A 300-foot-long barge will be used as an off-shore landing platform during launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday. The primary goal of the flight is to deliver critical supplies and equipment to the space station, but SpaceX hopes to land the rocket's first stage on the barge for possible refurbishment and reuse -- a key milestone in the company's push to reduce launch costs. Harwood/CBS News

SpaceX engineers are gearing up to launch a Dragon cargo ship atop a Falcon 9 rocket Friday for the company's fifth operational space station resupply mission. And if all goes well, the Falcon 9's first stage will attempt to land on a barge stationed off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., a key milestone in SpaceX founder Elon Musk's drive to lower costs by reusing boosters that otherwise would be discarded in the sea.

The Marmac 300, a platform barge listed on McDonough Marine Service's website and modified for use by SpaceX, features a spacious deck measuring 300 feet long and 170 feet wide. The barge, which SpaceX calls an autonomous spaceport drone ship, was seen by reporters over the weekend docked adjacent to the Jacksonville cruise ship terminal.

"Reusability is the critical breakthrough needed in rocketry to take things to the next level," Musk said during the MIT AeroAstro Centennial Symposium in October. "We've been able to soft land the rocket booster in the ocean twice so far. Unfortunately, it sort of sat there for several seconds then tipped over and exploded (laughter). It's quite difficult to reuse. It's as tall as a 14-story building. When a 14-story building falls over, it's quite a belly flop!

"So what we need to do is be able to either land on a floating platform or ideally boost back to the launch site and land back at the launch site. But before we boost back to the launch site and try to land there, we need to show that we can land with precision over and over again, otherwise something bad could happen."

The SpaceX barge would appear to be an ideal offshore landing platform. The deck's dimensions are listed as 300 feet by 100 feet on McDonough Marine's website, but the barge was widened by two wing-like additions seen extending from its sides. Company officials did not return a phone call seeking additional information, but the barge is believed to be equipped with powerful thrusters capable of maintaining its position to within a few tens of feet and internal water tanks to help damp out wave action.

An industry source said the platform will be operated remotely or autonomously on launch day with a crew stationed on another ship a safe distance away.

The width of the Marmac 300 barge was extended to provide additional landing space for the Falcon 9 first stage, which has a leg span of some 70 feet. The dimensions of the landing platform are 300 feet by about 170 feet.

Harwood/CBS News

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SpaceX readies barge for off-shore rocket landing

There soon could be more than one massive space station floating above Earths atmosphere if Russia follows through on a plan to construct a rival to the International Space Station. I confirm we are considering such an option, Oleg Ostapenko, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, told news agency RIA Novotsi, as quoted by Reuters. This is a possible direction of development.

NASA expects the $100 billion ISS, which is maintained and shared by 15 countries, to remain in service until at least 2024. Yet rumors have circulated in the Russian media for months that the Kremlin, which is engaged in prolonged, intense hostility with the West over Ukraine and other issues, hopes to build its own space station. With the oil-dependent country facing a currency crisis and expected to enter recession in 2015, however, experts wonder where the funding would come from.

How can they suddenly plan a new space station? Its impossible, Russian space industry analyst Pavel Luzin told the English-languageMoscow Times.

Officials have maintained that Russia will honor its commitment with the ISS, a partnership that lasts until 2020. Also, in September Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, head of the space industry, said the federal space budget for the years 2016 to 2025 will dedicate 321 billion rubles ($6.8 billion) to continuing development on the ISS.

Experts have suggested that the contradiction only highlights the current conflict within the Kremlin. President Vladimir Putins popularity has hovered around 80 percent, in part because of a Russian national image thats become more assertive even as the value of the ruble falls.

The best thing for the economy short of an oil price which the Kremlin has no influence over would be to negotiate a settlement with Ukraine and climb down the escalation, foreign policy expect and Russian commentator Ian Bremmer told Business Insider. But that flies against whats actually sustained Putins popularity and the primary driver of his entire strategy for the past year.

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Russia 'Considering' Constructing Rival To International Space Station With Recession Looming

REUTERS/Michael Brown A Falcon 9 rocket is launched by Space Exploration Technologies on its fourth cargo resupply service mission to the International Space Station, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida September 21, 2014.

