EnduroSat gets order for Botswana’s debut satellite
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-03 06:00
Botsat-1 would have a hyperspectral sensor to gather ground composition data. Botswana is the world’s top producer of diamonds by value. The sector accounts for just under a third of the country’s gross domestic product. Botsat-1 is part of a broader goal to build out a space hub in Botswana.
SpaceX wins NASA contract to launch gamma-ray astronomy mission
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-03 05:44
NASA has selected SpaceX to launch a small gamma-ray astronomy mission in 2027. The contract, valued at about $69 million, covers the August 2027 launch and related activities. The Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) spacecraft will detect soft gamma rays.
NASA assessment suggests potential additional delays for Artemis 3 lunar lander
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-03 05:39
NASA's own analysis estimates a nearly one-in-three chance the lander will be at least a year and a half late. That assessment came from a confirmation review for the Human Landing System project. The review, which took place in December 2023, set a schedule baseline of February 2028 for that project.
Webinar Replay – Race to the Moon
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 16:38
Join our expert panelists as they dive into the growing race for moon resources. With nations and companies now vying for water, metals, and minerals across the lunar surface, will NASA’s commercial strategy prove effective? And can countries coexist in this new frontier? Mike Gold Chief Growth Officer Redwire Yao Song Co-CEO, Co-founder Orienspace Blaine Curcio Founder Orbital Gateway Consulting Namrata Goswami Author, Professor, Founder Pete Worden Executive Director Breakthrough Starshot
Orbit Fab completes ground test of satellite fueling payload
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 11:15
Orbit Fab announced a successful test of its fueling nozzle known as GRIP. GRIP is intended to dock with satellites and transfer propellant. The company is in a two-horse race with defense giant Northrop Grumman. The U.S. Space Force is actively evaluating both companies’ refueling technologies.
Innospace shares tumble in stock market debut
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 10:17
Innospace saw its shares fall by more than 20% in its first day of trading as a public company. Shares in Innospace closed July 2 at 34,450 won ($24.80), a decline of 20.4% from its IPO price. The closing price gives the company a market capitalization of 323 billion won. Innospace has yet to attempt an orbital launch.
NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative ELaNa 43 mission scrubbed twice by Firefly Aerospace and now set for July 2nd – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 00:00
NASA is readying for the launch of several small satellites to space, built with the help of students, educators, and researchers from across the country. The Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) 43 mission includes eight CubeSats flying on Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket for its “Noise of Summer’s” launch from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Originally scheduled for Monday night there was a ground systems issue in which mission countdown reached T-8 seconds.
SpaceX’s pre-Independence Day, July 3rd launch of 20 Starlink satellites including 13 Direct to Cell – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 00:00
SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, July 3 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. Liftoff is targeted for 2:57 a.m. ET. A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff.
ULA’s Atlas V rocket to launch USSF-51 for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 00:00
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket will launch the USSF-51 mission for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This is the 100th ULA launch dedicated to national security.
Wishing Everyone a Happy July 4th … Independence Day, U.S.A. – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 00:00
Satnews offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4th, to celebrate the July 4th holiday. Satnews offices will return on Friday, July 5th. The entire Satnews team wishes those who celebrate Independence Day a most enjoyable holiday. We remember sacrifices have been made by millions to ensure a nation that continues to thrive.
Orbit Fab delivers 1st GRIP™ in-space refueling nozzle following successful testing – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-02 00:00
Orbit Fab has completed the testing of its refueling payload and testing of the GRIP™ capture and active in-space refueling nozzle. The company is in discussions with space industry manufacturers to build RAFTI, under licensing agreements. The Space Force Tetra-5 program satellites will be among the first to have Orbit Fab’s RAFTI refueling ports during a first-of-its-kind refueling operation.
NASA’s Webb Captures Celestial Fireworks Around Forming Star
NIRCam and MIRI show the effects of outflows, which are emitted in opposite directions along the protostar’s rotation axis. These outflows take the form of bow shocks to the surrounding molecular cloud, which appear as filamentary structures throughout. They are also responsible for carving the bright hourglass structure within the molecular cloud.
NASA’s ECOSTRESS Maps Burn Risk Across Phoenix Streets
The map shows Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, where ECOSTRESS recorded some of the hottest land surface temperatures within the city. The air temperature on June 19 at the airport reached 106 F (43 C) The map was created with data from additional satellites: NASA/USGS Landsat and Sentinel-2.
NASA Asteroid Experts Create Hypothetical Impact Scenario for Exercise
CNEOS calculates the orbit of every known near-Earth object to provide assessments of future potential impact hazards. To make this scenario realistic, the CNEOS team simulated all the observations in the months leading up to the exercise and used orbital determination calculations to simulate the probability of impact.
SpaceX continues record-breaking year with Starship’s full success and Falcon milestones
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-01 23:58
SpaceX continues to break records with its Falcon rockets during 2024. To date, the company has completed 67 missions so far and is on track to complete 135 launches by the end of the year. SpaceX’s Starship rocket also performed its fourth flight, successfully completing a full mission from launch to soft landing of both stages on the water. The company is also making great progress in building a second Starship launch pad in South Texas.