Starliner is Having Issues in Space, and Rocket Lab Scores a Big Contract

Happy Tuesday, everyone! This week’s newsletter is 801 words, a 5-minute read.

Table of Contents

• 1 Big Thing: Rocket Lab Lands its First Big Contra …

• 2. Cool Stuff You Might Have Missed

• 3. NASA is Discussing Boeing Starliner’s Delayed D …

• 4. A Change of Pace from the Usual Book Recommenda …

• 5. Upcoming Launches & Missions

1 Big Thing: Rocket Lab Lands its First Big Contract

California Rocket Company Rocket Lab just signed its first-ever big contract for its launch services.

On Monday, June 17th, the company agreed to perform 10 launches with its Electron rocket for Japanese radar imaging company Synspective through 2027.

• Since 2020, Rocket Lab has successfully launched all four of Synspective’s radar imaging satellites, which the company uses for disaster management and other applications.

Rocket Lab is headquartered in California and is publicly traded under the symbol RKLB. The company launches most of its rockets from its launch complex in New Zealand, where it was founded.

• After its founding in 2006, the company began focusing on small, lightweight rockets to launch small satellites like Synspective’s.

• Since then, Rocket Lab has launched nearly 50 of its Electron rockets to space, carrying a wide variety of small payloads.

Looking Ahead: The contract with Synspective will certainly help Rocket Lab’s top and bottom lines, and allow it to continue development of its larger Neutron rocket.

2. Cool Stuff You Might Have Missed

1. Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA are competing for over $5 billion in Pentagon contracts. (SpaceNews)

2. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed China’s Chang’e 6 lander. (Space)

3. Voyager is sending science data back to Earth again after its long silence. (Space)

3. NASA is Discussing Boeing Starliner’s Delayed Departure from ISS

Last Week, Boeing’s new Starliner capsule successfully reached the ISS with two astronauts aboard.

This Flight marked the first time Boeing has been able to carry humans to the ISS under the terms of a contract it signed with NASA a decade ago.

Rendezvous Issues: On June 6th, Starliner was set to begin docking with the ISS. The first docking attempt was called off due to issues with the spacecraft’s Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters.

Problem Solved?: Eventually, Starliner docked with the ISS and the two astronauts on board - Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams - were given the ‘go’ to enter the space station.

Staying Late: Starliner was originally only supposed to stay on the ISS for about a week, but NASA changed its plans to allow the ISS crew to perform a spacewalk on June 13th while Starliner underwent system checks.

• This move pushed Starliner’s departure date back to June 18th.

Leaks All Over: Starliner has sprung a total of 5 helium leaks since reaching space. This sounds pretty bad, but engineers are aware of the leaks and have said that they won’t pose any problem for the spacecraft.

Delayed Again: Last Friday, June 14th, Starliner’s departure date was pushed back again to June 22nd.

• This move will allow astronauts and engineers to test the RCS thrusters as well as perform some other drills to gather data for the future.

Looking Ahead: NASA is livestreaming at 12 PM EDT (right now) explaining the delays and giving updates on the mission. Watch here: NASA Live Stream

4. A Change of Pace from the Usual Book Recommendation

I Love Recommending Space Books in here, but I can’t read them fast enough to keep recommending new ones. I’m still reading Adam Higginbotham’s book about the Challenger Disaster, and it’s great.

This is probably the worst example of targeted advertising, but another book I’m reading right now is called Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Doctor Bob Rotella. It’s golf season, I love golf, and I’m always looking to improve.

This is hands-down the best book I’ve ever read about the mentality and psychology it takes to be a good golfer. It’s so simple and elegant yet so deeply insightful at the same time, and if you like golf, you should absolutely read it.

(It would also make a great Father’s Day present, hint hint)

5. Upcoming Launches & Missions

SPECIAL EXCITING NEWS: If you refer just 3 friends (used to be 5, now it’s 3) to my newsletter, I’ll send you a free copy of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s A Brief Welcome to the Universe. Use the link below to share and get credit for your referrals!

Thanks as always,

-Michael