Space Exploration Technologies will attempt to land its Falcon 9 rocket on a sea platform following launch on Friday, company officials said, a vital step to prove its precision landing capabilities needed before it can gain a ground landing license.

SpaceX, as the California-based firm is known, has been working on developing technology to return its rockets intact so they can be refurbished and reflown, dramatically cutting costs.

Falcon rockets practiced ocean touchdowns in September 2013 and twice the following year, demonstrating their ability to relight engines, position nose-up and deploy landing legs. But the rockets toppled over and smashed into the sea. Returning anything from space is a challenge, but returning a Falcon 9 first stage for a precision landing presents a number of additional hurdles, the company said in a statement.

At 14 stories tall and traveling upwards of 1,300 miles per second (2,092 km per second), stabilizing the Falcon 9 first stage for reentry is like trying to balance a rubber broomstick on your hand in the middle of a wind storm, SpaceX said.

SpaceX put the odds of success at about 50 percent. Though the probability of success ... is low, we expect to gather critical data to support future landing testing, it said.

Launch is scheduled for 1:22 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

After separating from the capsule and the rockets upper-stage booster, the first stage will attempt to slow its fall back through the atmosphere by relighting its Merlin engines three times and positioning itself using steerable fins.

The landing target is a specially made floating platform that will be positioned in the Atlantic Ocean about 200 miles (322 km) northeast of Cape Canaveral.

Though the barge has thrusters for stability it will not be anchored. Finding the bullseye becomes particularly tricky, SpaceX said.

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SpaceX to attempt rocket landing at sea

5 Ways Space Can Drive You Insane - Science on the Web #76
You don #39;t have to turn to science fiction to get your fill of space-related dangers. You don #39;t even have to venture beyond the confines of the human mind. Explore five ways that outer space...

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Space to Ground: Spacesuit Tune Up -- 12/12/14
NASA #39;s Space to Ground is your weekly update on what #39;s happening aboard the International Space Station. Got a question or comment? Use #spacetoground to talk to us.

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All Water :: Kerbal Space Colonization With Ruarc :: EP39
A new update brings a new adventure in a new season of a new series in KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM!!! Join me in my unique persuit in Kerbal Space Colonization! Rules: 1. I can only unlock 1...

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Meanwhile on Space Station 13
It #39;s business as usual.

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Russia's space agency Roscosmos is currently looking at plans to create a national space station that may be included in the new Federal Space Program, Roscosmos head Oleg Ostapenko said Monday. "I confirm that we are looking at this variant as a likely direction," Ostapenko said.

Ostapenko added that the high-altitude station is also being considered as a base for Russia's lunar program. "There is also this variant, we are currently considering it," he said.

In September, Roscosmos said it was planning to launch a full-scale moon exploration program in 2016-2025. According to the reports, the new orbital station will also be used to test manned spacecraft for the lunar mission. Spacecraft will first be delivered to the station, and then continue to the Moon.

In May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that Russia was considering dropping out of the ISS program, and re-direct its funding into more promising space projects.

A Russian space engineering source close to matter told Russian media in November that the country was looking to build its own orbital station, with the project set to begin in 2017. The station will use modules constructed for the International Space Station (ISS), the source added.

Roscosmos Will Decide on New Super-Heavy Rocket Design in January 2015 Russia's space agency Roscosmos will decide on the design of the country's new super-heavy rocket in January 2015, Roscosmos chief Oleg Ostapenko said Monday.

"We have already received blueprints from three leading space rocket enterprises. A panel of experts has already started considering them, and we will select the winner <...> in January," he told reporters.

Roscosmos is looking to develop a super-heavy carrier rocket to be used in Russia's lunar program. Andrei Mazurin, who heads one of the space agency's departments, told RIA Novosti in October the launch vehicle would be able to lift up to 80 tons of cargo into space. In the long term, a rocket capable of carrying 130 to 160 tons could be developed, he added.

Russia's largest existing rocket, the Proton, can launch payloads of up to 20 tons. The modular Angara rocket is also under development and comes in several versions, the largest of which is planned to send up to 35 tons into orbit.

Russian Space Agency's 2015 Budget Unchanged Despite Economic Downturn Despite the current downturn in the Russian economy, the government has no plans to cut the 2015 budget of the national space agency, Roscosmos chief Oleg Ostapenko told reporters Monday.

