United Launch Alliance | Bill Housley

The Landing of The Falcon and the Launching of Humanity

• April 13, 2016 • Leave a Comment

Posted in Current Events, General, Human Space Flight, In The News, space, Technology
Tags: Atlas V, Bigelow Aerospace, Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40, Dragon (spacecraft), International Space Station, NASA, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance

The Privatizing of Human Spaceflight

• January 23, 2016 • Leave a Comment

Posted in Commercial Space, General, Human Space Flight, In The News
Tags: Astronaut, Atlas V, Barack Obama, Blue Origin, Commercial Crew Development, Delta IV, Dulles, Earth, Elon Musk, Europa Orbiter, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, International Space Station, John McCain, NASA, Obama administration, Orion (spacecraft), RD-180, Richard Shelby, Space Launch System, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, United States, United States Air Force, United States Congress, Virginia

How Worms Turn Part 2: John McCain vs Alabama

• December 20, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Posted in Current Events, Economics, General, In The News, Politics, space, Technology
Tags: Barack Obama, Defence policy, John McCain, RD-180, Richard Shelby, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, Vladimir Putin

Centaur Cubed

• November 24, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Posted in Commercial Space, General, space, Technology, Uncategorized
Tags: Atlas V, CubeSat, List of CubeSats, United Launch Alliance

How Worms Turn

• November 20, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Posted in Commercial Space, General, Politics, space
Tags: Atlas V, Boeing, Delta IV, Elon Musk, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, Falcon 9, Global Positioning System, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, United States Air Force

Bill’s Recent Tweets

For younger children. It explains the eclipse. My apologies to everyone else. ;-) Please, please, please find a... fb.me/8xxmxeJE5 7 hours ago
RT @MittRomney: Racial prejudice, then hate, then repugnant speech, then a repulsive rally, then murder; not supremacy, barbarism. 4 days ago
@pwou3pecQDIZKtu @Save_us_Elon @SpaceX @Space_Station There was a pause in the launch schedule for range maintenance. 1 week ago
@christiannnn_13 The goal of the country should be to lower the cost...not the price. If everyone can afford it the… twitter.com/i/web/status/8… 2 weeks ago
@christiannnn_13 Don't worry about healthcare. Be healthy and be wise and get a good career and healthcare will take care of itself for you. 2 weeks ago
@christiannnn_13 What? No summer job? 3 weeks ago
Will any @glxp contenders actually fly this year? Astrobotic and SpaceIL both look like victims of @SpaceX launch backlog. #tmro 3 weeks ago
400-Year-Old Physics Mystery Is Cracked fb.me/97SeJ6Hi6 3 weeks ago
Reaching for the Stars, Breakthrough Sends Smallest-Ever Satellites into Orbit fb.me/z1CTKAPs 3 weeks ago
@MatthewRose86 @NASA The day we stop trusting government to take people there, people will land there. Many of us m… twitter.com/i/web/status/8… 3 weeks ago
Thanks everyone for all of those wonderful birthday wishes yesterday. I read them all in groups as I was able and... fb.me/1rFM3Wju8 4 weeks ago
@onlyLindaColyer @neiltyson Everyone sing with me now..."The @WallaBare went over the mountain, the @WallaBare went… twitter.com/i/web/status/8… 1 month ago
@onlyLindaColyer @neiltyson Laughed myself to a headache! 1 month ago
RT @onlyLindaColyer: @neiltyson If the earth was flat, cats would have pushed everything off it by now. 1 month ago
@BadAstronomer Plus, the writers have been hanging a lantern on the possibility for quite a while. This should have surprised no one. 1 month ago
Yes...we're mostly about space here lately. fb.me/8YU94nnnM 1 month ago
I think former Pres. Obama would find the Tigger metaphore amusing. I wonder which Winnie the Pooh character they... fb.me/1ay2WRafm 1 month ago
Share Space is a non-profit organization that provides free tools for teaching space topics. fb.me/242zSR8GC 1 month ago
Back To The Moon For Good | Planetarium Show Narrated by Tim Allen | Google Lunar XPRIZE fb.me/u8PuInTX 1 month ago
fb.me/6PUpA2jLG 1 month ago

