Category Archives: Propellant Depots

HEFT Frustrations Venting

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Jonathan Goff

So, most of you in the space policy world have heard about NASA’s report back to Congress about how it wants to build an Ares-V classic HLV, but that Congress wasn’t giving them enough time or money, and Congress’ dignified … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial Space, ESAS, NASA, NEOs, Propellant Depots | 80 Comments

Servicing Iridium’s Satellite Constellation: Business Case (Part 2)–Background and Technical Challenges

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Jonathan Goff

Earlier this week, Colin Doughan posted the first post in what should hopefully be a fun series of posts on the business case of servicing the Iridium satellites over on his excellent Space Business Blog. As he mentioned at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Force, Altius Space Machines, Business, Entrepreneurship, Propellant Depots, Tuggery | 43 Comments

Space Access 2010 Propellant Depot Presentations

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Jonathan Goff

It’s been a rather interesting month so far, and I’ve been under a bit too much stress lately to blog much, but I wanted to put up some of the presentations from the Propellant Depot panel I was on at … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial Space, Launch Vehicles, Lunar Commerce, Propellant Depots, RLV Markets | 39 Comments

Additional AV-017 Flight Experiment Information

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Jonathan Goff

I’ve mentioned, here and in my propellant depot paper, the post-flight cryogenic fluid management experiments ULA carried out on the AV-017 flight this past fall.  I don’t have time this morning to comment on it, but I just found out … Continue reading →

Posted in Propellant Depots | 17 Comments

Boom-Rendezvous: A Path Not-Yet Taken

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Jonathan Goff

Earlier this summer, I stumbled on a fascinating paper while trying to find some quotes for my Space 2009 Propellant Depot paper.  The paper I found, Boom Rendezvous Alternative Docking Approach, written by Joseph Bonnometti of MSFC, discussed an interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in Propellant Depots, Space Transportation, Technology, Tuggery | 17 Comments

Skribit Bypass Operation

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Jonathan Goff

Ok, between the trip to DC for the awards ceremony on Thursday, and taking all of next week off for a long-needed vacation, I’m not quite out of the woods yet. But after that I want to get back into … Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia, Lunar Exploration and Development, Propellant Depots, Space Transportation, Technology | 19 Comments

AV-017, Bubbling UFOs, and Centrifugal Settling

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Jonathan Goff

I’ve been so busy lately that I’m only now getting a few spare minutes to show off some rather cool pictures I was sent a week ago.  A week ago Monday, I got an email from Claire Flanagan of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Fun, Propellant Depots | 2 Comments

Space 2009 Papers

Posted on September 19, 2009 by Jonathan Goff

I only have a few minutes tonight, but part of what’s been keeping me busy lately has been two Space 2009 papers I’ve been involved with (one as the primary author, and another as a very minor coauthor). First, the … Continue reading →

Posted in MSS, Propellant Depots, Technology | 37 Comments

Depot-Centric Human Spaceflight

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Jonathan Goff

In light of how well today went at the Augustine Committee, I felt that it would be worthwhile to post the propellant depot white paper that a group of us submitted last week. I was originally planning a much longer … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial Space, Launch Vehicles, Lunar Commerce, Lunar Exploration and Development, Propellant Depots, RLV Markets, Space Transportation | 17 Comments

One of the Most Amazing 25 Minutes in (Recent) NASA History [Updated]

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Jonathan Goff

Or at least that’s how Stephen Flemming put it on Twitter regarding Jeff Greason’s presentation at the Augustine Committee meeting today in Florida. To be fair, the rest of the subgroup also did an amazing job, especially Chris Chyba’s wrapup … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial Space, COTS, ESAS, International Space Collaboration, International Space Competition, Launch Vehicles, Lunar Commerce, Lunar Exploration and Development, NASA, Propellant Depots, Space Policy, Space Transportation, Technology | 8 Comments