The next revolution in space technology could be using swarms of small spacecraft working together rather than one much bigger spacecraft. Following an open call for ideas, ESA selected seven projects for mission/system concept study. On 26 April the teams showcased their work in ESA's Concurrent Design facility. Two studies were selected for further development.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 14, 2024
Terran Orbital has been selected by Lockheed Martin to produce 18 satellite buses for the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Tranche 2 (T2) Tracking Layer contract. Lockheed Martin will supply the SDA with 16 wide field-of-view missile warning/missile tracking space vehicles equipped with infrared sensors and two vehicles with missile defense infrared sensors capable of generating fire control-qua

Washington (AFP) May 13, 2024
The spectacular auroras that danced across the sky in many parts of the world over the weekend are fading, scientists said Monday, as the massive sunspot that caused them turns its ferocious gaze away from Earth. Since Friday, the most powerful solar storm to strike our planet in more than two decades has lit up night skies with dazzling auroras in the United States, Tasmania, the Bahamas an

Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 14, 2024
Electrons can exhibit different behaviors based on their energy levels. High-energy or low-energy electron interactions with solid materials trigger various effects. For instance, low-energy electrons can cause cancer but can also be used to treat tumors. They are also critical in microelectronics for producing tiny structures. Measuring slow electrons is challenging, and understanding the

Are you ready for the greatest story ever told? Launched in France on 25 April 2024, Space Odyssey is the first complete history of space in graphic novel form. Drawing on the latest scientific and historical sources, it tells the story of the men and women who pioneered humankind's journey into space.

Washington DC (UPI) May 13, 2024
David Salvagnini, NASA's chief data officer, will take on the expanded role of chief artificial intelligence officer, the agency announced Monday. "Artificial intelligence has been safely used at NASA for decades, and as this technology expands, it can accelerate the pace of discovery," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a news release. "It's important that we remain at the f

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 14, 2024
Maritime Launch Services Inc. has received a conditional term sheet for a $12.9 million contribution administered under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The funding will support Maritime Launch in developing Spaceport Nova Scotia, preparing for a first orbital launch from Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2025. The term sheet from the Government of Canada proposes $12.9 million in project cost r

Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 13, 2024
St12 RF Solutions, the US-based division of SWISSto12, has successfully developed, qualified, and delivered three integrated RF Antenna Feed Chains for the Northrop Grumman commercial GEOStar-3 satellite. The qualification was completed in January 2024, with the delivery of these feed chains marking a key milestone in payload integration for the satellite. The RF Antenna Feed Chains, featu

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 13, 2024
An experimental satellite was launched into space aboard a Long March 4C carrier rocket on Sunday morning from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, situated in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China. The launch occurred at 7:43 am, with the rocket successfully placing the Shiyan 23 satellite into its predetermined orbits, as stated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, a prominent