Space.com Top Stories

Here's a Weather Update for Solar Eclipse Day (Aug. 21, 2017) August 18, 2017
With eclipse day fast approaching, many are obviously concerned about how the weather will impact their viewing. Here's how it's looking for locations all along the path.
Space.com Remembers Bruno Gulotta, Friend and Colleague Killed in Barcelona Attack August 18, 2017
Bruno Gulotta, 35, an employee of Tom's Hardware Italy, owned by Space.com parent company Purch, was on holiday in Barcelona, Spain, when he was struck and killed by a van that also took the lives of 13 others and injured more than 100.
Voyager at 40: 40 Photos from NASA's Epic 'Grand Tour' Mission August 18, 2017
NASA's epic Voyager mission began on Aug. 20, 1977, with the launch of the Voyager 2 probe. Space.com has selected 40 great Voyager photos to celebrate the mission's 40th anniversary.
See Hurricane Gert from Space in NOAA Satellite Video August 18, 2017
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES-East satellite captured imagery of the storm from Aug. 13-16.
Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Here Are the Best Live-Video Streams to Watch August 18, 2017
Experience 2017's total solar eclipse virtually: Come Aug. 21, people outside the eclipse path, under cloudy skies or hoping to stay indoors have plenty of options to watch the celestial event live.
How a Space.com Columnist Convinced an Airline to Chase the Eclipse August 18, 2017
This is a story about how you can sometimes move mountains — or, in this case, airplanes — with a simple suggestion.
Image of the Day August 18, 2017
A photographer for the European Southern Observatory captured this view of a partial lunar eclipse as the moon rose over Munich, Germany on the evening of Aug. 7. During a partial lunar eclipse, Earth casts a shadow on the moon that appears reddish-brown.
Going to See the Solar Eclipse? Share Your Story with Space.com! August 18, 2017
The Great American Solar Eclipse promises to be the celestial event of the century and the Space.com team is super-excited. But what about you? Share your solar eclipse plans, hopes, expectations and results with us!
Amazon Sale: LEGO Star Wars Sets from $10 [Deal] August 18, 2017
This week, Lego and Star Wars teased what they're calling their biggest collaboration yet. If you can't wait for the Oct. 1 release of Lego's new sets, Amazon is slashing the price of dozens of Lego Star Wars sets today.
Webcast Replay: Liftoff! Atlas V Rocket Launches NASA TDRS-M Satellite August 18, 2017
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch NASA's TDRS-M communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
NASA Launches New Satellite to Beam Back Data from Hubble Telescope, Space Station August 18, 2017
NASA has launched another next-generation communications satellite to help beam data from the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station (ISS) and other orbiting spacecraft down to Earth.
Here's a Timeline of When the 2017 Solar Eclipse Begins and Ends August 18, 2017
The Great American Solar Eclipse arrives on Aug. 21, 2017. Here’s a timeline of where the eclipse will be visible throughout the day.
Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When, Where and How to See It (Safely) August 18, 2017
On Aug. 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies from Oregon to South Carolina. Here's what you need to know about this rare celestial show.
How Eclipses Drove 2,000 Years of Math: A Q&A With Stephen Wolfram August 18, 2017
One of the biggest names in mathematical computing has built a new tool to help skywatchers prepare for the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, and penned a deep dive into how eclipses have driven mathematics.
Notes from Mars 160: Return to Earth August 18, 2017
Mars 160 crewmember Paul Knightly is chronicling life and science on The Mars Society's Twin Desert-Arctic Analog simulation. Here's his fifth and final post from the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station, in the Canadian arctic.
Slooh Will Livestream Solar Eclipse on Largest Spanish-Language TV Network August 18, 2017
Slooh will simultaneously stream a Spanish-language program on the network Univision during its English broadcast for the Aug. 21 solar eclipse.
Watch Live Monday! Slooh's Transcontinental Total Solar Eclipse Webcast @ 11:30 am ET August 18, 2017
Starting at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) Aug. 21, the astronomy broadcasting service Slooh will livestream the total solar eclipse crossing the continental United States coast to coast.
Antares: Red Star at the End of Its Life August 17, 2017
Antares is a red supergiant that one day will explode into a supernova.
Russian Cosmonauts on Spacewalk Deploy Nanosatellites to Honor Sputnik August 17, 2017
Two cosmonauts stepped outside the International Space Station for a seven-hour spacewalk on Thursday (Aug. 17), in part to deploy three small satellites in tribute to the dawn of the space age 60 years ago.
Best Astronomy and Astrophysics Books August 17, 2017
Space.com's editors present a list of the astrophysics and astronomy books worth a read-through.

