Jielong-3 sea launch sends 8 satellites into orbit
Research abounds at the International Space Station
At the International Space station, researchers are making strides in everything from Earth science to chemical properties. Here's what they're up to and why it matters.
Recently, researchers have found that eddies, or swirling wind patterns, increased moisture evaporation in an alfalfa field. A better understanding of the complex exchange of water and heat between the ground and atmosphere could improve remote sensing products and their use in agricultural water management.
The station's ECOSTRESS instrument takes high-resolution thermal infrared measurements of Earth's surface that provide data on changes in water availability, vegetation water stress, and agricultural water use. Researchers use observations from the USGS Landsat 8 and 9 satellites and ECOSTRESS to validate climate models and update data on Earth's surface energy (the amount of energy absorbed from the sun and radiated back into the atmosphere).
2 record-breaking Russians and an American who lived on space station for 6 months return to Earth
Draco mission made for destruction
Over the nearly 70 years of spaceflight, about 10 000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere with many more to follow. Yet for such a ubiquitous event, we still lack a clear view on what actually happens to a satellite during its fiery last moments.
ESA is preparing the Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (Draco) mission that will collect unique measurements during an actual reentry and breakup of a satellite from the inside. A capsule especially designed to survive the destruction will transmit the valuable telemetry shortly after.
Maxar Intelligence opens international headquarters in London
Viasat wins $33 million U.S. Air Force contract for satellite communications antennas
Military’s weather satellite program in flux as Space Force evaluates options
China launches eight satellites using Smart Dragon 3 rocket
On Tuesday morning, China launched a Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket from the coast of Haiyang in Shandong province, successfully deploying eight satellites into space. According to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the satellites were placed into their designated orbital positions shortly after the rocket's launch at 10:31 am from a launch service ship. This marks the fourth sea-bas New Glenn second stage completes successful hotfire test ahead of November launch
Blue Origin's New Glenn second stage (GS2) successfully completed a critical hotfire test Tuesday, marking a key step toward its first flight, set for November from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 36. The NG-1 mission will carry Blue Ring technology as its first payload.
The 15-second hotfire test was the first time the vehicle operated as a fully integrated system. This test was conducted 
