SPACENEWS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTWHDMTSrGs We’re taking a step toward the next era of space communications with the launch of the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration, or LCRD, on Sunday, Dec. 5.    LCRD is set to launch as part of the United States Space Force Space Systems Command’s Space Test Program 3 (STP-3) mission. STP-3 will launch on a Read More

A part of the White Nile state in Sudan is featured in this false-colour image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. Click on the image below to explore it in its full 10 m resolution. White Nile is one of the 18 states of Sudan. Covering an area of around 40 000 sq km, the Read More

A Perfect on time liftoff at 6:12 PM EDT 12-2-21 for SpaceX Starlink 4-3 with 48 Starlink satellites and two ride share BlackSky optical Earth observation satellites have all been successfully deployed. First stage booster B-1060.9 successfully landed on autonomous drone ship ASOG (A Shortfall Of Gravitas) down range completing it's ninth trip to outer Read More

Mission will be a direct injection to Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) and longest mission to date A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to launch the Space Test Program (STP)-3 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. The launch is on track for Dec. 5, 2021 from Space Read More

In brief This November, ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft carried out a series of experimental communication tests with the Chinese (CNSA) Zhurong Mars rover. Mars Express successfully caught data sent up ‘in the blind’ by the rover and relayed them to Earth where they were forwarded to the Zhurong team in China. In-depth 13:07 CET, 7 Read More

Recently completed tests of two propellant tanks set a first technological milestone in the ESA reusability roadmap towards the demonstration of a reusable first stage vehicle called Themis. Through the Themis programme, ESA aims to assess the economic value of reusability for Europe while investing in new technologies for potential use in ESA’s future fleet Read More

Everything is progressing toward the ULA Atlas V launch carrying the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force. The mission is planned to lift off on Sun., Dec. 5 at 4:04 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Today’s forecast shows an 80 percent chance Read More

It can be hard to appreciate that a human-made, football-pitch-sized spacecraft is orbiting 400 km above our heads, but there it is. The jewel of human cooperation and ingenuity that is the International Space Station shines brightly in this image captured by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour. GMT312_ISS_Flyaround_Part2_1087 Crew-2 got Read More

In brief Are you a highly motivated university student in engineering, science or business administration with a keen interest in technology and innovation? The ESA Education Office is looking for university students to participate in the Online edition of the ESA Academy’s Technology Transfer, Application & Innovation Workshop. In-depth Developed in close collaboration with the Read More

Europe’s next pair of Galileo satellites have been given a green light for launch. Last Friday’s Launch Readiness Review confirmed that the satellites, the supporting ground installations, and the early operations facilities and teams are ready for lift-off on the early hours of Thursday morning, European time. Galileo upper composite transported to launch site Galileo Read More