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SpaceX’s Starship and the new space race: Reshaping the future of satellite launches

In an evolving space industry landscape marked by both innovation and competition, the emergence of SpaceX‘s Starship launch vehicle stands out as a pivotal development. Designed to place over 100 metric tons into low Earth orbit, Starship has garnered significant attention from companies specializing in the deployment of smaller payloads of about one metric ton or less.

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The fusion of human ingenuity, robotic precision heralds new chapter in space exploration

In the vast and mysterious expanse of space, a story of partnership continues to unfold. This isn’t a tale of human camaraderie but a narrative of humans and robots joining forces in the pursuit of cosmic discovery, health, and technology. Taking a closer look at this fascinating topic suggests the future of space exploration is not a solo journey for humans or robots, but a collaborative venture that leverages the strengths of both.

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Polaris Program’s Ghost Squadron performing at SUN ‘n FUN 2024

Ghost Squadron Jets flying in formation

A unique aerial demonstration is coming to SUN ‘n FUN on April 13, 2024. In Lakeland, Florida, the Polaris Program Ghost Squadron will be flying in the evening airshow with a mission to “inspire the next generation of aerospace enthusiasts and raise funds and awareness” for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The demonstration team consists of four L-39 jets, three Alpha Jets, and one MiG-29.

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This company wants to help more people experience the ‘overview effect’

If you have ever been interested in seeing Earth from the upper reaches of our atmosphere but can’t afford it, then you should be keeping Halo Space on your radar. The company, similar to other new space tourism companies, have been working on a high altitude balloon system to ferry customers up to the jar dropping views of “almost space.”

The catch is, on each flight they will send someone up there for free!

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This Week in Launch: Super Thursday? Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Russia, and China prepare for launches on the same day

On Thursday of this week we have a total of four planned launches from around the world from the biggest players in the space launch market. They include Rocket Lab’s first LC-2 mission in 2024, a crew rotation to the ISS by Russia, and a cargo resupply mission to the ISS by SpaceX.

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The global alliance pioneering NASA’s Lunar Gateway

NASA’s Lunar Gateway program represents a pivotal initiative under the agency’s leadership, aimed at facilitating sustainable human and robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars. This program is characterized by its emphasis on international and commercial partnerships, establishing a strategic outpost orbiting Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor to support scientific research, lunar surface expeditions, and deeper space ventures.

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SpaceX lights itself the biggest birthday candle with an overall successful Starship launch

SpaceX completed its third Starship test flight early Thursday morning which ended as an almost 100% successful missions, meeting almost all of its goals. While the booster was lost prior to ocean splashdown, the more important part, the second stage, reached space and conducted several in-space tests.

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Navigating the future of commercial spaceflight regulation

As the deadline looms for Congress to decide on the future of commercial human spaceflight regulation, most space related insiders agree the industry is at a pivotal crossroad. The current restrictions encapsulating the “learning period” that limits the Federal Aviation Administration’s ability to regulate the safety of spaceflight participants are under scrutiny. These provisions are set to expire March 8 and United States House of Representatives and Senate negotiators are in the throes of finalizing a new long term FAA reauthorization bill. 

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Japan’s SLIM Moon lander woke up for a short period of time after a long lunar night

Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, reestablished communication with Earth, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced. Despite the spacecraft not being expected to survive the harsh conditions of the lunar night, contact was made on February 25, offering a glimmer of hope for the mission’s continuation.

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NASA ushers in new era of space exploration with newest class of astronauts

In a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the agency introduced its latest class of astronauts, 10 graduates ready to take humanity further into space as part of the Artemis program. Selected from over 12,000 hopefuls in 2021, these astronauts have completed rigorous training and are now poised for missions that could span from stays aboard the International Space Station or trips to the lunar surface and beyond.

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Northrop Grumman faces layoffs amid Space Force cancellations, lunar setbacks

In a significant series of events that underscores the volatile nature of the aerospace and defense sectors, Northrop Grumman, a titan in the industry, has issued “WARN notices” to its employees at Space Park in Redondo Beach, California, signaling potential layoffs in the near future. This move comes amid a series of financial and operational challenges, including a high-profile program cancellation by the U.S. Space Force and cost overruns on a critical NASA project.

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NASA, Department of Defense conduct pioneering Artemis 2 recovery test

NASA, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, has successfully completed a pivotal recovery test for the Artemis 2 mission, marking a significant stride for the agency’s endeavor to return humans to the Moon. The exercise, conducted off the San Diego coast aboard the USS San Diego, was not just a routine operation but a crucial step in ensuring the safety and success of future lunar missions.

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The story of Odysseus: America’s first lunar landing since Apollo

Over the last few weeks we’ve been following the travels of Intuitive Machine‘s IM-1 mission. The first of its kind lander made several firsts, the biggest being bringing the commercial market to the lunar surface for the first time. While the mission has ended for now, there’s a lot to talk about good old Odysseus.

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Gilmour Space Technologies takes a $36M journey to the stars

Founded in 2012 by the Gilmour brothers, Adam and James, Gilmour Space aims to position itself as an industry leader with the development of the Eris launch vehicle, a three-stage rocket engineered to transport small to medium payloads into orbit. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to democratizing space access through innovative technology and strategic investments. 

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Earth-based surgeons control robot aboard ISS in historic experiment

In an experiment conducted over the weekend, surgeons stationed on Earth achieved a significant milestone by remotely controlling a small robot to perform surgery aboard the International Space Station. This highly anticipated event, involving the cutting of rubber bands as part of a surgical simulation, marks the first surgery of its kind in orbit that plays a giant leap in the development of space surgery capabilities. 

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