Copernical Team
NASA, Partners Conduct Fifth Asteroid Impact Exercise, Release Summary
For the benefit of all, the space agency released a summary Thursday of the fifth biennial Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise. the space agencys Planetary Defense Coordination Office, in partnership with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State Office of Space Affairs, convened the tabletop exercise to inform and assess our a
China's first commercial spacecraft launch site ready
Hainan - China's first commercial spacecraft launch site is ready for operations in South China's Hainan province as of Sunday, having completed a rocket launch simulation rehearsal using its two launch pads. According to the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co Ltd (HICAL), which built and operates the launch site, the exercises performed using the launch pads included wate
HERA crew complete 45-day simulated journey to Mars
Four dedicated explorersJason Lee, Stephanie Navarro, Shareef Al Romaithi, and Piyumi Wijesekarajust returned from a 45-day simulated journey to Mars, testing the boundaries of human endurance and teamwork within the space agencys HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Their groundbreaking work on HERAs Campaign 7 Mission 2 contributes to the s
Starliner undergoing thruster testing before indefinite return flight
An initial eight-day Boeing Starliner test mission to the International Space Station will be extended indefinitely to test the spacecraft's thrusters. Test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are safely aboard the ISS and are not stranded in space, NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said during a briefing Friday. But there is no targeted return date "until we get th
Space Renaissance International Achieves Observer Status At U.N. COPUOS
Space Renaissance International (SRI) is proud to announce it has been granted provisional observer status for three years at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). This milestone decision was achieved during the 67th COPUOS General Assembly held from June 19-28, 2024, in Vienna, Austria.SRI joins four other newly approved non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
NASA Seeks Feedback on Requirements for New Commercial Space Stations
NASA is asking American companies to provide input on the agency's requirements for end-to-end services as part of the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program. In the future, the agency plans to transition its operations in low Earth orbit to commercially owned and operated destinations to ensure continued access and presence in space for research, technology development, and intern
Space Pioneer Issues Apology After Engine Test Explosion
Chinese commercial company Space Pioneer issued an apology to the public on Tuesday after a test of the first stage engines of the Tianlong-3 rocket failed in Henan province causing explosions in the mountainous area and disturbances to people's lives. Tianlong-3, a two-stage kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9, experienced the failure during a test of its nine en
PLD Space invests 10 million euros in MIURA 5 launch complex in French Guiana
The launcher company PLD Space has announced an investment of 10 million euros in MIURA 5 Launch Complex at Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe's spaceport in Kourou (French Guiana), owned by the French Space Agency (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA). With the first launch of its rocket at the end of 2025, PLD Space will become the first non-institutional launch operator that will go to or
Orbit Fab Delivers First Grip In-space Refueling Nozzle Following Successful Testing
Orbit Fab has announced the completion of testing of its refueling payload and testing of the GRIP capture and active in-space refueling nozzle with automated docking, which eliminates the need for complex robotic arms for refueling. After completing rigorous GRIP testing and in-space refueling simulations, Orbit Fab has successfully retired major technical risks ahead of key government an
SpaceX completes Starlink launch, brings Direct to Cell satellite total to 103
SpaceX early Wednesday launched a new round of Starlink satellites into orbit in its first launch for the month of July after it saw a slight delay. The liftoff at pad 40 took place in at 4:55 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida after a 2-hour delay. The Falcon 9 rocket carried with it 20 Starlink satellites that were successfully put into space above Eart