Space

The U.S. Space Force released its final request for proposals for companies to provide National Security Space Launch services under the Phase 3 program.

Following a short-lived debut flight on April 20, an upgraded Starship-Super Heavy vehicle is being prepared for launch.

Prada, the Italian luxury fashion house, is partnering with Axiom Space for development of a new generation of NASA spacesuit to be donned by the astronauts assigned to the Artemis III lunar landing.

Achieving essential soft landings on the Moon with precision is proving to be a challenge.

Northrop was one of four teams to win NASA funding for early development of commercial LEO platforms.

Azerbaijan plans to renew its satellite constellation, which currently consists of two communications spacecraft and a single Earth observation satellite.

South Africa is working to develop an indigenous launch capability within five years, with plans to develop a former military site on the Western Cape into a commercial spaceport.

Russia’s attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon in August failed due to a mistimed thruster burn.

The FCC for the first time has imposed a fine on a satellite operator for failing to properly deorbit a satellite.

Signatories of the Artemis Accords plan to share data to avoid potential lunar mission interference.

The next mission, Chang’e 6, which is intended to return the first samples from the lunar far side, is expected to launch in May.

Astroscale Japan has received an $80 million grant from the Japanese government to “image and diagnose” a large, defunct satellite.

Congress has authorized ISS operations through 2030.

Financing issues are delaying development of a new Russian space station in low Earth orbit.

NASA plans to extend its New Horizons mission, the first to conduct a close flyby of distant Pluto and its moons, until the end of the decade with a focus on gathering data on solar activity and its influences across the Solar System.

The need to redesign the Vega-C light- to medium-lift launcher’s second stage nozzle is causing another delay for the fledgling program.

Gitai’s 1.5-m-long autonomous dual robotic arm system (S2) has successfully passed all NASA safety reviews for its planned International Space Station external demonstration.

The parameters for thruster operations are being altered in response to warmer thermal predictions for their use, according to a NASA mission update.

NASA, the Japan Exploration Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency will analyze some of the 250 grams of material from the asteroid Bennu.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Ispace technologies U.S. has unveiled a redesigned Series 2 lunar lander renamed the APEX 1.0.

The FAA also called for organizational changes following the Sept. 12, 2022, uncrewed New Shepard-23 mission.

Team wants data on S4 dynamics in simulated lunar space.

SpaceX’s tussle in Ukraine illustrates the industry’s rising power in modern conflict.

Zero-trust architecture is an approach to information technology security that emphasizes constant reverification of device identity and integrity.