Author: starpathwp-production
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Optical Filters with Peak Performance Developed for ESA’s Athena Mission
A GSTP activity led by Ametek in Finland has built high-performance optical filters representative of those that will be used by one of ESA’s biggest upcoming missions. For the Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics (Athena) mission to be successful large, optical filters are needed but until recently high-performing filters like those needed were not made…
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SpaceX delays first Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability
A Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to support the Starlink 7-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission also includes the first six satellites that will be used for the company’s direct-to-cell service. Image: SpaceX Update 9:45 p.m. EST: The launch is now scheduled for December 28 at 9:09 p.m. PST (12:09 a.m. EST,…
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Eutelsat OneWeb Wins Hybrid LEO/GEO Deal In Libya
Eutelsat OneWeb is beginning to see the benefits of offering multi-orbit services. It has won a new contract to deliver connectivity services, on both Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), to Libya. Rawafed Libya for Telecommunications & Technology (RLTT) has decided to expand its partnership with the Eutelsat Group as it adds new exclusive…
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Daily Telescope: One of the most stunning Andromeda photos I’ve ever seen
Welcome to the Daily Telescope. There is a little too much darkness in this world and not enough light, a little too much pseudoscience and not enough science. We’ll let other publications offer you a daily horoscope. At Ars Technica, we’re going to take a different route, finding inspiration from very real images of a…
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Laser communication: the future of communicating in space
Laser communications, an ever so important factor for the future of space exploration, has seen some important steps forward recently. Two test missions are on the way to provide important information, and a third one is planned for next year. The Integrated LCRD LEO User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T), which flew to the International…
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Rocket Lab Returns to Flight With Successful iQPS Mission
Rocket Lab returned the Electron vehicle to flight on Friday with a successful mission for Japanese company Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc., known as iQPS. This was Rocket Lab’s first mission after resolving an issue that caused the September launch failure. This was Rocket Lab’s 10th mission in 2023. While the gap in launches due…
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Voyager 1 is ‘stuck’ on repeat, NASA engineers are working on a fix
Voyager 1 sending nothing but garbage Voyager 1 has experienced a computer glitch on one of the spacecraft’s three onboard computers. Called the flight data system (FDS), it can no longer communicate properly with another subsystem called the telemetry modulation unit (TMU). This results in the inability for Voyager 1 to send any science or…
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Rocket Report: Signs of life from Blue Origin; SpaceX preps next Starship
Welcome to Edition 6.23 of the Rocket Report! In last week’s report, my colleague Eric Berger mentioned what a year 2023 has been for rocket debuts. Several new launch vehicles flew for the first time this year, including SpaceX’s Starship and Japan’s H3. In this week’s report, we have some news on some major rocket…
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L3Harris Space President Kelle Wendling Talks Scaling Up for the New, Responsive Paradigm
L3Harris has a long history of space heritage, but in the past few years, the company has shifted from a payload provider to prime contractor, winning key contracts with the Space Development Agency. Space Systems sector President Kelle Wendling talks with Via Satellite about how L3Harris is investing in its space capabilities to keep pace…
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Orbex Gets a Funding Boost from ESA
Orbex has secured another 3.3 million pounds ($4.14 million) in funding, the company announced Dec. 13. The funding is from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ‘Boost!’ initiative. The initiative, which is part of ESA’s Commercial Space Transportation Services and Support program, is designed to further the development…