September 3, 2023

Profound Consequences for the Climate – Scientists Discover Urea in the Atmosphere (Source: SciTech Daily)
New research indicates that oceanic regions abundant in marine life have a more significant influence on our ecosystems and climate than was earlier believed. Scientists from the University of Manchester have found that the ocean serves as the primary source of urea, a nitrogen-rich compound essential for the growth and development of living organisms.

The observations reveal an important but unaccounted-for source of reduced nitrogen and offer the first-ever observations of gaseous urea in the air. The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also reveals that urea can be transported over long distances through the atmosphere to benefit other environments that may be nutrient-deficient. (9/2)

Astronauts Depart ISS on Dragon, Headed for Jacksonville-Area Splashdown (Source: NASA)
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, along with UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev inside undocked from the forward-facing port of the ISS’s Harmony module at 7:05 a.m. EDT to complete a  six-month science mission. NASA TV coverage will resume at 11 p.m. Sunday until Endeavour splashes down at approximately 12:17 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 4, near Jacksonville off the coast of Florida and Crew-6 members are recovered. (9/3)

Space Act Agreement Timeline Reveals SpaceX Expects to Recover Starship in Second Half of 2024 (Source: SpaceRef)
A Space Act Agreement (SAA) between SpaceX and NASA to collaborate on commercial space activities said Elon Musk’s company expects to launch the first Starship with a payload on board in the first quarter of 2024 and to recover the vehicle for reuse by quarter three. (9/1)

India's Moon Rover Completes its Walk. Scientists Analyzing Data Looking for Signs of Frozen Water (Source: ABC News)
India’s moon rover has completed its walk on the lunar surface and been put into sleep mode less than two weeks after its historic landing near the lunar south pole, India’s space mission said. “The rover completes its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into sleep mode," with daylight on that part of the moon coming to an end, the Indian Space Research Organization said in a statement late Saturday.

The rover's payloads are turned off and the data it collected has been transmitted to the Earth via the lander, the statement said. The Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover were expected to operate only for one lunar day, which is equal to 14 days on Earth. (9/3)

First Sex Between Humans in Space is ‘On the Horizon’ But ‘We’re Not Ready for Celestial Babies’ (Source: US Sun)
THE first sexual encounters between humans in space could come within the next decade, an expert has said. With more companies focusing on space tourism, including SpaceX, experts are looking into how the lack of gravity and other factors influence the human body. However, there is still much to learn about how our bodies function in space - and how sex could differ as a result. Sex between humans is on the horizon - likely within the next decade, David Cullen, a professor of Bioanalytical Technology at Cranfield University, said. (9/1)

SpaceX Successfully Launches Rocket Carrying Missile-Detecting Satellites from Vandenberg (Source: EdHat)
The Space Development Agency announced the second successful launch of space vehicles from the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The launch included Transport and Tracking Layer satellites that will demonstrate low-latency tactical data links to deliver space-based capabilities to the warfighter, including tracking of advanced missile threats, through a resilient LEO constellation. The Tranche 0 satellites launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 reusable rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, with 10 Transport satellites from Lockheed Martin Space, one Transport satellite from York Space Systems, and two Tracking satellites from SpaceX. (9/2)

SpaceX Plans Starlink Launch From Florida Tonight (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX teams are on track to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida with another batch of 21 of the company's Starlink internet satellites. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-12 mission is tentatively slated for 7:25 p.m. EDT. If teams need them, there are five additional launch opportunities throughout the nearly four-hour launch window that extends until 11:05 p.m. EDT. Weather conditions should be good for liftoff. (9/3)

SpaceX Accused of ‘Hijacking’ £5.5bn British Satellite Deal (Source: The Telegraph)
SpaceX has been accused of trying to “hijack” the £5.5bn takeover of a British satellite company after demanding US authorities re-run an investigation into the deal. SpaceX has written to a US regulator demanding it “expeditiously review and rescind” a decision to green light a merger between American company Viasat and Britain’s Inmarsat.

SpaceX, which has launched a vast satellite network called Starlink, has claimed Viasat is causing interference with its satellites and breaching its licensing conditions in a long-running row between the two companies. Viasat has hit back by accusing Mr Musk of creating the risk of orbital collisions by launching thousands of small satellites. SpaceX previously tried to block the multibillion pound Inmarsat takeover, but it was cleared by regulators. (9/2)

Chinese Astronauts Inspire Students to Pursue Dreams (Source: Xinhua)
China's Shenzhou-16 astronauts in the Tiangong space station encouraged the primary and secondary school students across the country on Friday, the first day of the new semester, to chase their dreams. Via a video link, Zhu Yangzhu, the country's first flight engineer in space, called on students to stay self-motivated, adding that his dream of flying in the sky had never faded. (9/2)

Lockheed Martin, NASA Lining Up Next Orion Spacecraft for Artemis III and IV (Source: NSF)
Orion prime contractor Lockheed Martin has the spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis III and IV lunar landing missions in production alongside the Artemis II vehicle that is going into final assembly at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Simultaneous assembly and test of three Orions is becoming the norm, as the Orion program works towards its goal of delivering one spacecraft every year for eventual, annual Artemis missions.

Following the Artemis II lunar flyby test flight, the Artemis III Orion will be the first to demonstrate full rendezvous and docking operations when it meets up with SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander in cislunar space during the mission. NASA still aspires to fly Artemis III as soon as December 2025, and the space agency continues to stress delivery dates for not just Artemis III, but also for the Artemis IV Orion to follow as close behind as possible. (9/2)

India Launches Aditya L1 Solar Observatory (Source: Sky & Telescope)
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has begun its first dedicated mission to study the Sun, Aditya L1. The launch of a 4-stage PSLV-XL rocket with Aditya L1 occurred on September 2. The mission was placed in an initial low-Earth orbit and the deployment was nominal, with spacecraft separation from the upper stage and solar panel deployment occurring around 90 minutes after liftoff. Next, the spacecraft will perform the first of several engine burns to slowly raise its orbit, starting on September 3. (9/2)

India Tests Parachutes for Gaganyaan Crew Capsule Using a Rocket Sled (Source: Space.com)
India’s Gaganyaan mission envisions sending three astronauts to low Earth orbit, requiring the development of a spacecraft that can get crew into space and safely back to the ground. As a crucial step toward this goal, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) conducted drogue parachute deployment tests at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility, at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in the city of Chandigarh between Aug. 8 and Aug. 10, according to ISRO. (9/2)