LinQuest wins $200 million contract for Space Operations Command support services
Monday, 15 February 2021 22:39
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded LinQuest Corp. a $200 million contract for advisory and support services for one of the service’s field commands, the Defense Department announced Feb. 16.
The contract is for work performed at the Space Operations Command headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, between now and February 2030.
Sen. Angus King to chair subcommittee that oversees DoD space programs
Monday, 15 February 2021 21:56 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) was named chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on strategic forces, SASC Chairman Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.
‘Parastronaut’ sought as ESA recruits its first new astronauts in more than a decade
Monday, 15 February 2021 21:05 Write a comment
JOHANNESBURG — The European Space Agency announced Feb. 16 that its first call for new astronauts in more than a decade will be open to candidates with physical disabilities.
During a briefing with reporters, ESA officials said the agency plans to recruit four to six career astronauts and a pool of approximately 20 reserve astronauts, a first for ESA.
Northrop Grumman clears first design review of next-generation ICBM
Monday, 15 February 2021 17:53 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — Northrop Grumman’s design of a new intercontinental ballistic missile for the U.S. Air Force passed its first review, the company announced Feb. 16.
The review took place in November, two months after the Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $13.3 billion contract to develop the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent.
Axiom Space raises $130 million
Monday, 15 February 2021 17:51 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — Axiom Space announced Feb. 16 it has raised $130 million from a group of investors, allowing the company to push ahead with its long-term ambitions of establishing a private space station.
The Series B round was led by C5 Capital, a firm that invests in cybersecurity and “closely aligned” sectors, including space.
ABL Space Systems signs customer for first launch
Monday, 15 February 2021 16:13 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — Small launch vehicle developer ABL Space Systems will launch two satellites for L2 Aerospace on the first flight of its RS1 rocket this spring, the companies announced Feb. 16.
The two satellites developed by L2, a company founded by Lance Lord, a retired Air Force general and former head of Air Force Space Command, will be used to rapidly test new technology and support training activities, according to a statement the companies.
In the Jezero neighbourhood
Monday, 15 February 2021 15:36 Write a comment
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In the Jezero neighbourhood Jezero landing ellipse
Monday, 15 February 2021 15:27 Write a comment
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Jezero landing ellipse ESA’s InCubed co-funds new Belgian mission
Monday, 15 February 2021 15:00 Write a comment
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A contract signed today secures ESA InCubed co-funding towards the development of Aerospacelab’s Multispectral Companion Mission Jezero crater and surrounds
Monday, 15 February 2021 15:00 Write a comment
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Jezero crater and surrounds European Space Agency seeks diversity in new astronaut drive
Monday, 15 February 2021 14:43 Write a comment
A combined map of almost 15,000 dust storms on Mars
Monday, 15 February 2021 14:06 Write a comment
Data in the world of astronomy is spread out in so many different places. There are archives for instruments on individual spacecraft and telescopes. Sometimes all that is needed to get new insight out of old data is to collect it all together and analyze a whole set rather than isolated instances. That is exactly what happened recently when a team from the Harvard Center for Astrophysics collected and analyzed data about almost 15,000 dust storms that have taken place on Mars over the last eight Martian years.
The data used to build the combined database was collected by the Mars Global Surveyor, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which both take daily images of the whole Martian surface. The database they developed, known as the Mars Dust Activity Database (MDAD) provided a variety of insights into some characteristics of the dust storms that occur so regularly on the red planet.
Jezero crater and surrounds (annotated)
Monday, 15 February 2021 14:00 Write a comment
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Jezero crater and surrounds (annotated) Media event: ESA seeks new astronauts
Monday, 15 February 2021 14:00 Write a comment
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For the first time in 11 years, ESA is looking for new astronauts to work alongside ESA’s existing astronauts as Europe enters a new era of space exploration.
Speakers include Jan Wörner, ESA Director General; Samantha Cristoforetti, ESA astronaut; Tim Peake, ESA astronaut; David Parker, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration; Frank De Winne, ESA Low Earth Orbit Exploration Group Leader, Head of the European Astronaut Centre; Jennifer Ngo-Anh, ESA Research and Payloads Programme Coordinator, Human and Robotic Exploration; Lucy van der Tas, ESA Head of Talent Acquisition.
Press briefings in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, are
How to spot Mars: See the red planet in the sky the day NASA's Perseverance rover lands
Monday, 15 February 2021 13:19 Write a comment
Last year was the year of Mars launches, and this one will be the year of Mars landings. The Hope Mars mission, launched by the United Arab Emirates, entered its orbit around Mars on February 9, while China's Tianwen-1 rover, now orbiting the planet, will land in May. Meanwhile, Nasa's Perseverance rover will land on the red planet come February 18.
Mars is one of the easiest planets to see in the night sky, blazing bright orange and visible for almost the whole year. It's been high up in the sky since the second half of last year, and you don't need any special equipment to see it.
This means there are some great opportunities to see the planet travelling across the night skies, including just as the Perseverance rover is touching down. The day the rover lands, there will be a close approach of the moon and Mars—meaning they will appear next to each other in the night sky.
It's not every day you get to see a close approach while a rover makes its landing.