November 10, 2024

SpaceX Aims for Sunday-Monday-Tuesday Rocket Launch Tripleheader From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
Three SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch windows are scheduled to open back-to-back-to-back on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from Florida's Space Coast, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory indicates. SpaceX has yet to officially announce this trio of missions — which would become the unparalleled 77th, 78th and 79th orbital rocket launches during a single calendar year from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center. (11/8)

A 30-Megawatt Space Solar Power Plant Is Scheduled For 2030 (Source: Clean Technica)
It wasn’t supposed to happen this fast, but here we are. The field of space solar power has leaped from the pages of science fiction to march right through the status of technological feasibility and enter the realm of economic attractiveness, with the aim of beaming many gigawatts’ worth of zero emission electricity to Earth on a 24/7 basis, regardless of the weather.

The aptly named firm Space Solar is among the stakeholders racing to stake out a spot for their orbiting solar power plants. “Space Solar has developed a cutting-edge solar power system that will orbit Earth, harnessing solar energy and transmitting it wirelessly via safe high frequency radio waves to ground-based stations,” the company explains. (11/9)

European Space Agency and Arianespace at a Crossroads (Source: NSF)
The European Space Agency (ESA) faces a crossroads as it works to prepare flights of the Vega-C and Ariane 6 as early as this December. While technicians in Europe and French Guiana are preparing these rockets and their payloads for flight, ESA and Arianespace are grappling with major changes in the space launch industry over the last decade.

The multinational agency was created in 1975 by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other European countries who realized that they could not explore space by themselves on the scale of the United States and the Soviet Union. Over the decades, ESA has grown into an agency counting 22 nations as members and others as associate or cooperating states, and has achieved many notable successes and firsts. (11/9)

Groundbreaking Moon Dust Collection Tech Brings Us Closer to Lunar Resource Mining (Source: SciTech Daily)
A new simulation technology developed by the University of Bristol enables effective remote control of lunar robots for moon dust collection, supporting astronaut training and potentially reducing the cost and complexity of lunar missions. Teleoperated robots for collecting moon dust are one step closer to reality, thanks to new research from scientists at the University of Bristol.

The scientists successfully completed a sample collection task by controlling a virtual simulation, which then sent commands to a physical robot to replicate the simulation’s actions. Remarkably, they accomplished this while only monitoring the simulation, without needing physical camera streams. This system, detailed in a new paper presented at the IROS 2024 (IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems), could be especially beneficial for delayed teleoperation on the Moon. (11/9)

Israel soars with senior position in the International Astronautical Federation (Source: YNet News)
Dr. Shimrit Maman, a senior researcher at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, has recently been appointed to a senior position at the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). During the federation’s annual international conference held this month in Milan, Italy, Dr. Maman was selected as Vice Chair of the Earth Observation Committee. (11/8)

UAH Awarded $150,000 NASA FINESST Grant to Research 3D-Printed Lunar Concrete (Source: UAH)
Ledia Shehu, a doctoral student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has been selected to receive a NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant for her proposal, “Physics-Based Multiscale Constitutive Model for ISRU-Based 3D-Printed Lunar Concrete.” The project seeks to develop a multiscale model for 3D-printed concrete using lunar materials by simulating lunar conditions. The project is set to begin on Dec. 1, 2024, and will run for three years. (11/6)

UP Aerospace and Los Alamos National Laboratory Complete Suborbital Research Mission at Spaceport America (Source: Spaceport America)
For the second time this year, longtime Spaceport America tenant UP Aerospace launched a successful suborbital research mission from the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The launch of UP Aerospace’s SpaceLoft-20 rocket Friday (Nov. 8) morning signified the success of a payload and research mission the Colorado-based aerospace company completed for Los Alamos National Laboratory. (11/8)

SpaceX Launches 20 Starlink Satellites From California (Source: UPI)
SpaceX launched 20 Starlink satellites into orbit late Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The first-stage booster landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship positioned in the Pacific Ocean after making its 11th flight. (11/9)

Israel to Mars: Investments, Innovators, Alliances (Source: Times of Israel)
Israel’s involvement in Mars exploration and colonization is influenced by strategic alliances, technological capabilities, and ongoing involvement in space initiatives, particularly through NASA’s Artemis program. In January 2022, Israel joined the program to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there.

