Tag: outer space
Intuitive Machines picks a launch date and landing site for 2021 Moon cargo delivery mission
The first private company scheduled to make a delivery of scientific cargo on behalf of NASA has specified a landing site, and a target date for its mission. Intuitive Machines will seek to land its Nova-C lunar lander to a site called the ‘Vallis Schröteri,’ which is the largest valley…
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Virgin Orbit completes key final test prior to first orbital demo launch
Virgin Orbit is closer than ever to its goal of launching orbital satellites from a platform carried aboard a modified 747 aircraft. The company flew a successful cryogenic captive carry test of its LauncherOne rocket, carried by the Cosmic Girl carrier aircraft. This test marks the first time that the…
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NASA seeks miniature scientific payload concepts for robotic Moon rover scouts
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seeking ideas from the public around what kind of scientific equipment they could use to outfit tiny lunar rovers to help with Artemis and other Moon missions. The call, issued via crowdsourcing platform HeroX and called ‘Honey, I Shrunk the NASA Payload’ in a very…
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NASA selects Masten Space Systems to deliver cargo to the Moon in 2022
NASA has chosen a new lunar surface delivery partner from its list of Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) vendors to actually transport stuff on its behalf – Mojave’s Masten Space Systems, which is being tapped by the agency to take eight payloads, including non science and tech instruments, to the…
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Rocket Lab catches an Electron stage in mid-air, demonstrating a key part of its rocket recovery plan
[embedded content] Rocket Lab is in the process of developing a way to recover the rockets it launches, despite their originally being designed as fully expendable launch vehicles. The company had a surprise announcement on Wednesday: It has already managed to successfully catch an Electron in mid-air, during a test…
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SpaceX and NASA test the system Crew Dragon staff would use to exit the launch area in an emergency
On Friday, April 3, 2020, NASA and SpaceX completed an end-to-end demonstration of the teams’ ability to safely evacuate crew members from the Fixed Service Structure during an emergency situation at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX and NASA are in the process of final…
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