Satellite News
Marking five years of Hungary in ESA
Hungary celebrates its fifth anniversary in ESA after becoming ESA’s 22nd and most recent Member State on 4 November 2015.
SpaceX launches public beta test of Starlink Internet service
Joining the public beta test costs $99 a month on top of a $499 upfront cost for the ground equipment, which includes a user terminal to connect to the satellites, a mounting tripod and a Wi-Fi router.SpaceX also has a Starlink app listed on the Google Play and Apple iOS app stores, which helps users set up their systems and allows them to search areas of the sky for unobstructed views.
Satellite manufacturers remain upbeat about market in spite of challenges of pandemic
Satellite manufacturers expressed optimism that overall demand for satellite communications would remain strong.
Maxar eyes September 2021 launch for WorldView Legion satellites
Maxar Technologies plans to launch its first two WorldView Legion satellites as early as September 2021 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Exploration News
NASA seeks new partners to help put all eyes on Artemis Moon missions
Through the end of this decade, NASA will explore more of the lunar surface than ever before and will establish a sustainable human presence with Artemis in preparation for future human missions to Mars.
Biden administration expected to emphasize climate science over lunar exploration at NASA
A Biden administration is likely to place more emphasis on Earth sciences at NASA and slow down the agency’s plans to return humans to the moon, and do so with a new person at the helm of the agency.
ISS: 20 years looking over Earth
The International Space Station celebrates a huge milestone on 2 November 2020. For two decades, it has continuously hosted humans in space. Eighteen ESA astronauts have flown to the Station. Altogether, more than 240 crew members and visitors from 19 countries have visited the station and made it their temporary home.
Launcher News
Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding
Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy successfully sent a small satellite into orbit Saturday with the first launch of its Ceres-1 launch vehicle.
ESA awards €1.5 million to three German launch startups
The European Space Agency awarded German launch startups HyImpulse Technologies, Rocket Factory Augsburg, and Isar Aerospace a combined 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million) to support development of competing smallsat launchers.
Vector restarting operations under new ownership
Vector, a small launch vehicle developer that went bankrupt in 2019, is getting a second chance under new ownership, with changes to both its technology and initial markets.
NewSpace News
ThrustMe’s Iodine Propulsion System Launched Aboard Spacety’s Smallsat
ThrustMe and Spacety have announce that the BEIHANGKONGSHI-1 satellite, carrying the world’s first iodine electric propulsion system, was successfully launched into space on a CZ-6 Long March 6 rocket from Taiyuan in China on the November 6 at 04:20 a.m.
Exotrail’s ExoOPS™ Implemented For CNES
Exotrail has implemented ExoOPS, the company’s mission design and satellite operation software suite for the French Space Agency (CNES). View the ExoOPS video at this direct link… In the frame of a software licensing contract signed this summer, CNES mission design analysis and system engineering teams are now using ExoOPS – Mission Design advanced functionalities
NGA adds Planet, BlackSky to imagery delivery system used by government agencies
by Sandra Erwin — November 5, 2020 Planet and BlackSky imagery will be added to NGA’s unclassified system that delivers geospatial data to government agencies.
Satellogic launches 10 satellites to provide high-resolution imagery
With the successful launch of 10 satellites, Earth observation company Satellogic says it can now move ahead of its rivals in providing high-resolution imagery.
NanoAvionics Expands Their Space Sector in UK
NanaAvionics, is enjoying the need to expand its space sector business in the United Kingdom. The company is moving to a new, larger facility for satellite assembly, integration and testing (AIT) as well as sales, technical support and R&D activities in Basingstoke (50 miles/80 km outside Central London) this month. This is in addition to […]
Science & Technology News
Large, deep Antarctic Ozone Hole persisting into November
Persistent cold temperatures and strong circumpolar winds, also known as the polar vortex, supported the formation of a large and deep Antarctic ozone hole that should persist into November, NOAA and NASA scientists reported Friday. The annual Antarctic ozone hole reached its peak size at about 9.6 million square miles (24.8 million square kilometers),
