Lynk Global finalizes SPAC merger deal
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-06 02:47
Lynk Global has agreed to a merger that would raise money for the direct-to-smartphone operator. The deal with Slam Corp., a publicly traded shell company led by Alex Rodriguez, values Lynk at $800 million. Lynk sought the merger to fund a low Earth orbit constellation seeking to extend the reach of terrestrial mobile network operators.
Virgin Galactic investigating dropped pin on most recent suborbital flight
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-06 02:20
Virgin Galactic says pin fell from aircraft used by its VSS Unity suborbital spaceplane. Company says incident did not pose a safety risk to those on board. Incident took place during its Galactic 06 suborbital flight Jan. 26 from Spaceport America. Company says it is reviewing the incident in conjunction with the FAA.
First Intuitive Machines lunar lander mission set for Feb. 14 launch
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-06 00:37
Intuitive Machines and SpaceX have confirmed plans to launch the IM-1 lunar lander mission. A fueling test, or wet dress rehearsal, is scheduled for Feb. 7. If IM-1 is successful, it will be the first private mission to land softly on the moon.
The last vestige of old space architectural thinking
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-05 15:30
The ground segment — Command & Control (C2), mission management and processing and ground infrastructure — leaves much to be desired. GPS OCX is only the most recent space ground acquisition disaster in a history stretching back decades. The Air Force Satellite Control Network remains the insufficient backbone that was completely designed, owned and operated by the government.
NASA compiling lessons learned from Artemis 1
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-05 12:37
NASA wrapping up effort to collect lessons learned from the Artemis 1 mission. The agency hopes to apply more broadly to the overall Artemis lunar exploration campaign. Many of the lessons learned from Artemis 1 are technical ones involving the Space Launch System. Unexpected erosion of heat shield material on Artemis 1 was one factor in the Artemis 2 delay.
SpacePath names new VP of Sales + Marketing – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-06 00:00
Eric Schmidt will focus on the company’s continued expansion into the commercial and defence markets across North America. Previous responsibilities span marketing, sales and business development at both established and start-up companies. Eric holds a BS in engineering from Cornell University and a MS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Telespazio tasked with EU EO feasibility study – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-06 00:00
The European Commission, DG-DEFIS, signed a contract for the “Study on potential EU Earth-Observation services for governmental use’ The consortium includes Airbus, e-GEOS, Hisdesat, Leonardo, PWC and Thales Alenia Space. EU institutions and Member States will benefit from a geo-information infrastructure.
mu Space and ispace’s MoU for future lunar missions – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-05 00:00
Mu Space and Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. Have signed two MoUs on payload services and strategic cooperation with ispace inc. The two companies have entered negotiations for future payload services to lunar orbit and lunar surface. Mu Space and ispace will conduct joint market development in Japan and Thailand to accelerate the number of lunar orbiting satellite missions.
SSTL engages in Lunar Pathfinder antenna tests – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-05 00:00
The Lunar Pathfinder SANT is an S-band antenna and Antenna Pointing Mechanism (APM) The antenna is a 0.86 meter Parabolic CFRP Reflector fed by a Backfire Helix. The APM is a novel design which rotates two swashplates to achieve a pointing range up to 25 degrees off-center.
What is Dark Energy? Inside our accelerating, expanding Universe
Astronomer Edwin Hubble confirmed that the universe was expanding in 1929 using observations made by his associate, Milton Humason. Humason measured the redshift of spiral galaxies. Hubble and Humason then studied Cepheid stars in those galaxies, using the stars to determine the distance of their galaxies.
What’s Made in a Thunderstorm and Faster Than Lightning? Gamma Rays!
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has spotted bursts of gamma rays. Gamma rays are some of the highest-energy forms of light in the universe. They are usually found coming from objects with crazy extreme physics like neutron stars and black holes. So why is Fermi seeing them come from thunderstorms?
University High School Wins Regional Science Bowl at NASA’s JPL
Irvine's University High School won a regional competition of the National Science Bowl. More than 100 students from 21 schools in Los Angeles and Orange counties competed. Fullerton’s Troy High won second place, and Arcadia High placed third. In National Science Bowl competitions, students have mere seconds to answer multiple-choice questions.
XMM-Newton observes black hole winds, provides insight into galaxy and black hole interactions
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-04 22:20
ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory has observed a black hole that is clearing interstellar gas around it using its extreme “black hole wind’ The winds are so fast that the interstellar gas surrounding black holes ends up being cleared away. The clearing of interstellar gas around black holes means that the black holes will no longer have anything to consume and that no new stars can form in the regions surrounding the black holes.