Thales Alenia Space to develop the radar instrument for ESA’s 10th Earth Explorer Harmony satellites mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-03-14 00:00
Thales Alenia Space has been selected by ESA to lead a wide European industrial consortium as as result of their experience in radar-based Earth observation satellites. The two-satellite Harmony constellation will deliver a wide range of unique and innovative observations of ocean, sea ice and solid ground.
Terran Orbital’s next-gen SmallSat GEO™ solution – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-03-14 00:00
SmallSat GEO™ is intended for the communications market and can operate in geosynchronous orbit. It offers higher power and performance than what could be provided in low-Earth orbit (LEO) Terran Orbital is leveraging its investment in a 94,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility with automation in build and test.
UPDATE 2: SpaceX Starlinks third stand down — Wednesday, Thursday now Friday – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-03-14 00:00
SpaceX is targeting as early as Friday, March 15 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. This will mark more than 6,000 Starlink satellites launched to date.
Satcoms Innovation Group partners with ETL Systems to host 2024 European Workshop – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-03-14 00:00
The Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) has announced that the organization’s European Workshop will occur at ETL Systems in Herefordshire, UK. The workshop will bring together operators, manufacturers, and vendors in order to discuss the technical aspects of the latest changes within the SATCOM landscape. SIG promotes cooperation among industry stakeholders to propel innovation and maximize the potential of SATCOM.
Zero-Boil-Off Tank Experiments to Enable Long-Duration Space Exploration
NASA is grappling with similar issues as it gets ready to embark on a sustainable mission back to the Moon and plans future missions to Mars. While there is already an established network of commercial gas stations in place to make refueling your car a cinch, there are no cryogenic refueling stations or depots at the Moon or on the way to Mars.
Total Solar Eclipse 2024: The Moon’s Moment in the Sun
On the brink of totality, as the Moon moves into full Sun-blocking position, the Sun’s edge doesn’t go dark all at once. Last rays of sunlight peek through valleys on the lunar horizon. These isolated areas of intense brightness can resemble a string of glowing beads or a single dramatic burst of light.
Cheers! NASA’s Webb Finds Ethanol, Other Icy Ingredients for Worlds
Of particular interest is that one of the sources investigated, IRAS 2A, is characterized as a low-mass protostar. IRAS 2A may therefore be similar to the early stages of our own solar system. As such, the chemicals identified around this protostar may have been in the first stages of development of our solar system.