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Plans to Create Russian National Orbital Station Confirmed

December 15, 2014

Image Caption: Concept of the floor of the CST-100 assembly facility that Boeing envisions at Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Boeing

Provided by NASA

The momentum of certifying American space transportation systems capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station continued on pace as NASA took a comprehensive look at all of Boeings ground-based system designs. This Ground Segment Critical Design Review marks the second milestone in the companys Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract, NASAs Launch America initiative designed to return human spaceflight launches to the United States and end our reliance on Russia.

The three-week-long review covered Boeings plans for constructing and processing its Crew Space Transportation System, called the CST-100, in a former orbiter processing facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where Boeing will process its CST-100. It also covered the development of a nearby mission control center that would be the hub of the companys engineering operations.

Along with facility designs, we looked at the operation processes, said Dave Allega, a lead in the Ground and Mission Operations Office of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. How would they be using those facilities? What is the flow? How are they going to build up their new spacecraft, get it ready to fly, put it on the launch vehicle and then operate it once it is there? Then, after landing, how will they go recover it and turn it around to go and do it again?

A few dozen engineers, along with safety and health and human performance experts, took a deep dive into the various elements here on the ground that would support a crew mission to the station. Even astronauts who could one day fly aboard the CST-100 participated in the review of these critical elements, such as how Boeing would test flight hardware, and assemble and integrate its spacecraft to the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. They even looked at the equipment that would move the integrated stack to Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Space Launch Complex 41.

ULA has a long history of successful uncrewed commercial launches, and now they are highlighting what is different about flying a crew, said John Mulholland, Boeing Commercial Crew Program Manager.

Another critical piece of this review included how Boeing plans to train astronauts prior to missions and how the company will monitor crew members during all phases of the flight. For example, the CST-100 spacecraft simulator the company built at its Houston Product Support Center will start to see a lot of action as more pilot-in-the-loop demonstrations are performed and crew training begins.

The CST-100 will be a more simple vehicle to operate than the space shuttle, but the automation is complicated in and of itself, so we need to understand that automation and so does the crew, said Allega. When Boeing trains our astronauts, they will have to balance simplicity, and giving the crew everything they need to know to manually operate the spacecraft just in case something goes wrong.

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Boeing Covers Groundwork In Second Milestone

The International Space Station is a great example of how different nations can work together to create something pretty awesome. In this case a habitable location orbiting the Earth. And it was made possible by the combined efforts of the US, European, and Russian space agencies. However, growing political tensions could mean we get a second space station, only this one would be a purely Russian affair.

Russias actions with regards to Ukraine has seen relations with the West stretched to breaking point and trade sanctions put in place. The crumbling relationship is impacting all areas of government, including those departments working on space tech. With that in mind, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) is starting to view its own alternative to ISS as a real possibility.

Russias Mir manned space station orbited the Earth from 1986 to 2001.

Oleg Ostapenko, head of Roscosmos, has confirmed that a Russian space station is currently being considered, and it would likely form a key part of a mission to visit the Moon. Its not as simple as just greenlighting the project, however. With Russia under trade sanctions and having an economy expected to go into recession in 2015, there may not be enough money available to fund such a project.

Even if a station cant be built by Russia alone, the Russian government may block plans to extend the life of ISS from 2020 to 2024. Although, its unclear what they could actually do beyond protesting if the other parties with an interest in the station decide to ignore them.

ISS has been a success and is widely viewed as a positive creation of man. Space doesnt belong to any one nation, and it seems right that any future developments of this nature should continue to be collaborations regardless of whats happening back on Earth. Hopefully that means an eventual, multi-national ISS v2.0.

Now read: Stunning video of Earth from space made from 80GB of images

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Russia may build its own space station to rival ISS

Russian state space agency Roscosmos is considering building its own space station, RIA news agency quoted its chief as saying on Monday, underlining how international tensions are affecting space co-operation.

Such a project would rival the International Space Station, an orbiting laboratory that involves 15 nations including Russia and the United States. Moscow has cast doubt on the ISSs long-term future as ties with Washington plummet over Ukraine.

I confirm we are considering such an option. This is a possible direction of development, RIA quoted Roscosmos head Oleg Ostapenko as saying when asked about whether Russia has plans to develop it own space station.

