The United States is gearing up to send a satellite into space that could change how we think about solar power. This isn't your average satellite. It's designed to collect solar energy up there and send it back down to Earth. The company behind this idea, Aetherflux, has secured a whopping $50 million to make it happen. The plan involves a bunch of smaller satellit...
The world is full of threats we can't see, and asteroids are among the most dangerous. These space rocks can cause massive destruction if they hit Earth. Scientists and astronomers are working hard to spot and track these potential hazards. Their goal is to protect our planet from a catastrophe. A new documentary, Planetary Defenders, shines a light on this crucial ...
The quest to find life on Mars has taken an interesting turn. A British space company has stepped in to replace a Russian corporation in a European mission to Mars. This company, Airbus, is based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. They will be working on the ExoMars lander, which will gently place the Rosalind Franklin rover on the Martian surface. The original plan invol...
Gravitics, a firm known for building parts for space stations, has just scored a big deal. They won an award from the Space Force to use their tech for quick space missions. This isn't just any award. It's called a STRATFI, and it's worth up to $60 million. The Space Force puts in half, and Gravitics matches it. This money will go towards creating something called th...
A Dutch company has made a significant mark in space exploration. They have created a powerful camera, the HyperScout H, which is part of the European Space Agency’s Hera mission. This small but mighty tool has captured a unique image of Mars and its moon Deimos. This is a big deal because it gives scientists new information about these celestial bodies. The Hera mi...
In a significant move, the United States and Norway have inked a deal that allows American space hardware to be exported to Norway for launches. This agreement, called the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA), is designed to ensure the security of U. S. launch vehicles and satellites sent to Norway. Andøya Spaceport, nestled on an Arctic island in Norway, is the fo...
NATO leans heavily on space technology for its missions, but a big worry is cyber threats. Why? The supply chain isn't well-managed, and old systems are easy targets. Experts agree that better rules and management are a must. Early threat detection and safeguarding crucial data should be at the top of the list. Think about it like this: if your laptop’s software is ...
On December 29, SpaceX sent four satellites built by Astranis towards geostationary orbit. This launch was unique because it marked the first time a single company launched four of its own satellites on one mission to GEO. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellites blasted off at midnight from Florida's Cape Canaveral. In about three hours, signals from all four sate...
You might be wondering why the NISAR mission isn't already up in space. Well, there's been a bit of a hiccup. Originally planned for launch this spring, NASA and its Indian counterpart decided to push it back. Why? The spacecraft's main radar antenna needed some TLC. Engineers found out that once it was in orbit, the antenna would get warmer than expected. Woops! So,...
The U. S. Space Force is gearing up to test new modular satellite technology in an upcoming mission. This mission is part of their Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program, aiming to speed up the launch of important payloads like surveillance sensors into space. The Space Force wants to use a system called Handle, created by The Aerospace Corporation. Handle makes...