WASHINGTON — NASA has selected SpaceX to launch the last in a series of geostationary weather satellites that had previously been launched by United Launch Alliance. NASA announced Sept. 10 that it awarded a contract to SpaceX for the Falcon Heavy launch of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) U spacecraft. The launch is scheduled
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A new solicitation from the Defense Innovation Unit seeks “mature commercial technologies that can provide power and propulsion in the near term” WASHINGTON — The Defense Innovation Unit last week issued a call for bids for small nuclear-powered engines for space missions beyond Earth orbit. DoD wants “lightweight, portable and long-duration power sources that can
Taken from the September 2021 issue of Physics World where it first appeared under the headline “Flights of fancy, feet on the ground”. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue via the Physics World app. Philip Moriarty reviews Fear of a Black Universe: an Outsider’s Guide to the Future of Physics
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The good news for the Earth observation industry is that their capabilities to collect and analyze imagery are better than ever. The bad news for the industry is that many prospective customers don’t understand those capabilities. During a panel session of the Satellite 2021 conference Sept. 9, industry officials lamented that,
WASHINGTON — The House Science Committee approved its portion of a massive budget reconciliation spending bill Sept. 9, making no major changes to its NASA provisions. The full committee voted 21-17 after a daylong markup to advance its portion of the package, allocating $45.51 billion to agencies under its jurisdiction, including NASA, the National Oceanic
Chirag Parikh said the call for nominations for the Users Advisory Group will stay open through the end of the month NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — A notice could appear in the Federal Register as early as next week seeking nominations for the National Space Council’s industry advisory group, the council’s executive secretary Chirag Parikh said
SEOUL, South Korea — Hanwha Phasor, a phased-array antenna maker under South Korea’s conglomerate Hanwha Group seeking its own megaconstellation, has partnered with Wisconsin-based product designer Plexus to develop an ultrathin electronically steered array for satellite communications on the move. Hanwha said Plexus will provide it with “product development support and design for manufacture, test
Working in tandem A perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cell. (Courtesy: Oxford PV)”> Working in tandem A perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cell. (Courtesy: Oxford PV) Late in 2020, scientists in Germany and Lithuania announced a new milestone in so-called “tandem” solar cells – that is, cells made from two different types of photovoltaic material. Writing in Science, the
SAN FRANCISCO – Optical communications startup BridgeComm announced a strategic partnership with satellite component supplier Space Micro to work together on the design, development and testing of optical communications technology for U.S. government and commercial customers. BridgeComm is working to establish a global network of ground stations and a laser communications constellation in low Earth
SAN FRANCISCO – Switzerland-based additive manufacturing specialist Swissto12 announced plans Sept. 8 to collaborate with Saturn Satellite Networks, a U.S. firm focused on small geostationary satellite missions, to market small geostationary telecommunications satellite missions. “There is a lot of opportunity in MicroGEO satellites which is currently not addressed,” Swissto12 CEO Emile de Rijk said in
Compact core: artist’s impression of a star that has swallowed a compact object. The compact object has an accretion disc and two jets that poke out of the star, which is about to explode. (Courtesy: Chuck Carter) A black hole or a neutron star may have merged with a normal massive star and caused it
SAN FRANCISCO – Bradford Space is updating its Comet electrothermal propulsion technology and transferring production of the small satellite thrusters from the United States to Luxembourg. “The Luxembourg ecosystem allows more supportive financing of the venture of improving the technology, transferring the technology and building a facility,” said Patrick van Put, Bradford Space managing director.
WASHINGTON — The House Science Committee will mark up its portion of a multitrillion-dollar spending bill this week that includes several billion dollars for NASA infrastructure but nothing for lunar lander development. The House Science Committee is scheduled to meet Sept. 9 to mark up a portion of a $3.5 trillion spending bill being considered
NGA provides firefighting agencies updated maps in 15 minute intervals on areas where fires are rapidly spreading. WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced it plans to extend a pilot program that provides imagery from satellites, drones, ground sensors and cameras to help track and combat wildfires. The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) started the program in
China’s moon-sampling mission spacecraft is continuing its extended mission with its destination currently unknown. HELSINKI — The Chang’e-5 orbiter module which facilitated China’s complex lunar sample return last year is on its way to the moon following deep space tests. The orbiter, one of four distinct Chang’e-5 mission spacecraft, delivered a return module containing 1.731
Taken from the September 2021 issue of Physics World. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue via the Physics World app. Free and open-source software is growing to be a powerful tool in academic research, helping scientists to collaborate better and work smarter. Achintya Rao investigates how such software is being