Space news

The Air Force Research Laboratory announced new Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, or CRADAs, between the U.S. Space Force and two Indian startups.

The map could help the agency decide where the first astronauts to the Red Planet should land. The more available water, the less missions will need to bring.

I consider one of my roles as a reporter to be, “I read this so you don’t have to,” and this instance features the Pentagon’s annual report to Congress on China’s military and security developments. Coming in at a whopping 212 pages, the document represents the latest in-depth, albeit unclassified, view of China’s military ambitions.

Russian ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) #61: Following up from yesterday, FE-4 Oleg Kononenko (EV1) and FE-5 Nikolai Chub (EV2) completed Russian EVA #61 with FE-12 Konstantin Borisov supporting as the Intravehicular (IV) Operator. The EV crew performed tasks in order to inspect and isolate the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) radiator, install a payload on MLM, and …

Tesat-Spacecom’s laser communications terminals passed key ground tests required to be deployed on Space Development Agency satellites, the company announced Oct. 26.

Italian rocket builders Avio have asked the European Space Agency to allow it to split from Arianespace and independently market its Vega launch vehicles. The request was first reported by La Tribune. The request, which is backed by the Italian government, will be on the agenda at the ESA Space Summit in Seville, Spain, on […] The post Avio Just Needs Some Space from Arianespace appeared first on European Spaceflight.

"My goal was to highlight the comet's journey."

Three new astronauts have arrived at China’s Tiangong space station following launch from the Gobi Desert late Wednesday.

China launched a new crew to the Tiangong-3 China Space Station this evening EDT. The three-man Shenzhou-17 crew will replace three others who have been aboard since May, continuing their […]

ABL Space Systems is moving into the final phases of preparations for the second launch of its RS1 rocket after the company’s first launch failed in January.

After three chaotic weeks, House Republicans elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the new Speaker of the House. The fourth to win a majority vote within the Republican Conference, he […]

Rocket Lab is preparing to return its Electron rocket to flight before the end of the year as it completes an investigation into a launch failure in September.

Terran Orbital will address shareholder concerns about its growth prospects in a virtual town hall event Oct. 26 during what is usually a quiet period for a public company just weeks away from announcing earnings.

Rocket Lab expects to resume launches of its Electron vehicle before the end of the year, the company announced on Wednesday.

Russian ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) #61: Today, FE-4 Oleg Kononenko (EV1) and FE-5 Nikolai Chub (EV2) are performing Russian EVA #61 with FE-12 Konstantin Borisov supporting as the Intravehicular (IV) Operator. The EV crew are performing tasks in order to inspect and isolate the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) radiator, install a payload on MLM, and jettison …

"Rest assured we haven't signed any fixed-price development contracts, nor intend to."

While the New Space economy is certainly a place of rapid change, there are features that — if understood — can help investors and companies maximize prospects for success.

The Space Force is gearing up for a major procurement of strategic communications satellites that provide nuclear-survivable communications for the U.S. military and national command authorities.

The European Space Agency has announced that it will begin testing a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic liquid oxygen tank that will be used aboard the Ariane 6 Icarus upper stage. In May 2019, ESA signed an agreement with ArianeGroup and MT Aerospace to develop Phoebus, a prototype of an upgraded Ariane 6 upper stage called Icarus […] The post ESA to Begin Testing Ariane 6 Upgrade appeared first on European Spaceflight.

China’s human spaceflight agency says the country’s commercial rocket companies could launch low-cost cargo missions in the future.

Ongoing development of a regulatory framework for overseeing new commercial space activity is critical to NASA’s long-term exploration plans that will rely increasing on the private sector, the agency’s deputy administrator said.

Looking far away to understand our own home.

American and Chinese officials met recently to discuss space situational awareness (SSA) data, part of broader efforts by the U.S. to better understand emerging national SSA systems.

The UK Space Agency has signed an agreement with Axiom Space to pave the way for a commercially sponsored astronaut mission. According to a 25 October press release, “UK astronauts” (suggesting more than one astronaut) would spend two weeks in orbit carrying out scientific research, demonstrating new technologies, and participating in educational outreach activities. “The […] The post UK Space Agency Signs Agreement with Axiom Space appeared first on European Spaceflight.

