China to build satellite ground stations in Antarctica
HELSINKI — China is to construct new ground station facilities to its Zhongshan research base in Antarctica to support satellite data acquisition.
Op-ed | How Canada is Shaping the World’s Future in Space
On the global stage of mature space powers, Canada has earned its place, though it does not always receive the public acclaim it is due. For those in the space community, however, Canada is not only an important stakeholder but also a vital partner. As Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said in a NASA preflight interview in 2012, “Canada has almost linearly built our capability and our responsibility and therefore our international respect over time.”
It’s belt-cinching time for space startups
After years of sky-high valuations and investor competition for shares of promising space startups, high interest rates and the threat of recession have made investors cautious. In response to a lack of new funding sources, space startups are cutting back on hiring, reducing travel and giving up leased office space.
NASA to cooperate on Israeli astrophysics mission
WASHINGTON — The United States and Israel are finalizing an agreement that would see NASA contribute to an upcoming Israeli astrophysics mission.
Satellite constellations could interfere with meteorological spectrum
SAN FRANCISCO – Satellite megaconstellations could pose a threat to the spectrum that meteorologists are eager to protect from radio frequency interference.
UK Space Agency offers $62 million for innovative connectivity projects
TAMPA, Fla. — The U.K. announced 50 million British pounds ($62 million) in funding Jan. 23 for projects that could boost the country’s satellite communications industry.
Chinese startups conduct hot fire tests for mini version of SpaceX’s Starship
HELSINKI — A Chinese launch startup has performed hot fire tests as part of development of a planned reusable stainless-steel rocket apparently inspired by SpaceX’s Starship.
How to see the green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) visible in the night sky now as it approaches Earth
Don’t miss your chance to see this visitor from the outer reaches of our solar system as it prepares to make its closest approach to Earth.
‘Little hurricanes’ around young stars can help astronomers measure infant exoplanets
Young stars are surrounded by chaos: Clouds of gas, dust and ice swirl about in a so-called protoplanetary disk. And when gravity pulls this material together so that it binds, planets are born.
2 massive ‘active regions’ on the sun have rotated into Earth’s view
Observations from GONG, operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF), had also suggested that as these active regions turned to face Earth, our planet would witness an increase in explosive solar events including several M- class and C-class solar flares.
Europe’s Jupiter-bound JUICE spacecraft is ready for April launch
TAMPA, Fla. — The satellite behind Europe’s next flagship space mission is ready to be sent to French Guiana for an April launch to explore three of Jupiter’s largest icy moons, manufacturer Airbus announced Jan. 20.
Lockheed Martin eyes international customers for GPS augmentation systems
WASHINGTON — The availability of a new GPS navigation signal for civilian users is creating market opportunities in so-called satellite-based augmentation systems — known as SBAS — that countries around the world are developing or upgrading to support transportation and other industries, said Andre Trotter, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of navigation systems.
NASA suspends efforts to fully deploy Lucy solar array
WASHINGTON — NASA is suspending efforts, at least until late next year, to try to fully deploy a solar array on its Lucy spacecraft, citing diminishing returns as the spacecraft heads away from the sun.
Canadian government to establish commercial launch licensing regulations
WASHINGTON — The Canadian government announced plans Jan. 20 to set up a regulatory framework to allow commercial launches from the country as part of an effort to expand Canada’s space industry.