Space Force integration critical to CJADC2 success
Monday, 08 March 2021 09:54
Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa hosted a joint, multi-national Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control demonstration in February.
The USAFE-AFAFRICA-led demonstration, which took place in the Baltic Sea region, incorporated the assistance of the 16th Space Control Squadron located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
The collaboration confirmed the ess NASA's ICESat-2 satellite reveals shape, depth of Antarctic ice shelf fractures
Monday, 08 March 2021 09:54
When a block of ice the size of Houston, Texas, broke off from East Antarctica's Amery Ice Shelf in 2019, scientists had anticipated the calving event, but not exactly where it would happen. Now, satellite data can help scientists measure the depth and shape of ice shelf fractures to better predict when and where calving events will occur, according to researchers.
Ice shelves make up near Nuclear fusion: building a star on Earth is hard, which is why we need better materials
Monday, 08 March 2021 09:54
Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the Sun and all other stars. During fusion, the nuclei of two atoms are brought close enough together that they fuse together, releasing huge amounts of energy.
Replicating this process on Earth has the potential to deliver almost limitless electricity with virtually zero carbon emissions and greater safety, and without the same level of nuclear wa China rolls out out new Long March 7A for second launch attempt
Monday, 08 March 2021 09:14
HELSINKI — China has quietly rolled a new-generation Long March 7A rocket at Wenchang ahead of a launch in the coming days.
Mars Express unlocks the secrets of curious cloud
Monday, 08 March 2021 09:00
When spring arrives in southern Mars, a cloud of water ice emerges near the 20-kilometre-tall Arsia Mons volcano, rapidly stretching out for many hundreds of kilometres before fading away in mere hours. A detailed long-term study now reveals the secrets of this elongated cloud, using exciting new observations from the ‘Mars Webcam’ on ESA’s Mars Express.
Contract signed to build Arctic weather satellite
Monday, 08 March 2021 08:35
With the need for satellite data to be received more frequently for faster weather forecasting updates in the Arctic, ESA has signed a contract with OHB Sweden to a build prototype satellite for the Arctic Weather Satellite mission.
Webb mission page card link
Monday, 08 March 2021 07:56
Webb: seeing farther
Webb: seeing farther
Georgia spaceport proponents upbeat despite latest delay
Monday, 08 March 2021 00:08
WASHINGTON — Proponents of a proposed Georgia launch site remain optimistic they will win approval from the Federal Aviation Administration despite another delay in the environmental review process.
The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation informed stakeholders in the ongoing assessment of Spaceport Camden in Camden County, Georgia, March 5 that a final version of an environmental impact statement (EIS) will not be completed this month as previously planned.
SpaceX takes aim at satellite mobility operators with Starlink expansion
Sunday, 07 March 2021 21:13
TAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX is seeking regulatory permission to connect moving vehicles to its rapidly expanding Starlink constellation, branching the broadband network out of fixed homes and offices.
The company is asking the FCC for authorization similar to the blanket license it already has for up to a million end-user customer Earth stations.
Telespazio reshapes for emerging space integration opportunities
Sunday, 07 March 2021 19:24
TAMPA, Fla. — European space mission integrator Telespazio is regrouping to go after emerging international initiatives, which it believes will help nearly double revenues in the next five years.
The joint venture between aerospace giants Thales Group of France and Italy’s Leonardo recently made its first acquisition under this strategy, buying the space activities of Italy-based Vitrociset to strengthen its support services.
Space Force planning for a future of smaller, cheaper satellites
Sunday, 07 March 2021 19:16
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force procurement arm, the Space and Missile Systems Center, for more than a year has been helping the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency accelerate the procurement of small satellites.
The close collaboration between SMC and SDA may come as a surprise to those who have followed the politics of the Defense Department’s space organizations.
Op-ed | Do not cancel space station’s new culture of commercial cooperation
Sunday, 07 March 2021 14:49
I am not into conspiracies. Kennedy was shot by a lone gunman. The World Trade Center was taken down by terrorists. And yes, we really did go to the moon.
ESA and Mattel help to close the ‘Dream Gap’
Sunday, 07 March 2021 13:57
ESA and international toy manufacturer Mattel are taking further steps to raise awareness of the importance of female role models during times of pandemic and beyond.
How would rain be different on an alien world?
Sunday, 07 March 2021 13:40
On Titan, Saturn's largest moon, it rains on a regular basis. As with Earth, these rains are the result of liquid evaporating on the surface, condensing in the skies, and falling back to the surface as precipitation. On Earth, this is known as the hydrological (or water) cycle, which is an indispensable part of our climate. In Titan's case, the same steps are all there, but it is methane that is being exchanged and not water.
In recent years, scientists have found evidence of similar patterns involving exoplanets, with everything from molten metal to lava rain! This raises the question of just how exotic the rains may be on alien worlds.
An astronaut’s guide to out-of-Earth manufacturing
Sunday, 07 March 2021 12:50
Improvising new stuff from the stuff you have is part of an astronaut’s job description – think Apollo 13’s crew refitting CO2 filters to save their own lives, or stranded Mark Watney in The Martian, feeding himself on the Red Planet. Now plans are underway to manufacture items in orbit, and ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst argues this could make a big difference to living and working in space.