ESA is forging ahead with advanced developments in two flagship space transportation demonstration projects, Prometheus and Phoebus. This will benefit Europe’s new Ariane 6 launcher in the near-term, and prepare for a new generation of European launch vehicles in the next decade.

Los Angeles AFB CA (AFNS) May 13, 2021
The United States Space Force's Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO-5 satellite was encapsulated on April 30 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) Florida. The satellite's encapsulation within the United Launch Alliance's payload fairing represents completion of the final major testing milestone before launch, as well as a key protective measure for the satellite in preparation

Washington DC (AFNS) May 13, 2021
Cost, performance and delivery drive acquisition across the Defense Department, typically in equal measure. But the Space Development Agency has prioritized delivery above all else in its effort to get satellites into space that will deliver non-line-of-sight targeting to warfighters across the globe. "The key thing is always to focus on getting these capabilities up and operational as rap

Titusville FL (SPX) May 13, 2021
The U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Test Program Satellite - 6 space vehicle arrived at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, on May 6, 2021. STPSat-6 is the primary space vehicle on the Space Test Program - 3 mission, and was safely transported by Northrop Grumman from their facility in Dulles, Virginia where STPSat-6 was built and tested. STPSat-6 is on s

Washington DC (AFNS) May 13, 2021
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth told a congressional subcommittee Friday that both the Air and Space forces are moving decisively to confront new and emerging threats, including those from China and Russia, while also devoting resources "to rid our ranks of corrosive elements and injustices." Appearing alongside Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., and Chief of

Washington DC (AFNS) May 13, 2021
The United States is a spacefaring nation, which depends on access to space and freedom to maneuver in space. However, there's a potential for conflict in space that could affect the lives of every American, said the chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force. Space Force Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond spoke at the McAleese "FY2022 Defense Programs" conference in Washington, D.C.

Cape Town, South Africa (SPX) May 17, 2021
CATALYST, a PCI Geomatics brand, has delivered an automated workflow for the South African National Space Agency's (SANSA) Earth Observation Department to convert decades of SPOT satellite imagery to CARD4L Analysis Ready Data (ARD). The scalable workflow enables SANSA to prepare its entire SPOT archive for immediate analysis using the Open Data Cube, machine learning, and AI models. CATAL

Wuhan, China (XNA) May 17, 2021
China's first smart manufacturing facility for small satellites in the central city of Wuhan is ready for official production operations, with the first satellite rolling off the production line on Thursday. The first satellite is a typical product for mass production self-developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, Ltd. (CASIC). This new development demonstrates t

Beijing (XNA) May 17, 2021
After decades of planning and construction, China possesses one of the world's major navigation satellite systems - the Beidou Navigation Satellite System. Beidou is currently the country's largest space-based system and one of four global navigation networks, along with the United States' GPS, Russia's GLONASS and the European Union's Galileo. "Beidou is the fruit of the determinati

London, UK (SPX) May 17, 2021
When SEAKR Engineering decided to upgrade its mission-critical space data recorder applications to a new hardware platform, they kept their software in Ada. SEAKR Engineering is a leading supplier of state-of-the-art spacecraft electronics and a pioneer in the development of solid-state data recorders for satellites. SEAKR's products are on the International Space Station, on satellites or