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Masten is to develop positioning and navigation network on the Moon

Masten Space Systems was awarded a Phase II SBIR contract to develop and test a lunar positioning and navigation network prototype, Masten said. The GPS-like solution is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s AFWERX program. The network will boost cislunar security, improve landing accuracy and hazard avoidance by providing location tracking for spacecraft and astronauts on the lunar surface.

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Space Café Scotland Recap by Angela Mathis: Inclusive Space is Scotland’s Goal

Space Café Scotland Angela Mathis and her guests Kenzie Young, fresh from the Scottish Space School this summer, and Mick O’Connor, Programme Director at Prestwick Spaceport - explore the challenges and some local initiatives to achieve inclusion. How to help people feel they can be included in Scotland’s Space journey.

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Firefly Alpha failure caused by uneventful engine shutdown

Investigation uncovered that Firefly Aerospace’s first Alpha rocket had failed due to the shutting down of one of its first-stage engines, Firefly said. The launch took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 2nd September. The engine shut down just a few seconds after lift-off making the rocket tumble out of control two and a half minutes into the flight.

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German government supports microlauncher offshore platform

The German government supports plans to build an offshore launch platform in the North Sea, Germany´s minister for economy, Peter Altmaier, said in Berlin. The minister partnered with the Federation of German Industries (BDI), who had promoted the idea since several years. The German Offshore Spaceport Alliance (Gosa) signed contracts with four microlaunchers.

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China’s Chang’e-5 orbiter is set for another Moon flyby

The Chang’e-5 orbiter module is currently on its way back to the Moon following deep space tests according to reports. Last year, the orbiter delivered a return module containing 1.731 kg of lunar samples to Earth before setting off to deep space. Chang’e-5 orbiter was in orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) where it carried out orbit control tests and observations.

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ESA Council agrees on Ariane 6, Vega-C, and options for new launchers

The ESA Member States have agreed on Europe´s exploitation of the new Ariane 6 and Vega-C launchers and its future space transportation options, the European Space Agency (ESA) said. The agreement frames the conditions for Europe’s exploitation of Ariane 6 and Vega-C and requests ESA “to propose a roadmap for new and innovative space transportation solutions”, ESA said.

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Space Café Germany by Andreas Schepers Recap: Before the Federal Elections – The Future of Spaceflight in Germany

Space Café Germany Special: Before the Bundestag Elections - The Future of Space in Germany. In this special edition of Space Café Webtalk, Torsten Kriening and Andreas Schepers discuss the future of space in Germany with members of the German Bundestag:

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