Space Exploration

In this Space Café Radio in german language – SpaceWatch.Global Event coordinator and Space Café Young Global Talents Host Chiara Moenter spoke with Sabine von der Recke, head of the Berlin office of the space company OHB. The interview was conducted during this year’s ILA Berlin, which is the largest aerospace trade show in Germany which took place June 22 – 26.

In this Space Café Radio in german language – SpaceWatch.Global Event coordinator and Space Café Young Global Talents Host Chiara Moenter spoke with Thomas Reiter, a retired European astronaut, former Brigadier General in the German Air Force, and Advisor to the Director General at the European Space Agency. The interview was conducted during this year’s ILA Berlin, the largest aerospace trade show in Germany, which took place June 22 – 26, 2022.

NASA awarded a contract to Collins Aerospace, aerospace and defense company, Raytheon Technologies’ business, along with space exploration technology provider, ILC Dover, and global technology company, Oceaneering, to design, develop and demonstrate the next-generation International Space Station (ISS) spacesuit. Collins said this was its first task order under NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract awarded in May. 

Thales Alenia Space and Space Cargo Unlimited have announced the signing of the first phase contract for the conception and production of “REV1”, the first floating space factory, and the opening of a Space Cargo Unlimited subsidiary in Turin. Founded in 2014. As project contractor, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for designing, engineering, and developing the REV1 vehicle. Likewise, Space Cargo Unlimited will be the owner and commercial operator of the vehicle. 

The US Senate has passed legislation that directs NASA to establish a program to remove orbital debris, the Orbital Sustainability, or ORBITS, Act.  The passing was via unanimous consent, and it was introduced by Sen. John Hickenlooper, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee’s space subcommittee, in September. 

SpaceWatch.Global is pleased to present: The Space Café Podcast #70: Jim Green - former chief scientist NASA about the past and future of space science and the agency’s secret sauce. James Green has served 40 years with NASA and sports some of its most prestigious missions. In the current episode of the Space Café Podcast, he talks about SLS, James Webb, Artemis, DART, space science and the future of the space industry. 

GKN Aerospace has signed a contract with ArianeGroup to supply the next phase of Ariane 6 turbines and Vulcain nozzles. The contract includes the manufacturing and supply of units for the next 14 Ariane 6 launchers, which will begin production now until 2025

NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited its first titanium sample tube containing a rock sample on Mars’ surface. The sample is the first of 10 forming a depot of tubes that will be considered to be brought back to Earth by the Mars Sample Return campaign, the agency said.

 The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of the United Kingdom are strengthening their partnership with a new project to bolster space sustainability. Efforts will focus on raising awareness and building capacity related to implementing the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.

NASA’s Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio installed a Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to augment power generation on the station’s port truss structure, NASA said. The extravehicular activity (EVA) lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes.