NASA awards SpaceX $1.15 billion contract for second Artemis lander mission
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-16 00:52
NASA has awarded SpaceX a $1.15 billion contract to develop a lunar lander. The contract includes a second crewed demonstration landing mission. NASA is currently soliciting proposals for the second Artemis lander. The agency expects to make an award for that lander in June 2023.
Europe seeks greater autonomy and independence in space
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-15 19:11
European space officials are stressing a need for greater autonomy and sovereign capabilities. Gerldine Naja, the European Space Agency’s Director of Commercialization, Industry and Procurement, spoke at the Space Tech Expo Europe. “We have to focus on ensuring full European autonomy in space as well as investing more in commercial growth areas,” Naja said.
U.S. Space Command creates new task force to coordinate space operations
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-16 00:07
U.S. Space Command adding new component to coordinate operations. Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations (CJTF-SO) marks another step in evolution. CJTF-SO will form a headquarters staff of about 125 personnel from across military services. Former commander of the JTF-SD will temporarily run the new task force.
NGA to increase spending on commercial Earth monitoring services
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-15 19:58
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency plans to double spending on contracts. The agency said it will increase the contract ceiling for its Economic Indicator Monitoring program. The program seeks to use commercial geospatial data and analytics services. No new vendors will be selected for the larger EIM program, said NGA.
Boeing’s anti-jam satellite communications payload on track for 2024 launch
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-15 16:49
Boeing and Northrop Grumman in 2020 won separate contracts to develop Protected Tactical Satcom payloads. The payload will be tested in orbit to assess whether it can provide secure communications in potential war scenarios. Boeing said the payload can “geolocate and actively suppress jamming in real-time, with thousands of data points gathered every second.
SpaceX fans should stand behind NASA and support Artemis - SpaceNews
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-15 13:42
NASA and all space enthusiasts all over the planet hoped to see a successful launch on September 27, but hurricane Ian got in the way. Apollo was a false start, but Artemis could be the real start. Critics are ready to point the finger at NASA and the U.S. Government. NASA can’t fix one problem without creating two new problems, and it costs far too much.
South Korea’s Danuri orbiter demonstrates ‘space internet’ en route to moon
Original Publication Date: 2022-11-15 12:14
South Korea's robotic lunar orbiter Danuri successfully demonstrated "space internet" Danuri sent video and photo files, including a popular Korean band’s music video. The demonstration was conducted twice — Aug. 25 and Oct. 28. Danuri is traveling toward the moon at a speed of 0.54 kilometers per second.
NASASpaceFlight.com
OneWeb launches 36 satellites aboard India's GSLV Mk.III rocket. Mission marks the first commercial launch for the GSLV rocket. Launch took place at 12:07 AM local time on Sunday, Oct. 23 (18:37 UTC on Saturday, Oct. 22)
Commercial Archives
ABL Space Systems (ABL) is preparing to launch the debut flight of the RS1 launch vehicle. The three-hour launch window opens at 1:00 PM AKST (22:00 UTC) Onboard are two CubeSats built by OmniTeq, previously L2 Aerospace.
International Archives
Artemis I is the agency's super heavy lift rocket which will facilitate humanity’s return to the Moon. The launch of Artemis I occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 1:47 AM EST (06:47 UTC) The mission is to establish a permanent presence on our closest celestial neighbor.
News – Spaceflight101
Europe's Copernicus satellite fleet is gearing up for the arrival of its next addition on Wednesday. A Russian Rockot booster set to blast off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 17:57 UTC with the Sentinel-3B multi-function satellite.
ISS Updates – Spaceflight101 – International Space Station
A veteran NASA spacewalker and an EVA rookie from Japan ended their week with nearly six hours of work outside the International Space Station. The restoration of the Station’s Mobile Servicing System started last year and continued in January to provide Canadarm2 with a new pair of grappling hands.
Featured – Spaceflight101
SpaceX Falcon 9 takes to the skies over Florida’s Cape Canaveral Monday afternoon. First of at least six cargo ships inbound to the U.S. Segment of ISS this year. Dragon spacecraft will deliver science gear, supplies and maintenance hardware to the orbiting laboratory.
Re-Entry: Long March 11 Rocket Body – Spaceflight101
The CZ-11 fourth stage used leftover propellant for a partial de-orbit maneuver, lowering its perigee to 120 Kilometers to significantly accelerate its orbital decay. It is reportedly built around a YF-50 main engine and in a nominal mission conducts the orbital circularization after the three CZ-11 stages.
NASA Study: Rising Sea Level Could Exceed Estimates for U.S. Coasts
Satellite measurements of sea surface height are correlated with NOAA tide gauge records dating as far back as 1920. The researchers noted that the accelerating rate of sea level rise detected in satellite measurements from 1993 to 2020. The trends along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts are substantially higher than for the Northeast and West coasts.
How NASA’s Deep Space Network Supports the Agency’s Missions
Deep Space Network will support Artemis I’s uncrewed Orion capsule beyond low-Earth orbit after launch. DSN will work in tandem with NASA’s Near Space Network. The networks help to create a foundation for future crewed Artemis launches to the lunar surface.
5 Things to Know About How SWOT Will Look at the World’s Water
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite will launch on Dec. 12. SWOT will survey water on more than 90% of the planet’s surface. The satellite will measure the height of water in Earth’s freshwater bodies and the ocean.
NASA to Brief Media on First Earth Water-Monitoring Satellite Mission
NASA will host a virtual media briefing to discuss the upcoming launch of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite. The briefing will livestream on NASA Television, Facebook and YouTube, as well as the agency’s app and on its website. Questions can be asked on social media during the briefing using #AskNASA.
Satellites Help Scientists Track Dramatic Wetlands Loss in Louisiana
NASA-funded researchers quantified those wetlands losses at nearly 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) per year since the early 1980s. Some of those wetlands were submerged by rising seas; others were disrupted by oil and gas infrastructure and hurricanes. But the primary driver of losses was coastal and river engineering.
As Psyche Mission Moves Forward, NASA Responds to Independent Review
NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) share a response to the results of an independent review board convened to determine why the Psyche mission missed its planned 2022 launch opportunity. The review board – convened at the request of NASA and JPL – found a significant factor in the delay was an imbalance between the workload and the available workforce at JPL. The board recommended increasing staffing, establishing open communications and an improved reporting system.
NASA to Discuss Psyche Independent Review Board Results
NASA will host a community town hall at 12 p.m. EDT (9 a.m. PDT) on Friday, Nov. 4. Members of the science community, academia, media, and public, are invited to join the discussion online. Following the town hall, NASA will host a media call.