Boca Chica, United States (AFP) Jan 15, 2025
Elon Musk's SpaceX is gearing up for the seventh orbital flight test of Starship, the colossal prototype rocket the company hopes will help humans colonize Mars. A launch window from the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, opens at 4:00 pm (2200 GMT) Wednesday and will be carried in a live webcast on Musk's X platform. Space enthusiasts will be eager to see if SpaceX can replicate t

Kennedy Space Center, United States (AFP) Jan 15, 2025
One rocket, two missions: lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies launched their "rideshare" to the Moon on Wednesday, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration. On board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida were Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience from Japan, which will also deploy a micro rover

The first IRIDE satellite – the Pathfinder Hawk – is now in orbit around Earth after lifting off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 14 January.

As its ‘Pathfinder’ name suggests, this new microsatellite is a prototype for one of the six IRIDE constellations, which are tailored to provide information for a wide range of environmental, emergency and security services for Italy.

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
China's commercial space industry made remarkable progress in 2024, with market projections suggesting it will exceed 2.3 trillion yuan (approximately 314 billion U.S. dollars) in value. Technological advancements in key areas, such as reusable rocket development, smart launch infrastructure, and cutting-edge satellite transmission technologies, have catalyzed rapid industry growth and pro

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILT, TASE: GILT) has announced securing orders exceeding $3 million from leading service providers for its Gateway Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs). These systems are designed to support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and are scheduled for delivery over the next 12 months. LEO satellite constellations are becoming an integral part

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
Optimal Satcom, Inc., a global provider of satellite capacity management solutions, has surpassed 100 enterprise customers as of 2024. This milestone reflects the company's strong growth and leadership in delivering innovative satellite solutions. The company serves a diverse clientele, including the U.S. Government, allied governments, satellite operators, service providers, and industries such

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2025
NASA, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, is now accepting applications for a summer program designed to teach higher education institutions, faculty, and students the skills needed to build small satellites. This initiative also enhances the chances of participating teams being selected for future satellite flight opportunities. The University Nanosatellite Prog

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 13, 2025
A whitish-grey patch that occasionally appears in the night sky alongside the aurora borealis has been explained for the first time, thanks to researchers at the University of Calgary. The phenomenon, known as "structured continuum emission," has long intrigued scientists but had never been fully understood until now. The findings, published on Dec. 30 in the journal Nature Communications,

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has launched its most advanced spectroscopic survey yet to create a detailed map of interstellar material within our Milky Way Galaxy. "Our observing robots have been working hard for a few years already. Now, they are helping us scan the sky in a whole new way," said Dhanesh Krishnarao, an Assistant Professor of Physics at Colorado College and member of

Vilnius, Lithuania (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
Solar storms, with their awe-inspiring displays like the aurora borealis, have captivated humans for centuries. However, these phenomena, caused by solar flares - intense bursts of energy from the Sun - pose significant challenges. Severe solar storms can disrupt telecommunications, satellites, and power grids, creating widespread consequences for global society. Solar flares release high-