NASA to Discuss Webb Telescope Alignment, Instrument Setup
Thursday, 05 May 2022 12:43
NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 9, to discuss progress toward preparing the James Webb Space Telescope for science operations. Report: U.S. defense and intelligence agencies slow to embrace small-satellite revolution
Thursday, 05 May 2022 12:08
The United States is at risk of being outpaced by China in space capabilities, in part due to the slow adoption of commercial innovations such as small satellites, warns a new report released May 5 by the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.
China launches new batches of Jilin-1 commercial remote sensing satellites
Thursday, 05 May 2022 11:05
A Long March rocket launched eight Jilin-1 remote sensing satellites late Wednesday, days after an earlier batch rode to orbit via launch from a sea platform.
'Spot the difference' to help reveal Rosetta image secrets
Thursday, 05 May 2022 10:55
Today, ESA and the Zooniverse launch Rosetta Zoo, a citizen science project that invites volunteers to engage in a cosmic game of 'spot the difference'. By browsing through pictures collected by ESA's Rosetta mission, you can help scientists figure out how a comet's surface evolves as it swings around the Sun.
Senate rejects effort to strip NASA lunar lander provision from authorization bill
Thursday, 05 May 2022 10:29
Senators overwhelmingly voted against a motion May 4 that would have dealt a setback in NASA’s efforts to select a second company to develop an Artemis lunar lander.
The post Senate rejects effort to strip NASA lunar lander provision from authorization bill appeared first on SpaceNews.
Tracking agricultural-related deforestation
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:27
The global trade in agricultural commodities provides food, fuel and fibre to consumers around the world. Commodity production, however, is also linked with negative environmental impacts, including the loss and degradation of forested land.
Approximately 90% of global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion – a phenomenon which has roots in the global demand for products such as palm oil, soy and beef. New research reveals how satellites can be used to map and monitor forest-cover changes and help implement effective zero deforestation commitments.
Astroscale's ELSA-d completes complex rendezvous operation
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
Astroscale Holdings Inc. ("Astroscale"), the market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, has announced that, despite several unexpected setbacks, its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission successfully completed further controlled close-approach rendezvous operations between its two spacecraft in orbit.
The technol Physicists develop ideal testing conditions of solar cells for space applications
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma, with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of North Texas, the NASA Glenn Research Center and several collaborators within the space power community, have recently published a paper in the journal Joule that describes the optimal conditions for testing perovskite solar cells for space.
Perovskites are a material used in a type o MDA completes first commercial sale of Canadarm3 technology to Axiom space
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, has announced the first commercial sale of its Canadarm3 technology to Axiom Space.
The contract is for the delivery of 32 external robotic interfaces for Axiom Space's Axiom Station which is now under construction and on schedule to be the world's first commercial spa Satellogic announces multiple launch agreement with SpaceX
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), a leader in sub-meter resolution Earth Observation ("EO") data collection, reports it has signed a new Multiple Launch Agreement ("MLA") with SpaceX reserving launch capacity for its next 68 satellites. This new MLA follows the current MLA covering 2022 launches, and confirms that SpaceX continues to be Satellogic's preferred vendor for rideshare missions, meeting NIC4 awarded satcomm service provider registry prototype contract for US Space Force
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
NIC4, a subsidiary of Network Innovations, has been awarded a Service Provider Registry (SPR) prototype, a component of the Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Enterprise Management and Control (EM&C).
This software development effort is for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC) through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) as an Other Transactional Authority (OTA) Agreem Maritime Launch plans inaugural flight for 2023
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
Maritime Launch Services Inc. (NEO: MAXQ) (MLSI) and Reaction Dynamics (RDX) are pleased to announce that they have signed a letter of intent to conduct launches from Spaceport Nova Scotia, expected to begin in 2023. These launches will provide the country sovereign launch capabilities and add Canada to the short list of "Launching States."
This partnership will advance the continuing plan To sample or not to sample
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
One of the prime objectives of the Perseverance mission is to collect a diverse cache of rock samples for eventual return to Earth. Among the highest priority rocks to sample are those that make up the well-preserved delta located on the western side of Jezero crater.
This delta was one of the key attributes that made this landing site so appealing for the search for ancient Martian life. DARPA seeks proposals leading to in-space demonstration of nuclear thermal rocket
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
DARPA is seeking proposals for Phases 2 and 3 of the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program for the design, development, fabrication, and assembly of a nuclear thermal rocket engine. The goal is to execute an in-space flight demonstration of nuclear thermal propulsion in fiscal year 2026.
The overall objective of DRACO is to enable time-critical missions over va After ISS command change, NASA's Crew-3 prepares to undock for trip home
Thursday, 05 May 2022 08:00
NASA's Crew-3 astronauts are preparing to undock from the International Space Station on Thursday after a six-month stay at the orbital outpost.
Raja Chari, Kayla Barron and Tom Marshburn of NASA, along with Matthias Maurer of Germany, are expected to board their Dragon spacecraft and close the hatch at 11:20 p.m. EDT, ahead of undocking from the ISS for the trip back to Earth.
C