Advanced Space Mission UpdateSept. 10, 2022 The CAPSTONE spacecraft was executing a planned trajectory correction maneuver Thursday evening, September 8th. We have since obtained telemetry that confirms the vehicle suffered an anomaly near the end of the planned maneuver and is currently in safe mode. The CAPSTONE mission team has good knowledge of the state and status of the spacecraft. The anomaly resolution has been enabled by the exceptional support […]

HOUSTON, Sept. 9, 2022 (NTSB PR) —National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy and Federal Aviation Administration Acting Administrator Billy Nolen signed an agreement Friday clarifying the roles of their respective agencies and how the NTSB and FAA will work together to investigate commercial space mishaps.

HOUSTON, TEXAS
SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
1:31 PM CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everyone.  Please have a seat.  Good afternoon.

Madam Director, thank you for that very kind introduction and for your work. 

I am thrilled to be here.  I am thrilled to be here. 

But, for our director, I want to thank you for your leadership.  You have been an inspiration to so many. 

HOUSTON (NASA PR) — Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the importance of climate, human spaceflight, and STEM education during the Biden-Harris Administration’s second National Space Council meeting Friday, held at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

HOUSTON (White House PR) — Today, at the second convening of the National Space Council, Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing new commitments from the U.S. government, private sector companies, education and training providers, and philanthropic organizations to support space-related STEM initiatives to inspire, prepare, and employ the next generation of the space workforce.

Firefly Aerospace is hoping the second launch of its Alpha booster is the charm on Sunday. The Texas company will attempt to launch the rocket with eight small satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch comes just over a year after an Alpha rocket failed on its maiden flight after a first-stage engine shut down. Launch Vehicle: Firefly Alpha — SCRUBBEDDate: Sept. 11, 2022Launch Window: 6:00-10:00 p.m. EDT; 3:00-7:00 p.m. […]

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 8, 2022 (Iridium PR) — Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) today announced that it has reached an agreement with SpaceX to launch up to five of the company’s remaining ground spare satellites from the Iridium^® NEXT program, on its Falcon 9 rocket.  Known as Iridium-9, the launch is planned to take place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in mid-2023.  Earlier this year, Iridium celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the first launch in Iridium’s history, which also took place from Vandenberg on May 5, 1997. That first ever launch also carried five Iridium satellites to orbit on a Delta II rocket.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

With Blue Origin regularly launching people into space from West Texas, the once sleepy suborbital space sector has raised its profile over the past year or so. But, New Shepard flights are not the only interesting suborbital flights being conducted. New launch vehicles — including ones that would compete with New Shepard — are being developed around the world. And valuable scientific research is being undertaken.

Let’s take a look at suborbital launches that do not involve the testing of ballistic or hypersonic missiles during the first eight months of the year.

WASHINGTON, September 8, 2022 (FCC PR) — Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the September Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 29, 2022:

Space Innovation: Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age – The Commission will consider a Second Report and Order that would adopt rules requiring low-Earth orbit space station operators planning disposal through uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry to complete disposal as soon as practicable, and no more than five years following the end of their mission. The Report and Order would also adopt a grandfathering period of two years and address the potential for waivers for certain types of research and scientific missions. (IB Docket No. 22-271, 18-313)

MoU brings together HD Hyundai Avikus’ leading expertise and innovation in the maritime industry with OneWeb’s advanced low Earth orbit satellite technology. Partnership will serve as a long-term initiative to provide HD Hyundai Avikus with strengthened connectivity for their future systems.

HAMBURG, Germany, 8 September 2022 (OneWeb PR) — OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, and HD Hyundai Avikus, a world leader in advanced autonomous ship, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement, signed during a dedicated ceremony at SMM Hamburg 2022, signifies a new partnership to explore opportunities for advanced LEO satellite technology to support the next generation of marine expertise and autonomous shipping.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The first eight months of 2022 were busy ones for human spaceflight with 14 astronauts venturing into orbit and 18 spaceflight participants flying on shorter suborbital flights.

There were three crewed orbital missions to the International Space Station (ISS) by the United States and Russia that carried 11 astronauts. The flights included the first fully private mission to the station launched by SpaceX for Axiom Space in April. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner moved closer to carrying astronauts with a successful uncrewed flight test to ISS.

The agreement supports the U.S. Air Force’s rocket cargo project which is exploring new transport concepts for sending supplies and equipment across Earth via space.

LONG BEACH, Calif., 6 September 2022 (Rocket Lab PR) – Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to explore the possibility of using the Company’s Neutron and Electron launch vehicles to transport cargo around the world. The agreement will also see Rocket Lab explore using Photon spacecraft to establish on-orbit cargo depots and deliver re-entry capability.