NOAA seeks funding increases for next-generation satellite programs
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 23:08
NOAA requests $417.4 million for next-generation geostationary weather satellites. That program received $285 million in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending bill. The agency is also seeking additional funding for polar orbiting weather satellites. NOAA is seeking an increase of $73.4 million for the Space Weather Next program.
Norwegian Cruise Line plots Starlink rollout
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 22:45
Norwegian Cruise Line is testing the low Earth orbit (LEO) network on Norwegian Breakaway. The company plans to expand its fleet to 37 vessels over the next five years. Royal Caribbean Group said it had become the first cruise liner to adopt Starlink. Prices for its maritime services start at $1,000 month and a $2,500 one-time hardware cost.
Space Force renames Greenland’s Thule Air Base
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 21:57
Pituffik (pronounced bee-doo-FEEK) is the traditional Greenlandic name of the region where the base is located. Pituffik is located approximately 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the northwestern coast of Greenland. The base, built in 1951, is home to DoD’s northernmost deepwater port and has a 10,000-foot runway.
Startup aims to fill technology gaps in space warfare
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 13:13
True Anomaly, a startup based in Denver, is building two small satellites. One of the spacecraft will attempt to chase down an “uncooperative” object. This is the type of technology the U.S. Military needs to compete with rival powers in space.
Loft Orbital orders 15 more buses from Airbus OneWeb Satellites
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 11:04
Loft Orbital has ordered an additional 15 satellite buses from Airbus OneWeb Satellites. The buses, which it calls Longbow, are based on the design of the bus used for OneWeb satellites. Loft Orbital has previously ordered satellites from LeoStella as well as Raytheon.
China invites Venezuela to join moon base project
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 08:59
China has invited Venezuela to join its lunar research station project. Venezuela would be the first country to join China and Russia in the International Lunar Research Station. The station is planned to be constructed in the early 2030s using super heavy-lift launch vehicles. The launches will follow smaller, precursor missions later this decade.
SpaceX launches Intelsat satellite with NASA air quality sensor
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 00:00
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched at 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 UTC) Friday. The satellite will be positioned in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth. Intelsat 40e will provide broadband internet signals to airplane and cruise ship passengers across North America.
SpaceX launches Intelsat IS-40e for commercial aviation and NASA’s climate payload TEMPO – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 00:00
The Intelsat IS-40E mission to GEO from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The 119-minute launch window opens at 12:30 a.m., ET (04:30 UTC) A backup opportunity is available on Saturday, April 8 with a 119-minute window opening at 12:29 a.m. ET (04:29 UTC)
UPDATE 1: SSC’s NRO mission launch aboard s ULA Delta IV Heavy is delayed – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 00:00
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-68 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed. During routine pre-launch processing, the team discovered a flight valve that exhibited off-nominal behavior. A new launch date will be confirmed when such becomes available.
Xona Space System + Safran form a partnership – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 00:00
Xona Space Systems has partnered with Orolia, a Safran Electronics & Defense company. Xona is developing PULSAR – a high-performance positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service. Xona’s PULSAR service will advance capabilities in global PNT security, resilience, and accuracy.
The 1st pair of 2Gen Airbus-built weather satellites enter test phase – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 00:00
Airbus built satellite twins, MetOp-SG A and B, will provide a panoply of new meteorological data that will substantially improve numerical weather prediction. The multiple instruments on-board will also provide key observations for climate monitoring, atmospheric chemistry and other services such as air pollution, hydrology, land use, and oceanography that will help prevent climate change.
D-Orbit’s IRIDE satellite observation program receives €26-Million contract with ESA – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 00:00
D-Orbit signed a 26-million euro contract with the European Space Agency for IRIDE, a space-based observation program initiated by the Italian government. IRIDE will support the Italian Civil Protection and other organizations in monitoring critical infrastructure, air quality, and meteorological conditions.
NASA Awards Innovative Concept Studies for Science, Exploration
NIAC nurtures visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions by funding early-stage technology concept studies. The Phase II awards continue work on concept studies initiated under Phase I NIAC awards. Each of the six fellows will receive up to $600,000 over two years to develop their concepts.
NASA Study Helps Explain Limit-Breaking Ultra-Luminous X-Ray Sources
NuSTAR data revealed that a ULX by the name of M82 X-2 is actually a less-massive object called a neutron star. Neutron stars form when a star dies and collapses, packing more than the mass of our Sun into an area not much bigger than a mid-size city. This incredible density also creates a gravitational pull about 100 trillion times stronger than the gravitational pull on Earth's surface.
Starship into final preps for launch targeting second half of April
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-06 19:18
Ship 24 and Booster 7 – now returned to a full-stack stance – are waiting to attempt their historic test flight. While a launch date remains fluid, hopes remain high that the vehicle could rise out of Starbase in the second half of April. Numerous prelaunch objectives have already been achieved before the approval of a launch license from the FAA.