NASA Deep Space Network reaches “critical point” as demand grows
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 23:48
NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) is under increasing pressure, officials say. DSN provides communications for science missions and Artemis lunar expeditions. DSN's annual budget has fallen from $250 million in 2010 to $200 million today. DSN will continue to see spikes in demand from future Artemis missions.
SAIC wins $574 million contract to maintain Space Force radar sites
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 23:18
Space Force awards $574.5 million contract to Science Applications International Corp. SAIC, based in Reston, Virginia, was awarded a seven-year contract. The Space Force operates a network of early warning radar sensors. They are used to detect missile threats and to track objects in outer space.
Space Development Agency’s data-transport satellites get more complex
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 20:25
The 72 data-transport satellites will be the most complex yet, official says. They will carry communications payloads that have never been deployed. SDA split the $1.5 billion Tranche 2 Beta satellite order between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. SDA is building a mesh network of military satellites in low Earth orbit.
Japanese space robotics company GITAI raises $15 million
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 15:00
Japanese startup GITAI has raised an additional $15 million to continue work on lunar robotics. GITAI has been working on a lunar rover and an “inchworm’ robotic arm. The company also plans to demonstrate a robotic arm on the International Space Station.
Microsoft signs new partnership with AI and data analytics startup
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 13:30
Microsoft announces five-year agreement with Wisconsin-based startup. Synthetaic uses artificial intelligence to analyze data from space and air sensors. Microsoft will provide Synthetaic access to nearly 1 million hours of cloud compute resources. Synthetaic made news earlier this year after it used artificial intelligence to track Chinese spy balloon.
SpiderOak demonstrates zero-trust software on ISS
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 13:15
SpiderOak announced successful demonstration of OrbitSecure on ISS. SpiderOak securely transmitted operations traffic between ground networks and low-Earth orbit. Data sent to ISS was transmitted through NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay constellation. OrbitSecure encrypts and stores data records in a digital ledger.
TransAstra claims NASA contract for debris capture bag
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 13:00
Space logistics startup TransAstra wins NASA contract to manufacture bag to capture debris. TransAstra will build an inflatable capture bag and demonstrate on the ground. Capture bag technology was invented at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Bigger bags could envelop spent rocket bodies, defunct geostationary communications satellites.
C-COM’s new antenna orders total $3 million – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 00:00
C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI and OTC: CYSNF) has received $3 Million USD worth of orders in August for its robust, highly portable iNetVu® Manpack antenna systems. The largest portion of this order is for the Manpack antennas. This lightweight satellite antenna can be carried by a single person and be assembled without tools in less than 8 minutes.
Fleet Space Technologies’ Chief People Officer arrives applying her expertise with their rapid grown and Series C Funding – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-30 00:00
Isa Notermans is the new Chief People Officer of Fleet Space Technologies. She most recently served as Chief HR Officer at Airtasker, a globally operating marketplace for services, headquartered in Sydney. Isa spent five years in New York City as the Global Head of Diversity & Belonging at Spotify.
Globalstar appoints CEO + agrees to license XCOM Labs tech – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 00:00
Paul E. Jacobs, Ph.D., founder and CEO of XCOM Labs and former CEO and Executive Chairman of Qualcomm, to be the CEO of Globalstar, effective immediately. Dr. Jacobs succeeds David Kagan, who will retire as Globalstar’s CEO. Globalstar has also entered into a strategic, perpetual licensing agreement for exclusive access to certain key XCOM technologies and personnel.
USSF awards University Consortium Research Opportunity 2.0 – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 00:00
The United States Space Force recently selected two institutions under the University Consortium Research Opportunity 2.0/Space Strategic Technology Institute 1. The opportunity focuses on addressing challenges related to space object tracking beyond geostationary orbit. Focus areas for the selected proposals include astrodynamics trajectory design and optimization, sensing, decision making and simulations.
The James Webb Telescope captures an image of a cosmic whirlpool – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-29 00:00
Image was taken by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. M51 – also known as NGC 5194, or the Whirlpool Galaxy – is about 27 million light-years away from Earth. The gravitational influence of M51’s smaller companion is thought to be partially responsible for the stately nature of the galaxy’s spiral arms.
NASA, Partners Study Ancient Life in Australia to Inform Mars Search
The Pilbara is the perfect classroom for teams to study stromatolites that have withstood the test of time and scientific rigor. The group investigated how the environment in which these signs of ancient life were found could have been conducive or unfavorable to biology taking shape.