Japan’s Space Junk Cleaning Mission Achieves Milestone
Japan’s space junk cleaning mission, led by JAXA, achieved a milestone with the successful launch of the ADRAS-J satellite. India appoints new minister for key technology portfolios, while an Indian national is sentenced for deleting virtual machines. Hong Kong introduces a robot dog to detect pollution, providing innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch on Memorial Day 2024
Exciting news for space enthusiasts and holiday weekend goers in Florida! Witness a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch on Memorial Day 2024 from the Space Coast. Check out the rocket launch calendar for upcoming missions and find the best viewing spots. Stay updated with FLORIDA TODAY’s live coverage and don’t miss the chance to see the marvel of space exploration!
China Attempts to Salvage Stranded Spacecraft Intended for Moon
China is making efforts to salvage spacecraft stranded in lunar orbit after a rocket malfunction. The spacecraft, initially intended for the moon, have been tracked in a high Earth orbit, indicating an attempt to save the mission. This suggests China’s commitment to the success of its space missions and a potential recovery of the spacecraft’s original purpose.
NASA and SpaceX Announce New Launch Date for GOES-U Satellite
NASA and SpaceX have announced a new launch date for the GOES-U satellite, the fourth and final satellite in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series. The launch is now scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, following the identification of a liquid oxygen leak during routine testing in February, which required repairs and testing of the Falcon Heavy core booster. The GOES-R Series Program, overseen by NOAA, is managed through an integrated NOAA-NASA office, with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center handling the acquisition of the spacecraft and instruments.
New Zealand’s First Satellite Payload ‘Korimako’ Successfully Launched
New Zealand achieves a significant milestone in space operations with the successful launch of its first satellite payload, ‘Korimako.’ The payload, deployed aboard an American satellite, marks a milestone for New Zealand’s defence and space capabilities. The deployment demonstrates international collaboration and showcases New Zealand’s growing significance in the global space arena.
Europe’s Ariane 6 Rocket Arrives at Spaceport in French Guiana
Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket has arrived at its spaceport in French Guiana, ready to launch a diverse range of missions from nine countries and dozens of organizations. The rocket’s versatility will accommodate missions from established players like NASA to students designing their first-ever satellite, with objectives including measuring gamma rays, tracking wildlife, testing self-healing solar cells, and more. The payloads for Ariane 6’s first flight are sourced from commercial companies, space agencies, and universities, each contributing hardware to test and validate their technology in space, ranging from weather measurement on Earth and in the Solar System to studying the Sun and conducting other scientific experiments.
Satellite Disposal and Environmental Concerns
SpaceX plans to dispose of 100 Starlink satellites due to a design flaw, raising concerns about the environmental impact of burning up satellites in the atmosphere. With the increasing congestion of low earth orbit, the space sector is prioritizing debris clearing and controlled re-entry of spacecraft to minimize environmental impact.
Mysterious Cloud Formation Over Gulf of Mexico Explained by Scientists
On January 30, 2024, NASA’s Terra satellite captured an intriguing cloud formation over the Gulf of Mexico, sparking debates about extraterrestrial activity. However, scientists have provided a grounded explanation, revealing that cavum clouds are the result of airplanes moving through altocumulus clouds. This scientific insight dispels the notion of otherworldly origins and offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricate processes at work within Earth’s atmosphere.
ESA Approves New Scout Satellites NanoMagSat and Tango
ESA has approved two new Scout satellites, NanoMagSat and Tango, to measure Earth’s magnetic field and greenhouse-gas emissions, respectively. These missions are part of ESA’s embrace of the New Space era and are designed to deliver value-added science through the miniaturization of existing space technologies or the demonstration of new observing techniques.
Unseenlabs to Expand Maritime Surveillance Constellation with Launch of 12th and 13th Nanosatellites
French maritime surveillance provider Unseenlabs is expanding its satellite constellation with the launch of its 12th and 13th nanosatellites, bringing the company halfway towards its goal of offering near-real-time maritime surveillance services by the end of 2025. The new satellites, BRO-12 and BRO-13, are set to be integrated and launched on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Unseenlabs’ current network of 11 satellites can monitor and track signals from ships across the world’s oceans every four to six hours, providing valuable data for commercial and government customers. The company plans to launch a total of six satellites in 2024, with a proposed constellation of 25 satellites by 2025, enabling a revisit time of around 30 minutes over the same area to enhance its services for real-time environmental monitoring, rapid response to maritime disasters, and live tracking of pollutant emissions.