Probing the origin and evolution of water-rich asteroids
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-03 03:07
The United Arab Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt is ambitious. EMA will fly past six asteroids and rendezvous with a seventh, Justitia. Equally ambitious is EMA’s national goal. To strengthen the Emirates’ private space sector, more than half the work will be performed by UAE companies.
U.S. intelligence agency selects vendors for space debris tracking project
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 19:14
Four companies will develop technologies and methods to detect, track and characterize miniature space debris. A-Tech, Advanced Space, SRI International, and West Virginia University Research Corporation won four-year contracts. The goal of the SINTRA program is to fill gaps in current space debris-monitoring systems.
Startup iRocket signs agreement to develop and test hardware at U.S. Air Force facility
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 14:00
IRocket signs a four-year cooperative research and development agreement with AFRL. The agreement includes use of an Air Force facility, equipment and AFRL expertise. IRocket in June announced it won a U.S. Space Force contract. The company plans to conduct propulsion, stage, and potentially grasshopper testing.
Voyager Space and Airbus create commercial space station joint venture
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 11:54
Voyager Space, Airbus Defence and Space announce joint venture for Starlab. The joint venture will be responsible for the development and operation of the station. The focus of Starlab will be on research applications, rather than tourism. Voyager Space received a $160 million Space Act Agreement from NASA in December 2021.
SpaceX launches Intelsat’s G-37 mission into the night – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 00:00
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched the Intelsat G-37 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. For the 213th time the booster landed successfully on the drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ The satellite has four deployable antenna reflectors for both C-band and Ku-band transmissions to serve television and telecommunication networks.
iRocket and Air Force Research Laboratory will develop nexgen reusable rockets – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 00:00
IRocket has exclusive use of the High Thrust Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base which can test up to ten million pounds of thrust. IRocket is working to mature technology for their proprietary reusable landing engine technology. IRocket plans to help transport thousands of state-of-the-art satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Viasat launches the Black ICE SDR product family – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-03 00:00
Viasat launches Black ICE Software Defined Radio (SDR) family of modem solutions. Black ICE SDRs are designed to meet high-demand requirements of military users by offering security, flexibility, low form factor and high-performance terminals. More complex waveforms and enhancements are in development and will enter commercial service later in 2023.
Ursa Major extends America Makes partnership – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 00:00
Ursa Major has received additional funding from America Makes. America Makes aims to accelerate U.S. Manufacturing competitiveness through the adoption of additive manufacturing. Ursa Major and America Makes will continue their partnership through mid-2024. Ursa Major’s rocket engines are more than 80 percent 3D-printed by mass.
Momentus to spotlight the low cost M-1000 bus – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 00:00
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) will be attending Small Satellite Conference from August 5-10 in Logan, Utah. Momentus is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for satellite buses with its flight-proven M-1000 satellite bus. Orbital Transportation and hosted payload services are Momentus’ other core offerings.
Bright Ascension’s new product suite – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-02 00:00
Bright Ascension Ltd. Expects to release significantly more information on the firm’s upcoming product suite launch at the Small Satellites Conference in Logan, Utah, from August 5th through 10th. 2023 has been the busiest year for Bright Ascension, with ten software deployments launched onboard three SpaceX rockets in the first half of the year.
NASA’s Trio of Mini Rovers Will Team up to Explore the Moon
NASA is sending a trio of miniature rovers to the Moon to see how well they can cooperate with one another without direct input from mission controllers back on Earth. The CADRE project marks another step the agency is taking toward developing robots that, by operating autonomously, can boost the efficiency of future missions.