Nauka Module incident caused by software failure
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49The sudden activation of engines of Russia's Nauka multipurpose laboratory module at the International Space Station (ISS) was triggered by a software failure that was quickly fixed, Russia's ISS segment chief, Vladimir Solovyov, explained on Friday. "The mechanic aspect of the docking was reliable, without any remarks registered. This resulted in the closure of both docking mechanisms: th
Rocket Lab launches US Space Force mission
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49Rocket Lab, the leading launch provider and space systems company, has successfully launched a research and development satellite to orbit for the United States Space Force (USSF). The mission was Rocket Lab's fourth launch for the year and its 21st Electron mission overall. The mission, named 'It's a Little Chile Up Here', launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia P
Navy tests MQ-4C unmanned aerial vehicles with upgraded sensors
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49An MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with an upgraded multi-intelligence configuration was successfully tested this week, the U.S. Navy announced. The test is regarded as a milestone in the improvement of the vehicle, the U.S. Navy's premier high-altitude long-endurance, or HALE, maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform, builder Northrop Grumman said i
Kleos establishes partnership with Japan Space Imaging Corporation for promotion in Japan
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49Kleos Space S.A. has established a partnership with Japanese based Japan Space Imaging Corporation (JSI) to support Kleos' geolocation data promotion in Japan. Under the agreement, Kleos' RF geolocation data will enhance Japanese customers in their operations, such as defense of the homeland, and identification of illicit activities in territorial and international waters. Kleos' Gro
ISSRDC to highlight opportunities within biomanufacturing in space
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49The 2021 International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) will feature a fireside chat on biomanufacturing in space. Gary Rodrigue, director of programs and partnerships at the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), will moderate a discussion with Dr. William Wagner, director of the University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. T
India set to launch powerful new satellite for trans-border movement detection
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, several Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) projects have been delayed, including key programmes like Chandrayaan-3 and the ambitious manned mission Gaganyaan. However, starting next month, the agency will again take up launch activities at the Sriharikota spaceport. The Indian government on Thursday announced that the country's first state-of
Hypersonic missile booster rocket fails to ignite in test
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49In a test of a hypersonic booster rocket, a test rocket was successfully released from a B-52H bomber but failed to ignite, the U.S. Air Force said this week. The test of the rocket propelling the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon was its second, and occurred on Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. An Air Force statement on Thursday said that the booster test roc
British military launches its own Space Command with official opening
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49Britain established its Space Command on Friday in a ceremonial opening, with responsibilities split between three specific groups to form a joint space command, Britain's Ministry of Defense announced on Friday. The British military budget includes $1.95 billion, over 10 years, for space capabilities, part of a defense budget increase of $33.34 billion in the next four years. Of
The truth about space traffic management
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49Those familiar with air traffic management architectures understand the constraints of aircraft flying in the atmosphere, vehicle dynamics and command and control techniques. Unfortunately, space traffic has many more degrees of freedom and much less control capability. Add to this the completely uncontrolled nature of space debris and the reality that most debris objects cannot be tracked and m
Next batch of OneWeb satellites set to launch August 20
Tuesday, 03 August 2021 10:49Russia will launch the next batch of OneWeb satellites from the Baikonur cosmodrome on August 20, Dmitry Rogozin, the director general of state space corporation Roscosmos, confirmed on Saturday. The launch was originally set for August 5, but was postponed due to some of the satellites having faulty parts. Earlier in the month, a space industry source told Sputnik that the launch was resc
AWS agrees deal to expand Greece’s space industry with the cloud
Monday, 02 August 2021 19:11Amazon Web Services is partnering with Greece’s government on economic and technology initiatives that aim to turn the country into a regional space hub.
NASA study highlights importance of surface shadows in moon water puzzle
Monday, 02 August 2021 16:29The shadows cast by the roughness of the Moon's surface create small cold spots for water ice to accumulate even during the harsh lunar daytime.
Scientists are confident that water ice can be found at the Moon's poles inside permanently shadowed craters – in other words, craters that never receive sunlight.
Military communications payloads could hitchhike on future GPS satellites
Monday, 02 August 2021 15:47The next generation of Global Positioning System satellites could host additional payloads to provide communications services.
First additively-manufacture thermal protection shield is going to space
Monday, 02 August 2021 14:00A research team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have 3D printed a thermal protection shield, or TPS, for a capsule that will launch with the Cygnus cargo spacecraft as part of the supply mission to the International Space Station. The launch will mark the first time an additively manufactured TPS has been sent to space.
Scientists worked with NASA to develop materials designed to withstand extreme temperatures encountered when objects reenter the atmosphere. The TPS protects a basketball-sized capsule that was developed by the University of Kentucky as a testbed for entry system technologies.