Astronauts confident Boeing space capsule can safely return them to Earth, despite failures
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 15:38
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Two astronauts who should have been back on Earth weeks ago said Wednesday that they're confident that Boeing's space capsule can return them safely, despite a string of vexing breakdowns.
NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule early last month, the first people to ride it. Helium leaks and thruster failures almost derailed their arrival at the International Space Station, and have kept them there much longer than planned. Now the earliest they could return may be the end of July, officials said.
Gateway: The first lunar space station
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 14:20 Write a comment
An interplay of light and shadows cast the docking ports for Gateway, humanity's first space station around the moon, into sharp relief.
Built by NASA commercial partner Northrup Grumman, HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost), is one of four modules where international teams of astronauts will live, conduct science, and prepare for missions to the lunar South Pole region. The module's main structure is currently undergoing testing in Turin, Italy.
One docking port inside HALO is where a cargo spacecraft and Gateway's Lunar View module, provided by ESA (European Space Agency), will dock. The docking port outside of HALO is where the SpaceX Starship and the Blue Origin Blue Moon Human Landing Systems will dock during the Artemis IV and V missions, respectively.
Gateway will launch to lunar orbit with the Power and Propulsion Element, provided by Maxar Space Systems, and later expand with ESA's Lunar I-Hab and Lunar View modules, the Crew and Science Airlock provided by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, advanced external robotics provided by CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and critical hardware from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
Using microwave sintering to produce 'space brick' for a future moon base
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 14:13 Write a comment
The recent discovery of energy resources on the moon, such as water ice, has refocused interest on its potential as a sustainable hub for space exploration. NASA has also announced the Artemis mission, aiming for long-term human presence on the lunar surface. However, infrastructure expansion, such as lunar base construction, plays a vital role.
Yet, transporting construction materials from Earth to the lunar surface via landers incurs a significant cost of 1.2 million USD per kilogram. Weight directly translates to cost, making the transportation of construction materials from Earth to the moon nearly impossible.
To address this problem, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, has developed technology for producing construction materials using in-situ resources from the moon.
Hubble finds evidence for rare black hole in Omega Centauri
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 14:00 Write a comment
An international team of astronomers has used more than 500 images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope spanning two decades to detect seven fast-moving stars in the innermost region of Omega Centauri, the largest and brightest globular cluster in the sky. These stars provide compelling new evidence for the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole.
X-Bow raises $70 million to boost solid rocket motor production
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 13:22
The end of Chevron deference and what Loper Bright means for the space industry
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 12:00
Ariane 6 first flight highlights
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 08:00 Write a comment
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00:02:06
Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 powered into space on 9 July 2024 from a newly built dedicated launch pad in French Guiana. Liftoff occurred at 16:00 local time (20:00 BST, 21:00 CEST).
Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 powered Europe into space taking with it a varied selection of experiments, satellites, payload deployers and reentry demonstrations that represent thousands across Europe, from students to industry and experienced space actors.
This inaugural flight, designated VA262, is a demonstration flight to show the capabilities and prowess of Ariane 6 in escaping Earth's gravity and operating in space. Nevertheless, it had several passengers
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket blasts off for first time
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 06:00 Write a comment
Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket blasted off for the first time smoothly on Tuesday, carrying with it the continent's hopes of regaining independent access to space.
The much-delayed inaugural flight of the European Space Agency's most powerful rocket yet launched from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 4pm local time (1900 GMT).
Crews on the ground at the launch site, which House introduces NASA reauthorization act
Wednesday, 10 July 2024 03:38
Ariane 6 inaugural flight press conference
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 22:00 Write a comment
Video:
00:32:50
Replay of the press conference held in Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana with ESA, ArianeGroup, CNES and Arianespace representatives providing updates on the first mission of Ariane 6.
Access all the replays from the launch event.
Access all the launch campaign footage in broadcast quality.
Japanese venture seeks to develop commercial space station module
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 20:59
Ariane 6 first launch
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 20:50 Write a comment
Video:
03:33:02
Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6 powered Europe into space taking with it a varied selection of experiments, satellites, payload deployers and reentry demonstrations that represent thousands across Europe, from students to industry and experienced space actors.
This inaugural flight, designated VA262, is a demonstration flight to show the capabilities and prowess of Ariane 6 in escaping Earth's gravity and operating in space. Nevertheless, it had several passengers on board.
Ariane 6 was built by prime contractor and design authority ArianeGroup. In addition to the rocket, the liftoff demonstrated the functioning of the launch pad and operations on ground at
The first Ariane 6 rocket soars to the sky
Tuesday, 09 July 2024 20:25 Write a comment
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The first Ariane 6 rocket soars to the sky 
