS-124 blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Space Shuttle Discovery on their way to meet up with the ISS and install the Kibo laboratory module. Best of luck to the combined crews of STS-124 and ISS Expedition 17!

Also, major congratulations are in order for NASA, JPL, and the University of Arizona for last weeks picture-perfect landing of the Phoenix lander on the Mars. What a great week for NASA and space exploration!

KU wins their 3rd NCAA (and 5th overall) National Championship! Congrats to all the players and Coach Self on a magnificent season. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!