Satellite News
OneWeb to merge with Eutelsat, needs five more launches to complete network
OneWeb and Eutelsat announced plans to merge Tuesday, bringing together OneWeb’s network of internet satellites in low Earth orbit with Eutelsat’s fleet of larger video, data relay, and broadband platforms in geostationary orbit. OneWeb says it is on track to resume deploying its remaining internet satellites as soon as September, with three SpaceX flights and two Indian launches on tap to replace Russian Soyuz rockets no longer available after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Readying Spacecraft to Surf Venus’ Atmosphere
ESA’s EnVision mission to Venus will perform optical, spectral and radar mapping of Earth’s sister planet. But before getting down to work the van-sized spacecraft needs to ‘aerobrake’ – lowering its orbit with thousands of passages through the planet’s hot, thick atmosphere for up to two years. A unique ESA facility is currently testing candidate spacecraft materials to check they can safely withstand this challenging process of atmospheric surfing.
Ericsson, Qualcomm and Thales to Take 5G Into Space
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), Thales (Euronext Paris: HO), global leader in Aerospace, Defence, Security & Digital Identity, and wireless technology innovator Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) are planning to take 5G out of this world and across a network of Earth-orbiting satellites. After having each conducted detailed research which included multiple studies and simulations, the parties plan to enter smartphone-use-case-focused testing and validation of 5G non-terrestrial networks
Launcher News
New science lab for China’s space station launches on Long March 5B rocket
China’s heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket launched Sunday with the second major element of the Chinese Tiangong space station, sending the 25-ton Wentian science module on course for docking at the orbiting outpost.
Exploration News
NASA: no notification by Russia to end ISS participation
NASA officials said July 26 they have received no official notification from Roscosmos of plans to end cooperation on the International Space Station despite comments from that agency’s new leader.
Space Perspective unveils patented capsule design
Space Perspective’s patented new capsule design, now in production at the company’s state-of-the-art campus, near its Operations Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
NewSpace News
Vaya Space Signs Another Major Satellite Launch Contract
Alya Nanosatellites Constellation E.O., a pioneer company in the Brazilian space sector, and Vaya Space, Inc., the vortex-hybrid engine rocket launcher and emerging leader in sustainable space access, today jointly announced that they have signed a long-term launch services agreement for the placement of a nanosatellite constellation into orbit
Startup Wallaroo Labs wins Space Force contract to model performance of AI on edge devices
Wallaroo Labs won a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research study contract from the U.S. Space Force to model the performance of machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms during space missions.
Space Safety News
Large Chinese rocket booster expected to fall back to Earth today
The 22-ton core stage of a Chinese rocket is expected to fall back to Earth some time Saturday, the third time in two years China has allowed such a large booster to re-enter the atmosphere uncontrolled. The unguided re-entry poses a low but avoidable risk to the world’s population, space debris experts said.
https://twitter.com/AerospaceCorp/status/1553420906633916417%5Etweet
Meteor Shower Location – Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia
Science &Technology News
Safran, Airbus and CNES at the Forefront of Earth-to-Space Optical Communications
In partnership with CNES and Airbus Defence and Space and as part of the TELEO project, Safran Data Systems has successfully delivered the first in a series of digital modems dedicated to Earth-to-Space optical communications, the Cortex Lasercom. Laser optical communications will enable data rates 10 to 100 times higher than the radio frequency communications currently used.
Airbus to deliver connectivity services using its leading Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station
Airbus has launched a connectivity services business through the creation of a dedicated HAPS Services Business based around Zephyr, Airbus’ leading HAPS technology platform.
