White House directs NASA to develop lunar time standard
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-03 01:52
White House policy calls for new time standard for use on cislunar missions. New time standard based on Coordinated Universal Time on Earth but adapted to moon. Policy provides little technical guidance for establishing a lunar time standard. NASA has been working on concept called LunaNet to provide communications and navigation services.
Terran Orbital records higher revenues as strategic review continues
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-02 11:15
Smallsat manufacturer Terran Orbital reports higher revenues but a significant loss in 2023. Lockheed Martin announced March 1 it was offering to acquire Terran Orbital. Terran Orbital responded by adopting a stockholder rights plan to block a hostile takeover. Lockheed Martin is a major customer of Terran Orbital’s smallsat buses.
Satellite terminal supplier CopaSAT storms into military market
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-01 20:13
CopaSAT is seeing a surge in orders for its militarized Starshield satellite terminal. The company designed a ruggedized satellite internet terminal that uses the Starshield electronically steered antenna. A number of U.S. Military organizations have ordered about 150 terminals since the product was launched.
Foust Forward | The role of a reluctant regulator in space sustainability
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-01 14:30
NASA's TIMED passed near Cosmos 2221, a defunct Russian intelligence satellite. Such close calls are rare: LeoLabs said it was aware of only six similar conjunctions in the last two years. The rise of regulations and best practices meant to mitigate the growth of orbital debris.
Parsons to be system integrator for TraCSS space traffic coordination system
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-01 11:18
Parsons to provide system integration and cloud management services for Traffic Coordination System for Space. One-year contract includes an option for another year that would increase its total value to $26.9 million. TraCSS will eventually take over civil space traffic coordination services from the Defense Department.
Rocket Lab prepares to launch mission for KAIST and NASA satellites to 2 separate orbits – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-02 00:00
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. Has set the launch window for the company’s next Electron launch. The ‘Beginning Of The Swarm’ mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, during a 14-day launch window that opens on April 24th.
U.S. Army awards million$$ to Gilat subsidiary DataPath via a contract extension – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-03 00:00
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. Subsidiary, DataPath, awarded a $12 million contract for the continuation of a program to sustain anytime, anywhere satellite connectivity for the United States Army. The contract is for the supply of Gilat’s subsidiary Wavestream’s Solid State Amplifier (SSPA) products.
Satcube launches a new version of the firm’s all-in-one online rental service “Satcube Instant” – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-03 00:00
Satcube has released a new version of the company’s all-in-one online rental service, Satcube Instant. Satcube Instant is a modern satellite communication service delivering a ready-to-use Satcube terminal with data capacity included, wherever you need it in the world, within two business days.
Yahsat appoints Chief Growth + Strategy Officer – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-03 00:00
Amit Somani rejoins Yahsat with more than 27 years of experience in satellite communications and management consulting. Mr. Somani will oversee the development and implementation of the company’s growth strategy in addition to spearheading its global strategic partnerships and alliances. This expanded position reaffirms Yahsat’s accelerated efforts to successfully implement its wider growth strategy.
SpaceX is busy with April Starlink launches – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-02 00:00
Falcon 9 will launch of a batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation. The first launch of Starlinks was on April 1st from Vandenberg. The next Starlink launch is scheduled for April 5th from Vandenberg. Space Launch Complex 40 has seen the launch of 232 rockets, including 232 orbital launch attempts.
Veronica T. Pinnick Put NASA’s PACE Mission through Its Paces
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-02 15:09
Veronica T. Pinnick is an integration and test manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. She put NASA’s PACE mission through its prelaunch paces. Pinnick: "There are endless opportunities for people who are comfortable being uncomfortable"
That Starry Night Sky? It’s Full of Eclipses
Coronagraphs first used on Earth to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona), are now carried aboard several space telescopes. When NASA’s next flagship space telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launches by May 2027, it will demonstrate new coronagraph technologies.
Launch Roundup: SpaceX continues high cadence, Delta IV Heavy to launch following scrub
Original Publication Date: 2024-04-01 21:28
SpaceX has launched 12 Falcon 9s so far this year. The company aims to continue this cadence during April. Next week includes a Starlink flight, a mystery-shrouded launch from China, then another three Falcon 9’s toward the end of the week. Bandwagon-1 is the first of a series of new mid-inclination rideshare missions.