CANBERRA, Australia (Ministry for Industry, Science and Technology PR) — The Morrison Government is providing a $4 million [US $3 million] funding boost to Australian space researchers and businesses to help them develop new technologies for use in future NASA missions to the Moon and beyond.

The Moon to Mars Demonstrator Feasibility grants will see 20 organisations receive up to $200,000 [US $150,000] each to conduct feasibility testing and to transform their concepts into the next generation of space products and services.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said growing Australia’s space manufacturing sector was a key priority for the Morrison Government and the grants will enable local organisations to capitalise on emerging economic opportunities.

“These grants are part of the Morrison Government’s flagship space program – the $150 million [US $112.5 million] Moon to Mars initiative – which is providing pathways for Australian organisations to play an important part in NASA’s plans to return to the Moon and go beyond to Mars,” Minister Porter said. 

Since the launch of ISS in 1998, for the past 20 years, for most of the time It was the only manned laboratory which locates in space. However, ISS and their crews are no longer alone with the launch of a crew to China’s first permanent space station. Today, we will compare the ISS and the Chinese space station, which is still under construction.

BRAMPTON, Ont. (MDA PR) — QUT robotics researchers will join the push to take humanity back to the Moon in designing and demonstrating a logistics robot for space application.

Researchers from QUT’s Centre for Robotics will partner with Canadian-based space technology company MDA and Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth in designing a logistics robot prototype that may be used inside the International Space Station (ISS) or the Lunar Gateway.

The Lunar Gateway, a collaborative project involving NASA, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, will serve as a rendezvous point for astronauts on missions to the surface of the Moon and as a springboard for robotic and human expeditions on to Mars.

AYLESBURY, UK (ESA PR) — The UK’s new National Space Propulsion Facility has been declared open. ESA oversaw the design, assembly and commissioning of the facility – equipped to test-fire the most powerful classes of rocket engines used aboard spacecraft.

IRVINE, Calif., June 17, 2021 (Tyvak PR) — Tyvak, a Terran Orbital Company is pleased to announce the successful completion of in-orbit system checkout and commissioning of its Tyvak-0130 satellite. These necessary check points begin soon after launch and focus primarily on testing the satellite’s essential systems and protocols. Tyvak-0130 was launched as a rideshare on SpaceX Starlink L-26 on May 15, 2021 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and has already transmitted over 4,000 pictures back to earth.

Funding Led by Cultivation Capital to Power First Space Mission

WASHINGTON (Hydrosat PR) — Hydrosat, a company creating an infrared satellite constellation, announced that it raised a $5 million seed round led by Cultivation Capital, bringing its total raised to date to over $10 million. The round was led by Cultivation Capital with participation by Freeflow Ventures, the Yield Lab, Expon Capital, Techstars, Industrious Ventures, and Synovia Capital.

Hydrosat is flying a multi-spectral and thermal infrared mission with Loft Orbital on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2022. The company plans to launch an additional 16-satellite constellation with the capacity to scan the entire globe on a daily basis, generating science quality infrared data and an analytics-ready land surface temperature product.

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the GPS III SV-05 satellite from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Thursday afternoon. Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported launch of GPS III Space Vehicle 04. It was the first time that a previously flown first stage was used to launch a military payload. Following stage separation, the Falcon 9’s […]

NASA and Roscosmos sent congratulations to the China National Space Administration for its launch of three astronauts on Shenzhou-12 to the nation’s first permanent space station on Thursday. NASA NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement Thursday regarding the China National Space Agency’s launch of the first crew to its Tiangong space station: “Congratulations to China on the successful launch of crew to their space station! I look forward […]

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — The following are statements from Pam Melroy and Administrator Bill Nelson on Thursday’s U.S. Senate confirmation of Melroy as deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: “It’s an honor to be confirmed by the Senate to serve as NASA Deputy Administrator, and I am humbled by President Biden and Vice President Harris’ confidence in me,” Melroy said. “I look forward to returning to the […]

Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, 54 and Tang Hongbo have entered the Tianhe core the nation’s first permanent space station for a three-month stay.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — When NASA’s Orion spacecraft launches aboard the powerful Space Launch System rocket for the spacecraft’s first mission around the Moon later this year, a suited manikin will be aboard outfitted with sensors to provide data on what crew members may experience in flight. As part of the uncrewed Artemis I flight test, NASA is seeking to learn how best to protect astronauts for Artemis II, the first mission with crew. In this […]

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. (SpaceX PR) — SpaceX is targeting Thursday, June 17 for Falcon 9’s launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 05 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 15-minute launch window opens at 12:09 p.m. EDT, 16:09 UTC, and a backup launch opportunity is available on Friday, June 18 with a 15-minute launch window opening at 12:05 p.m. EDT, […]