Washington DC (UPI) Dec 29, 2024
SpaceX completed back-to-back missions of two Falcon 9 rockets over the weekend, delivering 22 Starlink satellites and Astranis's One to Many Mission into orbit, the 132nd and 133rd missions of the year. "We're now targeting 134 launches - two shy of our last goal - to finish 2024 strong," Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX's vice president of launch wrote on social media. "Here's to an awesome la

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 25, 2024
Teledyne Space Imaging has secured the role of Prime Contractor for the Constellation Acquisition Sensor (CAS) instrument, a critical component of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. Teledyne will supply six CIS220 detectors and control electronics, leveraging its advanced detector and electronics technology. This effort is in collaboration with T

Paris, France (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
ispace EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) have formalized a payload services agreement to deliver the Laser Retroreflector Array (LaRA2) to the lunar surface. This collaboration aims to facilitate laser ranging experiments that enhance precise lunar position measurements. The partnership represents the first comprehensive contract between ispace-EUROPE and ASI,

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
Chinese researchers are developing a sophisticated lunar robot with integrated charging capabilities, slated to join the Chang'e 8 mission, planned for launch in 2028. A collaboration between Dalian University of Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Shenzhen University has led to the creation of a versatile lunar surface robot that will function both as a researc

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
NASA is preparing to send humans back to the Moon with the Artemis program, aiming to establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface. The Lunar South Pole (LSP) has been chosen for its continuous line-of-sight communication with Earth, extended solar exposure, and proximity to vital resources like water ice. However, the unique environment of the South Pole presents significant challenges,

Paris, France (SPX) Dec 25, 2024
In December 2024, Europe's Themis reusable rocket first-stage demonstrator successfully completed a critical 'full fit-check' at ArianeGroup's Les Mureaux facility in France. This significant step verified that all core components of Themis - including mechanical connections and interfaces - integrate seamlessly, ensuring the lower and upper segments align and connect as intended. St

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
Powered descent guidance (PDG) plays a critical role in enabling reusable rockets to achieve precise landings on Earth. Unlike lunar or planetary landings, endoatmospheric PDG must contend with complex nonlinear dynamics and challenging conditions such as engine thrust fluctuations, aerodynamic uncertainties, and wind disturbances. These factors can significantly affect landing accuracy, increas

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
A study of farside basalts returned by China's Chang'e-6 mission has unveiled evidence of a significant resurgence in the Moon's magnetic field approximately 2.8 billion years ago (Ga). This discovery offers key insights into the lunar dynamo and its impact on the Moon's interior and surface evolution. The Chang'e-6 mission provided the first basalt samples from the Moon's farside, filling

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the successful deployment of a satellite for Synspective, marking the company's 16th mission of 2024 and closing a record-breaking year with a 60% increase in launches compared to 2023. The mission, titled "Owl The Way Up," launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on December 22 at 03:17 NZT. Aboard the Electron rock