China at Zhuahai showcases 2030 launch plans for its reusable ‘Starship’

China at Zhuahai showcases 2030 launch plans for its reusable ‘Starship’

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 13, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher Look out SpaceX, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China’s leading state-owned rocket and space company, plans to start testing by 2030 a reusable first-stage version of its 10.6-meter diameter Long March-9 superheavy space launch vehicle (SLV), which is about the same size […]

The French Haolong space plane with Chinese Communist characteristics

The French Haolong space plane with Chinese Communist characteristics

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 6, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher If they are still around, some aging engineers from France’s former Aerospatiale space company and the Dassault aircraft company should be proud: Their innovative Hermes small space plane program that was cancelled in 1992, could soon fly, but as a reusable Chinese space cargo transport. […]

Next administration will face International Space Station crisis

Next administration will face International Space Station crisis

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 30, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher An increasing leak rate for atmosphere, precautions that keep the non-Russian astronauts in the American portion, and doubts about Russia’s ability or willingness to support its portion all contribute to the possibility that the International Space Station (ISS) could become an early “space crisis” prompting […]

Xi Jinping doesn’t want world to know about his Mars ambitions

Xi Jinping doesn’t want world to know about his Mars ambitions

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 23, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dictator Xi Jinping wants to conquer Mars, but his government apparently did not want his space engineers to update the world on China’s plans to get there, at the recent 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), this year held from Oct. 14 […]

Spain follows Elon Musk’s model with Europe’s PLD Space

Spain follows Elon Musk’s model with Europe’s PLD Space

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 9, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher Consider this proven formula for private sector business success in space: 1) Find a motivated, charismatic leader; 2) Develop a family of modular and reusable space launch vehicles (SLVs) to reduce production/launch costs and generate public and private sector business; and 3) Set your sights […]

China’s lunar ambitions include slingshot payload deliveries to Earth

China’s lunar ambitions include slingshot payload deliveries to Earth

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 2, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher The seriousness of China’s buildup to its first manned Moon mission, perhaps before 2030, was emphasized by three recent revelations: A new Lunar manned spacesuit; a new facility to simulate low gravity lunar landings; and a proposal for “cyclotron” low-cost launch of payloads from the […]

India’s space economy expands; Government funds manned Moon missions

India’s space economy expands; Government funds manned Moon missions

Special to CosmicTribune.com, September 25, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher On Sept. 18 India’s Union Cabinet, or senior executive branch, approved budgets for space programs amounting to $350.9 million (32,771 crore), that will advance India’s ambitions for manned space flight, a new small space station and manned missions to the Moon by 2040. All of […]

Space robotics firm transplanted from Japan seen key to U.S. Space Force mission

Space robotics firm transplanted from Japan seen key to U.S. Space Force mission

Special to CosmicTribune.com, September18, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher U.S. Space Force Commander Gen. B. Chance Saltzman used his Sept. 17 keynote address to the 2024 Air, Space, Cyber Symposium of the United States Air Force Association to highlight U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s imperative that the Space Force prepare for “Great Power Competition” […]

China’s sharing of satellite data with Iran, space proliferation called threat to West

China’s sharing of satellite data with Iran, space proliferation called threat to West

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 […]

China’s potential Moon base architecture explored in journal article

China’s potential Moon base architecture explored in journal article

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 […]