Paris, France (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
The upper stage of Ariane 6, Europe's latest rocket, has successfully completed its final testing phase at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands, confirming its readiness for a four-booster variant launch, the most powerful version of Ariane 6. Five tests at varying acoustic intensities validated the upper stage's cap

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
On November 11, 2024, at 07:38 UTC, the research rocket MAPHEUS 15 embarked on a milestone flight over Swedish Lapland, marking the 600th launch beyond the Arctic Circle. This mission, facilitated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and international partners, hosted 21 experiments focusing on material physics in zero gravity. MAPHEUS 15 reached an unprecedented altitude of 309 kilometers

Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Picture yourself at an airport a few decades from now. What does your airliner look like? It's more efficient, with lower emissions than today's aircraft - what kinds of designs or technology make that possible? NASA is working to answer those questions by commissioning five new design studies looking to push the boundaries of possibility for sustainable aircraft. Through NASA's Advanced A

Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
The design and build of a unique NASA pod, produced to advance computer vision for autonomous aviation, was recently completed in-house at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, by using the center's unique fabrication capabilities. The pod is called the NASA Airborne Instrumentation for Real-world Video of Urban Environments (AIRVUE). NASA Armstrong can take an id

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) has announced that it has secured a contract from the U.S. Defense Department's Space Development Agency (SDA) as part of the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO (HALO) initiative. The SDA's mission involves establishing a robust network of satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The HALO program is designed to expedite the prototyping and spaceflight testing

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
On September 27, 2024, the U.S. Space Force's (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC), Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Military Communications (MilComm) and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), officially certified the Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 (Inc 1) Aviation/Maritime GPS Receiver Card for the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer (DDG). This milestone marked the completion o

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Sony Space Communications Corporation (SSCC) and Astro Digital US, Inc. (Astro Digital) have entered into an agreement to design, build, and launch two micro-satellites equipped with SSCC's optical terminals. These satellites will demonstrate SSCC's advanced optical communication capabilities through high-speed Lasercom links between the satellites and with ground-based terminals. The launch is

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has confirmed its next Electron rocket launch for Kineis, a global Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity leader. Named "Ice AIS Baby," the mission is set to launch during a 14-day window starting November 23rd NZDT from Rocket Lab's exclusive Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. This will be the third in a series of five Electron missions contracted by Kineis to deploy a f

Houston TX (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
On Sept. 20, 2024, four students experienced the wonder of space exploration at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, taking part in an international competition that brought their work to life aboard the International Space Station. Now in its fifth year, the Kibo Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC) continues to push the boundaries of robotics, bringing together the world's brightest

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 13, 2024
Firefly Aerospace has announced the completion of an oversubscribed $175 million Series D funding round, elevating the company's valuation beyond $2 billion. The funding was led by RPM Ventures, a venture capital firm known for backing innovative and industry-leading enterprises for over two decades. The round also attracted participation from existing backers as well as new investors, such as G