SpaceX launches eighth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-13 03:43
SpaceX launches several dozen smallsats on a dedicated rideshare mission. Customers range from the U.S. Space Force to startups deploying their first satellites. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 5:35 p.m. Eastern. The mission featured a mix of established and emerging satellite developers.
House FAA bill would give agency new space traffic management role
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-13 01:14
Bill would allow FAA to establish its own space situational awareness facilities. Commerce Department is developing a system to handle space traffic management. Industry officials say they believe the intent of the provision is focused on aviation safety. The bill does enable additional uses of the data the FAA collects.
Zero-Error Systems raises $7.5 million
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 23:00
Singapore startup developing radiation-hardened integrated circuits. ZES raised $7.5 million in a Series A investment round supported by Airbus Ventures. The company’s chips flew for the first time on three satellites launched in 2021. With the new funding, ZES plans to expand in the U.S. Market.
Space domain awareness provisions in draft NDAA proposal
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 18:59
Subcommittee's draft bill would require DoD to share intelligence with commercial operators. The bill is part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. The U.S. Space Force and U.S.Space Command are directed to develop a plan to expand existing threat-sharing arrangements.
U.S. defense companies find roadblocks in selling space technologies to allies
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 17:18
Lockheed Martin sees growing demand for space technologies from U.S. Military allies. But selling to these customers is becoming more difficult due to policy and security barriers. U.S. Companies typically work with allies under the Foreign Military Sales program. Space Systems Command has advocated for the development of joint systems with allies.
SES CEO Steve Collar announces sudden resignation
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 15:24
Steve Collar announced plans June 12 to step down as SES CEO at the end of the month. SES chief technology officer Ruy Pinto is taking the company’s reins until it can find a permanent successor. Collar became CEO of SES in 2018 after heading its connectivity-focused division.
Space Force sorting out complexities of wartime contracting
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 13:32
Commercial Augmentation Space Reserves aims to ensure U.S. Military has access to commercial space industry services during conflicts. The Defense Department for decades has relied on commercial companies for space-based services. The CASR concept is a “whole different discussion,” said Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt.
UPDATE: A SpaceX Falcon 9 dispatched 72 smallsats to orbit including 3 experimental smallsats for Space Systems Command + dozens of additional payloads – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 00:00
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the Transporter-8 mission to LEO occurred at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. There are 72 payloads on this flight, including smallsats, a re-entry capsule and orbital transfer vehicles. The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, and four Starlink missions.
Marlink simplifies and expands network flexibility with upgrade to ST Engineering iDirect Dialog® 2.5.1 – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-13 00:00
Latest release creates a single return technology for all Marlink use. ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications, announced that service provider Marlink has upgraded to the latest Dialog 2.5.1 release. The latest release effectively combines the extra-high throughput from high resolution coding (HRC) and scaling from MRC into a single return technology.
Exolaunch’s 32 customer satellites successfully gain their orbits with the Transporter-8 mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 00:00
Exolaunch integrated 32 customer satellites with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 as all reached their orbits following the Transporter-8 mission liftoff from Vandenberg SFB — Exolaunch has now managed 300 satellite launches. Exolaunch provided mission management and integration services for New Space leaders and longstanding customers such as Spire Global, Kongsberg NanoAvionics and ICEYE.
Neumann Space propulsion technology achieves a first space launch via the Transporter-8 mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 00:00
Neumann Space has announced that the company’s propulsion system has been sent into space for the first time. The propulsion system incorporates a thruster unit that contains molybdenum as the solid metallic propellant. The company’s first launch comes at a time when the world is witnessing an exponential growth in the number of satellites being launched into space.
U.S. Navy selects Northrop Grumman to produce next gen maritime navigation sensor – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 00:00
The U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a production contract for the new AN/WSN-12 Inertial Sensor Module (ISM) The first ISM will be fielded later this year. The ISM is a next-generation sensor that significantly improves maritime navigation.
Perseverance’s Backup Rock Sample Tubes Placed on Mars Surface
First rock samples have been placed on the surface of Mars by Perseverance rover. The samples will be stored on the surface for future return missions to the planet. Perseverance has already collected 10 of its first 18 core samples. The rover is currently exploring the surface of Mars.
Perseverance's Mastcam-Z Views Ingenuity's 47th Takeoff
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is seen here at the starting point of its 47th flight on Mars. This video shows the dust initially kicked up by the helicopter’s spinning rotors, as well as Ingenuity taking off, hovering, and beginning its 1,444-foot (440-meter) journey.
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Starlink 5-11 launches from Florida as astronomy impacts in focus
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-12 01:51
Falcon 9 B1073-9 launched on Monday, June 12 at 3:10 AM EDT (07:10 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The flight took a southeast trajectory through the pre-dawn darkness, with Just Read the Instructions 636 kilometers out in the Atlantic for landing support. There are now over 4,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, including several hundred satellites in Group 5. While the Starlink constellation continues to be built up, concerns continue to be raised about mega-constellations’ impact on ground — and even space — based astronomy.