GHGSat gains NASA approval for methane-emissions data
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-31 10:00
Methane-emissions data from GHGSat will be shared for scientific research through NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program. Montreal-based GHGSat announced July 31 that the company’s data “successfully completed’ NASA’s “rigorous evaluation process. GHGSat data will soon be available for scientific and other noncommercial applications.
Companies describe studies to revise Mars Sample Return
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-31 09:08
NASA selected seven companies in June for 90-day studies valued at up to $1.5 million each. The studies are to examine different concepts that could reduce the cost or improve the schedule for MSR. NASA requested the studies in April after concluding that its current plans for returning samples would cost up to $11 billion.
SES wins $46 million U.S. Air Force contract for satellite services
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-31 08:15
SES Space & Defense, the U.S. Arm of Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, secured a $46.8 million contract. The multi-year contract is for geostationary (GEO) Ku-band satellite communications services. The service area will span the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific Ocean.
Land of the rising space startups
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 13:00
Japan's cabinet approved a new Space Strategic Fund in March. The fund will spend one trillion yen ($6.5 billion) over 10 years on Japan’s space industry. The Japanese space agency JAXA is administering the fund and started issuing requests for proposals in July.
NASA proceeding with August launch of Crew-9
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 11:32
NASA is targeting no earlier than Aug. 18 for the launch of the Crew-9 mission to the ISS. That date had been in question after an upper stage anomaly on a Falcon 9 Starlink launch. A test-firing of the upper stage to be used on the Crew-9 launch scheduled for around July 30.
ULA’s Atlas 5 launches its final national security mission
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 10:57
The classified U.S. Space Force mission flew to geostationary Earth orbit July 30. The rocket lifted off at 6:45 a.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The mission designated USSF-51 is a classified National Security Space Launch.
Rocket Lab stands down from Synspective’s SAR July 30 launch due to weather – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 00:00
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the launch window for the company’s 51st Electron launch. The “Owl for One, One for Owl” mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a 14-day launch window that opens on July 31st NZST / July 30th UTC. The mission will be the fifth launch of a total of 16 launches on Electron for Synspective, a Japanese Earth observation company deploying a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.
By the dawn’s early light ULA launches USSF-51 secret mission and grand finale for Atlas rocket – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 00:00
The launch of an Atlas V rocket on July 30 at 6:45 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket, carrying the USSF-51 mission for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), marks a key milestone in a longstanding legacy of dedication to national security. ULA has launched 100 of the 118 critical U.S. Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) missions flown since ULA was formed in December 2006.
Rocket Lab completes integration + testing of twin spacecraft for NASA Mars Mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 00:00
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. Has completed integration and testing of two spacecraft destined for Mars orbit. Rocket Lab built the twin spacecraft for the University of California Berkeley’s Space Science Laboratory and NASA. Rocket Lab was able to produce Blue and Gold in just three and half years due to mature, proven spacecraft development experience.
WTA Tier 4 certification for SageNet’s Marietta (Atlanta) Teleport – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 00:00
SageNet has achieved Tier 4 certification of its Marietta (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) Teleport under WTA’s Teleport Certification Program. The Marietta certification marks the 64th issued since the program was launched at IBC 2015. Another six teleports are currently engaged in the quality evaluation process.
CACI awarded million$$$ contract to provide support to SSC’s JNWC – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 00:00
CACI International Inc ( NYSE: CACI ) has been awarded a 10 year expertise contract valued at up to $450 million. CACI will provide 24/7 operations support, joint and operational planning, adversary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability and order of battle assessment.
U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command launches final National Security Space Atlas V mission aboard United Launch Alliance Rocket – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 00:00
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and ULA successfully launched the USSF-51 mission aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket today at 6:45 a.m. EDT. “Mission success” was declared by the SSC and ULA teams after spacecraft separation with the payload placed in its proper orbit approximately seven hours after liftoff. The Atlas family of launch vehicles has been a mainstay of the space program since 1957, successfully launching 683 times.
Overview for NASA’s Northrop Grumman 21st Commercial Resupply Mission
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-30 15:18
NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 11:28 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 3, for the next launch to deliver scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. Filled with more than 8,200 pounds of supplies, the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, carried on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Live launch coverage will begin at 11:10 a.m. And stream on NASA+. NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Repair Kit for NASA’s NICER Mission Heading to Space Station
NICER wasn’t designed to be serviced or repaired, says the mission’s principal investigator at Goddard. When we decided to investigate the possibility of patching the largest damaged areas on the thermal shields, we had to come up with a method that would use the existing parts of the telescope and station toolkits. We couldn't have done it without all the support and collaboration from our colleagues at Johnson and throughout the space station program.
C.27 Lucy in the L4 Trojans PSP FAQ Posted and Typo Correction.
A typo has been corrected in item iv in Section 2.7.1 of C.27 Lucy in the L4 Trojans Participating Scientist Program. New text is in bold and deleted text is struck through. The due dates remain unchanged: Mandatory NOIs are due August 19, 2024, and proposals are due October 2, 2024.
Atlas V successfully launched its last ever national security mission
Original Publication Date: 2024-07-29 20:16
USSF-51 was ULA’s 100th national security launch, and the last ever flown by an Atlas-family rocket. An Atlas V 551, AV-101, was rolled out to Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to fly a classified national security payload for the US Space Force. The Atlas V 551 is the most powerful variant of the Atlas V family, which made its launch debut in 2002.