ESA moves forward with your ideas for 11 pioneering missions
Thursday, 02 December 2021 09:06
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You spoke, we listened. Last September, we asked for your ideas for future space missions. Our goal was to tap into the insight, expertise and creativity of European citizens, companies and academia to help us plan for the future. Based on over 200 ideas, ESA Discovery & Preparation is now launching 11 new activities over the course of the coming year, that will together shape the future of space.
ESA’s Mars Express unravels mystery of martian moon using 'fake' flybys
Thursday, 02 December 2021 09:00 Write a comment
By performing a series of real and 'fake' flybys, ESA’s Mars Express has revealed how Mars’ largest moon, Phobos, interacts with the solar wind of charged particles thrown out by the Sun – and spotted an elusive process that has only been seen at Phobos once before.
Watch Galileo launch on night of 2-3 December
Thursday, 02 December 2021 08:34 Write a comment
The launch of Europe’s latest Galileo satellites is now due to take place tonight, very early on Friday morning. The original launch date was postponed due to adverse weather conditions at the launch site.
Galileo launch postponed
Thursday, 02 December 2021 08:34 Write a comment
Due to unavailability of a downrange tracking station, Arianespace has taken the decision to postpone the fueling of Galileo's three stage Soyuz launcher. The VS26 Soyuz launch vehicle and the satellites are in a stable and safe condition.
Watch Galileo launch on night of 3-4 December
Thursday, 02 December 2021 08:34 Write a comment
The earliest launch date for Europe’s latest Galileo satellites is now during the night of 3-4 December.
12 things you never knew about Galileo satellites
Thursday, 02 December 2021 08:12 Write a comment
Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system is providing the world’s most precise positioning services, but the satellites at its heart are surprisingly compact, and dependent on many different technologies to keep running. Here are 12 things you probably didn’t know about them:
Biden administration turns focus to space security
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 22:05 Write a comment
At the first meeting of the Biden administration’s National Space Council Dec. 1, Vice President Kamala Harris said a top concern is keeping space safe for military, civilian and commercial operations.
Kymeta plans to release OneWeb terminal by next summer
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 21:54 Write a comment
Antenna maker Kymeta announced a partnership Dec. 1 to jointly develop a flat panel, electronically steered user terminal for stationary land applications on OneWeb’s low Earth orbit broadband network.
Space Council condemns “irresponsible” Russian ASAT test
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 21:20 Write a comment
Administration officials used a National Space Council meeting to issue a new round of criticism of Russia’s antisatellite weapon test and call for a halt to future ASAT tests that create debris.
White House releases space priorities framework
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 15:00 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — The White House released Dec. 1 a document that outlines its space policy priorities, including addressing growing military threats and supporting “a rules-based international order for space.” The seven-page United States Space Priorities Framework document, released ahead of the first meeting by the National Space Council under the Biden administration, represents the first […]
Test tanks fuelled for ESA’s Themis reusable first stage
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 13:00 Write a comment
Recently completed tests of two propellant tanks set a first technological milestone in the ESA reusability roadmap towards the demonstration of a reusable first stage vehicle called Themis.
Soon, 1 out of every 15 points of light in the sky will be a satellite
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 11:28 Write a comment
I'm outside at my rural Saskatchewan farm, chatting with my neighbors who I've invited over to appreciate the night sky through my telescope. After exclamations and open-mouthed wonder over Saturn's rings, and light that has been traveling through space for more than two million years to reach our eyes from the Andromeda Galaxy, our conversation inevitably turns to the pandemic, our work-from-home arrangements and complaints about rural internet. My neighbor casually mentions they've just switched to using Starlink for their internet provider.
I glance up and notice a bright satellite moving across the sky, almost certainly a Starlink, since they now make up almost half of the nearly 4,000 operational satellites and they're extremely bright. I take a deep breath and carefully consider how to discuss the substantial cost that we're all going to have to pay for Starlink internet.
I don't blame my neighbors for switching.
SpaceX grapples with Raptor production problems
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 10:23 Write a comment
Problems increasing production of the Raptor engines that power SpaceX’s Starship vehicle have led to personnel shakeups at the company and a warning from founder Elon Musk that the company risked “bankruptcy” if the company could not resolve them.
NASA inspector general warns of space station gap
Wednesday, 01 December 2021 08:56 Write a comment
Concerns about the long-term viability of some existing International Space Station modules and the potential of delays in development of commercial space stations heighten the risk of a gap in low Earth orbit destinations, a new report warns.