Tag: Australia
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A privately developed Australian rocket is ready for a historic launch
Gilmour Space, a venture-backed startup based in Australia, is about to launch a small rocket from its privately owned spaceport on a remote stretch of the country’s northeastern coastline. It’s the first time anyone has attempted to reach orbit with a rocket designed and built in Australia. Gilmour’s three-stage rocket, named Eris, could launch at…
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Rocket Report: Australia says yes to the launch; Russia delivers for Iran
Welcome to Edition 7.19 of the Rocket Report! Okay, we get it. We received more submissions from our readers on Australia’s approval of a launch permit for Gilmour Space than we’ve received on any other news story in recent memory. Thank you for your submissions as global rocket activity continues apace. We’ll cover Gilmour in…
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Rocket Report: Australia says yes to the launch; Russia delivers for Iran
Welcome to Edition 7.19 of the Rocket Report! Okay, we get it. We received more submissions from our readers on Australia’s approval of a launch permit for Gilmour Space than we’ve received on any other news story in recent memory. Thank you for your submissions as global rocket activity continues apace. We’ll cover Gilmour in…
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UN Committee to Probe Satellite Constellation Threat to Astronomy, Overcoming Past Setback
The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) has greenlit a pioneering move to scrutinize the looming risks that satellite constellations pose to astronomy, a year subsequent to a thwarted similar endeavor. Marking a pivotal stride in diplomatic avenues concerning celestial research, COPUOS, in a recent session of its scientific and…
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Gilmour Space Technologies Secures $55 Million for Rocket Development and Orbital Launches
Australian startup Gilmour Space Technologies has secured $55 million Australian dollars ($36 million) in a Series D funding round, as announced on February 19. This investment is intended to support the company’s efforts in manufacturing, testing, and launching rockets and satellites from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland. Gilmour Space, founded in 2012, is…
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Varda looks to Australia after delays in obtaining US reentry approval
Varda Space Industries says it has reached an agreement with a private range operator in Australia for spacecraft landings as early as next year after the US government declined to grant approval for the reentry of Varda’s first experimental mission carrying pharmaceuticals manufactured in orbit. After years of applications, reviews, and discussion, the Federal Aviation…
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Testbed for NASA moon mission rides to orbit with six other satellites
Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher lifts off from New Zealand at 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT) Monday, or 11:30 a.m. local time Tuesday at the launch site. Credit: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab launched seven satellites Monday from New Zealand on a rideshare mission serving the U.S. and Australian militaries and space services startups. A spacecraft developed…
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Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches small satellites from New Zealand
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand carrying six small satellites for customers in Australia and the United States, along with a test platform for a NASA small satellite mission to the moon launching later this year. Text updates…
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Scientists thrilled with asteroid treasure returned by Japanese spacecraft
Japanese scientists found black material from asteroid Ryugu inside one of the Hayabusa 2 mission’s collection chambers (color corrected by Spaceflight Now). Credit: JAXA Japanese space agency officials said Tuesday they found a “large number” of pitch black rock and dust particles after opening a capsule returned to Earth earlier this month by the Hayabusa…
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Japanese asteroid sampling mission on course for return to Earth
Artist’s concept of the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft releasing its sample return capsule. Credit: JAXA/Akihiro Ikeshita Six years after departing Earth, Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft released a spinning capsule Saturday containing pristine asteroid material for a scorching re-entry and landing in the remote Australian outback, where teams are standing by to retrieve the specimens for analysis.…