ESA ends efforts to recover Sentinel-1B
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 14:05
The European Space Agency is ending efforts to restore operations of the Sentinel-1B radar imaging satellite that malfunctioned more than half a year ago and will instead move up the launch of a replacement.
Space debris is coming down more frequently. What are the chances it could hit someone or damage property?
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 13:49
In the past week alone, we've seen two separate incidents of space debris hurtling back to Earth in unexpected places.
On Saturday there was the uncontrolled re-entry of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket over Malaysia. Yesterday outlets reported on some spacecraft parts that turned up in regional New South Wales—now confirmed to be from a SpaceX Crew-1 mission.
As the space industry grows, it's safe to say such incidents will only become more frequent—and they could pose a risk. But how much of a risk, exactly?
Chunks of metal hurtling towards us
Space debris refers to the leftover components of a space system that are no longer required. It might be a satellite that has reached the end of its life (such as the International Space Station), or parts of a rocket system that have fulfilled their purpose and are discarded.
To date, China has launched three Long March 5B rockets, and each has been deliberately left in an uncontrolled orbit.
Video: Does space trash ever naturally break down?
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 13:26
Remember when Elon Musk launched a car into space? That car's not just peacefully drifting through a vacuum—it's hurtling around the sun at 63,592 miles per hour, being bombarded by solar radiation. It might be in pieces, but these are not the same pieces it would be in if it were down here on Earth. That's because the environment in space breaks down materials differently.
But how long does it take to break down, and how is that car looking right about now?
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Slingshot acquires Numerica’s space-tracking business and UK space data firm Seradata
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 11:00
Slingshot Aerospace announced Aug. 3 it has acquired Numerica’s space-tracking business and UK space data firm Seradata
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Remote surgery robot to be tested aboard ISS
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
A miniaturized robot invented by Nebraska Engineering Professor Shane Farritor may soon blast into space to test its skills. NASA recently awarded the University of Nebraska-Lincoln $100,000 through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) at the University of Nebraska Omaha to ready the surgical robot for a 2024 test mission aboard the International Space Station. Solar storm expected to hit Earth, but likely 'weak,' forecasters say
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
A solar storm birthed from a hole in the sun's atmosphere is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field Wednesday.
Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center are calling for a chance of a geomagnetic storm, caused by a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere.
The gaseous material is flowing from the hole in the sun's atmosphere SpaceX rocket fueled for launch this week to send Korean mission to moon
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
South Korea and SpaceX are fueled and ready to send a spacecraft on a long journey this week that will ultimately take it around the moon.
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter is scheduled to launch on Tuesday night from Cape Canaveral in Florida on the back of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The KPLO is expected to go into a low-altitude orbit around the moon after it breaks free of the Sidus Space selects AWS for LizzieSat constellation
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU), a Space-as-a-Service satellite company focused on commercial satellite design, manufacture, launch, and data collection is pleased to announce its selection of Amazon Web Services, Inc (AWS) to provide cloud storage of mission critical Satellite-as-a-Service operation and customer data for the upcoming LizzieSat Constellation.
The primary mission of LizzieS Momentus First Demonstration Mission Status Update #4
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS), a U.S. commercial space company that plans to offer transportation and other in-space infrastructure services, today provided its fourth Mission Update on its inaugural Vigoride mission that launched on May 25. Since the Company's last update on June 29, Momentus has successfully deployed four additional customer satellites.
Momentus initially deployed two cus Images of EDL Debris
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
When Perseverance landed on Mars on February 18, 2021 the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) hardware was discarded onto the surface at a safe distance away from the rover.
Some of that EDL hardware was later imaged by Perseverance and Ingenuity. For example on Sol 414 (April 19, 2022), the Ingenuity helicopter returned a detailed color image of the discarded parachute and backshell located ESA names first 'astronaut' to fly on the Artemis I lunar mission
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
The specially trained woolly astronaut, Shaun the Sheep, has been assigned a seat on the Artemis I mission to the Moon, it was announced today.
Shaun's assignment was announced by ESA's Director for Human and Robotic Exploration Dr David Parker.
David Parker said, "Shaun's mission assignment rounds off the first phase for the latest members of our astronaut corps, with Italian ESA as Earth spun faster June 29, causing shortest day since 1960s
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 10:47
The Earth spun faster around its axis on June 29, making it the shortest day since the planet's rotation began being measured with atomic clocks in the 1960s.
Earth completed one spin in 1.59 milliseconds shy of the typical 24 hours on June 29, according to Time and Date and The Guardian. The record comes as Earth has seen consistently shorter days in the past few years.
Earth's Momentus deploys additional satellites from Vigoride tug
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 09:49
Momentus has deployed additional satellites from its first space tug that encountered technical problems shortly after its launch in May and is moving forward with a second launch later this year.
Mission ends for Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 08:00
On 23 December 2021, Copernicus Sentinel-1B experienced an anomaly related to the instrument electronics power supply provided by the satellite platform, leaving it unable to deliver radar data. Since then spacecraft operators and engineers have been working tirelessly to rectify the issue. Unfortunately, despite all concerted efforts, ESA and the European Commission announce that it is the end of the mission for Sentinel-1B. Copernicus Sentinel-1A remains fully operational and plans are in force to launch Sentinel-1C as soon as possible.
RS-25 delays impact Aerojet earnings
Wednesday, 03 August 2022 01:09
Delays in starting production of RS-25 engines for NASA affected Aerojet Rocketdyne’s earnings in the second quarter, but the company expects to catch up on the program later this year.
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