First Vulcan launch likely to slip to January
WASHINGTON — The first launch of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur is likely to be delayed to early January to give the company time to complete a full dress rehearsal.
Helicity Space raises $5 million for fusion engine development
SAN FRANCISCO — Helicity Space, a California startup developing fusion engines for spaceflight, has raised $5 million in a seed funding round announced Dec. 11.
Australian startup develops dual-headed space camera
SAN FRANCISCO – Australian startup Infinity Avionics is developing a dual-headed camera system for space-based space surveillance.
GAO report warns Artemis 3 landing may be delayed to 2027
WASHINGTON — The first crewed landing of NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration effort is unlikely to happen before 2027, a report by the Government Accountability Office concluded.
NASA researchers get permission to apply for China’s moon samples
HELSINKI — NASA-funded researchers have been granted permission to apply for access to China’s Chang’e-5 lunar samples in an exception to a prohibition on bilateral activities.
NASA updating policy for rideshare missions
WASHINGTON — NASA is developing an updated rideshare policy for science missions that reflects both new launch opportunities as well as challenges faced in accommodating secondary payloads.
Canada soars into space with new moon and ISS astronaut missions
MONTREAL, CANADA — Freezing rain and foggy air couldn’t dampen the Canadian space spirit.
Over the past six years, governments proposed launching over one million satellites, but where will they all go?
In September 2021, Rwanda announced that it was planning to launch over 300,000 satellites. Three months later, a Canadian company, having previously launched two dozen CubeSats, said it would launch an additional 100,000. Then, a French company did likewise. And SpaceX, which has already launched around 5,000 satellites, now has plans for over 60,000 more.
This Antarctic glacier dramatically retreated. Then, its ice shelf totally collapsed (satellite image)
Another day, another retreating glacier. Today’s casualty is Antarctica’s Cadman Glacier, located on the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Scientists just found a planet-forming disk beyond our Milky Way for the 1st time — yes, they’re thrilled
Astronomers have discovered the first example of a swirling disk of material feeding a young star located in a galaxy outside the Milky Way. The disk is near-identical to those found around infant stars in the Milky Way and suggests that stars and planets form in other galaxies just as they do in our own.
China makes progress on Raptor-like engines for super heavy rocket
HELSINKI — China is progressing with a program to develop full-flow staged-combustion-cycle methane engines to power its reusable Long March 9 super heavy-lift launcher.
Firefly conducts first Miranda engine test
WASHINGTON — Firefly Aerospace has conducted the first hot-fire test of a new engine that will power the company’s future launch vehicles.
Arctic broadband satellites complete key tests ahead of mid-2024 launch
WASHINGTON — Two satellites designed to bring mobile broadband coverage to the Arctic region for civilian and military users have completed key tests ahead of their planned launch next summer.