Bryant A.M. Baker' Blog

In this episode I'll explain preparations being made for the first ever civilian EVA.   I'll also deliver big news for companies working towards space situational awareness and orbital transfer capabilities.   All this and more.   Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. 5.  Polaris Crew Preps for First Ever Civilian Spacewalk The crew of the Polaris Dawn mission, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than March 2023, underwent crucial tests before its first-ever private Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) also known as a spacewalk.  This mission is part of the Polaris Program which is a series of three crewed launches and was announced by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman on February 14, 2022 in partnership with SpaceX. The first mission of this program will see a team of four astronauts climb to the highest-ever low-Earth orbit (LEO) and spend five days conducting science experiments. In preparation for the Polaris Dawn mission’s planned spacewalk, the crew...

In this episode we'll talk about China's reaction to yesterday's story of NASA's declaration of an ongoing space race.   We'll also review efforts by AFRL to protect the space environment and recent findings by scientists about the nature of black hole clusters.   Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. 5.  First Launch of 2023! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched into a brilliant blue sky this morning (Jan. 3) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying 114 satellites to orbit — the second-most spacecraft ever lofted on a single mission. Today's flight, called Transporter-6, is notable for another reason as well: It marked the 15th mission for this particular Falcon 9's first stage, tying a reusability record that SpaceX set just last month. It was also SpaceX's 200th flight and the company's 161st successful rocket landing. The rocket’s upper stage started releasing its 114 payloads into sun-synchronous orbit nearly an hour afte...

In this episode, I'll break down the huge plans to dramatically increase launch frequency in the US.   I'll also talk big money successes and failures being felt across the board.   This much and more today on the Undiscovered Country. 5.  Big Funding Round for SpaceX Elon Musk's re-usable rocket maker and satellite internet company, SpaceX, is raising $750 million in a new round of funding that values the company at $137 billion. Last month, Bloomberg first reported that SpaceX was allowing insiders to sell at $77 per share, which would have put the company's valuation near $140 billion.  The company raised more than $2 billion in 2022, including a $250 million round in July, and was valued at $127 billion during an equity round in May. The company's satellite internet service, Starlink, has exceeded 1 million subscribers and provided a lifeline to users in Ukraine who suffered infrastructure disruptions after Russia's invasion.  SpaceX also managed to ...

In this episode, I'll explain NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's declaration of a space race with China.   I'll also break down NASA's backup backup plan to help return stranded astronauts from the International Space Station.   Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. 5.  Space Race! NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has officially declared that we are in a race for space with China.  In a recent statement to Politico, he said "It is a fact: we’re in a space race.  And it is true that we better watch out that they don’t get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, ‘Keep out, we’re here, this is our territory.’” What is preventing China from doing this is Article II of the Outer Space Treaty of 1968.   The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, also known as the Outer ...

In this episode, we will bread down the record-breaking year that SpaceX just had, and talk about what that may mean for the future.  We will also review what space has looked like in the rest of the world in 2022. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! 5.  SpaceX Shatters Launch Record in 2022 SpaceX shattered the record for launches in a calendar year by a single rocket type in 2022.  The Falcon 9 Block 5 launched 61 times in 2022, with all flights successfully completing their missions.  The previous record was set by the Soviet Soyuz-U launcher in 1979, with 45 successful launches out of 47 overall that year.   This year’s record launch cadence for Falcon 9 was made possible by the availability of a number of used boosters and payload fairings. Other factors included the need to continue to fly out the Starlink broadband constellation and some new geostationary satellites replacing older ones due to a requirement to clear some parts of the C-band.  In...