SES launches 7th and 8th O3b mPOWER satellites, stregthening MEO constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-12-17 00:00
SES announced today that its latest pair of O3b mPOWER satellites was successfully launched into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States. Both satellites will join the first six O3B mPOWER spacecraft already in operation at medium Earth orbit (MEO), adding incremental capacity to the initial O3bmPOWER constellation. Key customers include Microsoft, Princess Cruises, Marlink, Jio Platforms and Orange.
SpaceX’s foggy Tuesday launch of NROL-149 mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-12-17 00:00
The NROL-149 mission launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This was the 22nd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission. The mission emblem’s blue circles artistically depict a proliferated constellation of satellites. The tagline, “Strength in Numbers,” describes the NRO’s new strategy.
NRO launches sixth mission of Proliferated Architecture with NROL-149 and the last launch of 2024 – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-12-17 00:00
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) successfully launched the NROL-149 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. 17, 2024. This mission is the sixth launch of the NRO’s proliferated architecture, and eighth successful NRO launch of 2024. NRO celebrates the completion of an especially dynamic 18-month period, beginning with NROL-68 in June 2023 and ending now in December 2024.
Forrester’s Digest: EU spends €10bn on Starlink rival – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-12-17 00:00
The IRIS2 project for hundreds of satellites was confirmed December 16th with the signing of contracts worth €10.6 billion with the SpaceRISE consortium. The consortium, led by satellite operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat, is now contracted to build – via sub-contractors — and operate the new highly-secure fleet of satellites. The structure calls for 264 new satellites in 1300 km orbits, and of which two satellites would always be in view.
NASA’s Webb Finds Planet-Forming Disks Lived Longer in Early Universe
The Hubble image shows the cluster in shades of blue against a black background punctuated by white stars of various sizes. Ethereal nebulosity, looking much like draped chiffon, dominates the image. Webb pierces through the cluster’s clouds to reveal more of its structure, which looks like twisted fibers.
Orion Spacecraft Tested in Ohio After Artemis I Mission
Original Publication Date: 2024-12-17 08:49
Orion Environmental Test Article returned to NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, in January 2024. The Orion test article was subjected to acoustic levels simulating both a nominal ascent and a launch abort scenario. The test campaign also jettisoned the test article’s docking module and parachute covers, as well as the crew module uprighting system.
Cutting-Edge Satellite Tracks Lake Water Levels in Ohio River Basin
SWOT looks at both rivers and lakes in the Ohio River Basin, which drains into the Mississippi River. Data from SWOT can be used to calculate how the amount of water stored in a lake or reservoir changes over time. This, in turn, can give hydrologists a more precise picture of river discharge.