Hydrosat raises $10 million for thermal infrared imagery constellation
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 17:53
Hydrosat, a geospatial data and analytics startup, raised $10 million in seed funding for a satellite constellation to produce thermal infrared maps.
The longest lunar eclipse in centuries will happen this week, NASA says
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 16:57
You can see the longest partial lunar eclipse in hundreds of years this week.
The "nearly total" lunar eclipse is expected overnight Thursday, Nov. 18, to Friday, Nov. 19, NASA said.
"The Moon will be so close to opposite the Sun on Nov 19 that it will pass through the southern part of the shadow of the Earth for a nearly total lunar eclipse," NASA said on its website.
The eclipse will last 3 hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds, making it the longest in centuries, Space.com reported.
Only a small sliver of the moon will be visible during the eclipse. About 97% of the moon will disappear into Earth's shadow as the sun and moon pass opposite sides of the planet, EarthSky reported.
The moon should appear to be a reddish-brown color as it slips into the shadow, NASA reported.
The eclipse will be visible in many parts of the world, including North America, eastern Australia, New Zealand and Japan, according to EarthSky.
"For U.S. East Coast observers, the partial eclipse begins a little after 2 a.m.
NASA TV to Air DART Prelaunch Activities, Launch
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 16:03
NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the agency’s first planetary defense test mission, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). Exolaunch signs multi-launch rideshare deal with SpaceX
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:42
German launch services provider Exolaunch has signed a multi-launch agreement for more capacity on SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions over the next two years.
Op-ed | SOS Space: Why cybersecurity and supply chain risk management must go hand in hand
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:40
Cybersecurity and supply chain integrity must become integral and elevated concerns for the space community, as well as space consumers and strategic stakeholders.
How NASA's Curiosity rover is making Mars safer for astronauts
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:18
Could lava tubes, caves, or subsurface habitats offer safe refuge for future astronauts on Mars? Scientists with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover team are helping explore questions like that with the Radiation Assessment Detector, or RAD.
Unlike Earth, Mars doesn't have a magnetic field to shield it from the high-energy particles whizzing around in space. That radiation can wreak havoc on human health, and it can seriously compromise the life support systems that Mars astronauts will depend on, as well.
Based on data from Curiosity's RAD, researchers are finding that using natural materials such as the rock and sediment on Mars could offer some protection from this ever-present space radiation.
On National Security | What Space Force looks to learn from venture investors
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:00
The Space Force is one among many customers of commercial space companies, and is trying to figure out how to engage with nontraditional players such as venture-funded startups.
Stress-testing a space-based blockchain
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:00
SpaceNews interviewed Hasshi Sudler, Villanova adjunct professor and CEO of the Internet Think Tank, to learn more about future blockchain constellations.
Startups developing space traffic monitoring system to help manage growing debris problem
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 13:45
Startup SCOUT Space announced Nov. 16 it has won a U.S. Air Force contract to integrate data from satellites and ground sensors that monitor objects in orbit.
Startup raises $10 million to develop ‘return vehicle’ for space cargo
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 13:30
Inversion, a space startup based in Los Angeles, announced Nov. 16 it has raised $10 million in seed funding to develop a reentry capsule to bring cargo from space back to Earth.
Webb’s Ariane 5 gains upper stage
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 13:00
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Webb’s Ariane 5 upper stage was raised vertical in the launch vehicle integration building at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana Russian military admits 'destroyed' satellite during test
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 11:29
Russia's defence ministry on Tuesday admitted to destroying one of its satellites during a missile test, confirming accusations levied earlier by the United States.
"The Russian defence ministry successfully conducted a test, as a result of which the Russian spacecraft 'Tselina-D', which had been in orbit since 1982, was destroyed," the military said in a statement.
US officials on Monda Russia seeks to reassure ISS astronauts after missile claims
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 11:29
Russia's space agency said on Tuesday its "main priority" was the safety of the International Space Station's crew, after the US accused Moscow of putting the astronauts under threat with a missile strike.
US officials on Monday denounced Russia for conducting a "dangerous and irresponsible" missile test that blew up one of its own satellites, creating a debris cloud that forced the ISS cr Northrop Grumman completes Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor CDR
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 11:29
Northrop Grumman recently completed the critical design review of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) prototype for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The review establishes the company's technical approach for precise, timely sensor coverage to defeat ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
HBTSS satellites will provide continuous tracking and handoff to enable targe Rocket Lab to acquire Planetary Systems Corp.
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 11:27
Rocket Lab announced Nov. 15 that it is acquiring Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC), a manufacturer of satellite separation systems, in the second such deal by Rocket Lab in as many months.