SpaceX Launches Planet Lab's Pelican-1 and SuperDoves
Sunday, 12 November 2023 00:08
In a significant advancement for Earth observation technology, Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) achieved a major milestone with the successful launch and commissioning of Pelican-1, its first technology demonstration satellite for the upcoming high-resolution Pelican fleet. This historic event, conducted in collaboration with space industry leader SpaceX on their Transporter-9 mission, took place from Spire Global's Major Leap: 11 Satellites Launched on SpaceX's Transporter-9 Mission
Sunday, 12 November 2023 00:08
In a significant advancement for space-based data and analytics, Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR), a leader in this domain, has successfully launched eleven satellites as part of SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This launch includes a blend of ten satellites for Space Services customers and one for Spire's own data and analytics solutions, marking a milestone for t How to avoid getting disoriented in space
Sunday, 12 November 2023 00:08
When landing on the surface of the Moon, astronauts can become spatially disoriented, which is when they lose sense of their orientation - they might not be able to tell which way is up. This disorientation can lead to fatal accidents.
Even on Earth, between 1993 and 2013, spatial disorientation led to the loss of 65 aircraft, US$2.32 billion of damages and 101 deaths in the U.S.
Cou 
SpaceX Achieves On-Time Launch for Ambitious Transporter-9 Mission
Saturday, 11 November 2023 19:08
In a textbook launch, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket flawlessly lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking yet another successful step in the company's journey to revolutionize space travel. The launch, which occurred precisely within the planned 55-minute window at 10:49 a.m. PT, marks the ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission under the SpaceX hopes for second Starship flight test next week
Saturday, 11 November 2023 19:08
SpaceX is hoping to re-launch Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, next week, the company said, after an attempt in April ended in a spectacular explosion.
"Starship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval," SpaceX said on X Friday evening.
SpaceX foresees Starship as a next-generation, fully reusable spaceship that will eventually carry b SpaceX Dragon docks with International Space Station carrying new gear
Saturday, 11 November 2023 19:08
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on Saturday carrying equipment for the station's crew.
The Dragon docked with the ISS's Harmony module at 5:07 a.m., according to NASA.
The Dragon was launched Thursday from Launch Complex 39A at Florida's Kennedy Space Center atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The spacecraft carried 6,500 pounds of s First release of images demonstrates Euclid space telescope's potential
Saturday, 11 November 2023 16:40
Transportation Department official suggests industry help pay for FAA commercial space office
Friday, 10 November 2023 23:07
Avanti in LEO talks to become a multi-orbit connectivity provider
Friday, 10 November 2023 19:41
Qualcomm ends partnership for connecting Android phones to Iridium satellites
Friday, 10 November 2023 18:08
Experiments launching aboard SpaceX-29 will help humans go farther and stay longer in space
Friday, 10 November 2023 16:59
The SpaceX-29 commercial resupply spacecraft will deliver numerous physical sciences and space biology experiments, along with other cargo, to the International Space Station. The research aboard this resupply services mission will help researchers learn how humans, and the plants needed to sustain them, can thrive in deep space.
The biological and physical sciences investigations headed to the Space Station are:
Plant Water Management-5 and 6 (PWM-5 and 6)
NASA has grown plants on the Space Station even without the help of gravity. But microgravity does present challenges and affects Space Station plants' ability to receive adequate hydration and nutrition. The Plant Water Management-5 and 6 (PWM-5 and 6) investigation uses the physical properties of fluids, such as surface tension and wetting, as a mechanism to provide hydration and aeration for plants. Results could advance understanding of the physical aspects of fluid flow and inform designs of fluid delivery systems for reduced gravity environments.
Hera asteroid mission completes acoustic testing
Friday, 10 November 2023 16:47
ESA's Hera asteroid mission has completed acoustic testing, confirming the spacecraft can withstand the sound of its own lift-off into orbit. Testing took place within the Agency's Large European Acoustic Facility at the ESTEC Test Center in the Netherlands. This is Europe's largest and most powerful sound system, fitted with a quartet of noise horns that can generate more than 154 decibels of extreme noise.
Diego Escorial Olmos, Hera system engineer comments, "Launch will be the single most stressful day of Hera's life, so we have worked hard to simulate it during our mechanical test phase, first by vibrating the spacecraft on the ESTEC Test Center's shaker tables, and now by blasting it with a noise profile sourced from our launch provider, to be as true to life as possible."
The LEAF chamber stands 11 m wide by 9 m deep and 16.4 m high. One of its walls is embedded with a set of enormous sound horns. Nitrogen shot through the horns can produce a range of noise up to more than 154 decibels, like standing close to multiple jets taking off at once.
A close-up, on-the-ground view of Europe's next-generation satellites
Friday, 10 November 2023 16:33
On Nov. 10, journalists were given an up-close view of two very special spacecraft that will soon empower weather services in Europe with more and higher quality data for weather forecasting.
Metop Second Generation A1 and B1 (Metop-SGA1 and Metop-SGB1) are the first pair of a total of six satellites in the EUMETSAT Polar System—Second Generation (EPS-SG) system.
The first two satellites are undergoing testing and integration of their instruments at the Airbus Defense and Space cleanroom in Toulouse, France. It is anticipated they will be launched in 2025–2026 into their low-Earth, polar orbit, at about 835km altitude.
"The multi-billion euro EPS-SG system will be the main source of data for complex computer modeling used for advanced weather forecasting from 12 hours to 10 days ahead," EUMETSAT's EPS-SG Program Manager Fran Martinez Fadrique said.