...the who's who,
and the what's what 
of the space industry

Space Careers

news Space News

Search News Archive

Title

Article text

Keyword

Tucson AZ (SPX) Jun 16, 2023
An innovative flashlight to allow scientists to see the dark areas of the Moon to better understand their composition has been selected to participate in NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. The EmberCore Flashlight: Long Distance Lunar Characterization with Intense Passive X- and Gamma-ray Source Phase 1 project is a 9-month concept feasibility study that will evaluate sour
Beijing, China (SPX) Jun 16, 2023
China has performed a radiation biological exposure experiment outside the country's Mengtian lab module for the first time, a milestone achievement in radiation biology and space science research, according to a report by Science and Technology Daily. The experiment equipment was jointly developed by the National Space Science Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Dalian Ma
Copernicus Sentinel-3’s wide view captures the eastern edge of the Mediterranean and surrounding countries. Image: Copernicus Sentinel-3’s wide view captures the eastern edge of the Mediterranean and surrounding countries.
Ariane 5
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The final launch of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket has been postponed due to a technical problem, French firm Arianespace said on Thursday, in the latest blow to European space efforts.

 

After 27 years of launches, the Ariane 5's 117th and last mission had been scheduled to blast off between 2126-1001 GMT on Friday from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

But "it has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5," tweeted Arianespace, which operates the rocket.

"Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the roll-out of the #VA261 launch vehicle," it added.

"Analyses are underway to determine a new launch date."

The rocket and its payload of one French and one German communication satellite "are in the final assembly building in stable and safe conditions," Arianespace added.

The postponement comes as Europe struggles to find a way to independently blast heavy-load missions into space due to repeated delays for the next-generation Ariane 6—and Russia withdrawing its Soyuz rockets because of sanctions over its war in Ukraine.

Virgin Galactic to send Italian researchers to space, then regular commercial flights
Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity departs Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, Calif., for the final time as Virgin Galactic shifts its SpaceFlight operations to New Mexico, Feb. 13, 2020. Virgin Galactic announced Wednesday, June 14, 2023, that monthly commercial flights to the edge of space will begin for ticket-holders in August, following a research flight planned for the end of June.
Ariane 5 for final launch

Arianespace has postponed the final launch of the Ariane 5, potentially for several weeks, after discovering a potential problem with pyrotechnical systems on the rocket.

Eutelsat told the Paris stock exchange June 15 it is selling its European retail broadband activities to “an experienced private operator” to return focus to wholesale services.

SpaceShipTwo on Unity 25 flight

Virgin Galactic announced June 15 that it plans to conduct the first commercial flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle in late June on a mission for the Italian Air Force.

Governments should consider requiring satellites over a certain altitude to be maneuverable to improve space sustainability, according to an executive for Amazon’s proposed Project Kuiper constellation.

Curt Blake

The former chief executive of Spaceflight has joined a major law firm to lead its efforts in supporting the commercial space industry.

SES said June 15 that Luxembourg has approved a program to carve out capacity from its O3b mPower medium Earth orbit broadband network for the country and NATO allies.

Carbon monoxide from fires in Canada

Thursday, 15 June 2023 11:37
As climate change increases the risk of wildfires across the globe, the spate of fires that hit Canada in May and June suggest that 2023 is on course to be the country’s worst fire season to date. These fires not only pose a serious threat to human life, wildlife, the environment and property, they also affect air quality. Image: As climate change increases the risk of wildfires across the globe, the spate of fires that hit Canada in May and June suggest that 2023 is on course to be the country’s worst fire season to date. These fires not only
Proba-3 in acoustic chamber

ESA’s pair of Sun-watching Proba-3 satellites have been placed in take-off configuration, one on top of the other, for testing in simulated launch and space conditions at IABG in Germany, ahead of their planned lift-off next year.

Page 849 of 2031