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Impulse Space Secures NASA Contracts for Moon Base Transportation Infrastructure

Impulse Space Secures NASA Contracts for Moon Base Transportation Infrastructure

Impulse Space, an in-space mobility company, has been awarded two task orders by NASA for its Moon Base program. These awards will utilize Impulse Space's fleet of spacecraft, including a highly throttleable lander, the Helios kick-stage, and the Mira performance maneuvering spacecraft, to establish transportation infrastructure for humanity's first permanent lunar outpost. Missions are slated to commence in 2028. The task orders fall under NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. For the first task order, Impulse Space will act as the prime contractor, collaborating with SpaceX for a Falcon 9 rocket launch to deliver a NASA payload, with an option for Mira vehicles to transport additional payloads to cislunar space. The second task order designates Impulse Space as the prime contractor for a launch on Relativity's Terran R launch vehicle, where Impulse's Helios and lander vehicles will carry NASA payloads to their target cislunar orbits and test cargo de...

NASA Swift Observatory Reenters Earth's Atmosphere Near Indonesia After 22-Year Mission

NASA Swift Observatory Reenters Earth's Atmosphere Near Indonesia After 22-Year Mission

NASA's Swift Observatory, a premier space telescope that spent 22 years studying cosmic explosions, reentered Earth's atmosphere on Wednesday. The U.S. Space Force confirmed the observatory's reentry near Indonesia, having tracked its sinking orbit. This demise follows an unsuccessful rescue mission less than three months prior. The Swift Observatory's orbit deteriorated due to intense solar activity experienced over the past few years. NASA had contracted a private company, Katalyst Space, to develop an orbit-boosting effort. However, Katalyst Space's three-armed robotic craft encountered issues after its July launch and subsequently crashed in September, failing to prevent Swift's atmospheric reentry. It is not yet known how much of the 1.5-ton spacecraft burned up during reentry, though NASA anticipated some denser components would survive.

NASA's Swift Observatory Concludes 22-Year Mission with Fiery Reentry Over Indonesia

NASA's Swift Observatory Concludes 22-Year Mission with Fiery Reentry Over Indonesia

NASA's Swift Observatory, a premier space telescope that spent 22 years studying cosmic explosions, plunged back to Earth on Wednesday, concluding its mission with a fiery reentry over Indonesia. The U.S. Space Force confirmed Swift's reentry near Indonesia after tracking its sinking orbit, which was influenced by intense solar activity over the past few years. This event occurred less than three months after a long-shot rescue mission, involving a private company's robotic craft, failed to boost the satellite's orbit. Swift, launched in 2004, was initially expected to operate for two years but far exceeded its planned lifespan, observing thousands of gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars.

NASA Warns Hubble Space Telescope Expected to Fall from Orbit by Mid-2030s, Considers Rescue Mission

NASA Warns Hubble Space Telescope Expected to Fall from Orbit by Mid-2030s, Considers Rescue Mission

NASA has announced that the Hubble Space Telescope is projected to fall from orbit and re-enter Earth's atmosphere by the mid-2030s. This follows the recent re-entry of NASA’s Swift Observatory on Wednesday, which had exceeded its two-year mission projection by lasting 11 times longer than planned. The agency is currently exploring the feasibility of a 'rescue mission' to push the Hubble Space Telescope further into space, thereby extending its operational life. The Swift Observatory's re-entry occurred after unsuccessful attempts to correct its sinking orbit. This development highlights the challenges of maintaining long-term space assets and the eventual fate of orbiting telescopes.

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Reenters Earth's Atmosphere After 22-Year Mission

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Reenters Earth's Atmosphere After 22-Year Mission

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, previously known as the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer, concluded its 22-year mission by reentering Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday. Launched in 2004, the space telescope plunged back into the atmosphere at 7:39 am ET, just four hours after NASA's prediction. The reentry occurred over the North Sumatra region of Indonesia, west of Malaysia. NASA anticipates that most of the telescope burned up during reentry, though some components may have survived. Operations for Swift were shut down in late October, with its final observation conducted on October 20, due to increased atmospheric drag at its orbiting altitude of 171 miles above Earth's surface.

