Minutes of November 11 Oklahoma Space Alliance
Oklahoma Space Alliance met November 11, 2023, at the Cyber Hall and Gaming Lounge at Norman Computers in Norman, Oklahoma. Attending in person were Clifford and Claire McMurray, Mark Deaver, Adam Hemphill, Chris Murdock, Dave Sheely, Tim Scott, and Syd Henderson. OSA President Clifford (Kip) McMurray presided over the meeting He did an Update discussing links to material covered in the meeting and this is online at https://osa.nss.org/Update2311.pdf so I’ll cover the details that aren’t covered there.
The Oklahoma Space Alliance Christmas Party and election are at the McMurray house on December 9.
When the Lucy probe arrived at Dinkinesh, it discovered it had a satellite. It turns out that this satellite is itself a contact binary. This is the first contact binary known to orbit an asteroid.
Israel is working on an Arrow 4 interceptor missile. First intercept was of a missile fired from a thousand miles away in Yemen.
With the death of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell is now the oldest living astronaut. They were crewmates on Apollo 8.
We watched the test launch of India’s Gaganyaan 2 spacecraft. This was to test the escape system, which will be essential since Gaganyaan 3 will carry India’s first astronauts.]
Virgin Galactic is going to go to one launch per quarter. The rest of Unity’s flights will be research flights, although there will still be paying passengers. Also, there will no longer be an astronaut instructor on every flight. They are working on a new craft for 2026.
Blue Origin lands by parachute while Virgin Galactic uses the feathering technique to land on a runway. It’s a challenge for the FAA to come up with a plan that covers both.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service will have to review Starship launches.
Stoke Space’s second stage uses aerospike technology. This is the one we reviewed a while back that uses the dynamically cooled heat shield.
The Chinese space company, Space Pioneer, expects to fly thirty flights a year in a couple of years.
We have $831.42 in the checking account and $267 in cash for a total of $1098.42.
Chandra has found the most distant X-rays from a black hole.
Officer nominations for 2024 are :Adam Hemphill for President, Clifford McMurray for Vice-President, Syd Henderson for Secretary and Tim Scott.
--Minutes by OSA Secretary Syd Henderson
Contact person for Oklahoma Space Alliance is Claire McMurray.
PO Box 1003
Norman, OK 73070
Webmaster is Syd Henderson.
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