Army to refine requirements for next-generation satellite terminals
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-14 21:48
Army is trying to consolidate as many as six types of terminals into just two variants. Having fewer large terminal antenna variants is a key goal. Army has not disclosed estimates of what it expects the new terminals to cost. L3Harris, which supplies many of the Army’s current terminals, is among the contenders.
Peregrine lunar lander on Earth reentry trajectory
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-14 17:05
Astrobotic says Peregrine spacecraft will reenter Earth's atmosphere. Company did not disclose a time or location for the reentry. Independent analysts, using tracking data, estimate a reentry late Jan. 18 near Australia. Peregrine suffered a propellant leak hours after its launch Jan. 8.
Iridium unveils Project Stardust – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-14 00:00
Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) has revealed Project Stardust. Project Stardust is the evolution of the company’s Direct-to-Device (D2D) strategy with 3GPP 5G standards-based Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN) service development. As a new standards-based solution, this technology will be deployed on Iridium’s existing satellite network.
NGA announces Luno A commercial data RFP worth million$$$ – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-14 00:00
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is soliciting proposals for Luno A, a $290 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. Luno A will acquire unclassified commercial GEOINT-derived computer vision and analytic service capabilities. This will be a five-year IDIQ with awards to multiple vendors, focused on monitoring global economic and environmental activity and military capabilities.
Perseverance Rover Zooms in on Ancient Mars River – NASA Mars Exploration
Perseverance is exploring Jezero Crater, where an ancient lake and river system once existed. About 3.5 billion years ago, a river carved a canyon through the crater rim, filling the crater with water and depositing sand and rocks that formed a delta. If microbes ever lived here, signs of them could be preserved in these rocks.
NASA's Perseverance Rover Deciphers Ancient History of Martian Lake – NASA Mars Exploration
NASA’s Perseverance rover recently completed its exploration of the ancient river delta that holds evidence of a lake that filled Jezero Crater billions of years ago. The six-wheeled scientist has to date collected a total of 23 samples, revealing the geologic history of this region of Mars.
NASA's MAVEN Observes the Disappearing Solar Wind – NASA Mars Exploration
MAVEN mission observed the dramatic and unexpected "disappearance" Of a stream of charged particles constantly emanating off the Sun. This was caused by a special type of solar event that was so powerful, it created a void in its wake. MAVEN is the only asset currently at Mars able to simultaneously observe both the Sun’s activity and the response of the Martian atmosphere to these solar influences.
NASA Orbiter Snaps Stunning Views of Mars Horizon – NASA Mars Exploration
The Odyssey orbiter captured clouds and dust in the Red Planet’s skies, along with one of its two tiny moons. The 10 images offer not only a fresh, and stunning, view of Mars, but also one that will help scientists gain new insights into the Martian atmosphere. The spacecraft took the images in May from an altitude of about 250 miles (400 kilometers) – the same altitude at which the space station flies above Earth.
Perseverance's 360-Degree View From 'Airey Hill' – NASA Mars Exploration
The 360-degree mosaic looks in all directions from a location the rover science team calls “Airey Hill.” The rover remained parked at Airey Hill during the entirety of solar conjunction. A key objective for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life.
Mars Disappearing Solar Wind: MAVEN Visualizations – NASA Mars Exploration
On May 16, 2013, the MAVEN spacecraft began nearly three weeks of thermal vacuum cycling. The spacecraft will be exposed to the temperature swings it will experience during its mission to study the Martian surface. The MAVEN spacecraft will study the Martian surface for signs of life.