Satellite

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.

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:

SpaceWatch.Global is pleased to present the 35th episode in our podcast series The Space Cafe Podcast: Elodie Viau - Getting Telecommunication Ready For Space And Beyond. Episode 035 features a special guest Elodie Viau. The European Space Agency ESA is known for spectacular landings on distant comets or the like.

For this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening got to sit down with Ronald van der Breggen, a Dutch business strategist and founder and CEO of Route206. Established in 2013 in the Netherlands, the company works with a wide range of clients in the space and satellite sector

Firefly’s Alpha rocket launched on 2nd September suffered a fatal problem, exploding in the California sky. The company’s first ever orbital test flight lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:59 p.m. EDT. The final launch was nearly an hour after an initial try had to be aborted during countdown.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. announced the construction of a new production facility capable of supplying up to 2,000 reaction wheels per year. The news comes after the company signed contracts to supply major satellite constellations. The new production facility will add to Rocket Lab’s existing 35,303 square metres of manufacturing competence.

Danish billionaire Anders Povlsen’s objections to Space Hub Sutherland was dismissed by Judge Lord Doherty, The Register reported. Mr Povlsen had invested heavily in the proposed Shetland Space Centre over 400 km away on the isle of Unst. The rejection of his objections helps moving Scotland towards a commercial vertical launch capability.

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.