Upton NY (SPX) Jan 17, 2024
A unique "passenger" is joining an upcoming mission to the moon. In 2026, physicists are planning to operate a radio telescope on the far side of the moon-an unforgiving environment that poses tremendous challenges for research equipment to survive, but also the promise of enormous scientific payoff. Called LuSEE-Night, the project aims to access lingering radio waves from the universe's ancient

Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 17, 2024
Earth planning date: Friday, January 12, 2024: Cracking up - not Curiosity, but the rocks! It is all about the cracks and fractures in the workspace for this 4-sol plan. We have observed resistant, polygonal fractures/ridges in many recent bedrock blocks. There is much speculation among the team as to the origin of these features. Hypotheses have different implications for past environments, and

Tokyo (AFP) Jan 17, 2024
Japan, whose unmanned "sniper" probe will attempt a lunar landing on Saturday, is one of many countries and private companies launching new missions to the Moon. It is a feat so far only achieved by four nations - the United States, the Soviet Union, China and most recently India - with spacecraft often losing communication or crash-landing. The modern lunar exploration programmes incl

Istanbul (AFP) Jan 17, 2024
When Turkey's first astronaut blasts off for the International Space Station (ISS) this week, he will embody his country's pride and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's outsized geopolitical ambitions. Alper Gezeravci, a 43-year-old fighter pilot and colonel in Turkey's air force, is due to take off on Wednesday from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a two-week mission.

Davos, Switzerland (SPX) Jan 17, 2024
The Filecoin Foundation (FF) has recently made a significant stride in space communication technology by successfully deploying the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) in space, marking a first-of-its-kind mission. This groundbreaking initiative involved transmitting files to and from an orbiting satellite using a space-adapted version of the IPFS protocol. In collaboration with Lockheed Mar

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 17, 2024
The China Manned Space Agency recently announced that the Tianzhou 7, the first spacecraft to visit China's Tiangong space station this year, is scheduled for an imminent launch. This event marks a significant step in China's ongoing space endeavors, as Tianzhou 7 is poised to become the 12th spacecraft to rendezvous with the Tiangong station. Equipped for the mission, the Long March 7 car

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 17, 2024
Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) has announced a significant collaboration with ASPINA, a Japanese technology company, for its upcoming LizzieSat mission. Scheduled for launch with SpaceX in the second quarter of 2025, this mission marks a notable step in the evolution of space technology. Under the terms of this agreement, Sidus Space will host a payload mission in partnership with ASPINA, focu

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 17, 2024
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) recently announced a registered direct offering that will raise approximately $4 million. This move underscores the company's ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial position and continue its expansion in the rapidly evolving space sector. Under the terms of the agreement, Momentus will sell 3,687,000 shares of common stock (or common stock equivalents) to

Tokyo (AFP) Jan 17, 2024
Japan's "Moon Sniper" spacecraft will attempt a historic touchdown on the lunar surface this weekend using pinpoint technology the country hopes will lead to success where many have failed. With its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, Japan wants to become the fifth nation to pull off a fiendishly tricky soft landing on the rocky surface. Only the United States, the Sovie

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 17, 2024
Merida Aerospace, a Tampa-based aerospace company, is set to make a substantial contribution to the space exploration and education landscape in Mexico. Drawing inspiration from the renowned U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the ambitious project seeks to position Mexico as a significant player in the rapidly expanding space economy. The National Rocket and Space Center,