Every week we cover the latest spaceflight news, discuss past, current and future exploration efforts, and take a look at upcoming events. Tune in to hear about how humans get to space, how they stay in space and how unmanned craft reach farther and farther into the universe around us.
https://theorbitalmechanics.com/show-notes/
Episode 288: Sample Bonanza
Spaceflight news
— Chang’e-5 lunar sampling (spacenews.com) (spacenews.com) (theverge.com) (spaceflight101.com)
— Sample transfer happened shortly after docking (HT Sam in the chat: youtube.com) (twitter.com/050644zf)
— Hayabusa2 sample returns (spacenews.com) (hayabusa2.jaxa.jp) (twitter.com/haya2e_jaxa)
— Extended mission (smh.com.au) (hayabusa2.jaxa.jp)
Short & Sweet
— A new plane-launched rocket appears. (spacenews.com) (youtu.be) (thedrive.com) (twitter.com/thesheetztweetz)
— ESA signs the world’s first contract for space debris removal. (spacenews.com)
— First real-time link between high- and low-Earth orbits. (smallsatnews.com)
Questions, comments, corrections
— Espen via email: Speculation on Electron interstage TPS
This week in SF history
— 9 Dec, 1978. Pioneer Venus Multiprobe enters atmosphere. (adsabs.harvard.edu) (adsabs.harvard.edu) (nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov) (hughesscgheritage.com)
— Next week (12/15 through 12/21) in 2004, I get gas when you push me too hard.