Satellite News
Europe needs a crewed space vehicle, astronauts say
Europe needs its own crewed spaceship to build its space industry and talent, astronauts who gathered in France said in an official manifesto Wednesday
Getting ready for lunar orbit
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst visited Thales Alenia Space in Turin recently to test out and provide feedback on accommodations for the next human outpost in space, the lunar Gateway.
Exploration News
LM Selected for Critical Elements of NASA’s Mission to Bring Back 1st Ever Samples from Mars
Lockheed Martin was awarded three NASA contracts for key elements of the agency’s visionary Mars Sample Return program. The first contract is for the cruise stage that will power and steer the Mars-bound journey of the lander that retrieves Martian rock and soil samples from the Perseverance Rover. For this $35 million award from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California (JPL),
Civilian Astronauts are Going to try Spacewalking From a Crew Dragon Capsule
Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman who flew to space on the Inspiration4 mission last year has announced another flight, with the aim of conducting the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Isaacman announced that he and a crew of three more civilians (i.e., non-NASA) will fly on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Polaris Program, with hopes for the
China’s Chang’e-4 discovers glass globules on far side of moon
The Yutu-2 lunar rover of China’s Chang’e-4 mission has discovered two macroscopic translucent glass globules during its exploration of the far side of the moonwhich could potentially help reveal the moon’s early impact history.
Launcher News
Antares rocket launch kicks off space station resupply mission
Northrop Grumman launched a cargo flight from Virginia’s Eastern Shore Saturday using an Antares booster with a first stage designed and built in Ukraine, a successful start for a mission to deliver food, experiments, and supplies to the seven-person crew on the International Space Station.
Next GOES weather satellite installed atop Atlas 5 rocket
A new weather satellite destined for a perch over the Pacific Ocean and the Western United States was mounted on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket Thursday at Cape Canaveral, moving a step closer to launch scheduled for March 1.
Blue Origin to build more rockets amid expectations to tourist flights
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company says it will have to build more of its New Shepard rockets in order to meet the “very robust demand” for space tourism, the company’s CEO said.
Vaya Space completes first suborbital test flight
Vaya Space announced the successful launch of its hybrid rocket from Mojave, California on January 29th, 2022 operating under an existing FAA waiver. The suborbital flight demonstrated its hybrid rocket design using 3D printed fuel grains created from recycled thermoplastics
Terran Orbital touts military and defense contracts ahead of going public
Terran Orbital executives told investors the company is heavily weighted toward government work and expects significant revenues from defense and intelligence contracts
NewSpace News
ABB gets $30 million order for EarthDaily imaging payloads
Switzerland-based technology provider ABB said Feb. 16 it is supplying multispectral imaging systems for EarthDaily Analytics’ (EDA) planned fleet of 10 satellites.
Aerospacelab Successfully Raises €40 million (US$45.4 million)
Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab has accelerated its next stage of growth with a successful raise of €40 million. The Series B round is co-led by Airbus Ventures and XAnge, a leading European investor in early-stage startups. Additional investors in the round include Octave & Miroslaw Klaba, SRIW, Noshaq, BNP Paribas Private Equity, Sambrinvest, and Belaero
‘dress rehearsals’ as launchpad arrives at test site
The first rocket launchpad constructed in the UK for more than 50 years is now in place at the Orbex test site in Kinloss, Scotland. The new launchpad – known as ‘Orbex LP1’ – recently completed an 80-mile road trip from Peterhead to Kinloss on two trucks, accompanied by a police escort.
OQ Technology’s “wake-up” patent draws yawn from IoT smallsat rival
Luxembourg startup OQ Technology has secured its first patent for a planned satellite constellation to connect internet of things (IoT) devices
Space Safety News
Russian ASAT debris creating “squalls” of close approaches with satellites
Debris from a Russian antisatellite weapon demonstration in November are creating surges of close approaches, in some cases tens of thousands in a week, with active satellites in low Earth orbit.
China proposes formal lines of communication with U.S. on space safety
The Chinese government is open to establishing formal lines of communication with the United States on space safety issues after a pair of alleged close calls of Starlink satellites with China’s space station.
A Colossal Flare Erupted From the Far Side of the Sun
Earlier this week the Sun erupted with a huge explosion, blasting solar particles millions of kilometers into space. The team for the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter spacecraft says the blast is the largest solar prominence eruption ever observed in a single image together with the full solar disc. Luckily for us here on Earth, the eruption … Continue reading “A Colossal Flare Erupted From the Far Side of the Sun” The post A Colossal Flare Erupted From the Far Side of the Sun appeared first on Universe Today.
Preventing Lunar traffic jams
The moon is top of mind for many national space programs and private companies, with some planning to send humans back to the lunar surface as early as 2025. In advance, scientists are launching satellites and other payloads to orbit the moon. But so far, no one has kept track of just how many artificial objects are already up there, or where they are at any given moment. Without a way to keep track of traffic, the orbital space surrounding the moon could quickly grow crowded.
New laser station lights the way to debris reduction
ESA’s Izana-1 laser ranging station in Tenerife, Spain, has recently undergone months of testing and commissioning, passing its final tests with flying colours. As it reached ‘station acceptance’, it was handed over to ESA from the German company contracted to build it, DiGO.
Science & Technology News
NASA Offers Up to $200 Million to Help Push New Technologies to Market
Companies with technologies that may advance exploration but need a little extra push to finalize development have two new opportunities to partner with NASA to make it over the finish line. Through Tipping Point, NASA seeks to support space technologies that can foster the growth of commercial space capabilities and benefit future agency missions
An Asteroid has Been Discovered With Three Moons!
Planets aren’t the only celestial objects with moons – asteroids can have them too. They are usually other, smaller asteroids in orbit around a larger central one. Now, a team of Thai and French astronomers found an asteroid system with three satellites. The new four-body system makes complex gravitational problems like the three-body problem look … Continue reading “An Asteroid has Been Discovered With Three Moons!” The post An Asteroid has Been Discovered With Three Moons! appeared first on Universe Today.
Coca-Cola launching new Starlight drink ‘inspired by space’
A new flavor of Coca-Cola is coming soon – a promotional announcement from Coca-Coca Thursday said, “From the furthest reaches of the galaxy, Coca-Cola Starlight is arriving.”
