Why go back to the Moon
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 10:22
On September 12, 1962, then US president John F. Kennedy informed the public of his plan to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade.
It was the height of the Cold War and America needed a big victory to demonstrate its space superiority after the Soviet Union had launched the first satellite and put the first man in orbit.
"We choose to go to the Moon," Kennedy told 40,000 people The road to the Moon
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 10:22
The birth of a spacecraft takes many years from design through to assembly, testing and launch. Here we speak to Airbus engineer Paolo Artusio about how the ESM-1, the European Service Module which will propel the Orion spacecraft to the Moon, took shape.
For Artusio, the moment a programme transitions to its assembly, integration and test (AIT) phase is: "When engineers' dreams leave thei SFL contracted for 15 additional HawkEye 360 RF geolocation microsatellites
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 10:22
Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has been contracted to support development of Clusters 7 through 11 in the HawkEye 360 radio frequency (RF) geolocation microsatellite constellation. Under the Flex Production program, SFL is designing, assembling, and integrating Cluster 9 at its Toronto headquarters and is providing technical support for the integration of Clusters 7, 8, 10 and 11 at HawkEye 360's Space Perspective acquires ship for ocean-based balloon launch platform
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 10:07
Space Perspective, a company offering tourist flights into the stratosphere, is buying a ship it plans to use as an oceangoing launch platform for its balloons.
The post Space Perspective acquires ship for ocean-based balloon launch platform appeared first on SpaceNews.
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ESA Extremes Strong European support for space to combat climate crisis
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 07:20
Europe should demonstrate responsibility, leadership and autonomy in space – and its highest priority should be to address climate change, according to a poll of European citizens.
Benchmark expands staff and facilities to meet demand
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 07:00
Benchmark Space Systems has nearly tripled its staff and established manufacturing facilities to produce as many as 1,000 engines in the United States and United Kingdom over five years.
The post Benchmark expands staff and facilities to meet demand appeared first on SpaceNews.
Kayhan and Morpheus offer “one-click” collision avoidance
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 07:00
Kayhan Space and Morpheus Space announced a strategic partnership Nov. 15 to offer satellite operators a “one-click” collision-avoidance service.
The post Kayhan and Morpheus offer “one-click” collision avoidance appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA continues with Artemis 1 launch attempt after evaluating hurricane damage
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 06:21
NASA is proceeding with its next Artemis 1 launch attempt on Nov. 16 after concluding that loose caulk on the Orion spacecraft did not pose a significant risk.
The post NASA continues with Artemis 1 launch attempt after evaluating hurricane damage appeared first on SpaceNews.
SFL offers flexible support for HawkEye 360 constellation
Monday, 14 November 2022 23:29
Toronto-based Space Flight Laboratory won a contract to support development of HawkEye 360 satellites to pinpoint the location of radio frequency signals.
The post SFL offers flexible support for HawkEye 360 constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.
ClearSpace announces life extension collaboration with Intelsat
Monday, 14 November 2022 22:56
ClearSpace, the Swiss orbital debris removal startup, said Nov. 14 it is planning a mission to extend the life of an Intelsat satellite before it runs out of fuel around 2026-2028.
Terran Orbital sees staff departures as it turns focus to military satellites
Monday, 14 November 2022 22:21
Three senior engineers and program executives left satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital late last week amid disagreements over the company’s direction
The post Terran Orbital sees staff departures as it turns focus to military satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.
Final preparations underway for NASA's Moon rocket launch
Monday, 14 November 2022 20:22
After two failed attempts this summer, NASA was busy Monday completing final preparations for the launch of its new mega Moon rocket, now scheduled for early Wednesday from Florida.
The Artemis 1 mission, a test flight without astronauts, represents the first step in the US space agency's plan to build a lasting presence on the Moon, and taking lessons from there to prepare for a future voyage to Mars.
SpaceX launches a pair of Intelsat satellites on expendable Falcon 9
Monday, 14 November 2022 18:17
SpaceX successfully launched a second pair of C-band replacement satellites for Intelsat over the weekend on the final flight of a frequently used Falcon 9 booster.
The post SpaceX launches a pair of Intelsat satellites on expendable Falcon 9 appeared first on SpaceNews.
Artemis launch delay is the latest of many NASA scrubs and comes from hard lessons on crew safety
Monday, 14 November 2022 17:35
I love a good space launch, and I have been eagerly awaiting NASA's powerful new Space Launch System rocket to take off as the first part of NASA's ambitious Artemis Mission to put U.S. astronauts back on the Moon. But this launch has already been pushed back four times this year—twice due to technical issues and once apiece for a tropical storm and a hurricane.
I am a professor of space studies who teaches courses in space law and history. One lesson I've learned is that as successful as the U.S. and other nations have been at launching rockets into space over the decades, a huge number of launches get delayed due to weather or safety concerns. Of NASA's 135 Space Shuttle missions, only about 40% launched on time.