Space

NASA announced they have awarded the Booster Production and Operations Contract to build boosters for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to Northrop Grumman. The $3.19 billion contract will support nine SLS flights, through to Artemis 9 in 2031, NASA said.  Northrop Grumman produced the boosters for the first three, and is currently working on the motors for the fourth Artemis mission.

As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and Orbital Gateway Consulting we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and texts. We are pleased to present “Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 29 November- 5 December 2021”. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Aero/Space News Roundup!

NASA has awarded a $415.6 million to three U.S. companies to design commercial space stations, the U.S. agency said last week. The companies that received awards are Blue Origin ($130 million), Nanoracks ($160 million) and Northrop Grumman ($125.6 million).

Two more: Arianespace has successfully launched two more Galileo satellites, growing Europe’s navigation constellation to 28 satellites, the European Space Agency (ESA) said. Soyuz launcher VS-26, operated by Arianespace and commissioned by ESA, lifted off with the pair of 715 kg satellites from French Guiana on 5 December, ESA said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) appointed Salem Humaid Al Marri as the new Director-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, the agency said. Al Marri, 39, replaces Yousuf Al Shaibani, who served as the centre's Director-General since 2013. Al Marri was part of the team that set up the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology in 2006

In this Space Café Radio – on tour in Berlin - New Space Initiative Germany – SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening attended the kick-off event of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) New Space initiative in the House of German Industry on 1st Dec 2021. 

NASA announced having signed agreements with three U.S. companies to develop the designs of space stations and other destinations in space. The agreements are the first in a two-phase approach to a seamless transition of activity from the ISS to commercial destinations. During this first phase, which is to continue through 2025,

Rocket Lab revealed new details about their next generation, 8-ton payload class Neutron launch vehicle. The rocket will provide reliable and cost-effective launch services for satellite mega-constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight, said Rocket Lab. Neutron is set to be the world’s first carbon composite large launch vehicle.

ArianeGroup has completed a series of tests of the European reusable first stage Themis, the European Space Agency (ESA) said. ArianeGroup performed six tests at its site in Vernon in France to validate the fluidic and electrical processes and sequences of two test propellant tanks; the tanks were filled then drained of cryogenic propellants, ESA reported.

During this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening caught up with the project manager of RIT2021 and a business developer with a mission to strengthen Luleå University presence in Kiruna Johanna Bergström Roos. Johanna Bergstrom-Roos is employed at LTU Business AB since October 2011 and is working with the Kiruna base.