LAS VEGAS — United Launch Alliance now plans to launch its first Vulcan Centaur rocket on Christmas Eve, carrying a commercial lunar lander. The company announced Oct. 24 that the […]

the Pentagon's space policy office is crafting a strategy to harness emerging technologies for national security purposes. An area of particular focus is in-space logistics services such as satellite refueling.

Payloads: Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research (CIPHER) on Varying Mission Durations: Standard Measures (SM) Pre-sleep Questionnaires were filled out, blood pressure measurements were obtained, and ultrasound scans were performed in support of the CIPHER investigation. CIPHER consists of 14 studies designed to improve our understanding of physiological and psychological changes in humans …

Come for the Moon, stay to learn about the Black Madonna statue.

Discussions at an upcoming major telecommunications conference may set the stage for future work regulating lunar communications.

The Japanese government is providing ispace with $80 million to help fund development of a new lunar lander in parallel with a similar effort by the company’s U.S. subsidiary.

Lockheed Martin to date has won orders for 88 satellites from the Space Development Agency

NASA is bracing for a period of budgetary belt-tightening as House Republicans demand deep cuts to nondefense discretionary spending, the category that includes NASA. The effects will be felt across […]

The Southwest Research Institute won a $55 million contract to supply the QuickSounder weather satellite.

The week of Oct. 23 through Oct. 29 has been a big one for low-Earth orbit (LEO) with all but one flight headed to already existing constellations. This includes two Falcon 9 launches on opposite sides of the country, one Russian Soyuz 2.1b launch, and two different launches planned out of China, one involving humans.

Payloads: B Complex: The crew consolidated the remaining experiment supplements into one bottle, and continued the experiment operations. Some astronauts experience swelling near where the optic nerve attaches at the back of the eye, part of a condition called Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome, or SANS. Evidence exists that genetics and B vitamin status predispose some astronauts …

With $1.3 billion in projected funding for spaceport improvements, the Space Force is now trying to move these plans forward, identifying the most critical areas needing attention in the near-term.

Belarus joined China's International Lunar Research Station program Monday, following a video conference with the China National Space Administration.

The German Offshore Spaceport Alliance (GOSA) has told European Spaceflight that it is targeting between April and May for its first launch campaign. GOSA was formed in December 2020 as a joint effort between Tractebel DOC Offshore, MediaMobil, OHB, and Harren Shipping Services. The spaceport will utilize the 170-metre Combi Dock I ship and will […] The post German Offshore Spaceport to Host First Launch in Early 2024 appeared first on European Spaceflight.

The southern United States should see some beneficial rain.

In today's image, we get an infrared view of NGC 346.

Varda Space Industries has signed an agreement to land spacecraft at an Australian range as it continues work to secure approvals to land its first spacecraft in Utah.

Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the week of October 22-28, 2023 and any insight we can offer about them. The Senate is in session this week. […]

An international team of scientists has found the cause of the largest Martian seismic event, or Marsquake, observed by NASA’s Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) Mars lander. After ruling out a meteor impact, they concluded the event must have been caused by a release of stress within the planet’s crust.

The U.S. Space Force is exploring the use of small geosynchronous satellites to enhance military communications networks — either through purchased commercial services or government-owned constellations.

NASA has started work to revise its approach to returning samples from Mars after an independent review concluded the current Mars Sample Return (MSR) architecture has an “unrealistic” budget and schedule.

India successfully completed a high altitude crew capsule abort test for its nascent Gaganyaan human spaceflight program today. The first attempt scrubbed just before liftoff, but they quickly found and […]

India took a step towards independent human spaceflight capabilities early Saturday with a successful uncrewed emergency escape system test.

German space companies Rocket Factory Augsburg, Yuri, and ATMOS Space Cargo have announced a new partnership to launch an end-to-end service for microgravity research. The three companies’ new “Eva” microgravity research service was presented at the 2023 edition of Weltraumkongress (Space Congress) in Berlin, Germany. RFA will be responsible for the service’s low-cost launch services. […] The post RFA, ATMOS, and Yuri Announce “Eva” Microgravity Service appeared first on European Spaceflight.

NASA may have received discouraging news from a recent independent review of the Mars Sample Return mission, but key NASA officials and members of the space science community remain upbeat […]

New star-tracking sensors in the works would enable all manner of satellites to keep an eye out for hazardous orbital debris too small to detect from the ground.