Author: starpathwp-production
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China develops robot for cultural relics protection
China’s strides in space technology are now enriching the preservation of cultural relics, as spacecraft engineers have repurposed a robot originally designed for orbital missions to protect tomb artifacts. The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) recently announced the development of such a robot. Combined with electron beam irradiation technology, it can be used as…
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China to make about 100 space launches in 2024
China is projected to make about 100 space launch missions this year, which will set the country’s new record, according to information released at a press conference on Monday. The launches include the maiden flight from China’s first commercial spacecraft launch site in addition to more satellite liftoffs to form constellations, according to the press…
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SES and HITEC Collaborate with Luxembourg DoD to Strengthen SATCOM Ground Infrastructure
The Luxembourg Directorate of Defence (DoD) procured two ground stations following a competitive call for tender to enable the Luxembourg Army to improve its resilience by accessing secure satellite communications services, the DoD, SES, and HITEC Luxembourg. The ground stations, which will be installed at the Luxembourg Army’s Military Centre in Diekirch, will be used for…
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Varda’s drug-cooking Winnebago will be remembered as a space pioneer
Varda Space Industries is finally able to celebrate. For nearly eight months, the in-space manufacturing company’s first mission was essentially stranded in low-Earth orbit, but not because of any technical malfunction or a restriction imposed by the laws of physics. Instead, the spacecraft couldn’t return to Earth until Varda and three government entities—the US military,…
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SpaceX tests new emergency escape system to certify pad 40 at Cape Canaveral for astronaut missions
SpaceX performed a deployment test of its new emergency egress system from the crew access tower at Space Launch Complex 40 on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now SpaceX is closing in on certifying its launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40 to support astronaut and cargo missions with its second-generation Dragon spacecraft.…
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Odysseus has less than a day left on the Moon before it freezes to death
Time is running out for the historic Odysseus lander that made a soft touchdown on the Moon last Thursday evening. In an update posted on Monday morning, the company that built the spacecraft, Intuitive Machines, said, “[W]e believe flight controllers will continue to communicate with Odysseus until Tuesday morning.” This is because the lander, which…
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Qantas to Upgrade its Existing International Fleet With Viasat IFC
Australian airline Qantas Airways plans to retrofit its fleet of international aircraft with Viasat’s in-flight connectivity (IFC) system, the company announced last week. Qantas’ Airbus A330, Boeing 787, and Airbus A380 fleets will progressively be retrofitted to enable connection to Viasat’s satellite network. Viasat has worked with Qantas Airways in the past and signed a…
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Astronauts of Crew-8 to Support Various R&D Projects During Six-Month Expedition on ISS
Four new crew members will work on dozens of scientific investigations during their stay on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the next six-month science expedition in low Earth orbit. The investigations, many of which are sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory, aim to increase our understanding of fundamental and applied sciences, as…
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ESA and GSMA Foundry Partner for Innovations in Terrestrial-Satellite Communication
The European Space Agency (ESA) and GSMA Foundry announced a series of new initiatives – including up to €15 million in funding opportunities – to help the mobile and satellite industries collaborate on developing new, innovative satellite and terrestrial networks technologies. Launched at MWC Barcelona 2024, the partnership will focus on five key areas of…