Ryan Caton

The Difference A Week Makes I photographed the Moon in the week leading up to the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse, with Totality captured in León, Spain. Available now as a print - link below.

BREAKING: @SierraSpaceCo's Dream Chaser has received a Re-entry licence from the @FAAnews. This authorizes a return to Vandenberg Space Force Base from Earth orbit. Re-entry, however, requires Dream Chaser to launch, and when (or if) that happens is a very open question. 📷 @SierraSpaceCo

I just realised that Vulcan’s designator doesn’t have any specification for the type of Centaur V… Like, VC6L is Vulcan-Centaur, 6x SRBs, Long fairing. But what type of centaur? Atlas V had a number to specify whether it’s a single or twin engine Centaur III. I propose the following: VL - LEO Centaur VC - Standard Centaur VE - Endurance Centaur VX - Exploration Centaur This is what I think about while trying to fall asleep…

The GEM 63XL has a 1-in-6 nozzle ejection rate. Usefully, ULA are flying the Vulcan with 6 SRBs, so if they all survive, then we know it's been fixed. Sorta. But then targeting Friday the 13th for a Return-To-Flight mission... 😂

Cowboy Space Corp. unveils their launch vehicle, and it's a familiar story. They claim a first launch in 2028... but if every single other launch company is anything to go by, I'm saying next decade. Methalox & Steel. 9x engines Stage 1, 1x engine Stage 2. Slightly wider & taller than Falcon 9, same height as Terran R. The first stage booster is reusable. After launch, it plans to conduct a downrange landing on an ocean platform, just like Falcon 9 and New Glenn. The upper stage of the rocket turns into an Artificial Intelligence data center satellite. The fairings turn into radiators, the electric propulsion propellant (ammonia) is used as coolant. Engine is called Clydesdale, advertised 1,334kN thrust, about half Raptor 3's advertised thrust. Targeting multiple launches daily. It's very early days for this company, but the second-stage-is-a-satellite is unique in the AI era. Will be interesting to see how they evolve.

Huge contract for Kerbodyne

Britain’s biggest budget airline has signed Starlink!

I mocked up SLS Block 1 vs SLS-Centaur vs SLS-Centaur with a kickstage The aesthetics are... interesting. But I'll take the performance to low Lunar orbit! Original pic @_MaxQ_/@NASASpaceflight

Well it's 1am, again

The Cape Canaveral skyline has healed. It was really weird not seeing a tower at LC-36. T-65 days until the extremely provisional December 28 launch date.

Everybody knew Artemis had problems. SLS needs a beefier upper stage. Orion can't reach Low Lunar Orbit. The spacesuits won't be ready. We just got a big update - here's my take on @NASA's solutions → youtu.be/NLHrM2E954w

Alex tried explaining this to me and my brain stopped working so I drew it in MS Paint and now I understand. I'll share with the class in case it helps anyone else. Yes, HLS is refuelled by the same depot, twice, in two different orbits...

you vs the guy she tells you not to worry about

It's taken so long but we've finally seen a real THING! even if it's 5 holes cut in a nosecone. but it's a THING!!!

I'll take the upper stage upgraded performance with a stretched Centaur But the aesthetics... 😅