L3Harris demonstrates digital phased array antenna system
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-09 06:03
L3Harris Technologies announces results of three-month demonstration of DPAAS. DPAAS prototype handled more than 300 satellite contacts per day. Technology “supports the idea of scaling and supporting multiple missions,” L3Harris says. L3Harris conducted the DPAAS demonstration under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.
Collins performs tests of new space station spacesuit
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-09 03:39
Collins Aerospace is one of the companies with a NASA award to develop a new generation of spacesuits. The company completed a series of tests of that design in a microgravity environment on an aircraft. The suit is intended to replace the decades-old Extravehicular Mobility Unit.
National Guard, Air Force, working to resolve impasse over space units
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 23:15
Gen. Daniel Hokanson is in discussions with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. About 1,000 members of the Air National Guard support Space Force operations in seven states. Biden administration opposes the establishment of a Space National Guard due to the cost. Hokanson: "No decisions have been made"
Satellite operator OQ Technology joins direct-to-smartphone bandwagon
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 22:44
Luxembourg’s OQ Technology is studying ways to connect smartphones from its constellation. The project officially kicked off Jan. 24 and will study upgrades the company’s payload and software. OQ Technology currently provides narrowband connectivity for remote Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Maxar Intelligence names new chief technology officer
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 20:48
Maxar Intelligence has named Arvind Srinivasan as its new chief technology officer. At Google, Srinivasan oversaw the commercialization of the Google Maps engine cloud platform. Maxar, previously a publicly traded company, was acquired by the private equity firm Advent International in a $6.4 billion deal.
AI spurs space sector innovation
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 17:23
Generative AI is helping space companies design spacecraft parts. The process is “very intuitive and very innovative at the same time,” an AWS official says. Generative AI relies on deep-learning models to answer questions or create content. Growing space activity has prompted companies to consider space-based clouds.
Small launch companies seek niches to compete with SpaceX rideshare
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 12:56
SpaceX's Transporter missions fill a Falcon 9 often with more than 100 smallsats. The Transporter missions offer per-kilogram prices significantly below dedicated small launch vehicles. Rocket Lab's Electron launch will place into orbit the ADRAS-J inspector satellite for Astroscale. Industry officials say they see challenges for small launch vehicles coming from SpaceX's Starship.
UPDATE 3: SpaceX launches NASA’s PACE satellite with new capabilities to study climate, ocean and atmosphere – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 00:00
NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Climate, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 1:33 a.m. EST, Feb. 8, 2024. From its orbit hundreds of miles above Earth, PACE will study microscopic life in the oceans and microscopic particles in the atmosphere to investigate key mysteries of our planet’s interconnected systems.
UPDATE 4: SpaceX Starlink launch aborted just before liftoff again and targeting a new date – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 00:00
SpaceX scrubbed Thursday night’s planned launch just before liftoff due to “excessive cloud cover” when attempting to launch the Starlink 7-13 mission Thursday evening. Earlier in the afternoon, SpaceX said the weather was only 20% favorable for launch creating weather challenges on the West Coast. SpaceX is targeting Friday, February 9 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) in California.
Voyager Space + Palantir to advance national security capabilities in commercial space – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 00:00
Voyager Space and Palantir have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Palantir provides adaptable software solutions and architectures to ensure the resilience, effectiveness, and availability of U.S. Defense and space capabilities. The collaboration will center around the joint exploration of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities.
SSC successfully delivers 1st USSF WSF-M satellite to Vandenberg SFB for a March launch – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 00:00
The U.S. Space Force (USSF)-62 Weather System Follow-on – Microwave (WSF-M) Space Vehicle (SV) has been delivered to Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The satellite will undergo a series of post-shipment functional testing, followed by the loading of onboard propellant. WSF-M will enable the production of enhanced weather prediction and analysis capabilities.
Forrester’s Digest: Nilesat + Es’hailSat engage in a strategic partnership – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 00:00
Egyptian-based Nilesat and Qatari-based Es’hailSat have signed a strategic partnership agreement. The agreement covers video broadcasting scope, satellite communications, and digital technologies. Nilesat claims it has more than 1,000 channels beaming mostly free-to-air (FTA) broadcasts over the MENA region.
Slingshot names a new CEO – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-08 00:00
Tim Solms is an 18-year United States Army veteran who also brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience. As Slingshot’s CEO, Solms will focus on innovation, growth, and expansion within government and commercial markets. Slingshot Aerospace provides satellite tracking, space traffic coordination, and space modeling and simulation solutions.
NASA’s Hubble Traces ‘String of Pearls’ Star Clusters in Galaxy Collisions
The fate of these strung-out star clusters is uncertain. They may stay gravitationally intact and evolve into globular star clusters. Or they may disperse to form a halo of stars around their host galaxy. Or get cast off to become wandering intergalactic stars.
For Your Processing Pleasure: The Sharpest Pictures of Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon Io in a Generation
Juno came within about 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) of the surface of the solar system’s most volcanic world. The second pass went predominantly over the southern hemisphere of Io, while prior flybys have been over the north. There’s a lot to see in these photos!
Meet the Creators, Part 3: NASA’s 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Posters
“Designing the poster to commemorate the total solar eclipse happening on April 8 was an honor. I wanted to highlight the event using people that represented all demographics. This was done so that the eclipse could be recognized as an event for ALL.” said the artist.
NASA Awards Inaugural Grants to Support Emerging Research Institutions
The teams are led by faculty at institutions that represent new collaborations for NASA. These include Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions. The research projects connect these institutions to seven NASA centers and could impact more than 100 students.
NASA’s New Experimental Antenna Tracks Deep Space Laser
The laser signal collected by the camera is then transmitted through optical fiber that feeds into a cryogenically cooled nanowire single photon detector. The detector is identical to the one used at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory, in San Diego County, California, which acts as DSOC’s downlink ground station.
ArianeGroup prepares to ship Ariane 6 maiden flight rocket to Kourou
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-07 21:35
Ariane 6 is being assembled in France and Germany. The first flight will be a rideshare between June 15 and July 31, 2024. Ariane 6 features the Vulcain 2.1 hydrolox engine on its first stage, which produces 1,370 kN of thrust.