NASA ASTRONAUT USES HOMEMADE STAR TRACKER TO TAKE INCREDIBLE DEEP SPACE PHOTO FROM ISS - Astronauts are many things. They're often scientists, engineers, or pilots. And in the case of NASA astronaut Don Pettit, he's also an astrophotographer. Pettit is currently on his third stay on the International Space Station (ISS), and he's continuing his long-running tradition of taking out-of-this-world photos (pun intended). His latest shot, an image of the stars and several galaxies, showcases not only his visual prowess, but also his engineering skills — he used a self-designed tool to accomplish this photo.   More
(Source: Space.com - Dec 15)

CHINA LAUNCHES “LASER DIAMOND CONSTELLATION TEST” SATELLITES - China launched a set of satellites likely intended to test inter-satellite laser links early Thursday as the country moves ahead with major constellation projects. A Long March 2D rocket topped with a Yuanzheng-3 restartable upper stage lifted off at 2:17 a.m. Eastern (0717 UTC) Dec. 12 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The rocket shed Insulation tiles as the rocket climbed into blue skies above the spaceport, propelled by a hypergolic propellant mix.    More
(Source: SpaceNews - Dec 15)

SPACEX LAUNCHES 22 STARLINK SATELLITES ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM CALIFORNIA - SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base Friday afternoon. It came as the U.S. Space Force’s Assured Access to Space (AATS) continues work to ensure resiliency from its two primary spaceports that’s seeing far more orbital launches than it has historically experienced. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 11-2 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) happened at 1:55 p.m. PST (4:55 p.m. EST, 2155 UTC). This was the 87th Starlink launch so far this year.   More
(Source: SoaceFlight Now - Dec 15)

SPACE FORCE TO TEST MODULAR SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY IN UPCOMING MISSION - The U.S. Space Force plans to use a “plug and play” satellite interface developed by The Aerospace Corporation for an upcoming mission under its Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program. The program seeks to validate technologies and tactics to shorten the timeline for launching payloads, such as surveillance sensors, into orbit.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Dec 13)

SPACEX LAUNCH OF NASA'S NEW 3D-SKY-MAPPING SATELLITE SET FOR FEBRUARY 2025 - An ambitious NASA mission to map the sky in 3D using a space-based observatory now has a target launch date of late February 2025. NASA's compact car-sized observatory, called Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (or just SPHEREx for short), will map the millions of stars and galaxies visible from our planet in every direction, "like scanning the inside of a globe," according to an agency statement. The satellite will launch into a polar orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.   More
(Source: Space.com - Dec 12)

GEOMAGNETIC STORMS CAUSE “MASS MIGRATIONS” OF SATELLITES - A pair of major geomagnetic storms this year led to unprecedented “mass migrations” of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit that create new concerns about space traffic coordination. The phenomenon was first seen in May during a major solar event called the Gannon storm. That event is best remembered for creating auroral displays in the northern hemisphere at latitudes much further south than normal.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Dec 12)

INTELSAT 33E DEMISE EXPOSES VULNERABILITIES IN THE SPACE DOMAIN - Intelsat 33e’s break-up in geostationary orbit (GEO) highlights an emerging threat for the contested space domain, an executive at U.S.-based space-tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions said Dec. 10 during the Spacepower Conference here. Clint Clark, ExoAnalytic Solutions chief growth officer and vice president of first impressions, said the company has identified a cloud of more than 700 pieces of debris following the Oct. 19 incident.    More
(Source: SpaceNews - Dec 11)

LOCKHEED MARTIN TO LAUNCH 5G DEMONSTRATION ON FIREFLY ROCKET - Lockheed Martin announced plans to launch its Tactical Satellite (TacSat) aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket in 2025, marking the second mission in a multi-launch agreement between the aerospace giant and the upstart rocket company. The mission, funded internally by Lockheed Martin, aims to showcase cutting-edge technologies targeting the defense market.    More
(Source: SpaceNews - Dec 10)

SENTINEL 1C RADAR SATELLITE BEGINS OPERATIONS TO ENHANCE EARTH OBSERVATION - A major addition to Europe's Earth observation capabilities, the Sentinel 1C satellite, has been successfully launched into orbit. Supported by the UK and launched aboard a VEGA-C rocket from French Guiana at 21:20 GMT on Thursday, December 5, Sentinel 1C will orbit 700 km above Earth to deliver critical imaging for environmental and disaster monitoring.   More
(Source: Space Daily - Dec 9)

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