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Firefly Aerospace Partners with Starcloud for Lunar AI Computing Demonstration

Firefly Aerospace Partners with Starcloud for Lunar AI Computing Demonstration

Firefly Aerospace Partners with Starcloud for Lunar AI Computing Demonstration
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Firefly Aerospace Partners with Starcloud to Establish Lunar Orbit Data Center Capabilities

Firefly Aerospace Partners with Starcloud to Establish Lunar Orbit Data Center Capabilities

Firefly Aerospace Partners with Starcloud to Establish Lunar Orbit Data Center Capabilities
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Firefly Aerospace Secures Commercial Lunar Data-Center Contract with Starcloud for Blue Ghost Mission 3

Firefly Aerospace Secures Commercial Lunar Data-Center Contract with Starcloud for Blue Ghost Mission 3

Firefly Aerospace Secures Commercial Lunar Data-Center Contract with Starcloud for Blue Ghost Mission 3
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MBRSC Integrates RTx Payload onto Rashid Rover 2 for Lunar Exploration

MBRSC Integrates RTx Payload onto Rashid Rover 2 for Lunar Exploration

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai has successfully integrated the RTx ground-penetrating radar transmitter onto the Rashid Rover 2. This development marks a significant step forward for the Emirates Lunar Mission, which aims to send the rover to the far side of the Moon. The RTx payload will enable the rover to transmit radio signals capable of probing up to 100 meters below the lunar surface, offering scientists unprecedented insights into the Moon's subsurface composition. The Rashid Rover 2 is scheduled to launch aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2. Once on the lunar surface, the rover will study the Moon's terrain, surface composition, and thermal properties, as well as the interaction of different materials with the lunar environment and plasma activity near the surface. This mission follows the unsuccessful attempt of Rashid Rover 1, which crash-landed in April 2023.
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NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Utilize Aerial Flight for Exploration of Titan

NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Utilize Aerial Flight for Exploration of Titan

NASA's upcoming Dragonfly mission will deploy a flying robot, similar in size to the Mars Perseverance rover, to explore Saturn's moon, Titan. Scheduled for launch in July 2028 with an anticipated arrival in late 2034, Dragonfly will use eight rotors in a quadcopter arrangement to navigate Titan's surface. This approach is designed to overcome the challenges of Titan's dense atmosphere, low gravity (approximately 1/7th of Earth's), and frigid temperatures, which make traditional wheeled traversal difficult. Dragonfly is expected to weigh around 1,900 pounds and will be capable of covering distances in minutes that would take Mars rovers an Earth year. The mission aims to collect data over three years, making one flight every 1-2 Titan days (about 16 Earth days).
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's EagleCam Successfully Launches to Moon

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's EagleCam Successfully Launches to Moon

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's miniature satellite camera system, dubbed 'EagleCam,' successfully launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, February 15, 2024. This launch marks the beginning of EagleCam's journey to the moon. The project is poised to achieve several significant 'firsts' upon its arrival. These include becoming the first university student-built project to land on the moon, the first to capture third-person imagery of a spacecraft during a lunar mission, and the first to utilize WiFi technology on the lunar surface. The device represents years of development and effort by students and faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The lunar landing is currently anticipated to occur on February 22, 2024, with further updates on the lander's journey expected from Intuitive Machines.
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NASA Strengthens Research Security Enforcement Following Committee Report, Suspends $40 Million in Awards

NASA Strengthens Research Security Enforcement Following Committee Report, Suspends $40 Million in Awards

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has implemented significant measures to enhance its enforcement of the Wolf Amendment and address research security vulnerabilities. These actions follow a report from the Select Committee on China titled 'Research Security for America’s Future in Space: NASA’s Enforcement of the Wolf Amendment.' As a direct result, NASA has suspended over $40 million across 40 active research awards. These suspensions are pending a review of potential compliance issues related to bilateral research collaborations with Chinese institutions. Furthermore, NASA has initiated administrative enforcement actions and established a coordinated process between its research security office and the NASA Office of Inspector General. This process aims to refer confirmed violations for further investigation and potential referral to the Department of Justice for enforcement. To proactively identify potential issues, NASA has also developed and implemented an automated process to f...
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NASA Launches Small Spacecraft to Advance Propulsion, Galactic Dust Study, and Satellite Inspection

NASA Launches Small Spacecraft to Advance Propulsion, Galactic Dust Study, and Satellite Inspection

Three NASA-supported small spacecraft were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of the Transporter-18 commercial rideshare mission. These missions aim to demonstrate new propulsion technologies, study galactic dust and high-energy radiation, and enhance capabilities for inspecting inactive satellites. The ASCENT Propulsion Dual Mode CubeSat will test two forms of propulsion using a low-toxicity propellant, Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT), which offers improved safety and efficiency. The Supernova Remnants and Proxies for ReIonization Testbed Experiment (SPRITE) CubeSat, developed by the University of Colorado Boulder, will detect a specific range of ultraviolet light to understand how gas, dust, and high-energy radiation move through galaxies. The Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) mission, operated by Starfish Space, will inspect up to four inoperable U.S. satellites in low Earth orbit, utilizing new pr...
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Satlyt Secures $8 Million Seed Funding to Expand Virtual Orbital Data Center Network

Satlyt Secures $8 Million Seed Funding to Expand Virtual Orbital Data Center Network

Satlyt Secures $8 Million Seed Funding to Expand Virtual Orbital Data Center Network
USA TodayUSA Today
No astronauts have launched from the US in 6 months. Crew-13 is next

No astronauts have launched from the US in 6 months. Crew-13 is next

Six months have elapsed since astronauts have reached space after a rocket launch from the US. That's due to change with a mission known as Crew-13.
USA TodayUSA Today
Starship reached orbit for 1st time. What's next for SpaceX's rocket?

Starship reached orbit for 1st time. What's next for SpaceX's rocket?

Following more than 3 years of flight tests from Texas, SpaceX's gargantuan Starship rocket reached orbit for the first time. Here's why that matters.
The Corpus Christi Caller TimesThe Corpus Christi Caller Times
Starship reaches orbit after Texas launch. What's next for SpaceX?

Starship reaches orbit after Texas launch. What's next for SpaceX?

After more than 3 years of flight tests from Starbase in Texas, SpaceX's Starship rocket reached orbit for the first time. Here's why that matters.