SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys SpainSat NG-1, Enhancing Secure Communications

SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys SpainSat NG-1, Enhancing Secure Communications

A next-generation Spanish communications satellite has been launched into orbit by SpaceX, with liftoff occurring at 8:34 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 29. The Falcon 9 rocketcarrying the SpainSat Next Generation 1 (SpainSat NG-1) satellite, departed from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The satellite, developed for secure governmental communications, was … Read more

ISRO’s NVS-02 Satellite Stalls in Orbit Due to Technical Malfunction

ISRO’s NVS-02 Satellite Stalls in Orbit Due to Technical Malfunction

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported an issue with its NVS-02 navigation satellite, launched on January 29 aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket. While the satellite successfully reached orbit and established communication with ground control, a technical malfunction prevented further orbit-raising manoeuvres. The problem was traced to the non-opening of the oxidiser valves, which are … Read more

Japan’s First Space Launch of 2025 Sends Michibiki 6 Navigation Satellite into Orbit

Japan’s First Space Launch of 2025 Sends Michibiki 6 Navigation Satellite into Orbit

Japan successfully launched a navigation satellite on Sunday, marking the country’s first space mission of 2025. The H3 rocket lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center at 3:30 a.m. EST carrying the Michibiki 6 satellite. The launch vehicle, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, placed the 4,900-kilogram spacecraft into a … Read more

NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission

NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission

NASA is inviting U.S. companies to collaborate on the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), a mission initially halted due to budget constraints. Designed to search for water ice near the lunar south pole, VIPER was originally planned as a $450 million project. The agency had cancelled the mission in July 2024, citing cost-saving measures. … Read more

NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions

NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions

Efforts to develop nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) for future space missions have taken a significant step forward. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), in collaboration with NASA, has conducted tests on nuclear reactor fuel designed for space travel. The trials, held at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, assessed the fuel’s ability to withstand extreme … Read more

ISRO Dismisses Glitch Reports in SpaDeX Docking, Confirms Mission Progress

ISRO Dismisses Glitch Reports in SpaDeX Docking, Confirms Mission Progress

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has dismissed reports suggesting issues in its maiden space docking mission, SpaDeX. On February 8, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, V Narayanan, clarified that no technical faults had been encountered in the docking process. He stated that the mission was progressing systematically and that further experiments were … Read more

New satellites will help track wildfires in real time—here’s how

New satellites will help track wildfires in real time—here’s how

Eight satellites designed to detect and monitor wildfires have been launched into orbit by Rocket Lab. The mission, named “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You,” was conducted for OroraTech, a Germany-based company focused on thermal imaging technology. The launch took place at Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on March 26 at 11:30 … Read more

New satellites will help track wildfires in real time—here’s how

New satellites will help track wildfires in real time—here’s how

Eight satellites designed to detect and monitor wildfires have been launched into orbit by Rocket Lab. The mission, named “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You,” was conducted for OroraTech, a Germany-based company focused on thermal imaging technology. The launch took place at Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on March 26 at 11:30 … Read more

New satellites will help track wildfires in real time—here’s how

New satellites will help track wildfires in real time—here’s how

Eight satellites designed to detect and monitor wildfires have been launched into orbit by Rocket Lab. The mission, named “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You,” was conducted for OroraTech, a Germany-based company focused on thermal imaging technology. The launch took place at Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on March 26 at 11:30 … Read more

IIT Madras and ISRO Unveil IRIS, India’s First Aerospace-Grade Semiconductor

IIT Madras and ISRO Unveil IRIS, India’s First Aerospace-Grade Semiconductor

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have successfully developed and booted an aerospace-grade semiconductor chip, marking a significant step towards self-reliance in space technology. The chip, named ‘IRIS’ (Indigenous RISCV Controller for Space Applications), has been designed based on the SHAKTI processor and is intended for … Read more