China’s mystery reusable spaceplane lands after 276 days in orbit
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-08 07:30
China state media and the spacecraft’s maker announced the spacecraft had landed late May 8 Beijing time. The apparently successful mission was stated to be an important breakthrough in the country’s research on reusable spacecraft technology. The landing is likely to have taken place at the Lop Nur military base in Xinjiang.
Rocket Lab launches NASA TROPICS cubesats
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-08 02:43
Rocket Lab Electron launches pair of NASA cubesats to monitor development of tropical storms. The first two satellites were launched on an Astra Rocket 3.3 in June 2022. The rocket’s upper stage ran out of kerosene fuel and shut down prematurely. Rocket Lab said April 10 that it would move the two TROPICS launches from Virginia.
Sidus Space and Lulav Space to provide guidance navigation and control solutions for lunar satellite and lunar lander missions – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-08 00:00
Sidus Space, Inc. Has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lulav Space to cooperate in the U.S. Market. The two companies will offer a GN&C suite to support all lunar missions. The GN&C suite can be customized for the unique requirements of each mission.
UPDATE 3: Rocket Lab pushes NASA’s TROPICS mission to orbit… Rocket Lab’s official launch report… – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-07 00:00
Rocket Lab launched two of the four CubeSats that comprise the TROPICS constellation (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) TROPICS will monitor the formation and evolution of tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, and will provide rapidly updating observations of storm intensity. The constellation requires launch to 550 kilometers altitude and inclination of about 30 degrees.
Advent International + BCI acquire Maxar Technologies – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-07 00:00
Maxar Technologies recently announced that U.S. Private equity firm Advent International (“Advent”), with minority investor British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (“BCI”), have completed their acquisition of Maxar. With the closing of the transaction, Maxar will remain a U.S.-controlled, owned and operated company.
ESA oversees on-orbit cybersecurity demo – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-07 00:00
Thales Alenia Space performed a cybersecurity demonstration that revealed they could covertly access parts of ESA’s OPS-SAT spacecraft that are usually off limits. OPS-SAT is a flying laboratory which ESA offers to teams from across Europe to test innovative new software that is too risky to load on to normal operational satellites. The Thales team successfully accessed the control layer of the satellite, they were able to demonstrate how they could tamper with images taken with the satellite’s camera.
A new CEO for Telstra International – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-07 00:00
Roary Stasko has been appointed as the new CEO of Telstra International, starting July 1st. Stasko will continue to hold his position on the Digicel Pacific Board and will be based in San Francisco, California. Mr. Stasko brings a wealth of experience and passion for international markets, to the role.
MEASAT debuts portable SATCOM service with Mont Aero – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-07 00:00
Transportable Communications-on-the-Pause (COTP) service by MEASAT. MEASAT Global Berhad (MEASAT) is Malaysia’s leading satellite solutions provider. The portable COTP service is a quick to deploy, mobile satellite broadband solution. It enables users to use high-speed broadband where broadband coverage is lacking.
ThrustMe selected to provide Turion Space with vital propulsion capacities – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-05-07 00:00
ThrustMe and Turion Space have announced the selection of the ThrustMe’s iodine electric propulsion system for the DROID.002 spacecraft. Turion Space will integrate several ThrustMe NPT30-I2-1.5U thrusters to enable the maneuverability for orbit raising and end-of-life disposal to its space-debris observation and characterization mission.