ESA awards €10.45 million to two UK launch startups
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 20:41
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VALLETTA, Malta — The European Space Agency awarded UK-based launch startups Orbex and Skyrora a combined €10.45 million ($12.35 million) to support development of competing microlaunchers.
The two support contracts announced March 24 were awarded under Boost!, an ESA program that aims to foster new commercial space transportation services.
Chandra X-ray data sonification: Stellar, galactic, and black hole
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 19:20 Write a comment
This latest installment from our data sonification series features three diverse cosmic scenes. In each, astronomical data collected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes are converted into sounds. Data sonification maps the data from these space-based telescopes into a form that users can hear instead of only see, embodying the data in a new form without changing the original content.
Chandra Deep Field (below)
This is the deepest image ever taken in X-rays, representing over seven million seconds of Chandra observing time. For that reason, and because the observed field is in the southern hemisphere, astronomers call this region the "Chandra Deep Field South". At first glance, this image may appear to be a view of stars. Rather, almost all these different colored dots are black holes or galaxies. Most of the former are supermassive black holes that reside at the centers of galaxies. In this data sonification, the colors dictate the tones as the bar moves from the bottom of the image to the top.
Cosmic mouthful: Tasters savor fine wine that orbited Earth
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 17:52
Water mission takes on space weather
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 14:20 Write a comment
For well over a decade, ESA’s SMOS satellite has been delivering a wealth of data to map moisture in soil and salt in the surface waters of the oceans for a better understanding of the processes driving the water cycle. While addressing key scientific questions, this exceptional Earth Explorer has repeatedly surpassed expectations by returning a wide range of unexpected results, often leading to practical applications that improve everyday life. Adding to SMOS’ list of talents, new findings show that what was considered noise in the mission’s data can actually be used to monitor solar activity and
ESA boost for UK space transportation initiatives
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 14:00 Write a comment
As part of its Boost! programme, ESA has signed two new contracts which support UK-based Orbex and Skyrora in their separate proposals for new commercial launch services for small satellites. These services are set to start in the UK from 2022.
ESA has awarded €7.45 m of co-funding to Orbex and its partners, and €3 m to Skyrora.
Italy’s Leaf Space to establish U.S. office
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 13:00 Write a comment
SAN FRANCISCO – Italian ground segment provider Leaf Space announced plans March 24 to establish a U.S. office to serve government and commercial customers.
“There is a clear appetite among U.S. satellite and launch vehicle operators to simplify, outsource and maximize the value from ground services and we believe that need is only going to grow,” Jai Dialani, Leaf Space U.S.
World-leading CubeSat satellites launched
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 12:51 Write a comment
UNSW Canberra Space's M2 CubeSat satellites successfully launched with Rocket Lab's "They Go Up So Fast' mission from New Zealand earlier today, representing a significant step forward in Australia's sovereign space capabilities.
The M2 mission, a collaboration between UNSW Canberra Space and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), brings together emerging technologies that deliver advanced capabilities in Earth observation, maritime surveillance, and satellite communications.
UNSW Canberra Space Director Professor Russell Boyce said M2 will deliver world-leading CubeSat technologies including formation flying, where the craft is able to split into two separate satellites (M2- A and M2-B) and fly in sequence, enabling significant mission flexibility.
Supporting Australia's space situational awareness, the data captured by M2 can inform maritime surveillance, weather observations and low-orbit satellite traffic. This information is processed through advanced in-orbit artificial intelligence, on a platform reconfigurable throughout the mission.
"The M2 mission is one of the most complex CubeSat programs ever attempted. It will enable both UNSW Canberra Space and the RAAF to gain experience and capability in the development and operation of in-orbit space science and technology missions," Professor Boyce said.
Is there still space for export credit agencies?
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 12:16 Write a comment
Once a critical pillar for supporting commercial space projects around the world, export credit agencies have faded from the limelight in an industry awash with financing alternatives.
But as an Indonesian satellite secures ECA support and Canada’s Telesat explores the option for its LEO constellation, there is still a role to play for these state-backed institutions.
SpaceX marks anniversary of first launch with Starlink mission
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 11:24 Write a comment
WASHINGTON — A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched another set of Starlink satellites March 24, 15 years to the day after the company’s first, unsuccessful launch.
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 4:24 a.m.
Satellites map record floods in Australia
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 10:30 Write a comment
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Stretches of land across New South Wales, Australia, have been hit with torrential rain leading to record-breaking floods. Data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission are being used to map flooded areas to help relief efforts. Lunar cave explorer
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 09:19 Write a comment
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Lunar cave explorer Is the nearest star cluster to the Sun being destroyed?
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 09:00 Write a comment
Data from ESA’s Gaia star mapping satellite have revealed tantalising evidence that the nearest star cluster to the Sun is being disrupted by the gravitational influence of a massive but unseen structure in our galaxy.
Kymeta Interoperability with Kepler LEO sats promises powerful connectivity of the Kymeta u8 Terminal
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 08:20 Write a comment
Kymeta and Kepler Communications have announced the successful demonstration of the Kymeta u8 Terminal with LEO satellite acquisition, tracking and throughput measurements, during extreme cold weather temperatures. The collaboration with Kepler supports Kymeta's goal to develop solutions that are future proof with a clear LEO upgrade path and compatible with growing mega constellations.
In Rocket Lab launches 100th satellite
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 08:20 Write a comment
Rocket Lab, a leading launch provider and space systems company, has successfully launched its 19th Electron mission and deployed six spacecraft to orbit for a range of government and commercial customers. The mission, named 'They Go Up So Fast,' also deployed Rocket Lab's latest in-house manufactured Photon spacecraft to build flight heritage ahead of the upcoming CAPSTONE mission to the Moon f Pentagon wants new Command and Control System to counter hypersonic threats
Tuesday, 23 March 2021 08:20 Write a comment
In 2017, Russia became the first country in the world to deploy nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles, with their development begun after the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and started building a missile shield. Moscow sees the weapons as a guarantee against decapitation strikes. China also has a successful hypersonics programme.
The US Missile Defence Agency (MDA), the a