Satellite News
Falcon 9 launches DART
A SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched a NASA mission that will deliberately collide with a near Earth asteroid to test a technique that could be used to deflect the trajectory of any future asteroid on a collision course with the Earth.
Galileo Satellites in Place for Launch
Europe’s next two Galileo satellites have been attached to the dispenser on which they will ride to orbit, Galileo satellites 27 – 28 are scheduled to be launched from Soyuz from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 2 December
1st Airbus Built Inmarsat-6 Satellite Shipped to Japan Ready for Launch
The first Airbus built Inmarsat-6, I-6 F1, satellite has been shipped from Airbus in Toulouse to Tanegashima in Japan ready for launch. The first satellite of the Inmarsat-6 series is due to be launched on an H-IIA launch vehicle built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in December. Inmarsat-6 F1 is based on Airbus’ ultra-reliable Eurostar E3000 spacecraft and will be the 54th Eurostar E3000 launched.
ESA ministers approve strategy to work on terrestrial and space safety issues
The member states of the European Space Agency have endorsed a strategy to support work on terrestrial and space safety issues while also planning for future space exploration projects.
Exploration News
Russia launches new docking module to ISS
A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the new Prichal docking module for the International Space Station blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday,
Japanese space tourists arrive at launch site ahead of ISS trip
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday for training ahead of his flight to the International Space Station on a Russian-operated spacecraft. Maezawa’s mission – set for departure on December 8 – will be the first to take space tourists to the ISS in over a decade.
Saber Astronautics to work with Axiom to bring Australian astronauts to space station
Axiom’s first mission Ax-1 will bring to the ISS three private customers from the United States, Canada and Israel nextfebruaary . They will perform 25 experiments over a one week stay on the station. Saber owns and operates the Responsive Space Operations Centre (RSOC) based in Adelaide and Colorado.
Launcher News
NewSpace News
BlackSky_set_to_expand_its_EO_constellation_for_real_time_global_intelligence
BlackSky’s “Love at First Insight” satellites entered orbit approximately 54 to 56 minutes after launch, promptly completed system checkouts, and were operationalized to collect and transfer imagery into BlackSky’s Spectra AI suite of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, which immediately processed, analyzed, and detected objects of interest with no humans in the loop.
Astroscale space debris removal leaders announce series F raises $109 million
The Series F funding round represents another significant milestone for Astroscale, and will rapidly advance the range of missions and services that the company is developing globally. The End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission successfully completed its first technical demonstration in orbit .In Japan, the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) spacecraft, which was selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for Phase I of its Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project, will enter the assembly phase in early 2022.
Planet to acquire VanderSat to deliver advanced agriculture data products to customers
Planet, a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, has entered into an agreement to acquire VanderSat, a leading provider of advanced earth data and analytics. VanderSat’s innovative products help customers better measure and understand water management and crop health in major markets.
Blue Canyon wins $14 million contract for deep-space inspector satellite
Blue Canyon Technologies won a $14.6 million contract to produce a small inspector satellite for operations beyond geosynchronous Earth orbit.
Space Safety News
“Incident” that Occurred During Loading Pushes the Webb Launch Date to Dec. 22nd
An incident occurred at Europe’s Spaceport as engineers were preparing the James Webb Space Telescope, delaying the launch until Dec. 22nd at the earliest. NASA announced that testing of JWST found no sign of damage to any of its components after a clamp band, which secures the spacecraft to its launch vehicle adapter, suddenly and unexpectedly released during payload processing work by Arianespace. The release of the clamp band imparted vibrations to the telescope that project officials worried could have damaged it.
Science & Technology News
A Machine-Learning Algorithm Just Found 301 Additional Planets in Kepler Data
Using a new type of deep-learning algorithm, a team of NASA scientists have detected 301 more exoplanets in the Kepler archive! The post A Machine-Learning Algorithm Just Found 301 Additional Planets in Kepler Data appeared first on Universe Today
Comet A1 Leonard Brightens in December
Now is the time to start tracking Comet C/2021 A1 Leonard, as it starts its dawn dive sunward. The post Comet A1 Leonard Brightens in December appeared first on Universe Today.
