Satellite News
Arianespace’s 19th Vega Mission Successfully Launches Pléiades Neo 4 + 3 Smallsats
On Monday, August 16, 2021, at 10:47 p.m. local time (01:47 am (UTC) on Thursday, August 17), a Vega launch vehicle operated by Arianespace lifted off successfully from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (South America). This mission marked Arianespace’s 7th successful launch of the year and the second with Vega in 2021
Thales Alenia Space to Provide the First Two Pressurized Modules for Axiom Space Station
Thales Alenia Space, Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Axiom Space of Houston, Texas (USA), have signed the final contract for the development of two key pressurized elements of Axiom Space Station – the world’s first commercial space station. Scheduled for launch in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the two elements will originally be docked to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the birth of the new Axiom Station segment. The value of the contract is 110 Million.
Soyuz rocket delivers in ninth launch for OneWeb
Another 34 satellites for OneWeb’s internet network successfully launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket Saturday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, giving the UK-based company a fleet of 288 spacecraft.
Exploration News
Soyuz rocket delivers in ninth launch for OneWeb
Another 34 satellites for OneWeb’s internet network successfully launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket Saturday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, giving the UK-based company a fleet of 288 spacecraft.
Japan’s Mission to Phobos Will Also Bring a Sample Home by 2029
Japan’s space agency (JAXA) is gearing up for its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, with plans to have a sample from Mars’ moon Phobos return to Earth by 2029. Mission scientists say they hope to find clues to the origins of Mars two moons, as well as Mars itself, and possibly even traces of past … Continue reading “Japan’s Mission to Phobos Will Also Bring a Sample Home by 2029” The post Japan’s Mission to Phobos Will Also Bring a Sample Home by 2029 appeared first on Universe Today.
Launcher News
Musk Says That Refueling Starship for Lunar Landings Will Take 8 Launches (Maybe 4)
ezos is still fighting for the HLS contract by claiming the Starship will require too many refueling missions, prompting Musk to respond. The post Musk Says That Refueling Starship for Lunar Landings Will Take 8 Launches (Maybe 4) appeared first on Universe Today.
NASA, Boeing to Move Starliner to Production Facility for Propulsion System Evaluation
Inside the VIF, Boeing was able to prompt nine of 13 valves open that previously were in the closed position using commanding, mechanical, electrical and thermal techniques. Teams will now begin the process to move Starliner back to Boeing’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility in Florida for deeper-level troubleshooting of four propulsion system valves that remain closed and more detailed analysis on the spacecraft.
NewSpace News
New Shepard Payload Mission NS-17 to Fly NASA Lunar Landing Experiment and Art Installation
New Shepard’s next mission will fly a NASA lunar landing technology demonstration a second time on the exterior of the booster, 18 commercial payloads inside the crew capsule, 11 of which are NASA-supported, and an art installation on the exterior of the capsule. Liftoff is currently targeted for Wednesday, August 25, at 8:35 am CDT / 13:35 UTC from Launch Site One in West Texas. Live launch coverage begins at T-30 minutes on BlueOrigin.com. This will be the 17th New Shepard mission to date,
Spaceflight Now Managing 3 Consecutive Rocket Lab Launches For BlackSky
Spaceflight is currently managing three consecutive dedicated Rocket Lab launches for its customer BlackSky, a leading technology platform providing real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring. The back-to-back-to-back launches will each carry two BlackSky smallsats to LEO. Spaceflight’s RL-8, coined “Love At First Insight” by Rocket Lab, is the first of the launches
BlackSky and Palantir Collaboration Aids Government Agencies
BlackSky Holdings, Inc. (“BlackSky”) announced the completion of a joint pilot project with Palantir TechnologiesInc. (NYSE: PLTR) that integrated BlackSky’s commercial satellite imagery and analytics into Palantir Foundry, Palantir’s enterprise platform. The capabilities of the combined solution were successfully demonstrated in a series of exercises with experienced geo-intelligence customers. Through the collective capabilities of BlackSky […]
Space Force awards $32 million in contracts to startups and small businesses
24 companies that competed at the Space Force Pitch Day, 19 were selected for SBIR Phase 2 awards
Space Safety News
AuroraSat-1 From Aurora Propulsion Technologies To Be Launched By Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab will launch a satellite to test space junk removal technologies for Aurora Propulsion Technologies, a Finnish company dedicated to the sustainable use of space. Lifting-off from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula as part of a rideshare mission scheduled in Q4, 2021, Electron will deploy AuroraSat-1 to LEO in a demonstration
Space Force to establish new command in Colorado focused on training and education
The U.S. Space Force on Aug. 23 will establish the Space Training and Readiness Command at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.
Science & Technology News
A technique to predict radiation risk during ISS Missions
To reduce risks of the hazards of spaceflight and protect astronauts from space radiation, NASA is using the International Space Station to develop capabilities to predict space radiation exposure for future exploration missions.
Planetary scientists find evidence of solar-driven change on the Moon
Tiny iron nanoparticles unlike any found naturally on Earth are nearly everywhere on the Moon-and scientists are trying to understand why
