Chang’e-6 set for weekend landing attempt as sun rises over Apollo crater
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 08:49
Chang’e-6 is set to make its lunar landing attempt this weekend. The mission is targeting a landing in the southern portion of Apollo crater. If successful, the lander will begin drilling and scooping up materials from the surface. The samples, expected to weigh up to 2,000 grams, will be loaded into an ascent vehicle.
Falcon 9 launches ESA’s EarthCARE mission
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 02:05
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 6:20 p.m. Eastern. The payload, the Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) spacecraft, separated from the upper stage about 10 minutes after liftoff. EarthCARE is an 800-million-euro ($870 million) ESA-led mission to study clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere.
ThinkOrbital developing satellite repair toolkit with X-ray vision
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 02:00
ThinkOrbital will attempt to demonstrate a robotic arm in space equipped with a welder gun. The arm could be used to repair and take X-ray images of satellites. The X-ray capability has piqued the interest of the U.S. Military. The company envisions providing robotic arms to satellite-servicing companies.
SpaceX completes a bi-coastal ‘two in one’ day launching NASA and JAXA’s EarthCARE satellite after Starlink smallsats – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-28 00:00
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 completed the ESA JAXA EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) mission launch today, Tuesday, May 28 at 3:10 p.m. PDT to low-Earth orbit. It was SpaceX’s second launch of the day after sending a group of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida this morning. Using a suite of different instruments on one satellite, EarthCARE will be able to take different types of measurements that will complement each other.
The Exploration Company contracted by ESA to develop a LEO cargo return service – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 00:00
The Exploration Company has secured the European Space Agency (ESA) as an anchor client – via a new contract secured in a competitive tender process. The contract is a milestone achievement for The Exploration Company: the ESA has become an anchor client. The LEO Cargo Return Service is a commercial endeavor that will transport cargo to, and from, the International Space Station by 2028.
Ovzon receives 12-months renewal for continued support to UK MoD – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 00:00
Ovzon has, for the fourth consecutive year, been awarded a 12-months service renewal contract for delivery of Ovzon SATCOM-as-a-Service to the UK MoD. The order is received from Babcock International, an international defense, aerospace and security company, with the total order value amounts to approximately $1 million.
Orbit’s successful trial of the AirTRx30 aviation terminal over Viasat’s Xpress constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 00:00
Orbit Communications Systems Ltd. Has announced the company’s successful demonstration of the Orbit AirTRx30 business aviation terminal over Viasat’s Global Xpress satellites. The AirTRx30 distinguishes itself with a compact design of two-line replaceable units, boasting a 12-inch antenna.
Intelsat multi-orbit IFC coming to Japan Airlines – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-29 00:00
Japan Airlines to offer multi-orbit, inflight connectivity (IFC) service on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The airline will become one of the first in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to offer reliable, multi-orbit service using Intelsat’s new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna.
Discovery Alert: Spock’s Home Planet Goes ‘Poof’
NEID relies on the “Doppler’ effect: shifts in the light spectrum of a star that reveal its wobbling motions. In this case, parsing out the supposed planet signal at various wavelengths of light, emitted from different levels of the star’s outer shell, or photosphere, revealed significant differences.
NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX Unscathed After Searing Pass of Sun
The images were taken from a camera called StowCam aboard OSIRIS-APEX. They show the same view taken six months apart, before (left) and after (right) the Jan. 2, 2024, perihelion. There is no observable difference on spacecraft surfaces, a good indication that the higher temperatures faced during perihelion didn't alter the spacecraft.
Launch Roundup: North Korean launch failure, Starliner CFT, EarthCARE
Original Publication Date: 2024-05-27 22:15
Starlink 6-60 from Cape Canaveral launched successfully on Tuesday, May 28, followed by EarthCARE from California. The two Falcon 9 launches are to be followed by a Ceres 1S from a platform just off the coast of China. Two Starlink and three Chinese satellite launch missions are also scheduled, as well as the repeatedly delayed Boeing Starliner crewed flight test (CFT) mission. North Korea attempted a launch early this week, however, the launch ultimately ended in failure.