Preparations for the third flight of Starship are making solid progress after both vehicles completed their respective solo test campaigns. Booster 10 rolled back to the Shipyard for final mods and checkouts before its flight, and Ship 28 wasn’t far behind. Both vehicles are now in their Bays for final work before rolling back to the launch site for integrated stack testing and launch.
Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (Antimicrobial Coatings-2): The crew performed the routine periodic touching of the six experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. Antimicrobial Coatings-2 tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health …
A newly-completed launch pad on China’s Hainan island could increase China’s access to space, boosting national constellation projects and commercial launch plans.
German launch provider Rocket Factory Augsburg announced early last month that it had increased the payload capability of its Argo cargo spacecraft. The boost in performance was required to meet the updated base performance specifications of a European Space Agency call for commercial cargo services to and from low Earth orbit (LEO). RFA first announced […]
The post RFA Boosts Argo Capabilities to Answer ESA Commercial Cargo Call appeared first on European Spaceflight.
As NASA prepares for the first launch of a commercial lunar lander carrying agency-sponsored payloads, it is trying to balance the science it can achieve with the challenges of landing on the moon and other emerging concerns.
The Government Accountability Office has rejected a protest filed by L3Harris over NASA’s award of a contract to Ball Aerospace for a next-generation weather satellite instrument.
NASA said today the Biden Administration will consult with the Navajo Nation about its concerns that human remains are being placed on the Moon on landers developed through the agency’s […]
The week of Jan. 4 to Jan. 10 saw the long-awaited maiden flight of the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket carrying the Peregrine Mission One Lunar Lander to the Moon.
The U.S. Space Force is soliciting proposals from the private sector for a new initiative — ‘digital spaceport of the future’ — focused on modernizing outdated information systems at the nation’s space launch facilities.
Payloads: BioNutrients-1: Following the conclusion of the 48-hour experiment session, the crew inserted the 8 production packs into cold stowage and filled out a survey. BioNutrients demonstrates a technology that enables on-demand production of human nutrients during long-duration space missions. The process uses engineered microbes, like yeast, to generate carotenoids from an edible media to …
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is proceeding with a complaint against SpaceX by eight former employees who allege they were illegally fired for circulating an open letter within the company.
Maxar Technologies announced Jan. 4 it secured a contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to provide advanced satellite imagery and data for 3D maps and models.
Swedish satcom service provider Ovzon’s first fully owned satellite lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Jan. 3, closing a chapter on years of launch and manufacturing setbacks for the broadband spacecraft.
Last month, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority awarded a spaceport license to SaxaVord, granting it permission to perform 30 launches per year from Unst, a small island off the Northern coast of Scotland. Construction of the spaceport is, however, yet to be completed. While SaxaVord and its management team made a victory lap towards the […]
The post Progress Made at SaxaVord, but Questions Remain appeared first on European Spaceflight.
The second session of the 118th Congress officially began today at noon although both chambers met only in pro forma sessions. They return for legislative business next week with an […]
As a Mars helicopter continues to operate far past expectations, lessons from that vehicle are being incorporated into NASA’s evolving Mars Sample Return plans.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is preparing for the inaugural flight of its new Vulcan rocket from Space Launch Complex (SLC) 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is currently scheduled for Jan. 8, 2023, at 2:18 AM EST (07:18 UTC).
Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (Antimicrobial Coatings-2): The crew performed the routine periodic touching of the six experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. Antimicrobial Coatings-2 tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health …
Irish startup SUAS Aerospace was founded in 2022 with the aim of building a launch facility in Ireland capable of supporting both suborbital and orbital flights. The company has projected that it will conduct its first orbital launch between 2024 and 2025. SUAS Aerospace is headquartered at the Elfordstown Earthstation in Cork, which is owned […]
The post SUAS Aerospace Aims to Launch Orbital Flights from Ireland appeared first on European Spaceflight.
SpaceX launched its first batch of Starlink satellites designed to connect directly to unmodified smartphones Jan. 2 after getting a temporary experimental license to start testing the capability in the United States.
The commercial arm of India’s space agency ISRO announced Jan. 2 it will launch a large communications satellite later this year on a SpaceX Falcon 9, further underscoring SpaceX’s dominance in the global launch market.
