China’s megaconstellation project establishes satellite cluster in Chongqing
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 13:55![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Illustration of satellite coverage for telecommunications services.](https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/megaconstellation-coverage-ESA-science-office-300x223.jpg)
A group leading China’s national low Earth orbit communications megaconstellation has founded two new firms to help develop the project, but overall plans remain vague.
Machine learning algorithms help scientists explore Mars
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 13:19![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Curiosity rover’s ChemCam instrument helps scientists characterize the chemical composition of Mars’s geological features, like these lake-floor sedimentary deposits in Gale crater. Credit: <a href="https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/26036/sedimentary-signs-of-a-martian-lakebed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS</a> Machine learning algorithms help scientists explore Mars](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2022/machine-learning-algor.jpg)
NASA's Curiosity rover has been exploring the Red Planet's surface for nearly a decade, with its main mission being to determine whether Mars was once habitable. While the rover's investigations have indeed confirmed that Mars was once a watery world filled with potentially life-sustaining chemistry, there's still much to learn. Curiosity's mountains of data offer an opportunity to use machine learning algorithms to investigate the planet's surface in even more detail.
A new article in Earth and Space Science focuses on the data collected by Curiosity's Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument package. ChemCam combines two instruments: a laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) and a remote micro-imager (RMI) for high-resolution imaging.
Multi-orbit constellation startup Mangata Networks raises $33 million
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 12:42![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MangataOrbits-879x485-1-300x166.png)
U.S.-based startup Mangata Networks has raised $33 million from an international mix of investors for its multi-orbit connectivity constellation plans.
Pandora mission to study stars and exoplanets continues toward flight
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 12:25![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![An illustration of Pandora studying an exoplanet’s atmosphere as it passes in front of its host star using transit spectroscopy. LLNL will begin building the small satellite that was recently approved to continue toward flight after a concept study. Credit: LLNL, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Pandora mission to study stars and exoplanets continues toward flight](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2022/pandora-mission-to-stu.jpg)
The Pandora mission, co-led by a national laboratory and a NASA flight center, has passed a crucial step on its path to study stars and planets outside our solar system, or exoplanets.
After a successful concept study report and system requirements review, NASA approved the mission to continue toward flight.
Intelsat orders two flexible GEO satellites for post-bankruptcy growth plan
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 09:01![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Intelsat-1_HD-300x225.jpg)
Intelsat has ordered two software-defined satellites from Thales Alenia Space as the operator edges closer to emerging from bankruptcy.
Astroscale U.S. and Orbit Fab sign first on-orbit satellite fuel sale agreement
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/benchmark-space-systems-orbit-fab-propellant-fuel-depot-bg.jpg)
Mangata Networks announces funding for satellite edge computing network
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/mangata-networks-constellation-marker-bg.jpg)
NASA prepares SLS for first crewed Artemis missions
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/sls-interim-cryogenic-propulsion-stage-artemis-bg.jpg)
Airbus to develop the Power Management and Distribution System for key Lunar Gateway module
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/moon-northrop-grumman-halo-module-power-propulsion-element-first-critical-component-nasa-lunar-gateway-bg.jpg)
NASA's InSight enters safe mode during regional Mars dust storm
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/mars-insight-first-full-selfie-dirty-clean-compare-bg.jpg)
Sol 3350-3352: A Rock Under the Wheel
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/curiosity-mastcam-sol-3351-wheel-rock-bg.jpg)
Almost a Million Stars and Counting: Mapping the history of the Milky Way with APOGEE and beyond
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/sdss-apogee-milky-way-imaging-bg.jpg)
NASA's new IXPE mission begins science operations
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/imaging-x-ray-polarimetry-explorer-ixpe-orbit-artwork-bg.jpg)
Arqit to Lead UK-AU Space Bridge Project
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/arqit-encryption-marker-bg.jpg)
NASA's newest astronaut class begins training in Houston
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 08:43![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/nasa-2021-astronaut-candidate-class-bg.jpg)