MSBAI and Princeton partner in SpaceWERX contract to enhance space flight training
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
MSBAI in collaboration with Princeton University, has been awarded a significant contract valued at $1.25 million from SpaceWERX. This Phase 2 contract, part of the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) X22.D cycle, aims to revolutionize the process of space flight mission training through the introduction of GURU, a highly autonomous system designed to streamline expert workflows in softwar NASA astronauts test SpaceX's new elevator for upcoming Artemis Lunar landings
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Doug "Wheels" Wheelock have recently tested a sub-scale mockup of an innovative elevator system designed for SpaceX's Starship human landing system. This system is earmarked for critical roles in NASA's upcoming Artemis III and IV missions to the Moon. The Starship, a centerpiece in these missions, is tasked with transporting two astronauts from the Orion spacecra Space Force Unveils Vision for 2030 at Inaugural Spacepower Conference
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
At the inaugural Spacepower Conference held in Orlando, Florida, from December 12-13, U.S. Space Force leaders outlined an ambitious vision for the future of the nation's newest military branch. The event, hosted by the Space Force Association, provided industry professionals and the public with insights into the Space Force's strategic direction and operational developments for the next decade. US Space Force explores new frontiers in Norway: Partnership and Innovation Take Center Stage
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
In a significant step towards international collaboration in space, Major General John Olson, Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations at the U.S. Space Force, recently led a delegation to the Spaceport Norway conference in Oslo. This event marked a pivotal moment for the U.S. Space Force and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as they engaged in crucial dialogues about the future o GMV reinforces satellite expertise with new Galileo Operations Center in Madrid
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
In a significant step for Europe's satellite navigation capabilities, GMV, the main contractor for the Galileo program's ground control segment, has recently inaugurated a replica of the Galileo operations room at its Madrid headquarters. This new facility mirrors the actual control centers of the European Union's premier satellite navigation system, Galileo, enabling advanced simulation and tes Blue Sky Network enhances SkyLink with Iridium Messaging Transport Integration
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
Blue Sky Network has announced that its dual-mode SkyLink solution now supports the Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT) service, a novel development in satellite communications technology. The integration of IMT into Blue Sky Network's SkyLink is a notable step forward in the realm of satellite-based messaging. According to Ron Hume, Blue Sky Network's Chief Technology Officer, this new feature ai KSC looks ahead to a busy year in 2024
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
Another jam-packed year is in store for NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the momentum of a busy 2023 is carried forward into the new year. On the horizon are missions to the Moon, more crew and cargo flights to the International Space Station, and several upgrade projects across the spaceport.
NASA's first CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative mission with Astrobotic Nuclear deflection simulations advance planetary defense against asteroid threats
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a modeling tool for assessing the potential use of a nuclear device to defend the planet against catastrophic asteroid impacts.
The research, published in the Planetary Science Journal, introduces a novel approach to simulating the energy deposition from a nuclear device on an asteroid's surface. This new tool impr Fresh Research for Fresh Air: Harnessing microbes for removing indoor pollutants
Friday, 22 December 2023 10:51
Researchers in Chile have designed an indoor air purification prototype which uses microorganisms to capture and degrade pollutants, with efficiencies above 90%.
In the study, published in SCI's Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, the scientists demonstrated that the system could operate for 8 months without any loss in efficiency.
As the demand for better insulation an Deep dive across the pond
Friday, 22 December 2023 08:38
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Astronaut candidates taking a plunge in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) for spacewalk training familiarisation. Gift wrapped for Ariane 6
Friday, 22 December 2023 06:38
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Gift wrapped for Ariane 6 Cosmic Bling: The Science of Extraterrestrial Diamonds
Friday, 22 December 2023 04:33
Diamonds have long captivated humanity with their brilliance and rarity, symbolizing wealth, power, and romance on Earth. However, beyond our planet, in the vast expanse of space, diamonds take on a new role, offering clues to the mysteries of the cosmos. This article delves into the fascinating world of extraterrestrial diamonds, exploring their formation, discovery and the profound implications they hold for our understanding of the universe. NASA astronauts test SpaceX elevator concept for Artemis lunar lander
Thursday, 21 December 2023 21:17
NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Doug "Wheels" Wheelock participated in a recent test of a sub-scale mockup elevator for SpaceX's Starship human landing system that will be used for NASA's Artemis III and IV missions to the moon. The Starship human landing system will carry two astronauts from the Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit to the surface, serve as a habitat for crew members' approximately one week stay on the moon, and transfer them from the surface back to Orion.
The elevator will transport equipment and crew between Starship's habitable area, located near the top of the lander, and the lunar surface, as they exit for moonwalks. The test allowed the astronauts to interact with a flight-like design of the elevator system, serving as both a functional demonstration of the hardware and providing the chance to receive valuable feedback from a crew perspective.
Built at SpaceX's facility in Hawthorne, California, the elevator mockup has a full-scale basket section with functioning mechanical assemblies and crew interfaces for testing. During the demonstration, NASA astronauts wore spacesuits that simulate the suit size and mobility constraints that crew will face on the moon.
Image: Pinhole propulsion for satellites
Thursday, 21 December 2023 17:31
A palm-sized propulsion option for future space missions: Each one of these seven emitter arrays etched onto this silicon wafer using micro- and nano-technology possesses more than 500 pinhole-sized emitters that spray out ions, accelerated via an electrostatic field to maximize thrust.
Inherently scalable, this "electrospray" technology is being developed as a cost- and mass-effective method of propelling CubeSats and other small satellites. For the first time in Europe, this ionic-liquid based electrospray propulsion system has achieved more than 400 hours of continuous operation.
"Everyone knows that 'space is hard,' but we like to say that 'propulsion is harder,'" comments Daniel Pérez Grande, CEO & Co-founder of IENAI Space in Spain, who is developing the technology for ESA. "Developing a new technology, which we have built from scratch, has been no easy feat, but we are confident that our propulsion products will stand out in the market for their incredible performance and customization capabilities; and in fact we have already been approached by a number of interested parties in the industry."
Known as ATHENA (Adaptable THruster based on Electrospray powered by Nanotechnology), this system is one of three currently being developed by ESA to harness electrospray propulsion for space.
National Space Council meeting emphasizes international cooperation
Thursday, 21 December 2023 12:14
