Space Exploration

Rocket Lab belongs to the top private launcher companies globally. With 14 launches and 55 deployed satellites, the company is one of the most vibrant actors in the space launcher market. SpaceWatch.Global Editor-in-Chief Markus Payer got the chance to talk to Peter Beck, Founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, to …

Luxembourg, 1 October 2020. – Astrobotic’s CubeRover for NASA’s Moon missions is on its way to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Pittsburgh-based company announced. The CubeRover is designed to provide an affordable mobile outlet for scientific instruments and other payloads to operate on the surface of the Moon, …

Berlin, 1 October 2020. – Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla took up her position as Chair of the Executive Board of the German space agency today, DLR said today. She succeeds Pascale Ehrenfreund, who led DLR for five years and took the helm of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). The DLR Senate unanimously selected …

Berlin, 30 September 2020. – The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) tasked DC-based Gryphon Technologies to support the development of a nuclear thermal propulsion system, the firm announced yesterday. Gryphon provides digital engineering, analytics, cyber and cloud solutions to U.S. security organizations. It was awarded a $14million DARPA task …

Berlin, 29 September 2020. – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) want to become the first Arab country on the Moon and have announced the launch of the Emirates Lunar Mission, the Emirates newswire WAM reported today. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler …

Berlin, 29 September 2020. – NASA and SpaceX will send four astronauts from the U.S. and Japan to the International Space Station (ISS) on 31 October. This is the first NASA-certified commercial flight of an international crew from American soil, the agency said. The astronauts will fly from Cape Canaveral …

SpaceWatch.Global is pleased to present the 12th episode in our podcast series The Space Cafe Podcast: Chris Lee – How will Hubble die? Is this the golden era of space travel? Why ESA has a bright future. Episode 012 features special guest Chris Lee.  Chris Lee has just retired from …

Berlin, 28 September 2020. – ArianeGroup will deliver key propulsion system components for NASA’s Artemis Moon mission and has signed agreements with Airbus Defence and Space for the adaptation and construction of the third European Service Module (ESM) flight model for the Orion spacecraft, the company announced today. Airbus Defence …

Berlin, 27 September 2020. – The Italian Government has signed a contract with NASA to contribute to the U.S. space agency’s Artemis program. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine signed a joint statement of intent with Italian Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Riccardo Fraccaro, representing the Italian government, …

Berlin, 27 September 2020. – SpaceX’s attempt to challenge U.S. Air Force’s contracts with rivals of SpaceX’s Starship for Moon and Mars missions is expected to be rejected, Reuters reported. A U.S. federal judge plans to deny SpaceX’s challenge to U.S. Air Force contracts awarded in October 2018 to its …