He said such a space station could become a key part of Russian missions to the moon.

It is not clear how such a project would be financed as Russia is widely expected to enter recession next year and the economic crisis is aggravated by Western sanctions over Russias policy in the Ukraine crisis.

Washington wants to keep the $100-billion ISS in use until at least 2024, four years beyond the previous target. But a Russian government official said in May that Moscow would reject Washingtons request to prolong its operations.

The Russian space station Mir, launched by the Soviet Union in 1986, operated until 2001 and President Vladimir Putin is now seeking to reform Russias once-pioneering space industry after years of budget cuts and a brain drain that led to a series of embarrassing and costly failed launches in recent years.

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Russia considers building its own space station to rival ISS: report

MOSCOW - Russian state space agency Roscosmos is considering building its own space station, RIA news agency quoted its chief as saying on Monday, underlining how international tensions are affecting space co-operation.

Such a project would rival the International Space Station (ISS), an orbiting laboratory that involves 15 nations including Russia and the United States. Moscow has cast doubt on the ISS's long-term future as ties with Washington plummet over Ukraine.

"I confirm we are considering such an option. This is a possible direction of development," RIA quoted Roscosmos head Oleg Ostapenko as saying when asked about whether Russia has plans to develop it own space station.

He said such a space station could become a key part of Russian missions to the Moon.

It is not clear how such a project would be financed as Russia is widely expected to enter recession next year and the economic crisis is aggravated by Western sanctions over Russia's policy in the Ukraine crisis.

Washington wants to keep the US$100 billion ISS in use until at least 2024, four years beyond the previous target. But a Russian government official said in May that Moscow would reject Washington's request to prolong its operations.

The Russian space station Mir, launched by the Soviet Union in 1986, operated until 2001 and President Vladimir Putin is now seeking to reform Russia's once-pioneering space industry after years of budget cuts and a brain drain that led to a series of embarrassing and costly failed launches in recent years.

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Russia considers building its own space station: Report

Ministerial Conference: Highlights
On 2 December ESA concluded a productive one-day Council Meeting at Ministerial Level in Luxembourg. Ministers from European Space Agency (ESA) Member States have approved the ...

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Ministerial Conference: Highlights - Video

Planet class space station space engineers
Space station blue print in space engineers work shop steam.

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Planet class space station space engineers - Video

moon tycoon ep q w/kde
After crash landing on the moon you need to get back to Earth. To do this your mission is to build your space station, kill your foes, buy gear, weapons and perks to help you. Once you have...

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Britain's popular soprano singer Sarah Brightman will begin training for her journey to the International Space Station in January next year, a Central Command press service spokesperson told RIA Novosti.

"It's been confirmed that Sarah Brightman will begin her flight training in January 2015," the spokesperson said.

If the famous singer passes the training standards, she will be part of a crew scheduled to dock with the ISS in October of next year, accompanied by Russian and Danish astronauts, Sergei Volkov and Andreas Mogensen respectively.

Sara Brightman, 54, is a UNESCO Artist for Peace and the world's best-selling soprano singer. She announced her intention to go to space back in 2012.

The star of several famous musicals, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" has passed a number of medical tests since her announcement, confirming that she meets the basic physical requirements for space travel.

Sarah Brightman would become the second female space tourist in the world, after Iranian-American engineer Anousheh Ansari. Eight civilians have visited the ISS since 2001.

Source: Sputnik News

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Sarah Brightman to Begin Training in January for Flight to ISS

Under 5 Min Review: Space Rangers HD: A War Apart
Space Rangers HD is an awesome 2D tactical space sim that also includes a 2d arcade shooter, planetside RTS and text-based quest events. Space Rangers is the Skyrim of 2D space sims, and I #39;ve...

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Lets Play VVVVVV - Part 1 - Space Station 1
Lets play VVVVVV!

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Lets Play VVVVVV - Part 1 - Space Station 1 - Video

SMKR - Lighting the Star Trek K-7 Part 1 (Intro)
Lighting the Star Trek K-7 Space Station Part 1 (Intro)

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Astronauts create first 3D printed object in orbit
UNDATED (WKRC) -- The International Space Station has its own 3D printer and astronauts created the first 3D-printed object to be made in orbit. the printed object was a white printer-part...

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