Author: starpathwp-production
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Rocket Lab launches seven satellites, recovers Electron booster after splashdown
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1B on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand with seven small satellites. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Threads.
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SpaceX launches second Falcon 9 booster on a 16th flight
For the second time this week, SpaceX pushed the envelope by flying a Falcon 9 rocket for a 16th time. Booster 1060 lifted off from Cape Canaveral’s pad 40 at 11:50 p.m. EDT (0350 UTC) Saturday carrying 54 Starlink satellites into orbit. Just last Sunday, Booster 1058 launched 22 second-generation Starlink satellites, becoming the first…
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Viasat’s new broadband satellite could be a total loss
A new Viasat communications satellite launched in April has been crippled by a problem when unfurling its huge mesh antenna. The problem jeopardizes Viasat’s much-needed refresh to its space-based Internet network that would let it better compete with newer broadband offerings from companies like SpaceX and OneWeb. Viasat confirmed the antenna problem Wednesday after it…
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SpaceX test fires Falcon 9 booster following last-minute launch scrub
SpaceX test fires a Falcon 9 booster on July 15, 2023 after an aborted countdown the day before. Image: Spaceflight Now. SpaceX test fired a Falcon 9 on pad 40 at Cape Canaveral early Saturday to clear the booster for its 16th flight. A launch attempt early Friday was aborted in the final minute of…
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Three ongoing missions study human side of Moon and Mars missions
While a lot of the focus when it comes to space travel beyond Earth orbit is on the spacecraft, multiple studies are underway to explore the human side of what NASA calls “Moon to Mars Exploration.” Those studies include physical health, mental health, and even training astronauts to recognize geology that could answer many questions…
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Egyptian Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Center passes acceptance inspection
Recently, the Egyptian Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Center project (EGA Project) passed the final acceptance review organized by relevant departments in Cairo, Egypt. The project is implemented by Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Environment Engineering (BISEE), a subsidiary of the China Academy of Space Technology(CAST). Thus, the final acceptance of the project has been completed…
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The Senate just lobbed a tactical nuke at NASA’s Mars Sample Return program
The US Senate on Thursday slashed the budget for NASA’s ambitious mission to return soil and rock samples from Mars’ surface. NASA had asked for $949 million to support its Mars Sample Return mission, or MSR, in fiscal year 2024. In its proposed budget for the space agency, released Thursday, the Senate offered just $300…
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SpacePath Awarded Defense Contract to Deliver Tropospheric Scatter Amplifiers
SpacePath Communications (‘SpacePath’), a dedicated, European-based SATCOM amplifier manufacturer and equipment supplier, has been awarded an order by a major, international defense organization for its tropospheric scatter (troposcatter) amplifiers. Allowing long-range, point-to-point communications, troposcatter systems provide mobile, microwave communication beyond the horizon when tactical SATCOM-based command/control information is unavailable. SpacePath’s 1 kW troposcatter amplifiers feature best-in-class…
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India takes a critical first step toward a second attempt to land on the Moon
India took the first step toward its second attempt to land on the Moon on Friday with the launch of its Chandrayaan-3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the southeastern part of the country. The spacecraft launched on the LVM-3 rocket, the heaviest lift vehicle in India’s fleet. Liftoff came nearly three years…
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Vulcan’s upper stage failed due to higher stress and weaker welds
United Launch Alliance has identified the root cause of a failure that destroyed the upper stage of its Vulcan rocket in late March. According to the company’s chief executive, Tory Bruno, the Centaur V upper stage failed due to higher-than-anticipated stress near the top of the liquid hydrogen propellant tank and slightly weaker welding. Bruno…