Electron launches two Capella Space radar satellites
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 23:46
Rocket Lab launches second Electron rocket from Virginia March 16. Rocket Lab expects to conduct up to 15 Electron launches this year. Rocket Lab is working on the larger Neutron rocket, slated to debut as soon as 2024. The next Electron launch is scheduled to take place later in March from New Zealand.
NASA selects Axiom Space for third private astronaut mission to ISS
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 22:38
NASA approves plans by Axiom Space to fly a third private astronaut mission to the ISS. Launch is scheduled as soon as November, but no details yet about who will go on the flight. NASA solicited proposals for a third and fourth private astronaut mission in September 2022.
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 22:33
Intellian Technologies rolled out a new terminal it developed with the U.S. Navy. All.Space announced it delivered a new flat panel terminal to satellite operator SES. Industry is trying to support DoD’s vision of a seamless military-commercial satcom architecture.
LEO constellations are starting to disrupt GEO capacity contracts
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 15:11
Satellite broadband customers are increasingly demanding shorter-term contracts. They are holding out for better prices in a market set for a flood of low Earth orbit (LEO) capacity. Starlink and OneWeb are still working on expanding their LEO constellations globally.
Axiom Space reveals design of Artemis spacesuit
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 11:41
NASA and Axiom Space unveil a prototype of the spacesuits that astronauts will wear on Artemis missions to the moon. The suits will be worn by astronauts during their excursions on the lunar surface. The suit features a large clear helmet bubble for enhanced fields of view, with lights and camera integrated into it.
Northrop Grumman, IHI team up to bolster Japan’s space domain awareness capabilities
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 11:02
Northrop Grumman and IHI sign deal to develop "small, highly maneuverable satellites" The satellites will be able to approach suspicious satellites, take images and send images. Japan’s National Defense Strategy stipulated the need for satellites in 2022. The United States is a key supporter of Japan’s endeavor to bolster space defense.
Benchmark signs contracts for metal plasma thrusters
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 02:00
Burlington, Vermont-based startup acquired Alameda Applied Science Corp. Last year. Benchmark manufactured high-test peroxide chemical thrusters before acquiring electric propulsion technology. Docking is one applications for Benchmark’s hybrid propulsion customers. A satellite would use chemical propulsion to catch up to its docking target and then rely on the metal plasma thruster.
SES to complete C-band clearing program with SpaceX dual-satellite launch
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
SES 18 and SES 19 will be the fourth and fifth new C-band communications satellites to join SES’s fleet in the last nine months. The flurry of new C-band satellite launches stem from a 2020 order for six new spacecraft, including a spare. The new satellites will operate in a narrower swath of spectrum, enabling the broadcast of digital TV services to nearly 120 million homes.
Rocket Lab deploys two Capella radar satellites after launch from Virginia
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
Rocket Lab's Electron rocket successfully launches two radar satellites for Capella Space. Rocket Lab will turn its attention to another launch from the company's privately-owned spaceport in New Zealand in the coming days. Rocket Lab plans to launch as many as 15 missions with its Electron rocket in 2023.
SpaceX supply ship docks at International Space Station
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
SpaceX's Cargo Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station Thursday. The unmanned cargo freighter is packed with 6,288 pounds (2,852 kilograms) of supplies and experiments. The seven-person crew aboard the outpost was set to receive a shipment of fresh food, including apples, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, and cheeses.
UPDATE 3: Rocket Lab’s Electron drives two Capella SAR sats to orbit from MARS launch site – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
Rocket Lab successfully launched its 34th Electron rocket and second mission from its launch site on Wallops Island, Virginia. The “Stronger Together’ mission lifted off at 22:38 UTC, March 16th, 2023, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. Rocket Lab successfully deployed two 100 kg class Capella Space satellites to LEO. “Congratulations to Capella Space and well done to the Rocket Lab team for another flawless launch from Virginia,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck.
SpaceX planning to launch SES-18 + SES-19 on March 17th from Cape Canaveral – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
SpaceX is targeting Friday, March 17th., for launch of the SES-18 and SES-19 mission. The 38-minute launch window opens at 7:38 p.m., ET, (23:38 UTC) A backup launch opportunity is available on Saturday, March 18th., with a 37-minute window opening at the same time.
Intellian unveils second family member of WGS terminals – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
ARC-M4 Block 1 terminal WGS is a high-capacity United States Space Force satellite communication system. WGS Phase 1 testing has been completed and the terminal is expected to be approved for use on the WGS constellation by Q2 2023. ARC-M4 stands for Advanced Resilient Communications, Multi-mission, multi-role, multi-band, and multi-orbit.
Benchmark Space Systems fires up metal plasma + bi-prop thruster production + realigns executive team – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
Benchmark Space Systems has signed contracts for nearly two dozen, new, electric metal plasma thrusters. The bulk of Benchmark’s first MPT orders will be delivered this year. The company plans to produce at least 200 of its Lynx bi-propellant (HTP + fuel) thrusters this year to meet increasing demand for LEO and cislunar missions.
GomSpace to supply first NanoCom Link X standard products for satellite constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 00:00
GomSpace has signed a contract with a European integrator of smallsats to supply the first NanoCom Link X standard products for a European satellite constellation. The contract value of the first delivery is 3,7 MSEK with the option to extend the agreement for additional units and equipment throughout the project.
Ranking Atmospheric Rivers: New Study Finds World of Potential
Atmospheric rivers are vast airborne corridors of water vapor flowing from Earth’s tropics toward higher latitudes. A recently developed rating system can provide a consistent global benchmark for tracking these “rivers in the sky” Research into atmospheric rivers has largely focused on the west coasts of North America and Europe.
NASA’s Magellan Data Reveals Volcanic Activity on Venus
The scientists liken the size of the lava flow generated by the Maat Mons activity to the 2018 Kilauea eruption on the Big Island of Hawaii. VERITAS will use state-of-the-art synthetic aperture radar to create 3D global maps and a near-infrared spectrometer to figure out what the surface is made of.
Engineers Keep an Eye on Fuel Supply of NASA’s Oldest Mars Orbiter
Odyssey launched in 2001 with almost 500 pounds (225.3 kilograms) of hydrazine propellant. Because there’s no fuel gauge, engineers have used a variety of ways to infer how much hydrazine the spacecraft has consumed over time. One way to measure Odyssey’s fuel is to apply heat to the spacecraft’s two propellant tanks.
NASA’s Webb Telescope Captures Rarely Seen Prelude to Supernova
Stars like WR 124 serve as an analog to help astronomers understand a crucial period in the early history of the universe. Similar dying stars first seeded the young universe with heavy elements forged in their cores – elements that are now common in the current era, including on Earth. Webb’s detailed image of WR 124 preserves forever a brief, turbulent time of transformation.
Cargo Dragon CRS-27 docks with ISS
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-16 05:21
CRS-27 launched on Tuesday, March 14 at 8:30 PM EDT (00:30 UTC on Wednesday, March 15) from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center. It docked on Thursday morning, 35 hours after launch. This launch used first stage booster B1073, making its seventh flight. The booster will be converted into a Falcon Heavy side booster for the EchoStar-24 mission later this year.