SpaceX’s First Private Charter Flight in Florida’s Space Coast

Melbourne, Fla.—3 visitors were sent to space station Axiom Space of Houston acted as the tour operator, selling seats for the 10-day trip, including eight days aboard the station, for $55 million each marking Space X’s first private charter flight to the orbiting lab. This mission is in line with the US government's and the private sector's goal to boost commercial activity on the ISS and beyond.

Although Axiom Space is based in Houston, Texas, this mission launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, April 4, 2022. The spacecraft, which separated from the rocket after reaching orbit, spent about 20 hours free flying through orbit as it maneuvered closer to the ISS. Their mission, called Ax-1, is the first in a series of four missions that Axiom plans to conduct in partnership with SpaceX.

According to the New York times, the mission is the first to go to the space station on which all of the passengers are private citizens, and it is the first time that NASA has collaborated in arranging a space tourism visit. The flight marked a pivotal moment in efforts to spur space travel by commercial enterprises, NASA officials said.

The report from the NY Times describes the International Space Station as a technological marvel, about as long as a football field, but one that costs NASA about $1.3 billion a year to operate. Although NASA wants to extend the lifetime of the current station to 2030, it hopes that much less expensive commercial space stations are in orbit by then.

Do you do business with Space contractors or government agencies? Whether you need to make a change in your current coverage, have a question about billing or need to report a claim— our customer service representatives are the best in the business and will expedite your request professionally. We insure most types of small businesses, and we help them succeed despite the occurrence of misfortunate events that could very well put them out of business.

Our beloved Florida Space Coast is gaining importance in the Space Travel Industry, and now with the prospect of commercial flight/missions related to space tourism, local businesses must get prepared for a revamped economy and ready to tender a much broader demographic group than originally intended.

No matter what kind of business you own in the Florida Space Coast area, whether a regular business, or one that is related to transportation, Melbourne Truck Insurance has the insurance products, and partner companies to provide your business the full coverage it needs. From protecting property and general liability, to workers compensation, and of course commercial vehicles and trucks.

Contact one of our local commercial/truck insurance agents from Melbourne Truck Insurance to find out what options are available for your trucking and transportation business in the Palm Bay area, and help you start saving on the protections needed. We have the products and underwriting experience that meet the insurance needs of your business. Call us at (321) 329-5556.

HECTOR PEREZ

PRODUCER

Hector is a licensed insurance agent with vast experience as a Transportation Specialist.

Florida Tech Researchers Continue the Study of Mars Mission

Melbourne, Fla.—Nowadays, it doesn’t take us by surprise that we are even talking about Earth-Mars-Earth transits, and believe it or not it is all happening right here in our backyard at Florida’s Space Coast.

Florida Tech researchers in Melbourne, Florida, continue a study originally pioneered by Buzz Aldrin and the university’s Aldrin Research Institute, which deals with Mars mission architectures build on cycler orbits.

According to Space Coast Daily, the process involves a cycler spacecraft that would stay in elliptical orbit around the Sun making regular fly-bys of Earth and Mars. Then, a crew transfer vehicle lifts off from Earth during the process of the fly-by to approach the cycler and deliver the crew. At the end, the crew will be transported from the cycler to a low Mars orbit.

When the crew finishes the Mars mission, the vehicle and the cycler repeat the process backwards to bring them back to Earth, and pick up the next expedition. And here’s the surprising finding of a paper published by The Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets based on a previous research in 2020— The cycler trajectory favors one leg of the journey between the planets with a short travel time of 154 days, as compared to 180–260 days typical for direct Earth-Mars transfers. Two cycler spacecrafts are required, one for a short trip from Earth to Mars, and one for a short return trip.—in order to keep the crew healthy and properly supplied.

Space Coast Daily emphasizes the fact that for the investment into the spacecraft to make sense, each one was assumed to be in operation for 30 years or 15 complete Earth-Mars-Earth transits. Considerations such as these drive the size, weight, and power required for the spacecraft.

