A new mission will grab dead satellites and push them into the atmosphere to burn up
Plenty of news stories have focused on the danger posed by Kessler syndrome. In this condition, space is made inaccessible by a cloud of debris surrounding our planet that would destroy any further attempts to get into orbit. Therefore, plenty of companies have sprung up to take care of the problem, from blasting derelict satellites with lasers to helping to refuel them—lots of business models have been created to capture this opportunity.
One of the farthest along is Astroscale. This British start-up is tackling the problem with one of the more conventional techniques—linking up with an existing satellite to deorbit it. And recently, they released a promotional video for their new project—the ELSA-M.
ELSA-M, which stands for End of Life Services by Astroscale-Multiple, is designed to couple with an existing satellite, force it into a lower orbit, and make it reenter more quickly. It will be the first satellite to boost itself up to another orbit for a second rendezvous and deorbit that second satellite as well.
What the wreck of the Titan portends for commercial spaceflight
With the loss of the submersible Titan and her five passengers garnering round-the-clock media attention, those working in the emergent private space travel industry should pay close attention
First view of Ariane 6 on launchpad
ESA’s new Ariane 6 launch system is being prepared for a round of engine fire tests – with removal of the mobile building that protects the rocket while it sits on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
How to follow the Euclid launch live
ESA will be broadcasting live as the Euclid space telescope, which will explore the dark Universe, is targeted to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA, at 11:11 local time / 15:11 UTC / 17:11 CEST on Saturday 1 July 2023. A back-up launch date of Sunday 2 July 2023 is foreseen.
Here’s how to follow the launch online.
All times CEST. Times subject to change at short notice
ESA tests multi-orbit connectivity
Engineers have communicated via video link using connectivity delivered by 5G terrestrial networks and a combination of satellites in different orbits, as part of an experiment led by ESA’s 5G/6G Hub.
Earth from Space: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Image:
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Full ignition for ESA’s reusable rocket engine
Work to develop a reusable engine for European rockets is progressing, with full ignition of an early prototype of Prometheus. These images were taken on 22 June 2023 at ArianeGroup’s test facility in Vernon, France during a 12-second burn.
Apex raises $16 million for spacecraft factory
Apex, a startup with plans to mass-manufacture satellite buses, has raised $16 million to fund development of its first large-scale factory.
Safran, Terran Orbital to explore joint production of satellite propulsion systems
Satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital has signed an agreement with French aerospace giant Safran to explore U.S.
U.S. and India to expand spaceflight cooperation
The governments of the United States and India have agreed to work more closely together in spaceflight, with India signing the Artemis Accords and the two countries planning for a joint mission of some kind to the International Space Station.
