#space-technology
#space-technology

SpaceX conducts a successful static fire of Starship

SpaceX conducted the first static fire of Starship 30 for the fifth mission. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Jeff Bezos's rocket company could race SpaceX to the moon.

SpaceX and Blue Origin are in a space race to the moon, each with its own timeline and challenges.

Blue Origin's smaller cargo lander may have an advantage over SpaceX's larger Starship in terms of speed and technology testing. [ more ]

Ars Technica

The next Starship mission has a tentative launch date: March 14

SpaceX plans to conduct the third Starship flight test on March 14 at 7:30 am ET.

Despite not having the launch license yet, SpaceX is working towards a mid-March launch date. [ more ]

TechCrunch

TechCrunch Space: Launch pad decongestion | TechCrunch

Hubble Networks connected a Bluetooth chip to a satellite, opening up possibilities for billions of Bluetooth-enabled devices. [ more ]

Theregister

China to launch moon sample return mission, maybe next week

China's upcoming mission aims to land on the Moon, collect samples, and return to Earth, with potential future plans for a Mars sample return mission. [ more ]

www.dw.com

Moon landing: US private spacecraft makes touchdown DW 02/23/2024

Private company lands on the moon for the first time in history

Odysseus mission focuses on data collection for NASA and commercial customers [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

NASA's Moon Program Faces Delays. Its Ambition Remains Unchanged

NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish regular human voyages to the moon, is facing delays in its major launches.

Artemis II, the crewed lunar flyby mission, has been pushed back to September 2025, while Artemis III, the first crewed lunar landing, has been delayed to September 2026. [ more ]

morespace-exploration

nasa

Futurism

1 day ago

Leak Discovered in Problem-Plagued Boeing Spacecraft Before Astronaut Launch

Boeing's Starliner faced further delays and technical issues, showing ongoing struggles in its development for NASA. [ more ]

TechCrunch

NASA orders studies from private space companies on Mars mission support roles | TechCrunch

NASA is involving private companies in Mars exploration through research tasks and concept studies, signaling a shift towards commercial support for future missions. [ more ]

Theregister

Data science

NASA's Psyche sends back engineering data via laser beam

NASA's optical communications demonstration achieved 25 Mbps from 140 million miles away, showcasing potential for higher-bandwidth communications in future space projects. [ more ]

www.npr.org

NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft is talking nonsense. Its friends on Earth are worried

Voyager 1 continues displaying incredible longevity despite exceeding its original mission duration.

Recent communication issues with Voyager 1 are causing concern among NASA scientists. [ more ]

Ars Technica

NASA cancels a multibillion-dollar satellite servicing demo mission

NASA canceled the OSAM-1 mission due to cost and schedule challenges.

The OSAM-1 mission was initially intended for a refueling demonstration but expanded to include in-orbit assembly with the introduction of the SPIDER robotic arm. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Is nuclear power the key to space exploration?

Nuclear power is experiencing a resurgence both on Earth and in space.

Nuclear energy is crucial for powering long-haul space missions and establishing bases on other celestial bodies. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Astronauts could run round Wall of Death' to keep fit on moon, say scientists

To combat muscle and bone loss in low gravity on the moon, researchers propose astronauts run on a lunar 'Wall of Death' multiple times a day. [ more ]

Theregister

3 weeks ago

Japan's Moon lander makes it through another lunar night

Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) has exceeded all expectations by surviving three lunar nights despite malfunctioning electronics and lack of heaters. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

How Japan's Moon Sniper' Mission Hit Its Mark

Japan's SLIM spacecraft achieved a precise landing on the moon using autonomous navigation in challenging lunar terrain.

The success of SLIM paves the way for future small missions to access specific scientific or technological points of interest on the moon. [ more ]

morelunar-exploration

Nature

1 week ago

China's Chang'e-6 launches successfully - what happens next?

China's Chang'e-6 mission to examine rocks from the Moon's far side is the most complex and challenging lunar mission they have undertaken. [ more ]

Nature

Private Moon lander is dying - it scored some wins for science

Private commercial lunar exploration is making significant strides, with the success of the Odysseus lander being a milestone.

Odysseus faced challenges but managed to accomplish landing, deploying 12 payloads, and collecting valuable scientific data, marking progress in NASA's collaboration with commercial entities. [ more ]

Ars Technica

It turns out that Odysseus landed on the Moon without any altimetry data

Intuitive Machines landed the first commercial vehicle on the Moon, despite some challenges.

The founder, Steve Altemus, is proud of the mission's success and the team's hard work. [ more ]

Futurism

Epic Shots Shows Derelict Satellite Hurtling To Its Doom

ERS-2 satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere after almost three decades in orbit, captured in photos by nearby satellites.

ERS-2 was a climate pioneer, contributing valuable data on Earth's climate, ozone layer, global warming, and melting ice sheets. [ more ]

Futurism

Scientists Working on Plan to Cool Earth by Blocking Sun

Scientists are exploring the idea of sending umbrellas into space to block the Sun's rays and mitigate the effects of global warming.

The proposed method involves launching a swarm of smaller shades into space to work together, rather than launching one large structure. [ more ]

New York Post

NASA's historic Mars helicopter Ingenuity grounded for good after 72 flights

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has been grounded for good after completing 72 flights over three years.

Ingenuity exceeded expectations and flew 14 times farther than planned, covering a distance of 10.5 miles. [ more ]

TechCrunch

1 week ago

Starfish Space and D-Orbit complete orbital rendezvous, bringing Otter Pup mission to a close | TechCrunch

Starfish Space's first mission faced challenges but successfully completed some objectives with help from D-Orbit. [ more ]

Theregister

European Space Agency ready to assemble first Ariane 6

The European Space Agency is preparing to launch the first Ariane 6 rocket, focusing on efficiency and increased launch frequency compared to the previous Ariane 5. [ more ]

Ars Technica

Before snagging a chunk of space junk, Astroscale must first catch up to one

Astroscale launched a small satellite to approach defunct space debris in a complex maneuver.

The satellite will demonstrate technology for removing space debris and potentially apply to satellite servicing or refueling. [ more ]

Futurism

5 months ago

Japan Tests Rocket Engine Powered by Cow Dung

Japanese engineers have successfully test-fired a space rocket engine that runs on cow poop.

Using cow dung-derived fuel in rockets could help address the environmental toll of space rockets and off-planet expeditions. [ more ]

Washington Post

Robot set to perform simulated surgeries in space

Uncrewed cargo to ISS now includes mini surgical robot

MIRA robot designed for remote surgeries in challenging areas [ more ]

Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News

3 weeks ago

Design

Odd drinking cup was designed to work in zero-gravity space without a straw - Yanko Design

Drinking in zero gravity poses challenges but can be improved with specially designed cups like the space cup. [ more ]

Futurism

1 month ago

Data science

The James Webb's Beautiful Images Actually Arrive in Black and White

JWST captures images in black and white, which are later colored on Earth based on data.

JWST uses infrared waves to see deeper into space and capture information beyond human vision. [ more ]

www.france24.com

France news

Iran launches three satellites into orbit amid rising tensions with West

Iran launches three satellites into orbit.

Satellites are for testing advanced satellite subsystems, space-based positioning technology, and narrowband communication. [ more ]

Nextgov.com