LiveScience.com – Top Stories

Live Science Remembers Bruno Gulotta, Friend and Colleague Killed in Barcelona Attack August 18, 2017
Bruno Gulotta, 35, an employee of Tom's Hardware Italy, owned by Live Science parent company Purch, was on holiday in Barcelona, Spain, when he was struck and killed by a van that also took the lives of 13 others and injured more than 100.
Have a Wild Eclipse Experience at a National Wildlife Refuge August 18, 2017
If you're heading to a region in the direct path of the total solar eclipse on Monday (Aug. 21), you may want to check out the national wildlife refuges there.
Man Who Suffered Eye Damage from Solar Eclipse Has This Warning August 18, 2017
A Portland man who experienced permanent eye damage from looking at the sun during a solar eclipse in 1963 is now warning others not to make the same mistake he did.
Will Animals Freak Out During the Eclipse? August 18, 2017
Humans aren't the only ones who get spooked during a solar eclipse; animals may change their behavior too, research shows.
Help Make an 'Eclipse Megamovie' Using Your Smartphone August 18, 2017
If you want to do some science during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 using nothing but your phone, consider contributing to the Eclipse Megamovie project.
Why You Need Eclipse Glasses: Girl Damages Eyes by Staring at the Sun August 18, 2017
A 12-year-old girl in Florida damaged her eyes by looking at the sun for 1 minute, according to a new report of the girl's case.
Are Octopuses Smart? August 18, 2017
Octopuses have many neurons, appear to play, and may have individual personalities, but does this mean they're smart?
Amazon Sale: LEGO Star Wars Sets from $10 [Deal] August 18, 2017
This week, Lego and Star Wars teased what they're calling their biggest collaboration yet. If you can't wait for the Oct. 1 release of Lego's new sets, Amazon is slashing the price of dozens of Lego Star Wars sets today.
This Week's Strangest Science News August 18, 2017
Ready to get weird? Here are some of the strangest stories on Live Science this week.
Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Everything You Need to Know August 18, 2017
To help you prepare for a fun and safe eclipse-viewing, Live Science has compiled everything you need to know, from where to watch, how to watch and the science behind the event.
Causes of Global Warming August 18, 2017
Since the late 1700s, the world's climate has been changing rapidly, mostly due to human causes.
City Cemetery: 3 Tombs Discovered in Ancient Egypt August 18, 2017
Three tombs stretching back to the 27th Dynasty have been uncovered in the Al-Kamin Al-Shrawi area in the Minya Province of Egypt, south of Cairo, according to a statement.
How to Explain the Total Solar Eclipse to Your Kids August 18, 2017
There's a simple way to explain the phenomenon to your kids, and you can enjoy even simpler ways to experience the eclipse.
Kidney Stones: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment August 17, 2017
A kidney stone is a hard mass that forms in the kidneys from minerals in the urine, and if large enough, can cause serve pain.
Solar Eclipse Injury Risk: Doctors Brace for Rise in ER Visits August 17, 2017
As potentially millions of Americans travel to see the total solar eclipse on Monday (Aug. 21), doctors are bracing for a spike in visits to emergency rooms.
Why It's Dangerous to Condition Your Hair After a Nuclear Attack August 17, 2017
Last week, when North Korea was threatening to send a ballistic missile toward the U.S. territory of Guam, the island's inhabitants were warned that in the case of a nuclear attack, they should not condition their hair.
Solar Eclipse-Chasing Jets Aim to Solve Mystery of Sun's Corona August 17, 2017
Scientists will use cameras on two of NASA's WB-57 research jets to make high-resolution moving observations of the sun's corona during the total solar eclipse.
Woman Born Without a Vagina Speaks Out About Rare Condition August 17, 2017
A woman in Arizona who was born without a vagina — the result of a rare condition — is speaking out about her condition.
In Photos: Eclipse-Chasing Jets Aim to Get Best-Ever View of Sun's Corona August 17, 2017
The pilots of two of NASA's WB-57 high-altitude research jets will enjoy what may be the best view ever of a total solar eclipse on Aug. 21.
Why Plasma Is the Crown of the Solar Eclipse August 17, 2017
The wisps of light emanating from the solar disk during this year's total eclipse are plumes of hot, charged gas called plasma from the sun's corona. And plasma physicists are ecstatic at the chance to study this fourth state of matter.

