Industry group opposes White House mission authorization proposal
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 23:51
Industry group says it is opposed to a White House proposal for regulating novel space activities. The proposal would split responsibilities for commercial space activities between two agencies. The Transportation Department would regulate human spaceflight activities beyond launch and reentry. The Commerce Department, through the Office of Space Commerce, would handle other uncrewed spacecraft.
Millennium Space to build a missile-sensor layer in medium Earth orbit
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 21:46
Millennium Space Systems has been given the go-ahead to begin production of six satellites. Satellites will be deployed in medium Earth orbit to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. As many as nine satellites will be procured for the first portion of the constellation, known as Epoch 1.
NASA postpones Dragonfly review, launch date
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 20:42
NASA pushes back the launch of the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan by a year. The delay is based on uncertainty about how much money will be available for the mission. NASA requested $327.7 million for Dragonfly in fiscal year 2024. Project officials warned in May that the requested funding was below what they estimated.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper nets first broadband partnership in Asia
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 19:29
Japanese satellite operator Sky Perfect JSAT and an investor have partnered to sell services from Project Kuiper. Project Kuiper is Amazon’s broadband constellation set to begin launches next year. The companies said Project Kuiper would enable customers to connect to Amazon’s cloud-based infrastructure.
Space Development Agency satellites in low Earth orbit successfully broadcast data
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 19:28
SDA: Three demonstrations held over the past several days. Operators transmitted multiple messages from satellites using L-band radios. SDA has 23 Tranche 0 satellites in orbit launched by SpaceX in April and September. The agency aims to deploy an internet in space that can move data from satellite to satellite.
Firefly to launch a Lockheed Martin satellite antenna demonstration
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 14:45
Electronically steered antennas do not have moving parts and can generate multiple beams. They are in growing demand for broadband communications applications. Lockheed Martin plans to demonstrate it can calibrate and turn on the antenna faster than it has been possible before. The December mission is one of several space technology demonstrations.
New RL10 engine to be introduced on Vulcan in 2025
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 12:46
RL10C-X engine is latest upgrade to the 60-year-old rocket engine. It will use additive manufacturing to produce the entire thrust chamber. Engine also uses a carbon-silicon nozzle that improves its specific impulse. Engine has been used on a variety of vehicles since then, from Saturn 1 to DC-X.
Space Development Agency completes space to ground transmission from Link 16 Tactical Data Network – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 00:00
The Space Development Agency (SDA) has successfully demonstrated the first-ever Link 16 network entry through space to ground connection from LEO. Link 16 is a tactical datalink communication system used by the United States, NATO, and coalition forces to transmit and exchange real-time situational awareness data among all network participants.
SKY Perfect JSAT form strategic collaboration – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 00:00
NTT, NTT, NTT DOCOMO, NTT Communications, and SKY Perfect JSAT have formed a strategic collaboration with Project Kuiper, the LEO satellite broadband network from Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) The companies expect to use Project Kuiper LEO satellite connectivity services to enhance communications availability and resiliency for Japanese customers. Customers will also be able to connect to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to run advanced technologies, such as ML and AI.
LightRidge Solutions expands leadership team – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-29 00:00
LightRidge Solutions has added two leaders to the company’s technology team. Dr. Skip Williams joins as LightRidge’s Chief Technology Officer. Jim Congdon has been appointed the firm’s Chief Software Officer. LightRidge is undergoing significant expansion of its infrastructure, facilities, workforce and leadership.
Spire is ESA’s newest member in Third Party Mission to promote radio frequency monitoring – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 00:00
Spire has launched more than 160 satellites since 2013. CubeSats can be equipped with either a space-based Radio Occultation (RO) payload or a GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload. Data extend the global coverage and observation density of other sources of GNSS-R data, such as ESA’s upcoming HydroGNSS.
Lockheed Martin tech demo to showcase faster on-orbit sensor calibration – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 00:00
Lockheed Martin’s latest technology demonstration (Tantrum) is designed to showcase a unique, highly producible Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) on orbit. The payload demonstrator is expected to launch in December on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket.
Firefly Aerospace completes 1st Miranda engine hot fire test – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-11-28 00:00
Company designs, builds, and tests fully assembled Miranda engine in just over 12 months for Antares 330 and new Medium Launch Vehicle. Miranda engine will power first stage of Northrop Grumman’s Antares 330 and the Medium Launch Vehicle. Antares 330 will be able to launch more than 10,000 kg to the International Space Station.
Siete maneras de favorecer el sueño de los astronautas que pueden ayudarte a dormir mejor en la Tierra
Los desajustes del ritmo circadiano y la falta de sueño ocurren durante los vuelos espaciales de corta y larga duración. Pueden ser causantes de errores importantes inducidos por el cansancio y la carencia de horas de sueño a largo plazo. Los cirujanos de vuelo y los científicos de la NASA han ideado herramientas para los miembros de la tripulación.
NASA Orbiter Snaps Stunning Views of Mars Horizon
The THEMIS camera’s sensitivity to warmth enables it to map ice, rock, sand, and dust, along with temperature changes, on the planet’s surface. It can also measure how much water ice or dust is in the atmosphere, but only in a narrow column directly below the spacecraft.