Proper Motion: A Wandering Constellation

Today's post includes guest writing from Nik Proxima - find them on twitter here ! Nov 16, 2012 So they've done it, they've doomed us all to never make a spaceship again. HQ picked SNC's proposal, so we've got our ticket to tell the Russians to get lost. Shame about the kick in the teeth to the Orion team. It's a lifting body though, I don't think they're gonna like that when they're fishing our corps out of the Atlantic. Talk soon, Neil Nov 16, 2012 Taking a look at the details....sure is a weird one. Looks a lot like the CRV we built here before they tossed it out with Core Complete. Interested to know if Johnson's planning to hand any of that work to the Sierra folks....they'd probably appreciate some pointers :) Still don't quite get logic for pulling that out of the dustbin. Backup makes some sense, lots of talk about "dissimilar redundancy..." I think I'd want "SIMILAR" redundancy. Match what CEV does i

NASA: NASA teams have concluded the final round of RS-25 integrated ignition testing, marking a major milestone in the development of the agency’s Ares launch vehicles. These upgraded engines will help power future Constellation missions to destinations in deep space. NASA completed the RS-25 integrated ignition testing April 20, finishing a critical test series to support future Exploration Missions to deep space as NASA explores the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. The test series was conducted on the A-1 test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Operators tested the advanced engines, designated RS-25E, for up to 410 seconds, longer than the approximately six minutes they will be used during flights of Ares I and Ares II. The test series demonstrated the engines’ ability to start without the assistance of ground support equipment, enabling their use as a relightable upper stage engine to support the Constellation program. Operators als