✈️ Boeing's first astronaut mission delayed by rocket valve glitch. What’s next?

Recent aerospace events demonstrated setbacks and breakthroughs, highlighting space exploration's dynamic nature.

Boeing's Starliner program delayed its May 6 launch due to an oxygen valve glitch, emphasizing safety measures that NASA, ULA, and Boeing upheld. This mission, the 100th Atlas V rocket launch, aimed to pioneer crewed travel for Atlas V.

Meanwhile, Seattle's Hubble Network achieved a historic feat by establishing the first space Bluetooth connection. Hubble's satellites, part of SpaceX's Transporter-10 mission, communicated with Bluetooth chips from over 370 miles away.

While the delay of Starliner emphasizes the meticulous safety standards observed in crewed space missions, Hubble's breakthrough with Bluetooth technology signifies the continuous pursuit of innovation in aerospace endeavors. These events reflect space exploration's evolution, shaping future connectivity and exploration.

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AEROSPACE ENGINEERING SPOTLIGHT

Rocket valve glitch grounds Boeing’s first astronaut mission

Starliner's inaugural crewed test flight faced an unexpected delay mere hours before its scheduled departure late Monday night (May 6). The delay was attributed to a potential oxygen valve glitch within the launch vehicle's upper Centaur Stage, operated by the United Launch Alliance (ULA).

This mission holds significance as it marks the 100th launch of an Atlas V rocket, renowned for its flawless track record in deploying spacecraft to destinations like the Moon and Mars.

However, this voyage represents a pioneering moment as Atlas V ventures into crewed space travel for the first time, emphasizing the paramount importance of safety for NASA, ULA, and Boeing.

Boeing's cutting-edge Starliner, poised atop the Atlas V, is primed to shuttle two astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were ready for departure when the mission was postponed, echoing NASA chief Bill Nelson's assurance that safety remains the foremost priority.

The setback stemmed from a malfunctioning oxygen pressure-relief valve on the Atlas rocket's upper stage, which posed a conceivable hazard for the crewed mission.

ULA's CEO, Tory Bruno, hinted that the valve had exceeded its designated lifespan, suggesting a need for replacement and subsequent inspection to ascertain the launch window.

After a thorough analysis of the launch data, NASA outlined in a blog post that the launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft has been postponed until at least May 17 to allow for repairs to the Atlas 5 rocket. Following Monday's scrubbed launch, United Launch Alliance officials returned the rocket, which carries Boeing's Starliner, to its processing facility to replace a questionable valve.

The delay compounds Boeing's Starliner program's previous challenges, including a botched uncrewed test flight in 2019.

Successful execution of this mission would establish Boeing as NASA's second private provider of astronaut transportation services, joining Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has been servicing the ISS since 2020 with its Dragon capsule.

With the technical intricacies resolved, the Starliner is poised for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

There, it will rendezvous with the ISS for a nearly week-long docking before safely returning the astronauts to Earth.

AERO BULLETIN

US achieves 1st-ever space Bluetooth link using satellites

On March 4, the Transporter-10 ride-sharing mission by SpaceX launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, deploying two satellites for Seattle-based Hubble Network into orbit. These satellites have now achieved a remarkable feat by establishing a Bluetooth connection to Earth from a distance of over 370 miles (600 km).

Established in 2021 by Alex Haro, Ben Wild, and John Kim, Hubble Network embarked on a challenging journey.

Given the notorious unreliability of Bluetooth connections even within close proximity, Wild, also a founder of an IoT company, initially found the concept incredulous.

However, his experiences with IoT devices revealed their energy-intensive nature, exorbitant operational costs, and lack of global connectivity.

How does it work?

Hubble's innovation lies in leveraging low-power Bluetooth connections. The satellites communicate with standard 3.5 mm Bluetooth chips, upgraded with software to facilitate long-distance communication with minimal power consumption, even with an orbiting satellite.

The satellites' phased array antenna acts as a magnifying glass, capturing the low-power signals from ground-based chips.The team overcame Doppler-related issues and frequency discrepancies inherent in high-speed data exchange between orbiting objects.

Reducing battery drain by 20 times

Hubble claims to have tackled the challenge of global connectivity by reducing battery drain by 20 times and operational costs by 50 times.

The company aims to connect a billion devices worldwide, revolutionizing various industries with its technology.

Looking ahead, Hubble plans to launch a third satellite later this year, followed by a fourth in subsequent months to complete its 'beta' constellation..

By late 2025 or early 2026, the startup aims to deploy 32 satellites in a single launch, achieving its production constellation.

With the constellation operational, Hubble anticipates enabling Bluetooth connections to its satellites at least eight times daily.

Focus on accessible and affordable global connectivity

As scalability increases, the company envisions offering services such as soil monitoring and continuous coverage for applications like fall monitoring in older people.

"With nearly five billion Bluetooth devices sold annually, our network has the potential to significantly impact numerous fields by making global connectivity accessible, low-power, and affordable," emphasized Wild.

Conventional networks often grapple with limited coverage, intricate integrations, excessive power consumption, and exorbitant costs, curtailing their practicality and effectiveness.

By enabling any off-the-shelf Bluetooth-enabled device to connect directly to Hubble's satellite network sans reliance on cellular networks, this innovation holds the promise of revolutionizing the Internet of Things (IoT).