Terran Orbital told investors Jan. 2 it has received a past-due payment for the 300 satellites it is building for Rivada Space Networks, but it is unclear whether this covered the full $180 million it expected by the end of 2023 as future installments for the $2.4 billion project are kept under wraps.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is poised for its second attempt at launching its next generation H3 rocket no earlier than February 15, 2024 from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center.
Payloads: Boeing Environment Responding Antimicrobial Coatings-2 (Antimicrobial Coatings-2): The crew performed the routine periodic touching of the six experiment placards deployed in various locations throughout the ISS. Antimicrobial Coatings-2 tests an antimicrobial coating on several different materials that represent high-touch surfaces. Some microbes change characteristics in microgravity, which could create new risks to crew health …
The European Space Agency and the French space agency CNES have committed €40.5 million to construct facilities at the Guiana Space Centre to produce hydrogen via the solar-powered electrolysis of water. The hydrogen produced by these facilities will be utilized to power Ariane 6, which is expected to be launched on its maiden flight between […]
The post €40M to be Invested to Produce Greener Hydrogen for Ariane 6 appeared first on European Spaceflight.
India launched an astronomy satellite to start a year that will feature key tests for its human spaceflight program and a potential joint crewed mission with NASA.
The German space agency DLR announced that it has successfully completed the first hot gas tests of its planetary lander demonstrator. DLR initiated the Green Propulsion Free-Flight Demonstrator, also known as The Länder, project in 2022. The aim of the project was to bring together various technologies from individual areas of expertise to develop an […]
The post DLR Tests a Planetary Lander Demonstrator appeared first on European Spaceflight.
Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the next week plus two days, December 31, 2023-January 8, 2024, and any insight we can offer about them. Except for […]
SpaceX has closed out its most successful and record-breaking year yet. Its Falcon program broke several records for booster and fairing reuse, launch cadence, and tonnage to orbit. Alongside the Falcon program, the Dragon program sent more cargo and more people to orbit and it saw capsules pushing Dragon’s reusability records.
French launch startup Sirius Space Services has completed a successful hot fire test of the newest version of its STAR-1 rocket engine. Sirius Space began testing its 55kN STAR-1 engine at ArianeGroup’s facilities in Vernon in May using the BAMOCRY (Banc MOdulaire CRYogénique) modular test bench, which was designed to offer startups with a hassle-free […]
The post Sirius Space Completes 60-Second STAR-1 V2 Hot Fire Test appeared first on European Spaceflight.
The Starship Program had its biggest year to date in 2023, with two full stack flights, massive changes to the launch pad and surrounding systems, extending testing at Masseys, and massive changes to the production site.
One of Spain’s biggest defense contractors is considering buying a stake in Madrid-based satellite operator Hispasat, according to a local report citing unidentified market sources.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX smashed its previous annual record for orbital rocket launches, pulling off 96 successful missions in 2023 at a blistering average launch pace of every four days.
On Thursday, December 28th at 8:07 PM, Eastern Time, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy lifted off carrying the secretive X-37B spaceplane as part of the USSF-52/OTV-7 mission for the United States Space Force. Delayed several times due to inclement weather across the Eastern seaboard and other unspecified issues with the launch vehicle, the mission was finally able to get underway Thursday night – providing a spectacular show for those in attendance.
We were promised a number of maiden flights in 2023. Unfortunately, only two occurred. That being said, the last 12 months were nonetheless an exciting time for the European launch industry. A number of significant milestones were achieved, and one staggeringly large funding round closed. This should all, hopefully, set Europe up for an exciting […]
The post Top European Launch Companies of 2023 appeared first on European Spaceflight.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched DOD’s X-37B spaceplane into orbit this evening. Two reusable Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicles exist and this is the seventh flight for the program. […]
Former professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez’s shell company got more time from investors to merge with Lynk Global, but has to give $176 million back to those opting to redeem shares rather than a potential stake in the direct-to-smartphone satellite operator.
Before setting personal goals for a new year, I always find that reflecting on highlights from the year gone by makes me appreciate the effort I’ve spent and helps refine where to build.
