Forward to the Moon: An interactive publication about our natural satellite!
Thursday, 12 May 2022 07:40
Forward to the Moon
This is an interactive publication about our natural satellite
Smarter satellites: ESA Discovery accelerates AI in space
Thursday, 12 May 2022 06:12
Could we capitalise on the Earth-based digital revolution to make our satellites smarter?
ESA Discovery is funding 12 projects that will explore the potential of applying the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing paradigms to make satellites more reactive, agile and autonomous. This could generate new practical applications that support life on Earth and our exploration of other planets.
Virgin Orbit projects growth despite widening loss
Thursday, 12 May 2022 01:30
Despite a widening loss in the first quarter, Virgin Orbit executives said they believe they have enough financial runway for their air launch business to gain altitude this year.
Space Force general: Commercial satellite internet in Ukraine showing power of megaconstellations
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 23:02
A lesson from the Ukraine war is the resiliency provided by large proliferated constellations, said Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations of the Space Force
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As US blames Russia for KA-SAT hack, Starlink sees growing threat
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 20:42
Elon Musk says Russian hackers are increasing efforts to take down SpaceX’s Starlink broadband service amid the war in Ukraine.
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As U.S. blames Russia for KA-SAT hack, Starlink sees growing threat
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 20:42Elon Musk says Russian hackers are increasing efforts to take down SpaceX’s Starlink broadband service amid the war in Ukraine.
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Orbex unveils prototype of rocket preparing for UK’s first vertical launch
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 17:40
British microlauncher startup Orbex unveiled a full-scale prototype May 11 of what it hopes will be the first-ever vertical rocket launched to orbit from British soil.
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Op-ed | Space Safety Concerns Put Economic Growth at Risk
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 15:54
Rapidly growing congestion of the space environment demands heightened Executive and Legislative Branch attention to protect the astronauts aboard the International Space Station, billions of dollars of U.S. investment, and the expected growth of the space economy.
UK company reveals micro-launcher rocket
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 15:50
Orbex's Prime rocket reaching technical readiness represents a significant achievement that brings together key elements of the ground infrastructure and prototype launch vehicle for the first time and is a major step forward for the company and for the U.K. launch industry.
The U.K. Space Agency supported the development of Orbex's Prime rocket with £5.5 million of funding, as part of the government's plans to enable small satellite launch from U.K. spaceports.
With the first integration of a full scale Orbex prototype launch vehicle on a launch pad now complete, the company will enter a period of integrated testing, allowing dress rehearsals of rocket launches and the development and optimization of launch procedures.
Orbex recently revealed their first test launch platform at a new test facility in Kinloss, a few miles from the company's headquarters at Forres in Moray, Scotland.
Science Minister George Freeman said: "This is a hugely exciting time for the U.K. space and satellite sector as we count down to the first satellite launches from U.K. spaceports later this summer. Orbex Prime is a remarkable feat of engineering from a British rocket company, pioneering more sustainable and innovative fuels that cut carbon emissions.
Wealthy nations are carving up space and its riches, and leaving other countries behind
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 14:10
Satellites help run the internet and television and are central to the Global Positioning System. They enable modern weather forecasting, help scientists track environmental degradation and play a huge role in modern military technology.
Nations that don't have their own satellites providing these services rely on other countries. For those that want to develop their own satellite infrastructure, options are running out as space fills up.
I am a research fellow at Arizona State University, studying the wider benefits of space and ways to make it more accessible to developing countries.
What's the best way to build landing pads on the moon?
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 13:19
In the near future, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), China, and Roscosmos all mount crewed missions to the moon. This will constitute the first time astronauts have walked on the lunar surface since the Apollo era. But unlike the "race to the moon," the goal of these programs is not to get there first and leave only a few experiments and landers behind (i.e., "footprints and flags" missions), but to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. This means creating habitats on the surface and in orbit that can be used by rotating crews.
While NASA and other space agencies intend to leverage local resources as much as possible—a process known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU)—creating lunar bases will still require lots of materials and machinery to be shipped from Earth. In a recent study, Philip Metzger and Greg Autry reviewed the cost and energy consumption of building landing pads on the lunar surface.
Op-ed | Herding rockets: Improved Space Traffic Management will accelerate industry growth
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 13:16
A market ecosystem that incentivizes the rapid development and fielding of advanced Space Traffic Management (STM) technologies will be a key enabler to the sustainable growth of the space economy.
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Connecting the Dots | Freeing speech from space: Satellite operators under pressure to squelch propaganda
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 11:29
As Elon Musk’s plan to take over Twitter ignites free speech debates on and off the social media hub, satellite operators face similar editorial questions amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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Vega-C stacks up for inaugural flight VV21
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 11:08
Preparation for VV21, the inaugural flight of ESA’s new Vega-C rocket, continues at pace with integration of the Zefiro-9 solid-fuel third stage.
Colombia signs Artemis Accords
Wednesday, 11 May 2022 10:49
Colombia signed the Artemis Accords for responsible space exploration May 10, continuing a steady stream of countries that have acceded to the agreement.
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