House bill would fully fund Mars Sample Return, block cooperation on ExoMars
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 23:04
House appropriators would fully fund NASA’s Mars Sample Return program. The Senate bill provided only $300 million for the program, less than a third of NASA’s request. The House bill provides $7.38 billion for NASA science programs, slightly more than the Senate bill. The House bill also reduces funding for space technology and space operations.
Revealing the Startup of the Year finalists for the SpaceNews 2023 Icon Awards
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 14:34
The winner of the 2023 SpaceNews Icon Awards will be announced on Dec. 5. Impulse Space is on a mission to build an in-space transportation company. Kepler Communications is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of proliferated LEO communications and missile-tracking constellations. The Exploration Company is focused on resupplying the burgeoning array of commercial space stations.
Norway opens Andøya spaceport
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 12:17
Norway inaugurated its northern Andøya spaceport Thursday. The development comes as commercial launch competition on continental Europe heats up. Europe faces a bottleneck in launch capabilities, with delays to the Ariane 6 and grounding of the Vega C. The fully constructed spaceport is planned to host several launch pads.
NASA open to extending ISS beyond 2030
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 12:02
NASA official says it's "not mandatory" To retire ISS by end of decade. NASA and other Western partners on ISS have agreed to operate ISS to 2030. NASA has been supporting the development of commercial stations. Comments come amid industry concerns about NASA’s budget.
SpaceRake wins $1.8 million in SDA funding for optical communications terminals
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 00:15
Space Development Agency awards SpaceRake $1.8 million to develop terminals. Terminals will enable satellites as small as cubesats to transfer data through laser links. Terminals are not being developed for “SDA-specific satellites,” SpaceRake says. SpaceRake aims to “drive down costs and increase adoption of network access in space,” CEO says.
Virgin Galactic carries researchers on fifth commercial suborbital flight
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-02 23:27
Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceplane took off from New Mexico's Spaceport America. Unity separated at about 9:45 a.m. Eastern, igniting its hybrid rocket motor. It flew to a peak altitude of approximately 87.2 kilometers and top speed of Mach 2.96. On board were two researchers, a space tourist and a private astronaut.
Space Force takes over missile-warning ground stations previously run by the Army
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-02 22:47
Four Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) units based in Italy, South Korea, Japan and Qatar. They had been operated by the U.S. Army’s 1st Space Brigade. On Oct. 1 they were handed over to the Space Force’s Space Operations Command. The transfer is part of a l arger effort to consolidate military satellites operations.
Virgin Galactic’s sixth successful mission in six months with a suborbital lab – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 00:00
Virgin Galactic completed its sixth space mission in six months and tenth to date. The ‘Galactic 05’ mission saw Virgin Galactic’s spaceship converted into a suborbital lab for space-based scientific research for the second time. Dr. Alan Stern, U.S. Planetary Scientist and Associate Vice President in Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) Space Sector, said: “The potential here is literally astronomical”
UPDATE: SpaceX’s Friday night launch of 23 Starlinks and breaks another re-flight record – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 00:00
Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This is the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-11, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-3, and now 13 Starlink missions.
SpaceX plans to launch 23 Starlinks on Friday – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 00:00
SpaceX is targeting Friday, November 3 at 8:37 p.m. ET for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit. A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. This is the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission.