Boeing opens SLS EUS production facility
Original Publication Date: 2023-02-16 00:48
Boeing opens facility where it will build new upper stage for Space Launch System. The Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) Gray Box is a portion of the sprawling building. The stage will be used on the Block 1B version of the SLS that will enter service with the Artemis 4 mission.
Europe approves multi-orbit connectivity constellation plan
Original Publication Date: 2023-02-15 22:48
European Parliament votes to approve $6.4 billion plan for sovereign satellite constellation. IRIS², or Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite. Initial services are slated to begin in 2025 to complement geostationary assets. IRIS² comes in response to U.S. Dominance in low Earth orbit communications.
Pentagon working with Congress on unclassified space strategy
Original Publication Date: 2023-02-15 21:46
Defense Department has a top-secret space defense strategy. Congress wants an unclassified version that explains to the public the threats facing U.S. Satellites. “We’ll be writing that unclassified report,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said.
Cobham to supply satellite terminals to Inmarsat for U.S. Navy network
Original Publication Date: 2023-02-14 18:44
Cobham Satcom will supply as many as 170 terminals to Inmarsat for the U.S. Navy. Inmarsat Government last year won a $578 million 10-year contract to maintain and operate the command’s communications infrastructure. Cobham will provide Sailor XTR broadband satellite internet terminals for the Military Sealift Command contract.
Europe opens full-scale investigation into Viasat’s Inmarsat acquisition
Original Publication Date: 2023-02-14 18:39
Europe launches in-depth probe into Viasat's plan to buy Inmarsat. Investigation aims to ensure deal "does not lead to higher prices and lesser quality" European airlines have few alternatives to Inmarsat and Viasat for IFC services. European Commission expects to decide on the transaction by June 29.
SpaceX drops plans to convert oil rigs into launch platforms
Original Publication Date: 2023-02-14 17:34
SpaceX has abandoned efforts to convert two oil rigs into launch platforms. The company still believes that offshore launch platforms will be part of its long-term plans. In 2020, SpaceX acquired two oil rigs, which it subsequently named Phobos and Deimos. Phobos has been at the port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, since January 2021.
NASASpaceFlight.com
India's new SSLV rocket has successfully reached orbit on its second attempt. Friday’s launch carried a trio of satellites, lifting off at 9:18 AM local time (03:48 UTC) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The rocket's maiden flight ended in failure six months ago.
Commercial Archives
The second of two Starlink launches this week, Starlink Group 2-5, is slated to launch at 11:12 AM PST (19:12 UTC) on Friday. The first mission, Starlink Group 5-4, lifted off at 12:10 AM EST (05:10 UTC) on Sunday, Feb. 12.
International Archives
Roscosmos’ latest Progress resupply craft has docked at the International Space Station. A depressurization in the coolant loop of the Progress MS-21 spacecraft has been detected. NASA confirmed that the crew of the ISS is in no danger and that the cause of the leak is under investigation.
ISS Updates – Spaceflight101 – International Space Station
A veteran NASA spacewalker and an EVA rookie from Japan ended their week with nearly six hours of work outside the International Space Station. The restoration of the Station’s Mobile Servicing System started last year and continued in January to provide Canadarm2 with a new pair of grappling hands.
Featured – Spaceflight101
The SpaceX Falcon 9 took to the skies over Florida’s Cape Canaveral Monday afternoon. The flight-proven Dragon spacecraft will deliver science gear, supplies and maintenance hardware to the orbiting laboratory. It is the first of at least six cargo ships inbound to the U.S. Segment of ISS this year.
News – Spaceflight101
Europe’s Copernicus satellite fleet is gearing up for the arrival of its next addition on Wednesday. A Russian Rockot booster set to blast off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 17:57 UTC with the Sentinel-3B multi-function satellite.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Shows Off Collection of Mars Samples
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover provided a panorama of its recently completed sample depot. The panorama, stitched together from 368 images that were sent to Earth, captures more than a month of careful placement and mapping of 10 titanium tubes. The depot represents a backup collection of samples that could be recovered in the future.
NASA’s NuSTAR Telescope Reveals Hidden Light Shows on the Sun
High-energy X-rays appear at only a few locations in the Sun’s atmosphere. By contrast, Hinode’s XRT detects low-energy X-ray, and SDO’s AIA detects ultraviolet light. NuSTAR’s relatively small field of view means it can’t see the entire Sun from its position in Earth orbit.
NASA’s Curiosity Finds Surprise Clues to Mars’ Watery Past
Scientists will be looking for softer rock in the week ahead. Wind carved the valley, but a channel running through it that starts higher up on Mount Sharp is thought to have been eroded by a small river. Scientists suspect wet landslides also occurred here, sending car-size boulders and debris to the bottom of the valley.
Webb Detects Extremely Small Main Belt Asteroid
The object is 100-200 meters in size and occupies a very low-inclination orbit. If confirmed as a new asteroid discovery, it would have important implications for our understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system. Future dedicated Webb observations will allow astronomers to study asteroids smaller than 1 kilometer in size.
University High Reclaims Victory at JPL-Hosted Science Bowl
Irvine, California's University High School won the regional competition of the National Science Bowl. The victory marked a return to form for the school, which won four years straight until its streak was disrupted in a narrow loss at last year’s tournament. More than 100 Southern California high schoolers competed in the tense, fast-paced academic challenge.
NASA-ISRO Earth Science Instruments Get Send-Off Before Moving to India
Somanath, Indian Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission Sripriya Ranganathan, and NASA officials toured the High Bay 2 clean room. They saw engineers and technicians putting the science instrument payload through final electrical testing. Outside the facility, in front of a scale model of the NISAR satellite, NASA’s NISAR Project Manager Phil Barela and ISRO’s N ISAR Project Director CV Shrikant ceremonially broke fresh coconuts.
Scientists Track Tropical Landslide Creeping Below an African City
Researchers looked at week-to-week landslide motion over the past 4 1/2 years. They found that rainfall, tectonic activity, and urban development all played roles in landslide behavior. But the most important factor was water runoff. Water weakens rock by infiltrating its pores. Infrastructure such as roads, storm drains and ruptured pipes can drastically alter water flow.