China’s Landspace aims to build a stainless steel rocket
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 23:08
Chinese launch startup Landspace has unveiled plans to develop a reusable stainless steel rocket. The Zhuque-3 (Vermillion Bird 3) will use stainless propellant tanks and clusters of Tianque methane-liquid oxygen propellant rocket engines. The two-stage launcher will have a payload capacity of 20 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) when expendable.
Viasat warns satellite power limit review would hurt GEO innovation
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 21:10
A proposal to review satellite transmission power limits risks curtailing investments. The proposal is up for debate at the four-week WRC-23 conference in Dubai. NGSO players including SpaceX and Amazon argue that updating EPFD rules would support innovation. The proposal could be dropped as soon as this week if there is not enough consensus.
Members of Congress seek increase in Mars Sample Return funding
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 19:38
Six members of California's congressional delegation ask NASA not to slow down Mars Sample Return work. They say they are "mystified" By NASA's decision to slow down work on MSR. NASA says it is unsure how much funding will be available for the program in fiscal year 2024. NASA is operating under a continuing resolution that funds NASA at fiscal year 2023 levels.
NASA acknowledges possibility of short-term post-ISS gap
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 12:22
NASA's current approach to its future in LEO counts on supporting commercial space stations. Key question will be whether any of the several companies will be ready by the end of the decade. A two-year overlap is projected between the start of commercial space station operations around 2028.
NASA Wallops supports hypersonic rocket launches – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 00:00
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility successfully supported the launch of two, suborbital, sounding rockets on November 15, 2023. Data collected from this test will be used to inform the development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability.
Viasat and Skylo Technologies launch world’s first direct-to-device network – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 00:00
Viasat and Skylo have launched the world’s first global direct-to-device (D2D) network. The new network will support consumer smartphone services and unlock the potential for massive Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Initial deployments are planned for early 2024 in North America, using the Ligado SkyTerra satellite network, followed by a global rollout.
SpaceX launches another 23 Starlink satellites just in time for Thanksgiving – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 00:00
Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This was the 15th flight for the first stage booster, B1067, supporting this mission. The fourth ASDS barge, A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG) is currently used to recover Falcon 9 and Heavy boosters in the Altantic Ocean.
Celestia TTI-led consortium’s €9.9 million ESA contract develops Tracking Radar for LEO Space Debris Tracking in Greece – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 00:00
Celestia TTI has been awarded a €9.9 million contract from the European Space Agency. The contract is for the development of a Tracking Radar for LEO Space Debris Tracking in Greece. The tracking system will be designed to complement existing surveillance assets in the EU-SST.
U.S. will continue to be the largest single spender on Space ventures for the foreseeable future – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-22 00:00
Governments are investing heavily in satellite technology, space-based surveillance, and strategic capabilities. Joint efforts among nations are becoming more common, with shared goals in scientific research, technology development, and space missions. Despite the positive trends, challenges such as budget constraints, shifting political priorities, and the need for sustained international cooperation could reduce government spending on space.
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NASA Uses Two Worlds to Test Future Mars Helicopter Designs
NASA is testing a new rotor that could be used with next-generation Mars helicopters. The agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has achieved new altitude and airspeed records on the Red Planet. The next-generation carbon fiber rotor blades being tested on Earth are almost 4 inches (more than 10 centimeters) longer than Ingenuity’s.