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Space Travel News

20 Apr 2023

OSV to be Converted for Human Space Flight Launches

(Image: Space Perspective)

Space tourism company Space Perspective is converting an offshore support vessel (OSV) to function as the world’s first "marine spaceport". The Florida-based company in November 2022 announced it had acquired the 292-foot-long vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore as the first in its planned global fleet of converted spaceport vessels to support the mobile launch of its balloon-driven passenger spacecraft.The 2003-built Jones Act vessel C Challenger has been renamed Voyager and is currently being converted by Conrad Shipyard following preparatory work by Gulf Ship.

08 Nov 2021

Superyachts Enjoy Pandemic Tailwind as Rich Seek Zen at Sea

© petert2 / Adobe Stock

When Chinese billionaire Jack Ma took a trip to Spain's Mallorca island last month, much was made of it being his first foreign foray since a 2020 fallout with regulators had clipped his wings.However, Ma's sunny sojourn on his newly-built 88-metre (289 ft) cruise boat Zen - estimated to be worth $200 million - also put a spotlight on a global trend: the return of the superyacht.As the number of billionaires grows and COVID-19 has added to incentives for avoiding crowds, the multi…

05 Jul 2018

MHI Holds Ceremony for Taiheiyo Ferry

Christening and Launch Ceremony of New "Kitakami" (Photo: MHI)

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) based in Yokohama, held a christening and launch ceremony yesterday for Taiheiyo Ferry Co., Ltd's "Kitakami". The vessel will replace the old Kitakami, one of three large ferries providing regular service between the ports of Nagoya, Sendai, and Tomakomai (Hokkaido). By eliminating the large shared cabin, the new ship-carrying on the Kitakami name-will ensure passenger privacy and offer enhanced comfort features.

24 Jan 2018

NASA, US Navy Practice Spacecraft Recovery at Sea

A mock-up capsule designed to simulate the Orion crew module that will splash down in the Pacific Ocean following Exploration Mission-1 planned for Dec. 2019. In the background: USS Anchorage is supporting NASA's Underway Recovery Test. (U.S. Navy photo by Abe McNatt)

A joint team of NASA and U.S. Navy personnel are testing new equipment and practicing procedures for recovering astronauts that have splashed down in the ocean upon returning from space travel. NASA’s deep space exploration systems will send a crew through space at 25,000 miles per hour, travelling some 40,000 miles beyond the Moon before coming back home. When returning to Earth, the Orion spacecraft will slow to a mere 300 mph as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, eventually slowing to 20 mph before it safely splashing down in the Pacific.

15 Aug 2013

Navy Transport Dock Ship Tests Spacecraft Recovery

Spacecraft Orion recovery trial: Photo courtesy of USN

The first installment of a new and historic partnership between the Department of Defense and National Aeronautics and Space Administration begins as the amphibious transport dock 'USS Arlington' (LPD 24) conducts a stationary recovery test of the Orion crew module while berthed at Pier 12, Naval Station Norfolk. During this test, a waterborne Orion crew module (a 16-foot, four-personnel upgrade of the Apollo capsule, which was half the size and carried a crew of three), assisted by divers and small boats, is winched into a cradle in Arlington’s well deck.

20 Dec 2001

Dr. Tamara Jernigan To Serve As Carnival Pride Godmother

Dr. Tamara Jernigan, a pioneer in U.S. space travel who has logged more flight hours on the space shuttle than any other female astronaut in history, has been selected to serve as godmother of the 88,500-ton Carnival Pride, Carnival Cruise Lines' new cruise ship which will launch year-round seven-day service from Port Canaveral, Fla., Jan. 12. Dr. Jernigan will officially name Carnival Pride in a dockside ceremony at Port Canaveral Jan. 7. Subsequent to this, the vessel will operate a three-day Bahamas voyage Jan. 9-12, then launch seven-day eastern and western Caribbean service from Port Canaveral Jan. 12. Dr. Jernigan's role as Carnival Pride godmother represents yet another milestone in a remarkable career that includes five flights on the Space Shuttle comprising 1…