Rocket Lab to launch orbital debris removal mission for Astroscale

Derek Wise -
SpaceflightRocket LabJAXAAstroscale

Rocket Lab, an American small sat launcher, won a contract to launch a demonstration mission for Astroscale. The mission will demonstrate Astroscales active debris removal for phase one of JAXA’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project.

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[Update: Launched] SpaceX to send second operational crewed mission to the space station

Seth Kurkowski -
SpaceXNASACommercial Crew ProgramCrew DragonLaunch

SpaceX’s Dragon capsule has been a huge success with the launch of DM-2 and Crew 1 for NASA last year. This year they have two more missions to launch crew rotations to the International Space Station under the Commercial Crew Program with the next coming up this week.

Date: Friday, April 23nd, 5:49 AM EDT

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Hayabusa 2: JAXA finally discovers the treasures of six years of hard work

Seth Kurkowski -
JAXAasteroid

JAXA recovered its Hayabusa 2 mission return capsule on December 5, and today they were able to confirm they did recover samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

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Asteroid samples from Hayabusa 2 have successfully touched down on Earth

Space Explored Staff -
JAXAasteroid

Six years ago, on December 3, 2014, Japan launched Hayabusa 2 into space to begin its three-year-long journey to an asteroid named “Ryugu.” Once the asteroid was reached, samples were taken and sent back towards Earth. Now, finally, those samples have successfully arrived.

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Japanese rocket’s debut launch delayed to 2021 due to engine issues

Seth Kurkowski -
JAXAH3

Japan’s newest launcher system has been in development for the past couple years and was planning on making its debut launch by the end of this year. But there have been several issues that will push the date to next year.

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JAXA astronauts Koichi Wakata and Satoshi Furukawa both scheduled for future long-term ISS missions

Space Explored Staff -

Two Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronauts are scheduled to embark on long-term ISS missions in the near future. Their tasks will involve conducting science experiments and performing various maintenance work.

Japanese spacecraft Kounotori departing ISS for final flight before HTV-X cargo fleet in 2022

Zac Hall -
JAXA

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s HTV-9 spacecraft will depart from the International Space Station for one last time today before the next generation of transfer cargo vehicles is readied in two years.

JAXA’s Kounotori spacecraft launched three months ago from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan to deliver four tons of supplies, including new space station lithium-ion batteries.

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Shannon Walker joins crewed SpaceX mission, launch target later this year

Zac Hall -
SpaceXCommercial Crew ProgramJAXAShannon Walker

NASA announced this week that astronaut Shannon Walker has been assigned to the first operational crewed SpaceX mission.

Walker will NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover Jr., and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi on a six-month mission on the International Space State.

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