Apply now to the ESA Teach with Space Online Conference
Thursday, 25 February 2021 09:10
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Register now for ESA’s first-ever virtual teacher conference! Over the course of three days, from 6 to 8 July 2021, ESA Education will bring space into your classroom. Explore space by hearing from space experts; discover inspiring ways to use space as a context to teach STEM in your physical and virtual classrooms; experience demonstrations of our fun classroom activities; and enjoy social space-themed events and more!
Applications are open until 15 June 2021 on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply now!
Earth from Space: Vancouver
Thursday, 25 February 2021 09:00 Write a comment
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over Vancouver – the third largest city in Canada.
Virgin Galactic further delays SpaceShipTwo test flights
Thursday, 25 February 2021 00:18 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — Virgin Galactic says it is delaying the next test flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle by more than two months to address technical issues, part of a revamped flight test program that will postpone flights of space tourists to 2022.
Orbex commissions 3D printer capable of producing 35+ rocket engines a year
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 21:11 Write a comment
VALETTA, Malta — On the heels of raising $24 million in December, Orbex announced Feb. 24 that it has commissioned AMCM to build a large-volume 3D printer for manufacturing its rocket engines.
The Scottish microlauncher startup is currently developing Prime, a two-stage launch vehicle powered by six first-stage and one second-stage biopropane engines.
Maxar remains focused on multiyear diversification strategy
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 20:40 Write a comment
SAN FRANCISCO — Maxar Technologies is continuing to diversify its business but remains in the “early innings” in attracting more defense and intelligence work, said Dan Jablonsky, Maxar president and CEO.
“It’s a multiyear journey that we’re on,” Jablonsky said Feb.
Space Force sees itself as a startup trying to launch a new product
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 19:57 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — The top enlisted leader of the U.S. Space Force compared the service to a startup that is trying to be “a little bit more adventurous” than the established branches of the military.
Comet makes a pit stop near Jupiter's asteroids
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 19:56
Stoke raises seed round to work on fully reusable rockets
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 17:05 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — A startup founded by a group of former Blue Origin and SpaceX employees has raised a seed round of funding to support their effort to make a fully reusable launch vehicle.
Stoke Space Technologies announced Feb.
Book excerpt | Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 16:37 Write a comment
A fat, red sun sank into the Texas horizon as Elon Musk bounded toward a silvery spaceship. Reaching its concrete landing pad, Musk marveled up at the stainless steel, steampunk contraption looming above, which shone brilliantly in the dying light.
South Korea to spend $553 million on space projects in 2021
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 16:12 Write a comment
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea will spend 615 billion won ($553.1 million) in 2021 on space activities aimed at bolstering its capacity to produce satellites, rockets and other key equipment. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the budget on Feb.
Blue Origin delays first launch of New Glenn to late 2022
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 15:53 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — Blue Origin is pushing back the first launch of its New Glenn rocket to late 2022, saying it “re-baselined” the development of the launch vehicle after losing a key Pentagon contract last year.
ExoMars orbiter images Perseverance landing site
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 15:00 Write a comment
Image:
ExoMars orbiter images Perseverance landing site ExoMars orbiter images Perseverance landing site (labelled)
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 15:00 Write a comment
Image:
ExoMars orbiter images Perseverance landing site (labelled) ExoMars orbiter images Perseverance at landing site
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 15:00 Write a comment
The ESA-Roscosmos Trace Gas Orbiter has spotted NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, along with its parachute, heat shield and descent stage, in the Jezero Crater region of Mars.
Successful engine test brings Australian space launch capability a step closer
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 13:36 Write a comment
An Australian research consortium has successfully tested a next generation propulsion system that could enable high-speed flight and space launch services.
The team's rotating detonation engine, or RDE, is a major technical achievement and an Australian first.
It was designed by RMIT University engineers and is being developed by a consortium led by DefendTex, with researchers from RMIT, University of Sydney and Universität der Bundeswehr in Germany.
How it works
While conventional rocket engines operate by burning fuel at constant pressure, RDEs produce thrust by rapidly detonating their propellant in a ring-shaped combustor. Once started, the engine is in a self-sustaining cycle of detonation waves that travel around the combustor at supersonic speeds greater than 2.5km a second.
Using this type of combustion has the potential to significantly increase engine efficiency and performance, with applications in rocket propulsion and high-speed airbreathing engines—similar to ramjets.
Benefits over existing engines include better fuel efficiency, simpler flight systems and a more compact engine, allowing for larger payloads and reduced launch costs.