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Space Exploration

The Space Café Podcast #102: Nahum Romero – We are wasting an opportunity for a profound break: How the Arts and Humanities Can Reinvigorate the Vision for Humanity’s Future in Space

The Space Café Podcast #102:  We are wasting an opportunity for a profound break: Nahum Romero Explores How the Arts and Humanities Can Reinvigorate the Vision for Humanity's Future in Space. In this episode, Markus Mooslechner embarks with us on a visionary journey that transcends the conventional boundaries of space exploration. Nahum Romero, a distinguished artist and philosopher, delves into the indispensable role of arts and humanities in crafting a sustainable and inclusive future for humanity among the stars.

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ispace-US and RSA Sign Payload Services Agreement

ispace-U.S

ispace Technologies U.S., inc. (ispace-U.S.) has signed a payload services agreement with Rhea Space Activity (RSA) to deliver autonomous guidance and navigation technology to lunar orbit aboard ispace-U.S.’s Mission 3 scheduled for 2026. The agreement will consequently foster collaboration to test RSA’s Jervis Autonomy Module (JAM), a novel autonomous navigation technology which recently received funding through a grant from NASA’s TechFlights Program.

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China Discloses Legal Position on Utilization of Space Resource

China has turned in its submission to the Working Group of Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). The Working group invited member states to submit their inputs towards the Group's mandates and purposes. The submission emphasized the importance of the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty in directing any member-state activity regarding the lunar surface, particularly lunar space resources. 

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Olsen Actuators and Drives Secure Funding for Lunar Rover System

Olsen Actuators and Drives

Olsen Actuators and Drives has won its first UK Space Agency (UKSA) funding to deliver a Proof of Concept (PoC) demonstrator for a new lunar rover the University of Manchester is designing and funded by the Enabling Technologies Programme (ETP). The project will develop and fabricate a jumping robot system capable of thrusting upwards, descending, and self-righting that will lower into lava tubes under the surface of the Moon. Experts have earmarked these lava tubes for potential initial future human habitation.

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India Discloses Crew Members for Gaganyaan LEO Mission

ISRO selects Gaganyaan mission crew

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disclosed the four Indian astronauts that will fly to low-Earth orbit as part of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Gaganyaan mission, which will be the first crewed Indian space mission. The Gaganyaan mission envisages the demonstration of Indian human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth by landing in Indian sea waters. The Prime Minister made the announcement while visiting the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

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Space Cafe Radio Frontiers – CAMoes Special – with Dr Ana Pires

In this Space Café Radio Frontier episode, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr. Ana Pires, a geosciences researcher at the Centre for Robotics and Autonomous Systems|CRAS in INESCTEC, Portugal, and the Co-Lead of CAMões Crew Zero.

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Intuitive Machines Successfully Lands on Lunar Surface

Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines has successfully soft-landed its IM-1 mission Nova-C class lunar lander (Odysseus) on the lunar South Pole after launching it a week ago from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The uncrewed lunar lander landed at 6:23 pm ET (23:23 UTC), making Intuitive Machines the first commercial outfit to soft-land on the moon. It also marks the US's first moon soft landing in 51 years. 

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European Space Foundation Announces 10th ERC Edition

The European Space Foundation has announced the 10th edition of its annual European Rover Challenge (ERC) competition. Every year, the Challenge attracts decision-makers, experts in the space sector and representatives of the best technical universities from around the world. This year, the AGH University of Krakow will host the ERC from September 6-8.

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Space Café Radio Geopolitics – Japans SLIM Moon Landing – with Prof Kazuto Suzuki

In this Space Café Radio Geopolitics, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Prof Kazuto Suzuki about Japan's SLIM mission, which landed on the moon successfully. They discuss the purpose and challenges of the mission, as well as the geopolitical implications and future plans for Japan's involvement in lunar exploration.

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