Tag Archives: PrivateSpaceflight

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace drum up support for the space hotel of the future

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SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace are teaming up to cross-promote their private aerospace tech. The duo are kicking off a tour in Asia to drum up governmental and business support for the Falcon 9 rocket and BA's BA 330 floating habitat. The latter has 330 cubic meters of space and can support a crew of six for scientific experimentation, or ensuring no-one can ever out-do your bachelor party. More details about the tie up are expected just as soon as Elon Musk's company can get that DragonX to escape the atmosphere.

Continue reading SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace drum up support for the space hotel of the future

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace drum up support for the space hotel of the future originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planetary Resources reveals plan for prospecting asteroids, creating interstellar gas stations

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Planetary Resources reveals its plan for prospecting asteroids, creating interstellar gas stations

The cat got let out of the bag a little early, but Planetary Resources has now officially announced its existence and mission. We already told you that the venture plans to mine asteroids for profit, and is backed by a bunch of bigwigs from Silicon Valley and Hollywood. But now we know a bit more about the company after watching its announcement webcast and speaking with co-founder Peter Diamandis. Turns out, the company sees itself not only as a business venture, but as an entity that will pave the way for extending human influence throughout the solar system. Read on after the break for more.

Continue reading Planetary Resources reveals plan for prospecting asteroids, creating interstellar gas stations

Planetary Resources reveals plan for prospecting asteroids, creating interstellar gas stations originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SpaceX redefines ‘fashionably late’ as Dragon trip to the ISS is delayed again

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Just a week after NASA signed off on its launch, SpaceX has had to postpone the flight of the Dragon. It's yet another delay to NASA's efforts to supply the International Space Station using private spacecraft and reduce the US's dependence on Soyuz rockets. Taking to Twitter, founder Elon Musk said that the company needed to do more testing on the docking code for the capsule, while spokesperson Kirstin Brost Grantham told Space.com that the company needed more time to test and review the hardware. Pending NASA's approval, it'll begin its journey heavenward on the head of a Falcon 9 between May 3rd and May 7th. Given that the original mission was scheduled for November last year, they'll probably need to check the use-by dates on those space rations.

Update: Elon Musk has confirmed, via Twitter, that Falcon 9 and Dragon will lift off on May 7th and rendezvous with the ISS. So long as "the company" doesn't detour them to some mysterious rock first.

SpaceX redefines 'fashionably late' as Dragon trip to the ISS is delayed again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James Cameron-backed Planetary Resources to search the universe for Unobtainium

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Planetary Resources will reportedly announce later today that it's developing and selling low-cost spacecraft to mine asteroids close to the Earth. The space exploration and natural resources venture is led by X-Prize creator Peter Diamandis, Eric Anderson and NASA's former Mars chief, Chris Lewicki -- with cash backing from James Cameron, Eric Schmidt and Larry Page amongst others. Within a decade, the company hopes to kickstart a 21st century gold rush by selling orbiting observation platforms to prospectors with significant rewards -- a 30-meter long asteroid could hold as much as $50 billion worth of platinum at today's prices. The company's own teaser materials promised that the project would add "trillions of dollars" to the world's GDP, which sounds like a film we saw recently.

James Cameron-backed Planetary Resources to search the universe for Unobtainium originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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