New commercial space bill addresses mission authorization and SSA
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-05 23:09
The bill would create a "certification" Process for commercial spacecraft. The National Space Council is working on its own approach, which it calls mission authorization. The bill would elevate the Office of Space Commerce into the main Department of Commerce. It would also alter plans for a space traffic coordination system.
U.S. Senate passes act to support technologies to clear dangerous orbital debris endangering astronauts and satellites – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-05 00:00
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Orbital Sustainability (ORBITS) Act. The bill would establish a first-of-its-kind demonstration program to reduce the amount of space junk in orbit. “Space junk,” or orbital debris, currently poses a threat to human space exploration.
Early production continues on advanced upper stage for NASA Moon rocket – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-05 00:00
Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans have completed a major portion of a weld confidence article for the advanced upper stage of NASA’s SLS rocket. The hardware was rotated to a horizontal position and moved to another part of the facility Oct. 24. The weld confidence article forms part of the liquid oxygen tank for the SLS rocket’s explorantion upper stage.
Terran Orbital awarded an Engineering Change Proposal contract by Lockheed Martin – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-05 00:00
Lockheed Martin has awarded Terran Orbital Corporation an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to host additional payloads. The contract modification adds $7.7 million to an existing satellite design and manufacturing program. Terran Orbital is currently building 42 buses for Lockheed Martin to help the company fulfill its $700 million contract for the SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer.
ESA: Satellites deliver 5G-quality connectivity – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-05 00:00
Researchers at the University of Surrey connected people via a constellation of satellites in LEO operated by European satellite company Eutelsat Group. The tests were performed through the ESA Sunrise Partnership Project supported by the UK Space Agency. Engineers tested high-speed video conferencing as well as gaming and simple web browsing with almost no delays or glitches.
Sidus Space awarded a 5 year million$$ ceiling commercial contract – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-05 00:00
Sidus Space has been awarded a $10 million contract to support a U.S. Owned company's commercial lunar program. The 5-year, IDIQ contract has a $10 million ceiling. Sidus will be supporting a lunar transportation, infrastructure and exploration services company with Program Management, Flight Software, Command & Data Handling.