Washington DC (UPI) Sep 3, 2021
Texas-based Firefly Aerospace's first rocket launch attempt ended in an explosion minutes after liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday night. Videos and photos posted online showed an orange fireball about two minutes after liftoff of the Firefly Alpha rocket at 9:59 p.m. EDT. White smoke trailed as a piece of debris as it fell into the Pacific Ocean.

Week in images: 30 August - 3 September 2021

Discover our week through the lens

Video: 00:06:16

The ExoMars team have performed important parachute drop tests as crucial preparation for a safe touchdown on Mars in 2023. The European Rosalind Franklin rover will search for signs of past life beneath the surface of Mars with its unique two metre drill and onboard laboratory. The Russian surface science platform Kazachok will study the environment at the landing site. Landing on Mars is always a challenging endeavour and all possible parameters are taken into account.

More information on ExoMars: http://www.esa.int/exomars

ESA Member States have agreed upon the boundary conditions for Europe’s upcoming exploitation of Ariane 6 and Vega-C and request ESA to propose a roadmap for new and innovative space transportation solutions for the next decade and a framework for associated short cycle demonstrations.

Pasadena CA (JPL) Sep 02, 2021
Three days after Hurricane Ida brought fierce wind, rain, and storm surges to Louisiana, large swaths of the state are enduring electric power blackouts due to downed lines and damaged transmission towers. According to news sources, many people are also going without access to running water and gasoline due to damaged infrastructure. A team of scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Ce

Paris (ESA) Sep 03, 2021
After many technical and programmatic challenges, the first satellite of the next generation of the Meteosat family has taken a major step towards its first flight, currently scheduled for launch in autumn 2022. Following on from the success of the first and second generation of Meteosat satellites, the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) will soon take over the reins to ensure the continuity

Broomfield CO (SPX) Sep 01, 2021
Ball Aerospace was selected by NASA for two Landsat Next architecture studies: Landsat Next Instrument Study - Constellation Satellite Concept and Landsat Next Instrument - Single Satellite Concept. The two six-month studies will look at instrument architectures and designs for the next generation of Landsat. "Users around the world rely on the continuity and reliability of the Lands