Author: starpathwp-production
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Four flights in the books and major infrastructure upgrades headline 2024 for the Starship program
SpaceX and the Starship program had an amazing and eventful year, with four test flights, a booster catch, the construction of Starfactory, finishing Mega Bay 2, which has started to speed up construction rates, and the introduction of Starship Block 2, an upgraded version of the orbital class starship. Masseys At the start of the…
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Nelson: Decision on Mars Sample Return expected before new administration takes office
This illustration shows a concept for multiple robots that would team up to ferry to Earth samples of rocks and soil being collected from the Martian surface by NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover.Credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech One of the biggest decision points for the space community, how to redesign the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, may be weeks…
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Chang’e-6 samples reveal rebound in moon’s magnetic field
Rock samples collected from the moon’s far side by China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe have provided groundbreaking insights into the evolution of the lunar body’s magnetic field. Analysis of the samples, published on Thursday in the journal Nature, indicates the unexpected resurgence in strength of the moon’s magnetic field 2.8 billion years ago, following a sharp…
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NASA Chooses Four Commercial Companies to Support Near Space Network
NASA has selected multiple companies to expand the agency’s Near Space Network’s commercial direct-to-Earth capabilities services, which is a mission-critical communication capability that allows spacecraft to transmit data directly to ground stations on Earth. The work will be awarded under new Near Space Network services contracts that are firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts. Project timelines span from…
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Intuitive Machines Secures NASA Contracts for Direct-to-Earth Services Supporting Lunar Missions
Intuitive Machines, a space exploration, infrastructure, and services company, has secured additional contracts from NASA’s Near Space Network (NSN) for Direct-to-Earth (DTE) services. These contracts further position Intuitive Machines as a vital partner in supporting NASA’s missions to the Moon, and beyond. DTE communication and navigation services enable missions to exit Earth’s orbit, reach lunar…
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L3Harris Propulsion Powers NASA’s Parker Solar Probe for Close Encounter with the Sun
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe spacecraft propelled by L3Harris propulsion will fly within 3.8 million miles of the Sun’s surface on Dec. 24, 2024. With an assist from onboard thrusters supplied by L3Harris, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is on its way to its closest encounter with the Sun, the first of at least three such passes…
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Space Sustainability Consortium Secures UK Funding to Advance RPO Technologies
ClearSpace, Astroscale and D-Orbit have jointly secured GBP 691,000 from the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) for a Regulatory Sandbox project to test innovative Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) missions, help the regulators understand these emerging technologies and their implications, and ultimately inform and enable regulation for such novel space activities…
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Redwire’s Arthrospira C Launched to ISS to Advance Life Support and Food Production in Space
Arthrospira C, an instrument designed and built by Redwire for the European Space Agency (ESA), uses cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp. strain PCC8005, commonly known as Spirulina, for carbon dioxide and nitrate removal, along with oxygen and biomass production. On November 2024, Arthrospira C launched to the International Space Station (ISS) onboard SpaceX-31. The instrument is being…
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Northrop Grumman Successfully Tests Advanced Rocket Motor for U.S. Navy
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced a series of successful static fire tests of a new 21-inch second-stage solid rocket motor (SRM) in support of the U.S. Navy’s future extended-range capability needs. Performed at the advanced propulsion production facility in Elkton, Maryland, the tests underscore the company’s commitment to delivering innovative advanced propulsion solutions for our customers’…
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Infinite Orbits Partners with Dawn Aerospace for France’s First GEO Servicing Mission
Dawn Aerospace is pleased to announce they have been selected by Infinite Orbits to provide one of the propulsion systems for the Endurance mission, France and Europe’s first satellite servicing initiative in Geostationary Orbit (GEO). This mission will extend a satellite’s lifespan, advancing Europe’s commitment to sustainable and responsible space operations. “Collaboration between companies is…