Aerospace engineering associate professors Markus Wilde and Brian Kish, along with aerospace engineering graduate student Bhumika Patel, discussed the design considerations for a deep-space transfer spacecraft using the ballistic S1L1 cycler trajectory.

In one of their findings Markus Wile, lead author, stated:

“Launching such a spacecraft is doable and actually reasonable, but only if you use it for a sustained Mars exploration campaign spanning decades, not just for a handful of flag-raising missions.”

Florida, and its Space Coast, are confirming its strategic position on Space Exploration, transportation, and businesses to support these operations.

Do you do business with Space contractors or government agencies? Whether you need to make a change in your current coverage, have a question about billing or need to report a claim— our customer service representatives are the best in the business and will expedite your request professionally. We insure most types of small businesses, and we help them succeed despite the occurrence of misfortunate events that could very well put them out of business.

Contact one of our local commercial/truck insurance agents from Melbourne Truck Insurance to find out what options are available for your trucking and transportation business in the Palm Bay area, and help you start saving on the protections needed. We have the products and underwriting experience that meet the insurance needs of your business. Call us at (321) 329-5556.

SAHARI FUENTES

CLIENT SERVICE ADVOCATE

Bilingual: English | Spanish

Sail Away! Port Canaveral Bounces Back

Melbourne, Fla.—The future looks bright for the tourism sector in the region, that after two years of COVID-19 complete shutdown. Now with the recent relaxation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mask rules, cruise lines are loosening their restrictions. The industry is quickly recovering, and so are the businesses that receive beneficial economic impact from it.

The port's five-month revenue figure for 2021-22 is ahead of the $42.4 million in 2018-19 and not far from the $47.8 million for 2019-20, according to Port Canaveral’s Chief Executive Officer.

Last year, Port Canaveral was voted Best U.S. Cruise Homeport of 2021 by Cruise Hive, receiving more votes than any other port, including the cruise capital of the world, PortMiami, also in Florida.

Transportation Services in Port Canaveral, Orlando Airport, Disney World, Disney Resort, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, Carnival Cruise, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Norwegian Cruise, Disney Port Canaveral Transport, as well as many other Orlando resorts were patiently waiting for this moment.

Now that we are just starting to see things from the other side of the spectrum, it is of utter importance to keep your investments very well protected. For a transportation business owner/operator, just like you need auto insurance for your own car, you need commercial auto insurance to cover your business-owned or leased vehicles. If you, or any of your employees have an accident in your business's car, you may be liable for bodily injuries, lost wages or any damage caused. Nobody wants that, especially not now that we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Typical coverage for public transportation providers includes:

Bodily Injury Liability - Coverage for damages that involve bodily injury to others for which you become responsible under law.

Property Damage Liability - Coverage for damage to property of others for which you become responsible under law.

Medical Payments - Coverage for reasonable and necessary medical expenses and funeral services for those who are accidentally injured while in your automobile or while getting into or out of your automobile.

Personal Injury Protection - Coverage for medical, hospital, rehabilitation, loss of wages or loss of services costs resulting from injury to you or any resident family member. In case of death to the insured or a resident family member, death benefits and survivor benefits, if applicable, will be provided.

Whether you need to make a change in your current coverage, have a question about billing or need to report a claim our customer service representatives are the best in the business and will expedite your request professionally. We insure most types of small businesses, and we help them succeed despite the occurrence of misfortunate events that could very well put them out of business

Contact one of our local commercial/truck insurance agents from Melbourne Truck Insurance to find out what options are available for your trucking and transportation business in the Palm Bay area, and help you start saving on the protections needed. We have the products and underwriting experience that meet the insurance needs of your business. Call us at (321) 329-5556.

OSCAR PACHECO

LICENSED AGENT

Trucking Specialist

Bilingual:

English | Spanish