Masten-space.com Blog updates–X-Prize winner!

Masten Achieves First Hot-Fire of Broadsword Rocket Engine May 11, 2017
Mojave, CA – On September 30, 2016, Masten Space Systems successfully concluded the 13-month design, build, and test period for the first development unit of the Broadsword 25 rocket engine, funded as a technology demonstration under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program. This first phase of the engine […]
What’s the Point? April 27, 2017
That is a question that comes up from time to time when people see Xaero-B and Xodiac. Both vehicles seem to be doing what other rocket companies have already *demonstrated* and to greater lengths at that. The underlying premise of the question is this: you are not seeing anything that hasn’t already been done. And
Masten’s Green Bipropellant: MXP-351 March 23, 2017
As part of our partnership with NASA through the Lunar CATALYST (Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown) program, we have been actively developing a proprietary new bipropellant – MXP-351. This propellant is intended to be flown on our XL-1 lunar lander which is capable of bringing up to 100 kg (221 lb) softly
Summer 2017 Internship December 5, 2016
Masten is now accepting intern applications for the Summer of 2017. If you’ve followed us you know we’ve had a great history of outstanding interns working with us. There are few places like us that can deliver an internship with this level of responsibility and hands on work. We’re not looking for gophers, we’re looking for
Introducing Xodiac and XaeroB June 7, 2016
Introducing the next generation of reusable rockets – Masten’s Xodiac and XaeroB. These two new rockets are designed and built on the success of their predecessors – Xombie, Xoie, and Xaero. For those who have followed us, you will see the obvious connection to our previous vehicles. With this new iteration, we are bringing greater capability
Masten Space Systems selected by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for XS-1 Program July 23, 2014
Mojave, CA (July 23, 2014) — Masten Space Systems, Inc. (Masten) announced today that the company has been awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of Phase 1 of the Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program to develop a reusable launch vehicle. Over the last decade, Masten has built three highly
Astrobotic Technology And Masten Space Systems Perform Visually Guided Precision Landing June 30, 2014
Contact John Thornton contact@astrobotic.com Sean Mahoney smahoney@masten.aero FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ASTROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY AND MASTEN SPACE SYSTEMS PERFORM VISUALLY GUIDED PRECISION LANDING Groundbreaking effort integrates two privately developed technology platforms to validate performance of autonomous precision landing capability Mojave, CA: Astrobotic Te […]
Project Prometheus May 19, 2014
A lot has been going on in the past year, and while we have been busy with clients and flying customer payloads, the Masten Team has also been thinking about ways we could engage the broader community and increase accessibility to our VTVL vehicles. One of the largest barriers to entry for any technology developer
NASA Partners with Masten for Lunar CATALYST April 30, 2014
We’re excited to be part of opening the moon to commercial enterprises. Masten has been investing private money for years building core technologies to open the Moon for business. The CATALYST program is a great step towards unlocking the Moon’s potential. (Source: NASA)
Masten featured on PBS documentary December 2, 2013
We get asked on a regular basis what life is like working at Masten. Well, the good folks at KQED (San Francisco Bay Area PBS affiliate) came out in May to capture a slice of Mojave with a healthy dose of Masten rockets. Watch for Masten to appear around time marker 13:47. We really enjoyed hosting

