Satellite News
Comet Interceptor Approved for Construction
ESA’s Comet Interceptor mission to visit a pristine comet or other interstellar object just starting its journey into the inner Solar System has been ‘adopted’ this week; the study phase is complete and, following selection of the spacecraft prime contractor, work will soon begin to build the mission. Comet Interceptor will share a ride into space with ESA’s Ariel exoplanet mission in 2029.
NASA’s DAVINCI Mission To Take the Plunge Through Massive Atmosphere of Venus
In a recently published paper, NASA scientists and engineers give new details about the agency’s Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) mission, which will descend through the layered Venus atmosphere to the surface of the planet in mid-2031. DAVINCI is the first mission to study Venus using both spacecraft flybys and a descent probe. DAVINCI, a flying analytical chemistry laboratory, will measure critical aspects of Venus’
NILESAT 301 Communications Satellite Successfully Launched
The NILESAT 301 communications satellite built by Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) for the Egyptian operator NILESAT was successfully launched today from Cape Canaveral launch pad, Florida (USA), on board of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Thanks to a powerful Ku-band mission NILESAT 301 will reinforce NILESAT commercial leadership in broadcast services at 7°W over MENA and opening new services over Southern Africa and Nile Basin.
Inmarsat satellite tests signal for replacing lost UK navigation capability
Inmarsat said June 8 it has started beaming a test navigation signal from an aging satellite to help the United Kingdom replace space-based capabilities it lost following Brexit.
Launcher News
Solid rocket boosters will support existing ULA customers and Amazon’s Project Kuiper
Xenesis signs launch pact with Evolution Space
Launch startup Evolution Space signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a small satellite constellation for optical communications startup Xenesis.
Lockheed and ABL’s first UK vertical launch slips into 2023
Lockheed Martin no longer expects its UK Pathfinder mission will fly this year, although it remains in the running to perform the first-ever vertical launch to orbit from British soil.
Exploration News
France joins Artemis Accords
France joined the U.S.-led Artemis Accords June 7, a long-anticipated but significant milestone for the effort to establish best practices for sustainable space exploration.
Axiom Space signs MOU with Italy to expand commercial utilization of space
While the MOU is exploratory in nature, areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement include mutual definition of potential user requirements as well as technological solutions and operational concepts for an Italian module that could later be developed and integrated into the Axiom Space Station. The project could take the form of a public-private framework with the governance and business models developed over time.
Efforts continue to fully deploy Lucy solar array
Leaders of NASA’s Lucy asteroid mission are increasingly confident that the mission can continue as planned even if ongoing efforts to fully deploy and latch a solar array don’t succeed.
Psyche launch delay forcing revamp of rideshare mission
A delay in the launch of NASA’s Psyche asteroid mission is forcing another asteroid mission hitching a ride to revise its plans.
NewSpace News
Isar Aerospace and EXOTRAIL partner on cloud-based simulation software ExoOPSTM
Extending our software customer base to launch services providers, alongside satellite operators, manufacturers, and space agencies confirm ExoOPSTM – Mission Design as the perfect tool for all the actors across the value chain
China launches nine Geely-01 satellites
Owned by GeeSpace, a subsidiary of Geely Technology Group, the satellite constellation will be mainly used to research and validate technologies, such as travel services of intelligent connected vehicles, and vehicle/mobile phone and satellite interaction. It will also provide data support for marine environmental protection.
India’s Bellatrix Aerospace raises $8 million Series A for in-space propulsion project
Indian space startup Bellatrix Aerospace said June 1 that it had raised $8 million in a Series A funding round to pursue the development of in-space propulsion systems.
Sony launches space laser communications business
Sony has formed a company to develop laser communications equipment for small satellites, drawing on optical disc technology it pioneered for CD players and other devices.
Space Safety News
Dragon Mission on Hold as Astronauts Conduct Eye Exams, Spacesuit Work
During propellant loading of the Dragon spacecraft, elevated vapor readings of mono-methyl hydrazine (MMH) were measured in an isolated region of the Draco thruster propulsion system. The propellant and oxidizer have been offloaded from that region to support further inspections and testing.
