SpaceLink to wind down operations, barring last-minute investment
Monday, 31 October 2022 19:21
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Barring last-minute offers from potential buyers or investors, SpaceLink, a startup developing a space-relay constellation, will wind down its operations.
The post SpaceLink to wind down operations, barring last-minute investment appeared first on SpaceNews.
Lockheed Martin ups stake in Terran Orbital, invests $100 million to expand smallsat manufacturing
Monday, 31 October 2022 18:18 Write a comment
Lockheed Martin is increasing its stake in small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital with a $100 million investment.
The post Lockheed Martin ups stake in Terran Orbital, invests $100 million to expand smallsat manufacturing appeared first on SpaceNews.
A plan to power a lunar colony solely through solar energy without energy storage
Monday, 31 October 2022 16:56 Write a comment
NASA and several other national space agencies have recently revived their lunar colonization programs. One of the key factors that needs to be solved is how to power such a colony. Can uninterrupted solar power feasibly be realized without energy storage? On Earth, providing 100% of electricity demand 100% of the time solely from renewables, but without energy storage, is unfeasible.
This Earth-bound mindset has been challenged recently by a paradigm shift developed by Ben-Gurion University's Prof. Jeffrey Gordon, which he was invited to present to NASA in late August. His idea was published earlier this year in Renewable Energy.
On the moon, solar is the sole available renewable resource. The overriding challenge is to completely supply the main energy consumer: factories that need to continuously (24/7, 365 days a year) produce thousands of tons of oxygen (O2) per year from the lunar soil, for rocket propellant, orbiting satellite refueling and human sustenance. A large part of the challenge derives from any location on the moon on average spending half of the lunar rotational period of 29.5 days in the dark.
'Earth is in our hands': Astronaut Pesquet's plea for the planet
Monday, 31 October 2022 16:24 Write a comment
From his unique viewpoint hundreds of kilometres above Earth, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP he felt helpless watching fires rage across the planet below, calling for more to be done to protect this fragile "island of life".
Pesquet said his two tours onboard the International Space Station convinced him more than ever that the world is failing to address the threat posed by climate change.
He also witnessed moments of astonishing beauty while in space, some of which are captured in 300 photos published in his new book "La Terre entre nos mains" (Earth is in our Hands), released this week in France, the profits of which will go to charity.
Pesquet wrote that he initially "caught the photo bug" during his first tour on the ISS in 2016-2017.
Give climate some MAGIC
Monday, 31 October 2022 13:44 Write a comment
There are times when we could all do with a bit of magic in our lives. And, with the Global Climate Observing System announcement of ‘terrestrial water storage’ as a completely new Essential Climate Variable, the world of climate research and climate crisis response would certainly benefit from a satellite mission called MAGIC.
Australia joins ASAT test ban, raising like-minded countries to eight
Monday, 31 October 2022 12:25 Write a comment
Australia has pledged not to conduct direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile testing, throwing its weight behind the U.S.-driven initiative launched in April to promote the peaceful and safe use of outer space.
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Perseverance to establish sample cache for later return to Earth
Monday, 31 October 2022 10:18 Write a comment
NASA and the European Space Agency have selected a location on Mars to cache samples collected by the Perseverance rover, one step in the overall process of returning those samples to Earth.
The post Perseverance to establish sample cache for later return to Earth appeared first on SpaceNews.
China launches third and final module for Tiangong space station: state TV
Monday, 31 October 2022 09:40 Write a comment
China launched the final module of its Tiangong space station on Monday, state media said, the latest step in Beijing's ambitious space programme.
The module named Mengtian, or "dreaming of heavens," was "launched on a Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang launch centre" on China's tropical island Hainan, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Amateur photographers and space enthusiasts watch China tests engines for moon mission rocket
Monday, 31 October 2022 09:31 Write a comment
China has conducted a series of successful hot fire tests for engines designed to power a launch vehicle capable of sending astronauts to the moon.
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China launches 3rd and final space station component
Monday, 31 October 2022 08:06 Write a comment
Halloween Crack for Halloween
Monday, 31 October 2022 07:00 Write a comment
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Halloween Crack for Halloween SatixFy completes business combination with Endurance Acquisition Corp
Monday, 31 October 2022 04:57 Write a comment
SatixFy Communications Ltd. has completed its previously-announced business combination with Endurance Acquisition Corp. ("Endurance") following the approval of the business combination by Endurance's stockholders on October 25, 2022 and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
In addition, on October 24, 2022, Endurance and SatixFy entered into a previously disclosed OTC Prepaid Forw Lunar landing restored for Artemis 4 mission
Sunday, 30 October 2022 21:42 Write a comment
NASA has restored plans to include a lunar landing on its Artemis 4 mission to the moon later this decade, months after saying that the mission would instead be devoted to assembly of the lunar Gateway.
First NorthStar SSA satellites to launch in 2023 by Virgin Orbit
Sunday, 30 October 2022 15:21 Write a comment
NorthStar Earth and Space, a company planning a constellation of satellites to collect space situational awareness data, will launch its first satellites in mid-2023 with Virgin Orbit.
The post First NorthStar SSA satellites to launch in 2023 by Virgin Orbit appeared first on SpaceNews.
For U.S. Space Force, Raymond’s retirement marks the end of an era
Sunday, 30 October 2022 08:01 Write a comment
The first chief of space operations Gen. John 'Jay' Raymond retires Nov. 2 after 38 years of military service
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