ISU MSS 2024

Asia Pacific

Astroscale Debris Mission to Launch on February 19

Astroscale

Astroscale Japan Inc., a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc., will launch its commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on Sunday, February 18 UTC. Furthermore, the Company has shipped ADRAS-J from its headquarters in Tokyo, and final preparations for launch are underway at Rocket Lab’s facilities, in addition to operational control testing from the Mission Control Center in Tokyo.

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SmartSat backs Autonomous Sat-Tech for Australian ISAM

SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat) is backing innovative research to develop end-to-end Australian capabilities in In-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), in a project underwritten by a total investment of $ 2.3 million. SmartSat's research partner, the University of Sydney, will be leading the new project, which will develop robotic satellite technologies to reliably connect with other satellites to perform in-orbit repairs and maintenance. NSW-based industry partners Abyss Solutions, ANT61, Space Machines Company, Sperospace, and Spiral Blue will also support the research project.

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Pale Blue Win Grant to Develop Key Space Debris Mitigation Tech

Pale Blue

Pale Blue Inc. has received a grant from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) under the Small and Business Innovation Research 3 (SBIR-3) program to develop and demonstrate key technology for space debris mitigation. The grant is worth up to USD 27 million (JPY 4 billion) and will enable the development and demonstration of a miniaturized water-based ion thruster and a water-based hall-effect thruster by fiscal 2027.

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#SpaceWatchGL Geopolitics : Japan’s Moon Landings – Was It A Success?

The JAXA SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) mission soft-landed on the Moon on the night of Friday 18 to Saturday 19 January 2024 Japan Standard Time. JAXA would eventually confirm a successful precision landing for SLIM a few hours later. SLIM landed, but had an “attitude problem,” its position preventing its solar cells from receiving proper illumination.

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ispace Signs MoU with mu Space for Future Lunar Missions

ispace, inc. (ispace) has signed two memorandums of understanding related to payload services and strategic cooperation with mu Space and Advance Technology Co., Ltd., (mu Space) a satellite manufacturer and satellite communication service provider. The collaboration marks the first step towards future lunar missions between the two companies.

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SmartSat and NZSA Collaborate on Joint R&D Initiatives

SmartSat

SmartSat Cooperative Research Center (SmartSat), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) to accelerate the growth of Australian and New Zealand space industries. Professor Andy Koronios, SmartSat CRC Chief Executive Officer and Robyn Henderson, Acting Head of the New Zealand Space Agency, signed the agreement at the NZSA headquarters in Wellington.

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SLIM Powers Back on and Begins Lunar Operations

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced that it has re-established contact with its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft lander after it powered back on. The lander could not generate power upon landing on the lunar surface, quickly exhausting its battery power. JAXA had noted that its chances of recovering SLIM would increase as the sunlight illumination condition improves with time. This has consequently cemented Japan's position as the fifth country to soft-land on the moon, joining the USA, China, the former Soviet Union, and India.

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JAXA Confirms Successful Precision Landing for SLIM

JAXA

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed the successful precision soft-landing of its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft on the moon. JAXA employed the mission to demonstrate its new precision technology by landing in an unprecedented 100-metre landing area. However, because SLIM's solar cells failed to generate power for the spacecraft, it had to shut down its operations.

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Axiom Space and Boryung Corporation Announce Joint Venture

Boryung Corporation and Axiom Space have announced the formation of a joint venture, BRAX Space Corporation,  to leverage the unique strengths of both companies to advance the commercialization of low-Earth orbit (LEO) and push the boundaries of space exploration. As a result, both parties will jointly explore business opportunities related to the future Axiom Station. Furthermore, the collaboration will focus on various businesses, including research and development, new initiatives in the space industry, and joint production efforts

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GITAI Autonomous Robotic Arm Set to Launch to the ISS

GITAI USA Inc. has announced that its 1.5-meter-long autonomous dual robotic arm system (S2) is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (NG-20) on January 29. Having passed the necessary NASA safety reviews, the S2 will conduct an external demonstration of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) while onboard the ISS.

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