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Voyager Selected as NASA CLPS 2 Vendor to Deliver Moon Base Infrastructure

Voyager Selected as NASA CLPS 2 Vendor to Deliver Moon Base Infrastructure

NASA has selected Voyager as a vendor under its new Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Multiple Award Contract (CLPS 2). This selection integrates Voyager into the next-generation vendor pool, making the company eligible to compete for NASA lunar mission task orders through 2036, with a base ceiling of $10 billion. The contract includes an option to extend to 2041, increasing the ceiling to $15 billion. Voyager's Lunar Systems, formerly Astrobotic, has a history with CLPS, having been awarded four lunar mission contracts under CLPS 1, including Griffin Mission 1 (Griffin-1). Griffin-1, which recently completed acceptance testing, is scheduled to launch to the lunar South Pole in January 2027, carrying the largest commercial payload ever delivered to the lunar surface, including NASA payloads, Astrolab’s FLIP rover, and Voyager’s CubeRover. Voyager aims to provide repeatable delivery, power, and infrastructure to establish the Moon as an operational domain.
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SpaceX, ULA plan rare double rocket launch on Friday the 13th

SpaceX, ULA plan rare double rocket launch on Friday the 13th

SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance aren't feeling superstitious this Friday the 13th. Both are planning rocket launches today from Texas and Florida.
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Moog Inc. Celebrates 25th Anniversary of ESPA Ring, Revolutionizing Space Rideshare

Moog Inc. Celebrates 25th Anniversary of ESPA Ring, Revolutionizing Space Rideshare

Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) is commemorating 25 years since its Evolved Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring completed its Critical Design Review in 2001. This pioneering technology has significantly advanced space rideshare capabilities, allowing multiple payloads to share a single launch vehicle and thereby broadening access to orbit for commercial, government, and defense missions. The development of the ESPA ring began in 1999 as a collaborative government-industry initiative, culminating in its successful Critical Design Review on January 18, 2001. The ESPA ring efficiently utilizes previously unused volume beneath primary satellites, enabling launch vehicles to carry additional payloads, which has reduced costs and increased mission flexibility for various space operations.
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University of North Dakota Highlights Expanding Role in Space and National Security at Summit

University of North Dakota Highlights Expanding Role in Space and National Security at Summit

The University of North Dakota (UND) recently hosted its third annual Space Operations Summit, bringing together leaders from NASA, the U.S. Space Force, defense organizations, and industry to discuss advancements in space technology, national security, and workforce development. The summit underscored UND's growing contributions to the space sector, with discussions covering satellite communications, hypersonic technology, and lunar exploration. UND President Andrew Armacost highlighted the university's research in areas such as laser communications with satellites, space situational awareness, and nanomaterials. Brad Clevenger, president of National Security for Rocket Lab, noted Grand Forks as an emerging hub for the space economy, citing UND's research, the presence of the Space Development Agency and Grand Forks Air Force Base, and a growing commercial space industry. The summit also featured former NASA astronaut Rex Walheim, who shared insights from his space shuttle missions and the future of lunar...
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SpaceX targets 'Holy Grail of rocketry' with Starship flight 15

SpaceX targets 'Holy Grail of rocketry' with Starship flight 15

SpaceX plans to catch both stages of its Starship rocket in a significant first during the next launch, known as flight 15, in South Texas.
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Axiom Space Files Lawsuit Against Vast Space Over Alleged Misuse of NASA Mission-Planning Work

Axiom Space Files Lawsuit Against Vast Space Over Alleged Misuse of NASA Mission-Planning Work

Axiom Space Files Lawsuit Against Vast Space Over Alleged Misuse of NASA Mission-Planning Work
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SpaceX Aims for Full Starship Reusability with Ambitious Orbital Test Flight

SpaceX Aims for Full Starship Reusability with Ambitious Orbital Test Flight

SpaceX is preparing for its most ambitious Starship test flight to date, aiming to achieve full reusability of both the Starship upper stage and the Super Heavy booster. The flight, potentially launching as early as November 13, 2026, will attempt to launch Starship into Earth orbit, deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites, and then land both stages back at Starbase, Texas. The Super Heavy booster is designed to return to the launch pad for a safe landing, a maneuver successfully demonstrated three times previously. For the first time, the Starship upper stage is also planned to return to Starbase for a soft landing on a separate pad. This mission follows the 14th flight in September, which experienced engine problems and did not complete a full orbit, despite reaching an orbital trajectory. If successful, this 15th flight would mark the first fully orbital flight for Starship and a significant step towards SpaceX's goal of dramatically lowering space launch costs through rapid reusability.
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From explosions to catches, how SpaceX's Starship reached flight 15

From explosions to catches, how SpaceX's Starship reached flight 15

SpaceX prepares for a dual catch of both stages of its Starship rocket on Nov. 13 during flight 15. Before that, relive all previous launches.
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Caltech Robot Successfully Assembles Structure in Space, Advancing Autonomous Orbital Construction

Caltech Robot Successfully Assembles Structure in Space, Advancing Autonomous Orbital Construction

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have achieved a significant milestone in space exploration by successfully using a robot to autonomously assemble a structure in orbit. This marks the first instance of autonomous construction in space without human assistance. The robotic system, named Autonomous In-Space Tensioned Reflector Assembly (ASTRA), was developed under a program funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Launched into low-Earth orbit on March 30 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission, ASTRA is designed to build a 1.4-meter-wide reflector antenna using lightweight tubes, aluminum joints, and reflective material. The system, which launched with two preassembled sections, successfully constructed a third section in orbit. While the complete antenna would require 11 sections, this demonstration proves the feasibility of the approach. The team faced technical challenges, troubleshooting issues from Earth during limited communication windows, but ...
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Axiom Space Seeks Principal Electrical Power System Engineer for Human Spaceflight Hardware Development

Axiom Space Seeks Principal Electrical Power System Engineer for Human Spaceflight Hardware Development

Axiom Space Seeks Principal Electrical Power System Engineer for Human Spaceflight Hardware Development
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NASA's Pandora Mission Begins Exoplanet Observations with RTX-Supplied Technology

NASA's Pandora Mission Begins Exoplanet Observations with RTX-Supplied Technology

NASA has announced that the Pandora mission has commenced its observations, utilizing technology supplied by RTX. The Pandora spacecraft, integrated and tested at Blue Canyon in Lafayette, Colorado, is designed to differentiate signals from exoplanet atmospheres from changes in their host stars. The mission, which completed its environmental campaign in 2025, combines a 45-centimeter diameter telescope with visible and infrared light observations. This setup allows the science team to separate the contributions of the star and its transiting planet to the measured spectrum. Blue Canyon's platform is crucial for supporting the extended pointing and operational requirements of the observing program. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provided project management and engineering, while NASA centers and universities contributed scientific and technical capabilities, linking industrial suppliers with scientific institutions.
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Arrowtown, New Zealand, Offers Historic Charm and Outdoor Activities Near Queenstown

Arrowtown, New Zealand, Offers Historic Charm and Outdoor Activities Near Queenstown

Arrowtown, New Zealand, Offers Historic Charm and Outdoor Activities Near Queenstown