Israel’s aerospace industry, known for advanced satellite technology and unmanned aerial vehicles, can be leveraged in Mars exploration, particularly in developing autonomous systems and robotics. Israel’s future role in Mars colonization could involve contributing to scientific research and technology development, building partnerships with other nations, and aligning with larger blocs or coalitions. (11/10)

$200 Million Texas Space Center Will Support Moon, Mars Exploration (Source: Newsweek)
Amajor Texas university is set to receive a "one-of-a-kind" research facility to assist in missions to the moon and Mars. On Thursday, Texas A&M University's board of regents approved $200 million for the university system to construct the University Space Institute. This building will be constructed on 32 acres at the entrance to the Johnson Space Center in Houston and will include landscapes that mimic the surfaces of the moon and Mars. Each landscape is set to be the size of Texas' Kyle Field college football stadium, which is the fourth-largest in the U.S. (11/9)

I’m With Olivia Rodrigo: a Man Who Dreams of Space Travel is a Major Red Flag (Source:  Independent)
There is finally something concrete that those wanting to explore the cosmos can cling on to: Olivia Rodrigo will never date you. The ‘Vampire’ singer recently revealed she doesn’t date men who want to fly to outer space. With stargazing billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos setting a low bar for romance, Olivia Petter explains why this will now be first thing she asks her next date. (11/9)

New Microsatellite to Deliver Maritime Surveillance Services to Norway (Source: Konsberg)
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the realization of one satellite for the precursors mission of the Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) project that will deliver space-based maritime surveillance services for the Norwegian Government. (11/7)

Fire Department Makes Equipment Donation to Spaceport America (Source: KTSM)
The Sunland Park Fire Department made a donation of equipment that is designed to help provide increased fire prevention in Southern New Mexico. Sunland Park Fire said it donated eight self-contained breathing apparatus on Friday Nov. 8 to the Spaceport America Fire Department. Sunland Park Fire said it received a state grant of $300,000 for the new SCBA’s. The state fire marshal approved the donation of equipment since they are also an firefighting agency in New Mexico. (11/9)

Portuguese Island to be Landing Site of Inaugural Space Rider Flight (Source: ESA)
The Portuguese Space Agency announced 8 November that the island of Santa Maria has been chosen as the landing site for the inaugural flight of Space Rider. Space Rider is an eight-meter reusable orbital vehicle designed to serve as a robotic laboratory in orbit, enabling scientific research and technology demonstrations. The vehicle is capable of remaining in orbit for two months at a time before returning its cargo back to Earth. The inaugural flight of Space Rider is expected to be launched in 2027 aboard a Vega C rocket equipped with its new P160 first stage. (11/9)

NASA Engages Commercial Food Industry in Advancing Space Nutrition (Source: Space Daily)
NASA recently hosted over 50 companies from the commercial food and space sectors to explore innovations in space food systems that support human spaceflight. The gathering at Johnson Space Center in Houston focused on the unique challenges of space nutrition, from designing menus to ensuring food safety, all vital for sustainable human presence in space. This event brought together leaders from private industry, NASA astronauts, and NASA's space food specialists to discuss solutions for feeding both governmental and private astronauts on future commercial space platforms. (11/8)

Get Involved with NASA Research Opportunities (Source: Space Daily)
NASA is opening doors for individuals interested in contributing to its scientific research and space missions. From students and educators to citizen scientists, numerous opportunities are available to those eager to participate in NASA's work and make a difference in fields like climate science, human health research, and space exploration.

For science enthusiasts, NASA's citizen science initiatives allow global participation. Programs like GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) enable participants to gather and analyze environmental data, directly contributing to research efforts from any location. For innovative thinkers, NASA welcomes proposals on topics like human health research on the planned Gateway lunar station. Additionally, the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program invites the public to solve critical issues in space exploration. (11/8)

Off-the-Shelf Thermoelectric Generators Could Enable CO2 Conversion on Mars (Source: Space Daily)
Readily accessible thermoelectric generators (TEGs), operating with modest temperature differences, can drive CO2 conversion, according to new proof-of-concept research by chemists at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This development suggests that temperature differentials across a variety of environments - from geothermal sites on Earth to Mars's cold terrain - could support the conversion of CO2 into useful fuels and chemicals. (11/8)

China Launches Alliance for Aerospace and Satellite Internet (Source: Space Daily)
China has officially inaugurated the Aerospace Information and Satellite Internet Innovation Alliance in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province, marking a major step to enhance its aerospace information technology and satellite internet sectors. This alliance aims to unify efforts from state-owned companies, academic institutions, private businesses, and research centers to drive technological innovation and foster global partnerships.

The alliance is spearheaded by major state-owned enterprises, notably the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). By aligning telecommunications firms, prestigious universities, specialized research bodies, and private companies, the initiative seeks to advance satellite internet services, aerospace data solutions, and interconnected communication networks, creating a robust innovation ecosystem. (11/8)

Horizon Technology Finance Approves $10M Loan for Ursa Space Systems Expansion (Source: Space Daily)
Horizon Technology Finance Corp. has extended a $10 million venture loan facility to Ursa Space Systems to support the satellite intelligence company's growth and operational funding needs. Specializing in advanced satellite intelligence, Ursa Space serves a diverse client base of government and commercial entities. The company's cutting-edge platform integrates Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electro-Optical, and Radio Frequency data with AI-driven processing to provide immediate and automated change detection capabilities. (11/8)