Sun releases moderate solar flare

The Sun emitted a moderate solar flare on May 4, 2022, peaking at 5:00 a.m. ET. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.
Air Force’s rocket propulsion arm looking to invest in technologies for ‘responsive launch’

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s rocket propulsion arm is asking space companies to help identify technologies and capabilities the military will need to launch missions on short timelines.
The post Air Force’s rocket propulsion arm looking to invest in technologies for ‘responsive launch’ appeared first on SpaceNews.
Satellogic to launch 68 satellites with SpaceX

Earth imaging company Satellogic announced May 4 it signed a contract with SpaceX to launch 68 more satellites as it continues to build out its constellation.
The post Satellogic to launch 68 satellites with SpaceX appeared first on SpaceNews.
DARPA moving forward with development of nuclear powered spacecraft

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on May 4 issued a solicitation for proposals for the next phase of a demonstration of a nuclear powered spacecraft.
The post DARPA moving forward with development of nuclear powered spacecraft appeared first on SpaceNews.
Tracking agricultural-related deforestation

The global trade in agricultural commodities provides food, fuel and fibre to consumers around the world. Commodity production, however, is also linked with negative environmental impacts, including the loss and degradation of forested land.
Approximately 90% of global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion – a phenomenon which has roots in the global demand for products such as palm oil, soy and beef. New research reveals how satellites can be used to map and monitor forest-cover changes and help implement effective zero deforestation commitments.
Astroscale's ELSA-d completes complex rendezvous operation
Astroscale Holdings Inc. ("Astroscale"), the market leader in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, has announced that, despite several unexpected setbacks, its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission successfully completed further controlled close-approach rendezvous operations between its two spacecraft in orbit.
The technol Physicists develop ideal testing conditions of solar cells for space applications
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma, with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of North Texas, the NASA Glenn Research Center and several collaborators within the space power community, have recently published a paper in the journal Joule that describes the optimal conditions for testing perovskite solar cells for space.
Perovskites are a material used in a type o MDA completes first commercial sale of Canadarm3 technology to Axiom space
MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, has announced the first commercial sale of its Canadarm3 technology to Axiom Space.
The contract is for the delivery of 32 external robotic interfaces for Axiom Space's Axiom Station which is now under construction and on schedule to be the world's first commercial spa Satellogic announces multiple launch agreement with SpaceX
Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), a leader in sub-meter resolution Earth Observation ("EO") data collection, reports it has signed a new Multiple Launch Agreement ("MLA") with SpaceX reserving launch capacity for its next 68 satellites. This new MLA follows the current MLA covering 2022 launches, and confirms that SpaceX continues to be Satellogic's preferred vendor for rideshare missions, meeting NIC4 awarded satcomm service provider registry prototype contract for US Space Force
NIC4, a subsidiary of Network Innovations, has been awarded a Service Provider Registry (SPR) prototype, a component of the Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Enterprise Management and Control (EM&C).
This software development effort is for the U.S. Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC) through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) as an Other Transactional Authority (OTA) Agreem 