Discovery Space News

Huge Tsunamis May Have Ravaged Ancient Mars May 25, 2016
When Mars was a wet world, did its oceans experience powerful tsunamis spawned by meteorite impacts?
Collapsing Cosmic Clouds Birth Black Hole Monsters May 24, 2016
Supermassive black holes occupy all known galaxies, but astronomers have little idea how they formed. Now space telescopes have found a clue.
Mystery Plumes: Did the Sun Bruise Mars? May 24, 2016
Strange plumes have been spotted high in the Martian atmosphere that have, so far, defied explanation. Now scientists think space weather is to blame.
NASA Probe Tracks Object in Solar System's Badlands May 23, 2016
While coasting through the outer solar system, NASA's New Horizons is busying itself with astronomical observations of a distant Kuiper Belt Object.
Solar Superflares Set Stage for Life on Earth May 23, 2016
Earth could have grown warm enough for liquid water as far back as 4 billion years ago thanks to massive and frequent solar flares.
See the Red Planet with Your Own Eyes This Weekend May 21, 2016
Mars reaches opposition this weekend, making Saturday and Sunday (May 21 and 22) an opportune time to see the Red Planet with your own eyes.
Extreme Exoplanets Reveal Migration Mystery May 20, 2016
A star hosting 4 massive gas giant exoplanets has been spotted -- is this how our solar system looked in its ancient past?
How to Form Io's Mountains? Just Squeeze! May 20, 2016
On Earth, mountains form along tectonic boundaries, but Io, Jupiter's volcanic moon, is awash with molten rock and dotted with solitary mountains -- how did they form?
DNews: Meet a Black Hole 17 Billion Times the Sun's Mass May 20, 2016
DNews sits down with U.C. Berkeley astronomy professor Chung-Pei Ma to learn all about supermassive black holes, including one nearby that's just honking huge.
LHC Opens the Quantum Physics Floodgates May 20, 2016
As it restarts its mission to discover weird and exotic things about our universe, the Large Hadron Collider is about to become a firehose of quantum data.

New Scientist

Win lunch with an astronaut August 18, 2017
Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden flew to the moon and holds two Guinness world records. Now you can have lunch with him in our exclusive competition
Great American Eclipse: Everything you need to know to get ready August 18, 2017
The stage is set for the first total solar eclipse in the continental US since 1979. Here’s our guide to the best way to enjoy the spectacle
Solar eclipse will reveal the roiling fog of plasma we call home August 17, 2017
The 21 August solar eclipse gives scientists and the public alike a chance to observe the sun’s corona, a ring of plasma that stretches as far as Earth
Speedy white dwarf may have survived a rare type of supernova August 17, 2017
Type Iax supernovae are weak enough that part of the exploding star may be able to survive. Now, we may have spotted the first star that lived to tell the tale
Jellyfish galaxies may feed black holes with their long tendrils August 16, 2017
Cosmic winds that form the long tentacles of jellyfish galaxies may also create the perfect conditions to sustain highly active supermassive black holes