Space

For over four months, we have been in the grip of the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), which has spread to virtually every continent on Earth. Despite the best efforts of governments and people around the world, the infections and fatalities, and the economic and social consequences, are expected to linger for years to come.

The Boeing-built X-37B autonomous spaceplane launched 18 May 2020 on top of a uniquely configured United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Boeing is the prime contractor for the X-37B spaceplane and facilitates the integration of all experiments into the vehicle ensuring they receive the correct power, thermal and data services …

Isotropic Systems, a leading developer of transformational broadband terminal technologies, announced on 18 May 2020 an antenna evaluation and development contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to test the ability of its patented multi-beam antennas to unlock high-powered bandwidth aboard next-gen Naval vessels at sea. As the U.S. Navy …

The Department of the Air Force and Defense Digital Service (DDS) planned satellite hacking challenge, the Space Security Challenge 2020: Hack-A-Sat, is pivoting to an entirely virtual event. This decision comes after DEF CON 28 formally cancelled in-person events in 2020 due to coronavirus precautions. The two-phase Hack-A-Sat includes an …

NASA will award nearly $2.4 million to universities as part of the Artemis Student Challenges, a bold new initiative to inspire the next generation – the Artemis Generation. The six universities receiving awards will use the grants to advance the quality, relevance and overall reach of opportunities to engage students as …

The second ExoMars mission, scheduled for launch to the Red Planet in 2022, is taking advantage of the extra time to upgrade some of the rover’s instruments and get ready for the next parachute high-altitude drop tests.

By Merve Erdem Burger, PhD It was reported by Reuters on 5 May 2020 that the Trump administration is working on drafting an international agreement regarding mining on the Moon, to be known as the Artemis Accords. This is not surprising after the release of Trump’s Executive Order on Encouraging …

By John B. Sheldon Following the announcement on 5 May 2020 by NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine of the proposed Artemis Accords, NASA revealed further details on 14 May 2020 that provide some granularity of what is likely being discussed in private channels with like-minded countries. The new details about the …

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded two contracts to Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), concerning EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). These contracts, fully financed under the European Commission H2020 programme concern study phases on the system evolution. They will call on …

Momentus Space, provider of in-space transportation services for satellites, and  Alba Orbital, builder and designer of the world’s smallest commercial satellite platforms, announced a contract for three Alba Albapods to ride on plaza deck of the Falcon 9 vehicle, which will launch in December 2020 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape …