China reschedules planetary defense mission for 2027 launch
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-16 07:42
China has changed the launch date and target for a mission that will attempt to deflect the orbit of an asteroid. The target for the mission will be the asteroid 2015 XF261, a body estimated to be about 30 meters across. The two spacecraft will launch together on a Long March 3B in 2027.
U.S. nuclear command satellites need hardening against attacks, report warns
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 14:21
The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security released a study July 15. It recommends steps to protect space-based elements of the U.S. Nuclear command, control and communications system. The report comes amid growing concerns about Russia’s development of space-based nuclear weapons. A high-altitude nuclear blast could create widespread electromagnetic pulse effects.
NASA’s CAPSTONE is testing “Autopilot” software suite for cislunar operations
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 13:00
NASA's Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment is on task. The microwave oven-sized cubesat weighing a modest 25 kilograms is operational in Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) around the moon. It has not been all smooth sailing for CAPSTONE, a balky thruster sent the probe into rapid tumble mode.
Rocket Lab’s launch window for the next Capella Space Mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 00:00
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has set the launch window for the company’s 51st Electron launch, a dedicated mission for American space tech company Capella Space. The ‘A Sky Full Of SARs’ mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on July 21 NZST / July 20 UTC. The mission will deploy Capella’s Acadia-3 SAR satellite, a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Earth imagery and observation.
USSF has announced space staff, international partnership – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 00:00
Air Marshal Paul Godfrey took the position June 17. He will serve the U.S. Space Force as assistant chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships. Godfrey was the inaugural commander of the U.K. Space Command, established April 1, 2021.
SDF 70 yrs on —expanding roles / air self-defense force monitoring outer space; working with other countries to watch for debris, suspicious satellites – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 00:00
Col. Kimitoshi Sugiyama is the commander of the Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group. He spoke to The Yomiuri Shimbun to mark the 70th anniversary of the Self-Defense Forces. Since spring of this year, we have been operating a device to determine if satellites used by Japan are being jammed.
Nokia 5G boost for Egypt – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 00:00
Nokia is partnering with Telecom Egypt to bring 5G technology to Egypt for the first time. Nokia will provide its comprehensive AirScale portfolio aiming to deliver an exceptional network experience. Deployment will take place later in 2024. 5G technology will bring numerous benefits, including increased capacity for seamless connectivity in some of Egypt’s most densely populated areas.
Ericsson, OPPO patent licence deal – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 00:00
Ericsson and smartphone vendor OPPO have signed a multi-year global patent cross licence agreement. This includes a cross licence covering patents essential to standards for cellular technologies, including 5G. OPPO will make royalty payments to Ericsson. In addition to a cross licence, OPPO and Ericsson will conduct business cooperation on a number of projects related to 5G.
15 Years Ago: STS-127 Delivers Japanese External Platform to Space Station
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-15 15:54
On July 15, 2009, space shuttle Endeavour began its 23rd trip into space, on the 2JA mission to the International Space Station. During the 16-day mission, the seven-member STS-127 crew, working with Expedition 20, completed the primary objectives of the mission. The flight marked the first time 13 people worked about the station at the same time.
Jonathan Lunine Appointed Chief Scientist of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jonathan Lunine is the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences at Cornell University. He has performed pioneering research on the formation and evolution of planetary systems. He is co-investigator on the agency’s Juno mission to Jupiter as well as for the MISE instrument on NASA’s Europa Clipper mission.
Episode 12: Secrets of the Mars Rovers
The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union began with Sputnik 1, the first satellite to orbit the Earth, in October 1957. The U.S. Quickly responded with the satellite Explorer 1. In 1961, the Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin became the first human to leave our planet, completing one full orbit before falling back to Earth.
Astronomers use Hubble to discover rare intermediate-mass black hole in Omega Centauri
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-14 23:56
Astronomers have discovered a rare black hole within Omega Centauri. Omega Centauri is the largest and brightest known globular cluster in the Milky Way. The black hole is not one of the common stellar or supermassive black holes. Instead, the astronomers believe it is an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH)