Video: Ariane 6 launchpad testing
It has been an exciting and busy summer for the European Space Agency, with development and testing of its new Ariane 6 launcher.
At Europe's spaceport in, French Guiana, a test model of the launcher's central core was assembled for the first time.
Ariane 6 is the first Ariane rocket to be assembled horizontally, which is simpler and less costly than more traditional vertical assembly. After assembly, the rocket was moved to its launchpad and placed upright in the massive mobile gantry for combined tests, to validate the compatibility between all components of the complete launch system.
Soon more testing will be done on Ariane 6's upper stage at a purpose-built DLR facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
Explore further
Investors take long-term view of space industry amid near-term challenges
Despite near-term headwinds in the economy and the markets, executives and investors remain bullish about the space industry’s long-term prospects.
The post Investors take long-term view of space industry amid near-term challenges appeared first on SpaceNews.
Wireless communications startup repurposes technology from Google’s balloon internet project
Aalyri Technologies, a startup that emerged from stealth mode Sept. 13, plans to provide high-speed internet using software and networking technology from Google’s ill-fated balloon project.
The post Wireless communications startup repurposes technology from Google’s balloon internet project appeared first on SpaceNews.
Iceye and Satlantis propose optical and radar satellite constellation
Iceye announced preliminary plans Sept. 14 to work with Satlantis, a Spanish Earth-observation technology company, to launch a constellation of four satellites to acquire high-resolution radar and optical imagery.
The post Iceye and Satlantis propose optical and radar satellite constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA's CAPSTONE probe suffers anomaly, put in safe mode
NASA's CAPSTONE probe has experienced a problem on its journey to the moon, and is now in a protective safe mode, the space agency confirmed.
NASA and its private partner Advanced Space issued the update Monday, after what they referred to as an anomaly.
"This is a dynamic operational situation," Colorado-based Advanced Space said in a statement.
"During or shortly after t NASA delays launch of Artemis I rocket until Sept. 27
The highly anticipated launch of NASA's Artemis I moon rocket has been delayed once again, with the agency now targeting Sept. 27 as a date for liftoff.
NASA said Monday that the new date would give it more time to prepare for the cryogenic demonstration test and the launch. The new backup date is Oct. 2.
"This week, teams will conduct tests at ambient conditions to ensure there Study looks at how water got on the moon
At least since the first manned missions to the moon in the 1960s and early '70s, the general belief was that Earth's orbiting partner was bone dry. Then, about two years ago, several lunar missions showed that's not absolutely true. Some lunar soil contains minute amounts of water molecules.
But where did water on the moon come from? Answering that question can help us understand the moon WVU and NASA plant the seed for STEM among youth in Plant the Moon Challenge
Students across the Mountain State will simulate growing crops on the moon and learn, via hands-on experiments, about NASA's Artemis mission, thanks to funding secured by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium housed at West Virginia University.
On Friday (Sept. 9), Vice President Kamala Harris, in her role as chair of the National Space Council, announced new NASA funding for sever Searching for Frost at Jezero Crater
We've all walked outside on a cold morning and seen frost on the grass, but you might be surprised to know that frost can also form on Mars! Several missions have searched for frost including Opportunity and most recently Curiosity with its REMS and ChemCam instruments. This week, Perseverance followed in its siblings' footsteps by searching for frost at Jezero Crater using its MEDA and SuperCam Redwire and Sodern team up to market the Exquisite-Class Eagle Eye Star Tracker
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, today signed a formal teaming agreement with Sodern, a world leader in star trackers and neutron systems, to produce the Eagle Eye star tracker.
The Eagle Eye star tracker will offer superior performance by leveraging the exceptional flight heritage of Sodern's highly resilient modular 
