Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 07, 2021
With only about 50 million miles (80 million kilometers) left to go in its 293-million-mile (471-million-kilometer) journey, NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is nearing its new planetary home. The spacecraft has begun its approach to the Red Planet and in 43 days, on Feb. 18, 2021, Perseverance will blaze through Mars' atmosphere at about 12,100 mph (19,500 kph), touching down gently on the s

Nashville TN (SPX) Jan 07, 2021
The fifth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey is collecting data about our universe for Vanderbilt University astronomers and other project members to use to explore the formation of distant galaxies and supermassive black holes, and to map the Milky Way. The SDSS-V will make full use of existing satellites, including NASA's?Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite?mission, to lead to

Salt Lake City UT (SPX) Jan 07, 2021
Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory announced that it has successfully completed the Key Decision Point (KDP) C for NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE). KDP-C provides NASA approval for the project to begin final design and fabrication, known as Phase C, and establishes baselines for its official schedule and budget. Planned to be ready for launch to the International S

Luxembourg (SPX) Jan 07, 2021
Kleos Space S.A., a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service (DaaS) company, continues to strengthen its global senior leadership team, appointing seasoned industry executive Eric von Eckartsberg as its Chief Revenue Officer. US-based Eric von Eckartsberg is a highly qualified business executive with an extensive background leading rapid growth in international sales and bu

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 06, 2021
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply craft carried a load of new scientific experiments to the International Space Station in early October. That is only one of the jobs the craft has, though. Once it undocks from the station Cygnus will continue operations by hosting a two-week test of emerging technologies known as SharkSat. Developed internally at Northrop Grumman, SharkSat is just one exam

Beijing (XNA) Jan 06, 2021
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the leading force of the country's space industry, has released a plan for more than 40 space launches for 2021, a new high following the already busy and fruitful 2020. The construction of China's space station, the key space mission in the year, will enter a crucial stage, according to the CASC. The country plans to lau

Providence RI (SPX) Jan 07, 2021
After performing valiantly for two-and-a-half years in the extreme environment of low Earth orbit, a small satellite designed and built by Brown University undergraduates re-entered the atmosphere on Saturday, Dec. 26, burning up after one final pass over North America. Amateur radio operators in Michigan and New Jersey picked up the last two transmissions from the satellite, called EQUiSa

Washington DC (SPX) Jan 06, 2021
The Artemis generation of lunar explorers will establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, prospecting for resources, making revolutionary discoveries, and proving technologies key to future deep space exploration. To support these ambitions, NASA navigation engineers from the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program are developing a navigation architecture that will provid

Dulles VA (SPX) Jan 07, 2021
Northrop Grumman reports that the company has completed the first phase of its 14th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Mission (CRS-2) contract. Cygnus was released by the station's robotic arm at 10:11 a.m. ET, carrying more than 4,000 pounds of disposable cargo and will remain in orbit for approximately two weeks for the secondary phase o

Washington DC (UPI) Jan 6, 2021
NASA is setting up a high-tech simulator, made by Lockheed Martin, to teach astronauts how to operate the Orion capsule during planned moon missions. Weak funding from Congress has cast doubt over the schedule for such lunar missions, but NASA is moving forward with preparations, officials have said. Lockheed delivered the Orion simulator to Johnson Space Center in mid-December,