Author: starpathwp-production
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Virgin Galactic Successfully Completes its Unity 25 Mission to Space
Virgin Galactic Holdings, successfully completed its Unity 25 mission to space. Mission specialists Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie, and Luke Mays became the newest Virgin Galactic Astronauts as they evaluated the end-to-end astronaut training and spaceflight experience. In-flight Facts – Unity 25 mission Take-off Time 9:15 am MT Altitude at Release 44,500 feet Apogee 54.2 miles…
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India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV
India began deploying its second generation of indigenous navigation satellites Monday, with the launch of a GSLV Mk.II rocket lofting the NVS-01 satellite. Liftoff, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, occurred at 05:12 UTC (10:42 a.m. local time). The Navigation with Indian Constellation, or NavIC, system is a regional satellite navigation network developed by the…
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Swiss company selects Arianespace to launch first space debris removal mission
Artist’s concept of ClearSpace’s spacecraft approaching a piece of space debris from a previous Vega rocket launch in 2013. Credit: ClearSpace Swiss-based in-orbit servicing startup ClearSpace has contracted Arianespace to launch its first debris removal mission to capture and deorbit a 100-kilogram (220-pound) piece of space debris. Europe’s Vega C will launch the ClearSpace-1 servicer…
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SpaceX rocket sends Arabsat communications satellite into orbit
Watch a replay of our live coverage of the countdown and launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Arabsat’s Badr 8 communications satellite from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Follow us on Twitter. [tabby title=”SFN Live”] [tabbyending] SpaceX kicked off Memorial Day weekend with an overnight launch Saturday…
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South Korean orbiter returning spectacular views of lunar landscapes
South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft captured this view of Tsiolkovskiy crater March 22 on the far side of the moon. Credit: Korea Aerospace Research Institute Nearly halfway through its primary mission, South Korea’s first spacecraft to explore the moon has been collecting data and snapping pictures of lunar landscapes and craters since maneuvering into orbit late…
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A new report finds NASA has spent an obscene amount of money on SLS propulsion
An independent report published Thursday contained troubling findings about the money spent by the agency on propulsion for the Space Launch System rocket. Moreover, the report by NASA Inspector General Paul Martin warns that if these costs are not controlled, it could jeopardize plans to return to the Moon. Bluntly, Martin wrote that if the…
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EchoStar and SkyFive Demonstrate Satellite and Terrestrial Drone Command and Control With Airbus
EchoStar and aviation connectivity provider SkyFive completed a series of flight tests demonstrating dual satellite and terrestrial connectivity for command and control (C2) of a drone with Airbus. The tests are part of a project to commercialize urban air mobility within and between cities, using satellite and terrestrial connectivity. The tests were conducted with a…
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Inmarsat CEO Rajeev Suri to Step Down With Viasat Acquisition
Inmarsat CEO Rajeev Suri will step down from his role with the close of the Viasat acquisition, Inmarsat announced Friday. Suri has been nominated to serve on Viasat’s board of directors. Viasat’s acquisition of Inmarsat is moving to close after clearing final approval from the European Commission this week. Suri, former Nokia CEO, joined Inmarsat in…
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DARPA Awards Contract to BAE Systems to Develop Autonomous Space-Based Surveillance Technology
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research and development organization a $7 million contract for the Oversight autonomous space-based target custody program. Traditional space intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) collection can be siloed, labor intensive, and unable to dynamically re-evaluate quickly enough to take advantage of new space…
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Japanese Space Robotics Company GITAI Raises $30M
Japanese space robotics startup GITAI has raised $30 million in a Series B extension round, the company announced May 25. GITAI is headquartered in Japan and has a U.S. subsidiary. Existing investors primarily contributed to the round. The company plans to use the funds to enhance the technology readiness level of its Lunar Robotic Rover…