ESA’s Test Centre expands

At approximately 3000 sq. m in area, ESA’s ESTEC Test Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, is already the largest satellite testing establishment in Europe. Now it has grown even bigger, with the formal opening of a new 350 sq. m environmentally-controlled cleanroom beside it. Formally known as the ‘FV’ cleanroom, it was declared open with Read More

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti becomes first European female ISS commander

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will soon fulfil the role of commander of the International Space Station, taking over from fellow Expedition 67 crew member Oleg Artemyev. Samantha Cristoforetti Since beginning her Minerva mission in April 2022, Samantha has served as lead of the United States Orbital Segment (USOS), overseeing activities in the US, European, Japanese Read More

Galileo Second Generation technology tested in ESA labs

Europe’s first generation Galileo constellation is already the world’s most precise satellite navigation system – delivering metre-scale positioning to more than 3.5 billion users worldwide – but Galileo Second Generation will enable still better performance and an expanded range of services. Essential elements of the G2 system are currently being evaluated in ESA laboratories, including Read More

SpaceX launches and lands their first 14th flight first stage booster Saturday 9-10-22 with Starlink 4-2!

Due to weather SpaceX delayed their Starlink 4-2 & AST SpaceMobile's Blue Walker 3 rideshare test satellite from a 9:10 PM liftoff to 9:20 PM last night from historic LC-39A launch pad Cape Kennedy Florida 9-10-22! Typical summer time evening Florida weather had marine warned thunderstorms along the entire I-95 east coast corridor on the Read More

Repair Work Underway, Preparations Continue for Next Launch Opportunity 

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is seen at Launch Pad 39B Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as teams work to replace the seal on an interface, called the quick disconnect, between the liquid hydrogen fuel feed line on the mobile launcher and the rocket.  Photo Credit: (NASA/Chad Siwik) Read More

NASA to stand down on Artemis I launch attempts

in Early September, Reviewing Options After standing down on today’s Artemis I launch attempt when engineers could not overcome a hydrogen leak in a quick disconnect, an interface between the liquid hydrogen fuel feed line and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, mission managers met and decided they will forego additional launch attempts in early Read More

NASA Targets Sept. 3 for Next Artemis I Moon Mission Launch Attempt

Get excited! We’ve set a new date for the launch of our Artemis I mission to the Moon. We are now targeting Saturday, Sept. 3, at 2:17 p.m. EDT (18:17 UTC)—the beginning of a two-hour window—for the launch of our Space Launch System rocket and uncrewed Orion spacecraft. The initial launch attempt was scrubbed Monday Read More

SpaceX launches Starlink 4-23 at 11:41 PM EDT After Having To Move To SLC-40 Due To Artemis 1 at 39B In Countdown Mode!

SpaceX had to move their rocket launch originally planned from LC-39A to SLC-40 due to NASA Artemis 1 being to close and the 48 hour countdown had all ready started for the heavy lift moon rocket. Due to poor weather SpaceX delayed their Starlink 4-23 launch by over an hour and nineteen minutes from 10:22 Read More

NASA Artemis 1 faces waterspout, funnel clouds and lightning strikes …

…while sitting on the launch pad two days before liftoff! Something you definitely do not want to see 8-27-22 at mid day just two days away from NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket is a lightning strike direct hit on the southeastern most lightning tower which spacenews.lu has seven camera positions both inside and outside of Read More