Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 28, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher An article in the June 2024 issue of the Chinese journal Aerospace China offers a review of China’s growing commercial space sector focusing on space launcher and mega satellite constellation makers, but it offers fewer insights into potential commercial manned space efforts. Ultimately, the Chinese […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 25, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 ■ The last-quarter Moon rises late, around 11 p.m. (It’s exactly last quarter at 5:26 a.m. Monday morning.) Spot the Pleiades a few degrees to the Moon’s upper right. Once it rises high it shines above much else in Taurus, as shown below. […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 20, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher A recent report reveals that one or more Western governments are concerned that China is in the process of proliferating satellite data services and satellite technology to Iran, that could eventually enable Iran to achieve precision targeting against Israel and then against global targets, for […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 19, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 ■ Whenever bright Vega shines nearest your zenith, as it does right after dark now. Two hours later, when Deneb passes the zenith, it’s the turn of little Delphinus and boat-shaped Capricornus down below it to stand at their highest due south. After […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 14, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher After 2035 or so, China intends to build a large Moon Base capable of supporting multiple astronauts, along with attendant unmanned exploration, power and communication support and construction systems. In 2021 this intention was mentioned in some of the initial documents released describing the then […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 10, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 ■ It’s peak Perseid meteor night! And maybe the first of two. The actual peak of the shower is supposed to be from about 13h to 16h UT on the 12th, which is 9 a.m. to noon on the 12th Eastern Daylight Time; 6 […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 8, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher A curious article from the 2023 volume of China’s Journal of Deep Space Exploration (JDSE) appears to compare the merits of two modes of transport to the Moon, direct ascent with a super heavy space launch vehicle (SLV) versus a relay system using a small […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, August 5, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 ■ New Moon (exact at 7:13 a.m. on this date EDT). ■ The T Cor Bor Watch continues. Have you been checking Corona Borealis overhead these clear evenings? The recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis could erupt to 2nd magnitude anytime this summer. Or fall. […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 30, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher China is heating up its race with the United States to dominate the Moon, by proposing to increase its “Moon coalition” and by moving ahead with its initial Moon architecture. On July 21, in coordination with the United Nations’ designation of July 20 as International […]
Special to CosmicTribune.com, July 29, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SATURDAY, JULY 27 ■ Last-quarter Moon (exact at 10:52 p.m. EDT). The Moon, in Pisces, rises around 11 or midnight tonight below the head of Andromeda and the Great Square of Pegasus. SUNDAY, JULY 28 ■ Starry Scorpius is sometimes called “the Orion of Summer” — […]
