L3Harris’ acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne nears completion
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 22:14![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
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L3Harris told investors July 26 that federal regulators will not challenge the company’s acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne, clearing the way for the deal to close as early as July 28.
Geospatial intelligence startup Kleos Space files for bankruptcy
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 21:45![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
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Kleos Space, a Luxembourg based startup that operates signals-intelligence satellites, has run out of cash and will file for bankruptcy.
NASA and DARPA select Lockheed Martin to develop DRACO nuclear propulsion demo
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 20:49![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![DRACO illustration](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/53072754999_ec97e4c286_k.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1)
NASA and DARPA have selected Lockheed Martin to develop a spacecraft to demonstrate nuclear propulsion technologies in Earth orbit later this decade.
Space Command nominee: U.S. has to prepare to respond to aggression against satellites
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 20:47![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
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The U.S. military is being challenged to counter China’s rapid advances in space technology, Lt.
NASA's Juno is getting ever closer to Jupiter's moon Io
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 19:42![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![From left, Ganymede, Europa, and Io – the three Jovian moons that NASA’s Juno mission has flown past – as well as Jupiter are shown in a photo illustration created from data collected by the spacecraft’s JunoCam imager. Credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Kevin M. Gill (CC BY); Thomas Thomopoulos (CC BY) NASA's Juno is getting ever closer to Jupiter's moon Io](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/nasas-juno-is-getting.jpg)
The spinning, solar-powered spacecraft will take another look of the fiery Jovian moon on July 30.
When NASA's Juno mission flies by Jupiter's fiery moon Io on Sunday, July 30, the spacecraft will be making its closest approach yet, coming within 13,700 miles (22,000 kilometers) of it.
NASA picks Lockheed Martin to develop nuclear rocket
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 19:04![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
!["These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations," said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin Space. "These more powerful and efficient nuclear thermal propulsion systems can provide faster transit times between destinations](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/quotthese-more-powerfu.jpg)
NASA and the US military said Wednesday they had selected defense contractor Lockheed Martin to develop a nuclear powered rocket, with a view to using the technology for missions to Mars.
The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program may launch as soon as 2027, officials said on a call.
Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) systems could cut journey times, increase fuel efficiency, and require less propellant, meaning future spacecraft could carry larger payloads than today's best chemical rockets.
NTP works by pumping a liquid propellant, in DRACO's case cryogenic hydrogen, through a reactor core, where uranium atoms split apart through fission.
Engineers test printed electronics in space
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 17:23![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![A printed circuit that flew on the SubTEC 9 technology test flight from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in April sits on display during the Goddard Field Day event. Credit: NASA / Karl B. Hille Goddard, Wallops engineers test printed electronics in space](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/goddard-wallops-engine.jpg)
Today's small spacecraft pack sensors, guidance and control, and operating electronics into every available space. Printing electronic circuits on the walls and structures of spacecraft could help future missions do more in smaller packages.
Engineers successfully tested hybrid printed circuits at the edge of space in an April 25 sounding rocket flight from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility near Chincoteague, Virginia. Electronic temperature and humidity sensors printed onto the payload bay door and onto two attached panels monitored the entire SubTEC-9 sounding rocket mission, recording data that was beamed to the ground.
The amazing new materials that hold the key to new space discoveries
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 17:22![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Next-generation materials with multifunctionality, durability and light weight and able to withstand the extreme conditions for advanced space applications. Credit: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s42114-023-00678-5 The amazing new materials that hold the key to new space discoveries](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/the-amazing-new-materi.jpg)
Space is a dangerous place. From micro-meteorites and electromagnetic interference to fires in space and extreme heat and cold, we need to develop new materials to enable the next generation of space travel and intergalactic travel.
New Swinburne research published in Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials highlights the cutting-edge materials that are solving these problems, including those being developed by Swinburne's Multifunctional Materials and Composites team.
These include self-healing polymers, fire and thermally resistant materials, materials for thermal management, self-cleaning materials, EMI shielding materials and multifunctional carbon fiber composites.
Lead author and Swinburne Engineering Senior Lecturer Dr.
Boeing records more losses from Starliner delays
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 15:35![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Starliner preparations](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/starliner-may2023.jpg?fit=300%2C223&ssl=1)
Boeing took another loss on its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew program as the first crewed flight of that vehicle remains in limbo.
Crew-7: crew news conference
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 14:02![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/videos/2023/07/crew-7_crew_news_conference/25026192-1-eng-GB/Crew-7_crew_news_conference_card_full.png)
On Tuesday 25 July, the four crew members of Crew-7, Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), Andreas Mogensen (ESA), Satoshi Furukawa (JAXA) and Konstantin Borisov (Roscosmos) hosted a news conference where they talk about their upcoming mission to the International Space Station.
Webb snaps detailed infrared image of actively forming stars
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 13:00![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Webb snaps detailed infrared image of actively forming stars](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/07/webb_snaps_detailed_infrared_image_of_actively_forming_stars/25024841-2-eng-GB/Webb_snaps_detailed_infrared_image_of_actively_forming_stars_card_full.jpg)
Aeolus reentry: the breakdown
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 12:20![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/videos/2023/07/aeolus_reentry_the_breakdown/25024763-1-eng-GB/Aeolus_reentry_the_breakdown_card_full.png)
After a remarkable life in orbit, Aeolus is out of fuel and out of time – it’s returning to Earth this week. Planned and built before any regulations were put in place on ‘end-of-life’ disposal, the Earth Explorer was designed to naturally return through our atmosphere.
After months of detailed planning and analysis, ESA together with industrial partners has designed a complex and never-before-performed set of manoeuvres to control, as much as possible, Aeolus’ fall.
The assisted reentry attempt is built on four main phases, now begun at ESA’s mission control:
- Phase I: once Aeolus has fallen
Geophysics student employs 800-year-old method for Lunar GPS system
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 10:28![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/moon-lunar-eclipse-marker-bg.jpg)
Gilmour Space Technologies to accelerate design and manufacturing with Siemens Xcelerator
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 10:28![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/gilmour-space-eris-launcher-rocket-bg.jpg)
Unveiling Mars' Past: Olympus Mons as a Gigantic Volcanic Isle
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 10:28![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/mola-mars-olympus-mons-volcanic-island-martian-ocean-bg.jpg)