Paris (ESA) Sep 03, 2021
After many technical and programmatic challenges, the first satellite of the next generation of the Meteosat family has taken a major step towards its first flight, currently scheduled for launch in autumn 2022. Following on from the success of the first and second generation of Meteosat satellites, the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) will soon take over the reins to ensure the continuity

Broomfield CO (SPX) Sep 01, 2021
Ball Aerospace was selected by NASA for two Landsat Next architecture studies: Landsat Next Instrument Study - Constellation Satellite Concept and Landsat Next Instrument - Single Satellite Concept. The two six-month studies will look at instrument architectures and designs for the next generation of Landsat. "Users around the world rely on the continuity and reliability of the Lands

Herndon VA (SPX) Sep 02, 2021
BlackSky announced Wednesday that Palantir Technologies Inc. has committed to making an equity investment in BlackSky, which is scheduled to close after the completion of BlackSky's business combination with Osprey Technology Acquisition Corp ("Osprey"). Following the successful completion of a joint pilot program between BlackSky and Palantir, this investment signifies the strengthening of a st

Vandenberg AFB CA (SPX) Sep 03, 2021
Firefly's Alpha 1 exploded minutes after lifting off from the California launch pad at Vandenberg AFB on Thursday. The Alpha rocket was "terminated" over the Pacific Ocean shortly after its 6:59 p.m. liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a base statement. Firefly said an "anomaly" occurred during the first-stage ascent that "resulted in the loss of the vehicle" about

Washington DC (AFP) Sep 03, 2021
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday said it was grounding space flights by Virgin Galactic while it investigates why the company's July 11 voyage carrying Richard Branson deviated from its planned trajectory. The move represents a blow to the private space company as it prepares to carry paying customers following its first fully-crewed test flight. It is now unc

Fino Mornasco, Italy (SPX) Sep 03, 2021
Space logistics and transportation company D-Orbit announced the signing of an agreement with HyImpulse Technologies aiming at a joint launch and deployment mission that will leverage HyImpulse's SL1 launcher and D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carrier. SL1 is a three-stage hybrid rocket designed to transport to LEO satellites of up to 500 kg. ION Satellite Carrier (ION) is D-Orbit's proprietary o

Houston TX (SPX) Sep 03, 2021
Most often, communications delays between the International Space Station crew and ground are nearly unnoticeable as they are routed from one Tracking and Data Relay Satellite to another as the station orbits about 250 miles above Earth. As NASA prepares to explore the Moon, about 240,000 miles away, and eventually Mars, which averages about 245 million miles away, NASA is developing tools to in

Beijing (XNA) Sep 03, 2021
Pictures will help forecasters predict interruption of communication on Earth The Fengyun 3E weather satellite has captured its first test pictures of the sun, offering improved assistance in predicting solar activities and their impact on Earth and space weather. "With the images, we will better forecast and instantly warn people and authorities of impacts on Earth from solar activi

Tucson AZ (SPX) Sep 03, 2021
New analysis of Hayabusa2 data of the asteroid Ryugu reveals much of the surface reflects and scatters light in ways that are consistent with studies of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in the lab. This research looks specifically at data taken while Ryugu was in opposition to the spacecraft and Sun, and utilizes Hayabusa2's near infrared spectrometer, NIRS3, and Optical Navigation Camera, ONC,

Washington (Sputnik) Sep 03, 2021
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is not planning to share its lunar samples with China, although there are no amendments explicitly prohibiting such cooperation, NASA chief scientist Jim Green said. "Currently, there's no plans to create a bilateral arrangement with China on the exchange of samples," Green said at a Tuesday meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analys