Tag: Ground
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NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Gets Final Science Instrument for Lunar Surface Mapping
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer is nearing completion now that its second and final cutting-edge science instrument has been added to the small spacecraft. Built by the University of Oxford in England and contributed by the UK Space Agency, the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) joins the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3), which was integrated with…
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Engineers at NASA Complete Installation of High-Gain Antenna on Europa Clipper
NASA’s Europa Clipper is designed to seek out conditions suitable for life on the ice-covered moon of Jupiter. On Aug. 14, the spacecraft received a piece of hardware central to that quest: the massive dish-shaped high-gain antenna. Stretching 10 feet (3 meters) across the spacecraft’s body, the high-gain antenna is the largest and most prominent…
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Rocket Lab Signs Double Launch Deal with NASA for Climate Change Research Mission
Rocket Lab USA, a launch services and space systems company, announced it has signed a double-launch deal with NASA to deliver the Agency’s climate change research-focused mission, PREFIRE, to low Earth orbit in 2024. The two dedicated missions on Electron will deploy one small satellite each to a 525km circular orbit from Rocket Lab Launch…
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Momentus Awarded Innovation Research Contract from Space Development Agency
Momentus, a U.S. commercial space company that offers satellite buses, transportation, and other in-space infrastructure services, has signed a contract with the U.S. Defense Department’s Space Development Agency (SDA) for a Small Business Innovation Research Award, “Orbital Service Vehicle Enhancements to Meet Department of Defense (DoD) Mission Requirements.” Under this award, Momentus will tailor the…
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ICEYE Receives First Task Order Under NASA’s CSDA Program for SAR Satellite Imagery
ICEYE, one of the leaders in persistent monitoring of Earth with radar imaging satellites, received its first Task Order under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with NASA announced earlier this year. The Task Order enables NASA to acquire ICEYE’s synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data for evaluation by scientific and academic communities to determine suitability for advancing NASA’s…
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York Space System Doubles its Satellite Production Capacity with Fourth New Facility
York Space Systems, the Denver-based aerospace company dedicated to the rapid deployment of complete space mission solutions, announced construction on its fourth production facility is complete, which will double York’s prolific existing production capacity, increasing capacity to more than 1,000 spacecraft per year to meet growing commercial and government demand. This new 60,000 sq ft…
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NASA’s Team of Engineers Conduct Rigorous Testing for the Landing System of Mars Lander
NASA’s Perseverance rover continues to rack up tubes filled with rock core samples for the planned Mars Sample Return campaign. The joint effort by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) seeks to bring scientifically selected samples back from Mars to be studied on Earth with lab equipment far more complex than could be brought to…
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Telesat Selects MDA as the Prime Contractor for LEO Advanced Satellite Constellation
MDA, a provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, announced it has been selected as the prime contractor for Telesat’s revolutionary Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation Telesat Lightspeed, an innovative global network that will bring enhanced digital connectivity to Canadians and customers worldwide. Valued at approximately $2.1 billion,…
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NASA Awards $6.5 Million Contract to Spire Global for Earth Observation Data
Spire Global, one of the leading global providers of space-based data, analytics, and space services, announced it was awarded a $6.5 million, 12-month contract renewal to continue participation in NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program. The contract represents a $500,000 increase from the previous award of $6 million in June 2022. Spire will continue…
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ISRO Successfully Conducts Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests for Gaganyaan Mission
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)/ISRO, successfully conducted a series of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, during August 8-10, 2023. The tests were conducted in collaboration with Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE)/DRDO. The Gaganyaan mission entails the safe transportation of…