Spanish defense giant reportedly seeks Hispasat stake
Original Publication Date: 2023-12-29 21:48
Indra, one of Spain's biggest defense contractors, is considering buying a stake in Hispasat. Hispasat is majority-owned by Spanish power company Red Eléctrica. Hispasat named Pedro Duque, a former Spanish minister of science and Iinnovation, as president.
First satellite for Chinese G60 megaconstellation rolls off assembly line
Original Publication Date: 2023-12-29 13:17
The first satellite for a second planned Chinese low Earth orbit communications megaconstellation has been produced. An initial 108 satellites of a total of around 12,000 G60 Starlink satellites are to be launched across 2024. The overall system aims to provide broadband access services to users around the world.
Mission Manager Update: VIPER Flight Rover Half-Built!
Original Publication Date: 2023-12-29 12:50
VIPER is about halfway through the build of its flight vehicle. All the science instrument teams have delivered their payloads to the VIPER Systems Integration & Test team. The next step will be to test that rover in the kinds of environments it will see on the mission.
Falcon Heavy launches USSF-52 spaceplane
Original Publication Date: 2023-12-28 11:52
The US Department of Defense’s X-37B spaceplane returned to space on the OTV-7 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. USSF-52 became the 95th SpaceX Falcon-family orbital flight of 2023, and the eighth SpaceX flight this month. The X-37B Vehicle 2 is making its fourth flight, having flown the OTV-2, OTV-4, and OTV-5 missions.