Chinese booster rocket makes uncontrolled return to Earth
Sunday, 31 July 2022 08:19
A Chinese booster rocket made an uncontrolled return to Earth on Saturday, leading US officials to chide Beijing for not sharing information about the potentially hazardous object's descent.
US Space Command "can confirm the People's Republic of China (PRC) Long March 5B (CZ-5B) re-entered over the Indian Ocean at approx 10:45 am MDT on 7/30," the US military unit said on Twitter.
"We refer you to the #PRC for further details on the reentry's technical aspects such as potential debris dispersal+ impact location," it said.
In a statement posted to its official WeChat profile, the China Manned Space Agency later gave coordinates for an impact area in the Sulu Sea, about 35 miles (57 kilometers) off the east coast of the Philippines' Palawan Island.
"Most of its devices were ablated and destroyed during re-entry," the agency said of the booster rocket, which was used last Sunday to launch the second of three modules China needed to complete its new Tiangong space station.
ESA scaling back design of X-ray astronomy mission
Saturday, 30 July 2022 18:44
Faced within increasing costs, the European Space Agency is looking for ways to revise the design of a large X-ray space telescope, an effort that could have implications for NASA’s own astrophysics programs.
The post ESA scaling back design of X-ray astronomy mission appeared first on SpaceNews.
Long March 5B rocket stage makes fiery uncontrolled reentry over Indian Ocean
Saturday, 30 July 2022 16:59
Wreckage from a Chinese Long March 5B rocket first stage made a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere over Southeast Asia Saturday, six days after launching a space station module into orbit.
Hydrosat secures Tier 1 remote sensing operating license
Friday, 29 July 2022 19:17
Washington-based Hydrosat, a geospatial data and analytics startup, announced July 29 it has secured U.S. regulatory approval to provide global services from its upcoming thermal imaging system.
The post Hydrosat secures Tier 1 remote sensing operating license appeared first on SpaceNews.
Masten Space Systems files for bankruptcy
Friday, 29 July 2022 16:11
Masten Space Systems, a company developing a lunar lander for a NASA mission, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy July 28 with plans to sell one of its major assets to a competitor.
The post Masten Space Systems files for bankruptcy appeared first on SpaceNews.
Russian space chief: no date yet for space station pullout
Friday, 29 July 2022 13:39
The head of Russia's space agency said Friday that the country has not set a date for pulling out of the International Space Station and that the timing would depend on the orbiting outpost's condition.
Week in images: 25-29 July 2022
Friday, 29 July 2022 13:01
Week in images: 25-29 July 2022
Discover our week through the lens
Congress passes NASA authorization bill
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:29
Congress has passed the first NASA authorization bill in more than five years, formally extending operations of the International Space Station and backing NASA’s Artemis exploration effort.
The post Congress passes NASA authorization bill appeared first on SpaceNews.
When Russia leaves, what's next for the International Space Station?
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
Russia's announcement this week that it will leave the International Space Station "after 2024" raises critical questions about the outpost's future viability.
Here's what you should know about Moscow's decision, and the potential effect on one of the last remaining examples of US-Russia cooperation.
- Why does Russia want to leave? -
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pitted it agai NASA adds 2 helicopters to mission to bring Mars samples back to Earth
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
NASA officials have changed the agency's plans for its daring and complicated effort to bring actual samples of Mars back to Earth by adding two helicopters and ditching the idea of landing a "fetch rover."
In a joint project with the European Space Agency, NASA has a goal of returning Martian samples back to Earth by 2033. The rover Perseverance is already on the Red Planet with the ch Terran Orbital concludes TCM-2 for CAPSTONE
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
erran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the United States and Allied aerospace and defense industries, has announced the successful execution of CAPSTONE's TCM-2 burn. The burn occurred in two parts with final success declared on July 26 at 1:45 UTC.
As with TCM 1-a and TCM 1-c, this burn confirms the NASA satellite will maintain th Rocket Lab to supply solar power for US Space Force missile warning satellites
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or "the Company"), a leading launch and space systems company, announced that its high-efficiency, radiation-hardened Coverglass Interconnected solar Cell (CIC) assemblies will power the three Lockheed Martin Next Gen OPIR GEO (NGG) satellites for the United States Space Force (USSF).
The NGG program will deliver resilient global missile wa SES and AXESS Networks to enable smart mining with O3b mPOWER
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
SES and AXESS Networks (AXESS), a leading provider of satellite connectivity solutions, are accelerating digital transition of the mining industry with SES's second-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) system O3b mPOWER, the two companies announced Wednesday. Under this multi-year, multi-million agreement, the mining sector users will be able to benefit from the cutting-edge low-latency Onshore E Researchers 3D print sensors for satellites
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
MIT scientists have created the first completely digitally manufactured plasma sensors for orbiting spacecraft. These plasma sensors, also known as retarding potential analyzers (RPAs), are used by satellites to determine the chemical composition and ion energy distribution of the atmosphere.
The 3D-printed and laser-cut hardware performed as well as state-of-the-art semiconductor plasma s Airbus to deliver connectivity services using its leading Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station
Friday, 29 July 2022 10:11
Airbus has launched a connectivity services business through the creation of a dedicated HAPS Services Business based around Zephyr, Airbus' leading HAPS technology platform. This will help enable it to industrialise rapidly and begin serving a substantial total addressable market, providing low-latency connectivity services from the stratosphere for telecommunications and Earth observation appl