Logan UT (SPX) Aug 09, 2023
RIKEN, Japan's largest comprehensive research institution, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, and mission integrator Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) have announced their collaboration on the astronomical NinjaSat1 X-ray observatory mission. The aim of this two-year mission in a low Earth orbit (LEO) is to observe X-ray photons from bright X-ray objects in the universe. The NinjaSat team aims to obse

Washington DC (SPX) Aug 08, 2023
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered two major components of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) and has started the next phase of pre-launch preparations. This two-satellite constellation will deliver protected satellite communications to the Northern polar region - one of the most difficult locations on earth to deliver communications. The most recent accompli

Littleton CO (SPX) Aug 08, 2023
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the Space Development Agency (SDA) successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for SDA's Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) program. The integrated system review validated that Lockheed Martin's T1TL ground and space designs meet all mission requirements and can proceed to production. The initial warfighting capability of the SDA's Proliferated War

Birmingham UK (SPX) Aug 09, 2023
Concentrations of potentially harmful chemical compounds in dust collected from air filtration systems on the International Space Station (ISS) exceed those found in floor dust from many American homes, a new study reveals. In the first study of its kind, scientists analysed a sample of dust from air filters within the ISS and found levels of organic contaminants which were higher than the

Tucson AZ (SPX) Aug 09, 2023
The galaxy stretches out in front of us. The solar system is behind us. We have traveled over 5 billion miles from the home we departed forever 17 years ago. We threaded our way through the moons of Jupiter, skimmed the frozen seas of Pluto, and buzzed Arrokoth, a fossilized remnant of the ancient solar nebula that created the Sun and the Earth. The space ahead is unknown. We are now nearl

Cedar Park TX (SPX) Aug 09, 2023
Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, has announced a new agreement with Xtenti, LLC, an innovative space logistics company, to conduct a responsive space mission with Firefly's orbital vehicle, Elytra, and Xtenti's small satellite dispenser, FANTM-RiDE. Scheduled to launch in 2024, the mission supports Xtenti's follow-on study contract with the National Reco

London, UK (SPX) Aug 09, 2023
NASA's Perseverance rover may have discovered organic molecules on the surface of Mars. While they don't prove the existence of alien life, they add further evidence that Mars has a much more complex past than previously realised. Mars' Jezero crater may have revealed its most intriguing finding yet, following the discovery of organic molecules in its rocks. Analyses of rock samples collec

London, UK (SPX) Aug 09, 2023
One of the UK's most famous meteorites is helping scientists learn more about asteroids millions of kilometres away from Earth. Knowing more about the chemical composition of the Winchcombe meteorite and comparing it to asteroid data could help unravel some of the mysteries of our solar system. Since it crash-landed in the eponymous town in Gloucestershire in 2021, scientists have been att

Carlsbad CA (SPX) Aug 08, 2023
Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) has received awards totaling over $80 million to develop Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) systems for ground, maritime, and space applications. AESA, a type of phased array antenna that offers greater flexibility and resilience to support military platforms, is often employed when multiple beams, low probability of intercept (LPI) and jamming resistance

Littleton CO (SPX) Aug 08, 2023
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has opened a facility that streamlines small satellite (smallsat) processing to enable high-rate delivery. The multi-million dollar facility will house the company's Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites, among other smallsat programs and technology demonstrators. The 20,000-square-foot low bay clean room, located on the company's W