Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng-2C; Payload: three Yaogan 30-07 satellites, Tianqi-6; Date: 26 October 2020, 1519 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellites were deployed into 588 km x 604 km x 35.00 degrees orbits.

NASA and SpaceX are now targeting 15 November, 0049 UTC for the launch of the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Momentus Inc. and Gran Systems announced a service agreement for Gran System’s 2U CubeSat NUTSAT to fly on Momentus’ December 2020 Vigoride demo mission.

Thales Alenia Space has signed the first phase of a contract with NorthStar Earth and Space Inc., a Canadian space-based information services company, to start the development and production of the first three smallsat satellites that are part of the world’s first commercial space-based environmental and near-space monitoring system.

Europe signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday (Oct. 27) formalizing its collaboration on Gateway, NASA’s planned outpost in lunar orbit.

NASA’s asteroid-sampling maneuver last week was so successful that the spacecraft will begin stowing its new souvenirs today (Oct. 27) to avoid losing rock by idling around.

Captain Kathryn Janeway, the fearless leader of the USS Voyager in “Star Trek: Voyager,” now has a permanent home in Indiana.

Astronomers are vetting a technique that could aid the hunt for Planet Nine, which some researchers think lurks undiscovered in the far outer system, way beyond Pluto’s orbit.