Space Missions

Amazon has announced it will invest $120 million to build a satellite processing facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the company prepares to launch the first satellites for its Project Kuiper internet network. The facility is the latest long-term investment in Project Kuiper, a low Earth orbit satellite network that will provide fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world.

ESA has conducted extensive work on In-Orbit Servicing (IOS), including as part of its Clean Space initiative for the removal and prevention of space debris. ESA Preparation invited industry partners to outline their vision of Europe’s first IOS mission, which could be launched as early as 2028. 

Telesat has announced the successful launch of its LEO 3 demonstration satellite aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. LEO 3 was one of seven satellites in the rideshare mission that launched from Mahia, New Zealand.

An international team of astronomers, including the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), the University of Cape Town (UCT), and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), have discovered a rare type of white dwarf pulsar. This is a rare type of spinning white dwarf star in a binary star system., and it provides a new understanding of the role of magnetic fields in stellar evolution.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the international community are marking the 2023 edition of the international moon day Today. Every year since 2021, the global community marks international moon day on July 20 to commemorate the first moon landing that happened on July 20, 1969.

Rocket Lab, a launch and space systems company successfully launched seven satellites for NASA, Space Flight Laboratory, and Spire Global from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. has announced the crew of its seventh spaceflight and second commercial spaceflight, ‘Galactic 02,’ which will fly three private passengers to space, achieving several historical milestones and furthering the Company’s mission of broadening access to space.

Viasat, Inc. has disclosed that an unexpected event occurred during reflector deployment that may materially impact the performance of the ViaSat-3 Americas satellite. Viasat and its reflector provider are conducting a rigorous review of the development and deployment of the affected reflector to determine its impact and potential remedial measures.

Andøya Spaceport is building Norway’s first spaceport on Andøya, from where it can launch payloads with orbital launch vehicles into polar and sun-synchronous orbits. The Spaceport will provide the ground infrastructure for launch operator companies to launch small satellites into orbit. Furthermore, the initial capability includes a new launch pad, an integration hall where users can assemble and integrate their payloads into the rockets. The facility will also offer control rooms for operating tests, launch operations, and range activities.

SpaceWatch.Global scored its first BBC News appearance on Friday at 12:30 UK time, with editor in chief Dr. Emma Gatti being invited to comment on the potentially historical launch of Chandrayaan-3.