TechCrunch Space: Reusable rockets, reusable satellites

Hiya and welcome again to TechCrunch Area. I hope everybody had a restful Easter, for many who rejoice.

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This week, I sat down with Orbit Fab CEO Daniel Faber to speak in regards to the firm’s first refueling port formally hitting the market. The worth tag? Simply $30,000.

“SpaceX has made rockets reusable, Orbit Fab makes satellites reusable,” he stated. “On this world right now, when you’re operating a rocket firm, and also you’re not working in the direction of reusable rockets, you’re working to a lifeless finish. The identical is true of satellites: Should you’re not making your satellites reusable, you’re simply placing preordained junk into orbit.”

Picture Credit: Orbit Fab (opens in a new window)

I discovered rather a lot from this deep dive into China’s struggles to deliver on worldwide companions to its Worldwide Lunar Analysis Station initiative. It may be a wrestle to know China’s area program as a non-Chinese language-speaking Westerner, so I at all times recognize Andrew Jones’ reporting.

A Lengthy March-5 Y7 rocket lifted off from China’s Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Web site on February 23, 2024. Picture Credit: Getty Pictures/VCG/VCG

On April 1, 1960, THE VERY FIRST climate satellite tv for pc was launched by NASA. It’s odd to consider, as a result of low Earth orbit is quickly filling out with spacecraft that present tons of helpful knowledge on climate… however we needed to begin someplace. And we began with TIROS 1 (Tv and InfraRed Remark Satellite tv for pc). Here’s NASA:

The TIROS Program (Tv Infrared Remark Satellite tv for pc) was NASA’s first experimental step to find out if satellites may very well be helpful within the examine of the Earth. At the moment, the effectiveness of satellite tv for pc observations was nonetheless unproven. Since satellites have been a brand new know-how, the TIROS Program additionally examined varied design points for spacecraft: devices, knowledge and operational parameters. The objective was to enhance satellite tv for pc purposes for Earth-bound selections, comparable to ‘ought to we evacuate the coast due to the hurricane?’

NASA’s TIROS 1 climate satellite tv for pc. Picture Credit: Nasa