11 April, 2024
Vast’s Haven-1 aims to be the world’s first commercial space station connected by SpaceX starlink
10 April, 2024
Sierra Space Ghost Enters Flight Test Enabling Global Payload Delivery in 90 Minutes
This new technology propels Sierra Space into a new era of national security space and space logistics, promising to redefine the way critical defence supplies are delivered across the globe. The Sierra Space Ghost Beta decelerator, part of the company’s recently announced Sierra Space Axelerator™ incubator, is a cutting-edge thermal protection system tailored for the safe return of small payloads from space.
Last month, the first drop test of the Sierra Space Ghost was completed in Florida, enabling Sierra Space test engineers to fully understand the flight characteristics of the system and how recovery operations can be rapidly completed on the ground.
“As we continue to innovate at speed, this test enables us to build, test, learn and accelerate the development of a revolutionary new operational asset for national security,” said Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. “We envision having an inventory of Sierra Space Ghost vehicles strategically positioned and readily accessible and deployable within 90 minutes to critical locations anywhere on Earth. Sierra Space Ghost enables our customers to deliver vital resources to frontline personnel with unparalleled precision and speed.”
08 April, 2024
Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) confirms deployment of HawkEye 360 microsatellite clusters 8 and 9
03 April, 2024
Rocket Lab prepares to launch mission for KAIST and NASA to deploy satellites to two separate orbits
Rocket Lab USA has set the launch window for its next Electron launch.
19 March, 2024
Airbus continues to collaborate with NASA to monitor climate change from Space
GRACE-C contract for two spacecraft awarded to Airbus
NASA and DLR mission will continue measurements of Earth’s gravity field
Airbus has been awarded a contract to design and build the GRACE-C twin spacecraft by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL (Pasadena, California). This new mission of NASA and the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will strengthen the more than 20 year long partnership between the USA and Germany to ensure uninterrupted measurement of the Earth's gravity field, which started in 2002 with GRACE and continues with GRACE Follow-On, launched in 2018.During its five year nominal mission lifetime, the GRACE-C Mission (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment-Continuity) will continue the series of measurements observing how Earth’s groundwater, oceans, ice sheets, and land shift, month-to-month, by measuring changes in the planet’s gravity field.
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, said: “It is amazing to think that, without looking down at Earth, two satellites more than 200 km away from each other, can tell us how quickly our ice sheets are melting. In environmental monitoring, continuity is key. The valuable data provided by the previous GRACE missions is testament to their success and it is great news that Airbus continues to be part of this international mission providing the tools to measure how our climate is evolving.”
GRACE-C consists of two identical satellites flying around 200 km apart at an orbit altitude of 500 km with an inclination of 89 degrees. Each satellite will measure approximately 3 x 2 x 1 metres and weigh around 600 kg. Launch is planned no earlier than late 2028 from the USA.
14 March, 2024
Latest SpaceX launch goes further than before.
13 March, 2024
Rocket Lab successfully launches 45th Electron mission for Synspective
06 March, 2024
1200 MHz radar bandwidth in-orbit technology demonstrator enhances ICEYE’s expansive SAR satellite constellation
ICEYE strengthens its persistent Earth Observation capabilities with the successful launch of three new satellites.
23 February, 2024
Rocket Lab to launch NRO mission from Wallops, Virginia
The mission will be Rocket Lab’s first NRO launch from Wallops, Virginia, following four previous successful launches for the agency from New Zealand
The mission will be Rocket Lab’s first NRO launch from Wallops, Virginia, following four previous successful launches for the agency from New Zealand
Rocket Lab schedules launch date for 45th Electron Mission........
The Owls’ Night Begins: Launched December 2020The Owl’s Night Continues: Launched February 2022The Owl Spreads its Wings: Launched September 2022
05 February, 2024
The world’s first metal 3D printer for space is on its way to the ISS
Metal 3D printing makes life easier for astronauts
The challenges of printing metal in space
01 February, 2024
Airbus Announces Purchase of Eutelsat OneWeb’s Stake in Satellite Constellation Manufacturing Joint Venture
27 January, 2024
Virgin Galactic Completes 11th Successful Spaceflight
Astronaut 023 – Lina Borozdina, Ukraine and Nevada, U.S.Astronaut 024 – Robie Vaughn, Texas, U.S.Astronaut 025 – Franz Haider, AustriaAstronaut 026 – Neil Kornswiet, California, U.S.
Take-off Time: 10:00 am MTAltitude at Release: 44,493 ftApogee: 55.2 milesTop Speed: Mach 2.98Landing Time: 10:56 am MT
10 January, 2024
Rocket Lab USA has set the launch window for its first mission of 2024.
16 December, 2023
Sierra Space’s Revolutionary Dream Chaser Enters Final Test Campaign
Wings Are BackSierra Space’s Revolutionary Dream Chaser Enters Final Test Campaign, Spaceplane Transitioning to Orbital Operations.
No More Plunging into the Ocean – Dream Chaser Uses the World’s Global Commercial RunwaysDesigned To Be Highly Reusable – Minimum 15 Missions Per SystemFully Autonomous OperationsHigh-Capacity Up Mass and Down Mass Payloads (Pressurized & Unpressurized)Low G Landings – Better for Science, Cargo and CrewFast Access to Payloads and Science Upon Landing – Easy to Integrate into Ground LogisticsBreakthrough Green Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Propulsion SystemSecond Dream Chaser Vehicle, Reverence, In Production
Selected by a NASA contract:
Rocket Lab Reaches New Annual Launch Record with 10th Electron Mission This Year
The mission successfully deployed a satellite for Japan-based Earth imaging company Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc.
Rocket Lab a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 42nd Electron rocket and deployed a satellite for Japan-based Earth imaging company the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS). The mission was Rocket Lab’s 10th Electron launch for the year, surpassing the Company’s previous annual record of nine launches in 2022. For the fifth year in a row, Electron has retained the title of the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually.
05 December, 2023
Airbus awarded next stage of ESA’s TRUTHS mission for metrological traceability of Earth observation data
TRUTHS will provide a benchmark of Earth’s energy balance by consistent calibration traced to a metrological reference
Consistent calibration will also enhance existing satellite missions