Government

The UK branch of D-Orbit signed a €2,197M contract with ESA for phase 1 of the development and in-orbit validation of a “Deorbit Kit”, D-Orbit said. The agreement is part of ESA’s Space Safety Programme. The decommissioning kit is a self-contained suite of equipment that can be used with space vehicles of any size.

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.

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.

The U.S. Space Force and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force reached an agreement on 27th August to join South Korea’s air force in U.S. Space Force-led military drills, ROK Air Force said. The aim is to reinforce the U.S. Space Force’s defence capabilities in outer space.

NASA began flight testing with Joby Aviation’s all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on 30th August, NASA reported. The testing forms part of the agency’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign. eVTOL aircraft could potentially be used as air taxis transporting people and cargo.

Swinburne University of Technology partnered with Titomic to get one of their TKF1000 3D printing systems, of which only two exists in the world, the university said. This is the first system at an Australian university and will allow access for students, researchers and industry partners as well.

SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft launched at 3:14 a.m. EDT Sunday on a recycled Falcon 9 rocket to go to the ISS, NASA said. Carrying more than 2170 kg of cargo, it lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX’s 23rd Commercial Resupply Services mission is scheduled to dock at the station around 11 a.m. today.

The Morrison Government has given regulatory approval for tiSPACE to launch their rocket from the Whalers Way launch site. The Taiwanese company will launch its rocket from the newly licensed launch facility in South Australia later this year. tiSPACE will conduct a test flight of its Hapith I rocket from the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex, operated by Southern Launch.

Russia postponed its first mission to the Moon in 45 years due to problems during tests of the Luna-25 spacecraft, Roscosmos announced. The mission was originally scheduled for 1st October from the Vostochny Cosmodrome had now been moved to May 2022. The Luna-25 mission aimed at the Moon's south pole will probe ice deposits.

HEO Robotics has raised a seed financing round to launch HEO Inspect. This marks the first major investment in the already profitable company. The round was led by David Harding, the founder and CEO of Winton Group. As part of the investment, he has nominated the experienced investor and advisor Joshua Kennedy-White to the company board.