SpaceX testing ruggedized terminals for self-driving tractors
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 23:35
John Deere has picked SpaceX to provide connectivity for farming machines. Terminal would be about the size of a pizza box and based on SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband network. Terminal would enable compatible tractors to operate at same level of autonomy. John Deere requested proposals from the space industry in September 2022.
Space Development Agency awards contracts worth $2.5 billion for missile-tracking satellites
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 19:00
The three agreements are worth about $2.5 billion. Each company will produce and operate 18 satellites. Sierra Space is best known for its Dream Chaser vehicle, designed to deliver cargo. The satellites will be part of SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer.
New rocket motor for U.S. Air Force ICBM completes ground test
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 16:47
Northrop Grumman conducts static fire test of second-stage solid rocket motor. Test simulated real-world conditions for LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman $13.3 billion contract to design and develop missile. Air Force previously estimated the Sentinel missile to be ready for its first test launch in 2025.
Vulcan launch demonstrates new solid rocket boosters
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 12:59
Northrop Grumman's GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters produced 900,000 pounds-force of thrust. The strap-on boosters fired for nearly two minutes before burning out and being jettisoned. The GEM 63XL is the largest monolithic, or non-segmented, solid rocket booster built. Northrop received a contract from ULA in 2022 worth more than $2 billion.
Airbus and Voyager finalize Starlab joint venture
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 11:36
Voyager Space, Airbus Defence and Space finalize partnership to develop Starlab. The joint venture will be responsible for the design, construction and operation of the station. It is designed to help win business from both NASA and European customers. Starlab Space separately announced that Jim Bridenstine will join its board of directors.
SDA awards L3Harris million$$$ contract to build satellites for missile tracking program – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-17 00:00
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) received a contract with a potential value of up to $919 million to design and build 18 infrared space vehicles. The company’s technology will also support preliminary fire control capability for the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA)
Axiom on Wednesday to send first all European commercial astronauts to ISS – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 00:00
Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) redefines the pathway to low-Earth orbit for nations around the globe. Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 30 scientific experiments and demonstrations.
Kinéis to deploy IoT constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 00:00
Kinéis, a global connectivity provider and pioneer of the new French space sector, raised a historic €100 million in 2020. Between June 10th and July 9th, 2024, the Toulouse-based company will carry out the first of five launches to put into orbit its constellation of 25 nanosatellites.
Former NASA Administrator joins Starlab Space Board of Directors with goal of continuously crewed free-flying space station – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 00:00
Jim Bridenstine will join the company’s Board of Directors. The former NASA Administrator will help guide Starlab Space as the company continues toward its vision of building a continuously crewed, free-flying space station. As NASA’s 13th Administrator, Bridenstine led the agency in advancing American aeronautic, science, and space exploration objectives.
Forsway + Cloudpoint establish JV to launch low-cost streaming solution – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 00:00
Xtend Solutions FZCO is a new provider of low-cost content streaming solutions. Xtend Solutions’ new offering harnesses Forsway’s satellite technology and ground equipment and Cloudpoint’s expertise in delivering wide scale solutions. Primary markets of focus for the new venture are India, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
John Deere + SpaceX to expand rural connectivity for farmers – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 00:00
John Deere has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to provide SATCOM service to farmers. Using the Starlink network, this solution will allow farmers facing rural connectivity challenges to fully leverage precision agriculture technologies. The SATCOM solution will initially be available through a limited release in the United States and Brazil starting in the second half of 2024.
Azerbaijan secures the 46° East orbital slot – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 00:00
Azerbaijan has been granted an orbital position in the geostationary belt. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has granted approval for the registration. The Azerbaijani side has successfully concluded coordination negotiations on 265 satellite networks of 34 governments. This also allows Azerbaijan to deploy future telecommunication satellites in its unique orbital slot.
NASA’s IXPE Helps Researchers Maximize ‘Microquasar’ Findings
Original Publication Date: 2024-01-16 11:58
Composite image captures the jet emanating from SS 433, a black hole devouring material embedded in the supernova remnant which spawned it. The black hole emits twin jets of matter traveling in opposite directions at nearly the speed of light, distorting the remnant’s shape. The jets become bright about 100 light years away from the black hole, where particles are accelerated to very high energies by shocks within the jet.
Special Report: X-59 Makes its Public Debut
NASA e-book Quieting the Boom: The Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstrator and the Quest for Quiet Supersonic Flight. Key research that led to the X-59, and inspired Bob Pearce's quote above, is detailed in the NASA book. The book presents the story of the airplane seen here, as well as a general history of sonic boom research.