The hottest Aerospace Engineering Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

How SpaceX will finance Mars

Chris’s Substack • 99 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Space Exploration Aerospace Engineering
  1. SpaceX is financing Mars exploration by using profits from its existing projects, like Starlink. This means they're developing technology that can be sold to customers while also preparing for Mars.
  2. The goal is to create a self-sustaining city on Mars, which will require a lot of money. SpaceX hopes its commercial work will bring in huge revenue to support this ambitious plan.
  3. SpaceX has a unique approach: instead of waiting for government funding, they develop their technology first and then find buyers. This allows them to innovate quickly while still aiming for their Mars colony.

More Upmass!! (Or, Small Launch=Little Business)

Ill-Defined Space • 9 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Space Industry Rocket launches Aerospace Engineering Satellite Technology
  1. Heavy-class rockets are the most popular choice in 2024, with more than half of all launches using them. They are often needed for bigger payloads like satellites.
  2. China has a wide range of rockets, launching more different types than the U.S. and other countries combined. This shows their strong focus on space operations.
  3. Small rockets are the least used, even though many startups are trying to develop them. This highlights a challenge in the market for small satellite launches.

The Starship: Can One Rocket Change the Entire Space Industry?

Space Ambition • 279 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Space Exploration Aerospace Engineering Innovation Commercial Space
  1. Starship aims to drastically lower the cost of launching payloads into space, making it more affordable for various missions. This could mean launching things into orbit for just $100 per kilogram, which is a huge drop from the current price.
  2. The rocket is designed to be fully reusable, meaning both its stages can be used again and again. This will help SpaceX perform more launches efficiently and at a lower cost.
  3. Starship has the potential to open up opportunities for space tourism, lunar missions, and even trips to Mars. It could make space travel as common as taking a plane someday.

Pixxel: Earth's Honest Mirror

Tigerfeathers! • 24 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Space Exploration Satellite Technology Aerospace Engineering Data Analysis
  1. Pixxel is developing a fleet of satellites with special cameras that can see details beyond what regular cameras can, helping monitor Earth's health and detect issues like pollution and crop problems.
  2. The founders of Pixxel, Awais and Kshitij, began their journey in college and faced many challenges, including launch failures and funding issues, but they remained determined and adapted their business strategy.
  3. Pixxel aims not just to serve Earth, but eventually wants to use their technology for exploring resources in space, showing how their ambitions go far beyond just satellite imaging.

Reusability efforts of European launch startups

Europe in Space • 137 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Space Exploration Rocket Technology Innovation Aerospace Engineering
  1. European launch startups are developing innovative methods for recovering and reusing launch vehicle components.
  2. Different startups are exploring varied approaches like using parachutes, grid fins, and deployable blimps for recovery.
  3. Challenges exist in balancing reusability efforts with maintaining payload capacity, especially for microlaunchers.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity: