NASA Test-fires SLS Rocket Booster for Future Lunar Missions
In preparation of the future Artemis missions to the Moon, NASA completed a full-scale booster test for the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
NASA and Northrop Grumman, the SLS booster lead contractor, will use data from the test, successfully conducted, to evaluate the motor's performance using potential new materials and processes that can be incorporated into future boosters.
Landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon is just the beginning of NASA's Artemis Programme.
According to NASA, the SLS flight support booster firing is a crucial part of sustaining missions to the Moon. NASA's goal is to take what we learn living and working on the Moon and use it to send humans on the first missions to Mars. The SLS boosters are the largest, most powerful boosters ever built for flight.
NASA is simultaneously making progress on assembling and manufacturing the solid rocket boosters for the first three Artemis missions and looking ahead toward missions beyond the initial Moon landing.
The SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, Gateway, and human landing system are part of NASA's backbone for deep space exploration.
SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.
China Launches Reusable Spacecraft
As per reports, China successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft whose mission details have been kept secret.
The spacecraft was launched on a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.
After a period of in-orbit operation, the spacecraft will return to a predetermined landing site in China. It will test reusable technologies during its flight, providing technological support for the peaceful use of space.
Staffers and visitors to the launch site have been warned against filming the lift-off and even discussing it online.
Sep 04, 2020
Europe's Small Vega Rocket Back in Action
The European Vega rocket is back in business.
An enforced hiatus following the loss of a vehicle in July 2019 ended with the successful deployment of 53 new satellites.
The payloads were dropped off high above the Earth using a new dispenser system that will now become a regular feature on future missions.
The aim is for Vega to service a big chunk of the vibrant market now emerging for small satellites.
Operators of these spacecraft, who're often just start-ups, SMEs or university departments, cannot afford a dedicated launch and look to lower the cost by sharing a ride to orbit.
The development of the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser used in this mission was largely funded by the European Space Agency.
The dispenser can accommodate a range of volumes and masses - from the 1 kg, 10 cm-cubed nanosatellite (or cubesat) class, all the way up to the more bulky 500 kg minisatellites.
Sep 02, 2020
Astronomers Discover One of the Farthest Star Galaxies in the Universe
Indian astronomers have discovered one of the farthest star galaxies in the universe, estimated to be located 9.3 billion light years away from Earth.
This is a landmark achievement for country's first Multi-Wavelength Space Observatory "AstroSat."
The galaxy called AUDFs01 was discovered by a team of Astronomers led by Dr. Kanak Saha from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics(IUCAA) Pune.
The importance and uniqueness of this original discovery can be made out from the fact that it has been reported in the international journal "Nature Astronomy" published from Britain.
According to Director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) Dr. Somak Ray Chaudhury, this discovery is a very important clue to how the dark ages of the Universe ended and there was light in the Universe.
Pertinent to mention that India's first Space Observatory AstroSat, which has made this discovery, was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 28, 2015 during the first term of the Modi Government. It was developed by a team led by ShyamTandon, Ex-Emeritus Professor, IUCAA with the full support of ISRO.
Sep 01, 2020
New E-market Platform "Agriota" to Bridge Gap between Indian Farmers & UAE food Industry
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched Agriota, a new technology-driven agri-commodity trading and sourcing e-market platform during a launch ceremony, which was also attended by Pavan Kapoor, Ambassador of India to the UAE. The market platform aims to bridge the gap between millions of rural farmers in India and the Gulf nation's food industry.This launch followed the India-UAE Virtual Buyer Seller Meet titled "Forge a New Path in COVID-19" organised on August 20.
It has been launched by Dubai's free-zone Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the government of Dubai's authority on commodities trade and enterprise.
This initiative will enable Indian farmers to connect directly, bypassing intermediaries, with the entire food industry in the UAE, including food processing companies, traders and wholesalers.
Aug 31, 2020
SpaceX Postpones Launch of Satellites from Starlink Project
The launch of next batch of satellites of SpaceX's Starlink project was postponed due to inclement weather during pre-flight operations.
According to SpaceX, the next launch could take place on 1st September from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Starlink is the next-generation satellite network capable of providing Earth's inhabitants with broadband internet access, Sputnik reported.
The project's implementation began in February 2018. In total, it plans to launch about 12,000 satellites.
Another 30,000 satellites are set to be put into orbits with altitudes from 328 to 580 kilometres. SpaceX estimated the cost of the project at USD 10 billion.
+91-85588-96644
