France launches state-of-art military communications satellite
Sunday, 24 October 2021 08:02
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Paris created a space force command in July 2019, amongst concerns that rival countries were heavily investing in space technology, seen as a new military frontier.
The satellite "is designed to resist military aggression from the ground and in space, as well as interference," French air and space force spokesman Colonel Stephane Spet told AFP.
The Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Syracuse 4A satellite took off from Kourou, in French Guiana late Saturday, with the mission accomplished 38 minutes and 41 seconds after takeoff.
The satellite can survey its close surroundings and move itself to escape an attack.
"Thanks to its state-of-the-art equipment (anti-jamming antenna and digital transparent processor on board), Syracuse 4A will guarantee a high resistance to extreme jamming methods," launch provider Arianespace wrote in its mission description.
Marc Finaud, an expert in weapons proliferation at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, told AFP the satellite was also protected against the electro-magnetic pulses which would result from a nuclear explosion.
Europe’s data-driven satellite launched
Sunday, 24 October 2021 05:00 Write a comment
One of the largest telecommunications satellites ever built in Europe has been launched and is on its way to geostationary orbit.
NASA sets Artemis 1 launch for no earlier than February
Sunday, 24 October 2021 02:29 Write a comment
NASA officials said they’re now targeting no earlier than February for the Artemis 1 launch as the completed vehicle enters the final phase of launch preparations.
Ariane 5 sets new record on latest launch
Sunday, 24 October 2021 01:49 Write a comment
Europe’s Ariane 5 has delivered two telecom satellites, SES-17 and Syracuse-4A, into their planned orbits.
Europe’s largest telecom satellite ready to launch
Saturday, 23 October 2021 09:28 Write a comment
The largest telecommunications satellite ever built in Europe – which will provide high-speed data links for commercial aviation as well as providing connectivity to underserved areas to accelerate digital inclusion – is poised for launch.
Data-driven satellite ready to launch
Saturday, 23 October 2021 09:28 Write a comment
One of the largest telecommunications satellites ever built in Europe – which will supply high-speed data links for commercial aviation as well as providing connectivity to underserved areas to accelerate digital inclusion – is poised for launch.
Floating through the Space Station in 360
Saturday, 23 October 2021 09:00 Write a comment
Video:
00:00:54
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet takes you on a brief tour of the International Space Station like no other. Filmed with a 360 camera, he floats from Node-3 to Europe’s Columbus laboratory.
Immerse yourself in this brief but unique fly through humankind’s orbital outpost.
Follow Thomas: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/it/category/astronauts/thomas-pesquet/
L3 Harris wins $120 million contract to upgrade Space Force electronic jammers
Friday, 22 October 2021 22:10 Write a comment
The U.S. Space Force awarded L3Harris Technologies a $120.7 million contract to upgrade a ground-based communications jammer used to block adversaries’ satellite transmissions.
NASA targeting Feb. 2022 to launch new lunar program Artemis
Friday, 22 October 2021 20:32 Write a comment
NASA said Friday it is now targeting February 2022 for the uncrewed lunar mission Artemis 1, the first step in America's plan to return humans to the Moon later this decade.
The space agency had initially wanted to launch the test flight by the end of this year, with astronauts on the ground by 2024 on Artemis 3, but the timeline has slipped back.
It achieved a major milestone Wednesday when it stacked the Orion crew capsule atop its Space Launch System megarocket, which now stands 322 feet (98 meters) tall inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
After further tests, it will be wheeled out to the launch pad for a final test known as the "wet dress rehearsal" in January, with the first window for launch opening in February, officials told reporters on a call.
SpaceX conducts 2 test firings of Starship 20 in Texas
Friday, 22 October 2021 19:46 Write a comment
SpaceX conducted two engine test firings of its Starship 20 prototype rocket at its facility near Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday
The launch vehicle, a part of SpaceX's plans to travel to the moon and eventually Mars, fired its engines for only seconds. The rocket was held down for a so-called static fire later. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently reviewing a license reques US targeting Feb. 2022 to launch new lunar program Artemis
Friday, 22 October 2021 19:46 Write a comment
NASA said Friday it is now targeting February 2022 for the uncrewed lunar mission Artemis 1, the first step in America's plan to return humans to the Moon later this decade.
The space agency had initially wanted to launch the test flight by the end of this year, with astronauts on the ground by 2024 on Artemis 3, but the timeline has slipped back.
It achieved a major milestone Wednesday Printable steak, insect protein, fungus among NASA space food idea winners
Friday, 22 October 2021 19:46 Write a comment
NASA has chosen 18 companies to continue developing space food that astronauts could eat on long-term, Deep Space missions to Mars or other planets, such as 3D-printed steak and ingredients including insect protein, fungus and algae.
The space agency believes its ongoing Deep Space Food Challenge is vital to keeping astronauts healthy and in good spirits during long isolation. NASA anno China’s hypersonic vehicle test a ‘significant demonstration’ of space technology
Friday, 22 October 2021 18:19 Write a comment
China’s reported tests of a hypersonic orbital glide vehicle show notable advances in reusable space technology, an industry expert said.
Space Adventures no longer planning Crew Dragon flight
Friday, 22 October 2021 18:18 Write a comment
Space Adventures has dropped plans to fly space tourists on a high-altitude Crew Dragon flight but has not ruled out revisiting the mission concept in the future.
A national network examining Earth's planetary limits
Friday, 22 October 2021 17:27 Write a comment
University of California San Diego Physics Professor Tom Murphy is among five authors of an essay, appearing in the November 2021 issue of the journal Energy Research & Social Science, that cautions current levels of worldwide economic growth, energy use and resource consumption will overshoot Earth's finite limits.
The essay, "Modernity is Incompatible with Planetary Limits: Developing a PLAN for the Future," also announces the establishment of a network of scholars and researchers to promote the understanding of planetary limits, envision scenarios for humanity to thrive within planetary limits, better educate college students about these challenges and advise government officials and communities in developing effective responses.
"We all are a product of our times, where 'new,' 'shiny,' 'better' seem normal and 'more, more, more' seems good, but that is a reflection of the abnormal period of the last century or so," said Murphy. "If humanity keeps growing its impact on the planet, we will overshoot planetary limits, so we need to plan to power down while there's still time. Even the founders of economics recognized that Earth's resources are finite and growth is but a transient phase.