Loft Orbital creates new subsidiary for government and defense
Space infrastructure startup Loft Orbital has formed a new subsidiary, Loft Federal, focused on the U.S.
Letter | Steer clear of “collision avoidance”
In the story “Amazon gets key FCC approval for more than 3,000 LEO broadband satellites” (Feb. 8), the term “collision avoidance” is misused.
Juice's odyssey of exploration: Jupiter's icy moons
A grand odyssey of exploration is about to begin. Humankind's next bold mission to the outer solar system, ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, is poised to explore giant planet Jupiter and its largest moons. These intriguing worlds have piqued our curiosity ever since Galileo first raised his telescope to the planet and discovered its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, three of which are thought to harbor underground oceans.
Early space probes visiting the Jovian system have raised more questions than answers. But thanks to Juice, many of those answers are now within reach. ESA is launching the spacecraft in April 2023 on an eight-year journey to the distant planet.
To uncover the hidden secrets of these mysterious worlds, Juice is equipped with the most powerful science instruments ever sent to the outer solar system. The spacecraft will face many dangers along the way: radiation, extreme temperatures, and the vast gravitational pull of Jupiter, all while operating hundreds of millions of kilometers from Earth. But in the safe hands of ESA's operators to guide it safely through these challenges, the dangers will be worth it for the science that Juice is destined to uncover.
Lunar cubesats encounter technical problems
One NASA-funded lunar cubesat has recovered from a communications glitch while engineers are developing backup plans for another cubesat that has suffered a propulsion problem.
Inmarsat remains open to ordering its own LEO constellation
Inmarsat says it is still considering deploying a low Earth orbit constellation of its own despite comments to the contrary by one of its executives this week.
Progress cargo spacecraft at ISS suffers coolant leak
A Progress cargo spacecraft docked to the International Space Station experienced a coolant leak Feb. 11, the second such incident involving a Russian spacecraft at the station in less than two months.
Plasmos unveils Space Truck
Plasmos plans to offer in-space transportation and return payloads to Earth with a Space Truck.
The post Plasmos unveils Space Truck appeared first on SpaceNews.
White House reviewing input on mission authorization concepts
The National Space Council is continuing work on a proposed framework for regulating commercial space activities that is being watched closely by both industry and Congress.
Launch demand remains high despite industry struggles
Despite concerns about the viability of many new launch vehicle developers, many in the industry say those vehicles are needed as demand for launch outstrips supply.
Russian spacecraft leaks coolant, station crew reported safe
An uncrewed Russian supply ship docked at the International Space Station has leaked coolant, the Russian space corporation and NASA reported Saturday, saying the incident doesn't pose any danger to the station's crew.