NASA Seeks Commercial Solutions to Prevent Hubble Space Telescope's Re-entry

NASA Seeks Commercial Solutions to Prevent Hubble Space Telescope's Re-entry

The Hubble Space Telescope is gradually losing altitude and is projected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere as early as 2032, with a 50% probability by December 2033, according to NASA estimates. Researchers are advocating for its rescue, emphasizing its continued scientific value and the potential for a significant capability gap if it is lost. The telescope, launched in 1990, has been a source of over 23,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers. Its orbit requires periodic boosting due to atmospheric drag, a task previously performed by the Space Shuttle fleet, which has since been retired. NASA has issued a call for proposals from the commercial sector, inviting companies to submit plans by November 30 for either raising Hubble's orbit to at least 600 kilometers or safely de-orbiting it into the ocean. This initiative follows a similar call in 2022, which did not result in a mission.

Pakistani astronaut to board Shenzhou 24 and become the first foreigner on China's space station

Pakistani astronaut to board Shenzhou 24 and become the first foreigner on China's space station

A Pakistani astronaut will board China’s Shenzhou 24 spacecraft as the first foreign national on Beijing’s space station

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman takes leadership role at JPL

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman takes leadership role at JPL

Reid Wiseman, who announced he would transition to an emeritus role at NASA, will begin his job at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the end of November.

SpaceX Starship Program Advances with Flight 15 Preparations and Cape Canaveral Launch Site Development

SpaceX Starship Program Advances with Flight 15 Preparations and Cape Canaveral Launch Site Development

SpaceX's Starship program is making significant progress, with Flight 15 hardware ready for launch and the development of a second launch site at Cape Canaveral nearing completion. Booster 22 and Ship 42, components for Flight 15, have successfully cleared static fire tests, indicating a consistent operational rhythm for SpaceX. This flight also marks the beginning of a permanent Raptor 3 engine reliability upgrade program, integrating lessons from previous flights into the production baseline. The first Starship launch from Cape Canaveral's LC-39A is anticipated in the coming months, with construction progressing on the tank farm, SLC-37 tower, and other infrastructure. Additionally, Starbase is now processing multiple vehicles simultaneously, stacking Ships 43 through 45 and Booster 24 in parallel, demonstrating an increased cadence in production.

NASA Accelerates Artemis Program with New Lunar Lander and Spacesuit Plans

NASA Accelerates Artemis Program with New Lunar Lander and Spacesuit Plans

NASA announced accelerated plans for its Artemis program, aiming to return Americans to the lunar surface by 2028. This includes advancing the Artemis III test flight to 2027 and the Artemis IV Moon landing mission to 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted significant progress in collaboration with industry partners to test critical capabilities and reduce risks. For Artemis III, four astronauts will fly aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by NASA’s SLS rocket, for a 14-day Earth orbit mission to test rendezvous, docking, and operations with lunar lander test vehicles from SpaceX and Blue Origin. NASA also revealed plans with Axiom Space to develop a lighter 'Sortie suit' for initial moonwalks, which is roughly half the weight of Axiom’s primary suit and designed to expedite early surface missions.

Hubble Space Telescope Reveals 93-Billion-Mile Cosmic Dust Structure, 'Cat's Tail,' Challenging Astronomical Explanations

Hubble Space Telescope Reveals 93-Billion-Mile Cosmic Dust Structure, 'Cat's Tail,' Challenging Astronomical Explanations

Astronomers at the University of Arizona, utilizing the Hubble Space Telescope, have made a significant discovery: a gargantuan, 93-billion-mile-long cosmic dust feature dubbed the 'Cat's Tail.' This structure is located in the Beta Pictoris system, approximately 63 light-years away. Previously, this anomaly was only detectable by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in infrared light. Lead researcher Arin Avsar explained that the 'Cat's Tail' evaded visible-light detection for so long because it is composed almost entirely of heavily carbon-based organic refractory material, which effectively absorbs visible light. The structure is roughly 1,000 astronomical units long, equivalent to wrapping between the Earth and the Sun about 500 times.

University of Arizona Hosts Inaugural Space Horizons Forum to Foster Collaboration in Space Sector

University of Arizona Hosts Inaugural Space Horizons Forum to Foster Collaboration in Space Sector

The University of Arizona recently hosted the inaugural Space Horizons Forum in Tucson, bringing together leaders from NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the defense industry, commercial space companies, and academia. The two-day event, held on October 29-30, focused on strengthening partnerships and exploring the blurring boundaries between these sectors in space exploration and security. Speakers included Quantum Space CEO and former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, U.S. Space Force Chief Science Officer Stacie Williams, and Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., alongside over 20 other experts from organizations like NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Discussions covered topics such as robotic missions to reduce risks for crewed flights, the future of space defense focusing on data fusion and nuclear propulsion, and the role of commercial capabilities in freeing up science and technology dollars for transformative work. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella emphasized ...