Telemetry Today

Everything you need to know about Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost Mission 1 Blue Ghost Mission 1 is set to launch this month (January 2025). It is the first of three missions awarded to Firefly Aerospace through the NASA CLPS initiative. The mission will deliver 10 science and technology payloads to the lunar surface, targeting Mare Crisium, a volcanic basin on the Moon’s near side. 🛠️ Lander Design and Capabilities - The lander stands at 2 m tall and 3.5 m wide - Solar panels from Rocket Lab’s SolAero generate up to 650 W of power - The main engine provides more than 1,000N of thrust - Blue Ghost accommodates up to 94kg of payload in total 🔬 Payload Highlights - Lunar PlanetVac for regolith collection - by Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin Company - Regolith Adherence Characterization (RAC) for determining how lunar dust sticks to materials and coatings - by Aegis Aerospace Inc. - RadPC Radiation Tolerant Computer - by Montana State University-Bozeman - LuGRE, the first test of GPS signal detection at lunar distances. - NextGen Lunar Retroreflector to reflect short laser pulses from earth laser ranging observatories - by University of Maryland - LISTER, a probe for measuring subsurface heat flow - by Honeybee Robotics 🚀 Launch The mission will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral 🌔 Trajectory to the Moon The lander will follow a low-energy transfer orbit to the Moon, reaching it in roughly 45 days and providing ample time to conduct system health checks. ⬇️ Lunar Orbit, Descent and Landing Upon arrival, Blue Ghost will enter lunar orbit and descend to the surface: - Vision-based terrain navigation will identify craters, slopes, and hazards. - Hazard avoidance systems will adjust the trajectory to select a safe landing site. - RCS thrusters will pulse to ensure a soft touchdown. The lander will touch down near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium, a large volcanic basin on the Moon’s near side. 📊 Mission Operations Blue Ghost will operate its payloads for one full lunar day (~14 Earth days). Instruments will perform experiments such as: - Regolith sampling and adhesion testing - Radiation-tolerant computing demos - Lunar GPS signal detection and geophysical studies The lander will capture images of the lunar sunset and analyze how regolith reacts to solar influences during dusk. 📡 Data Transmission Throughout the mission, Blue Ghost will relay data back to Earth via its communications system. Firefly’s Cedar Park facility will serve as the primary mission operations center. ❄️ End of Mission The lander will cease operations as the extreme cold of the lunar night exceeds its thermal limits. Final data, including insights into lunar regolith, geophysics, and solar interactions, will help inform future lunar exploration and human missions. -- Follow for more insights on other upcoming Lunar missions! Images: Firefly Aerospace #FireflyAerospace #BlueGhost #LunarLander #CLPS #Artemis #SpaceExploration

What does Christmas look like in space? Have you heard of the unique holiday traditions aboard the International Space Station (ISS)? For over two decades, astronauts have celebrated Christmas in orbit, bridging cultures from all around the globe. Since the first Christmas in space in 2000, the ISS has been continuously occupied, making the holiday an annual tradition in microgravity. Crews from diverse backgrounds celebrate according to their own cultures and faiths, sometimes marking the occasion multiple times—on December 25th and January dates following the Julian calendar. 🎄 Christmas Memories in Orbit From floating Christmas trees to festive dinners, the holidays on the ISS are marked by creativity and camaraderie. Notable moments include: 2011: Expedition 30 crew members paused for a memorable Christmas Day photo, see below. 2013: NASA astronauts conducted a rare Christmas Eve spacewalk, installing a new cooling system amid a "mini blizzard" of ammonia that restored vital experiments. 2016: French astronaut Thomas Pesquet shared gourmet French cuisine and donned a Santa hat while floating in microgravity. - 🎅 From us at Telemetry Today, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 🚀 Image Credits: NASA #space #christmas #astronauts #ISS

TechCrunch has unveiled its list of the 51 Most Disruptive Startups of 2024 These are the Aero/Space companies that made it: Apex - Spacecraft Manufacturing - Satellite Bus Manufacturing BETA TECHNOLOGIES - Electric Vertical Takeoff/Landing (eVTOL) Impulse Space - Orbital Transfer Vehicles Hermeus - Hypersonic Aircraft Varda Space Industries - Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Infrastructure Whisper Aero - Silent Electric Propulsion Xona Space Systems - Advanced Satellite Navigation Are there any other Aero/Space startups you think should have made the cut? Give them a mention below 👇 #Aerospace #Innovation #Startups #TechCrunch

🚀 Big news for Australia’s space industry! The ELO2 (ELO₂) Consortium—co-led by EPE. Trusted To Protect and Lunar Outpost Oceania—has been chosen by the Australian Space Agency to build Australia's first lunar rover, "Roo-ver". This $42 million project unites universities, SMEs, and industry leaders across Australia to design, manufacture, and operate the lunar rover. A major moment showcasing Australian innovation on the global stage and advancing their role in the space industry. Congratulations to all involved in this historic mission—Australia is heading to the Moon! 🌕 Joseph Kenrick Ben Sorensen #SpaceInnovation #AustralianSpace #ELO2 #ROOver #ASA #SpaceExploration #Robotics

🌟 Breaking the Sound Barrier in Funding! 🌟 Boom Supersonic just announced over $100M in new financing, fully funding the first Symphony engine prototype as the XB-1 nears Mach 1! 🚀 This oversubscribed round hosts support from many top-tier investors and investor groups: Alexander Gerko, Bessemer Venture Partners, Michael Moritz, Reid Hoffman, and Y Combinator. 💰 📢 As CEO Blake Scholl said: "Humanity needs and deserves supersonic travel." And Boom remains steadfast in its mission to redefine the future of flight. 🌍✈️ Let’s celebrate this step toward making supersonic travel a reality. What are your thoughts on this milestone and what Boom can do to change the way we travel? Share below! 👇 📸: Image courtesy of Boom Supersonic #AerospaceInnovation #SupersonicTravel #BoomSupersonic #TechFunding #FutureOfFlight #InvestingNews #AerospaceNews #AviationNews

Pixxel (Pixxel) raises $60M in Series B funding, the highest funded hyperspectral imaging company 🛰️ 🌍 Have you heard of Pixxel before? Well, if you haven't, here's the rundown: Pixxel, A US-Indian startup revolutionizing Earth observation, just secured a $24 million Series B funding extension, bringing its total Series B to $60 million and total funding to $95 million. 🔬 Leading Imaging Technology Pixxel's hyperspectral satellites go beyond traditional imaging, capturing 50 times more data across 250+ bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Their technology can detect threats invisible to other satellites, from monitoring crop health to identifying potential environmental hazards. 🌎 A health monitor for the Planet With its constellation of small satellites planned for 2025-2026, Pixxel aims to provide actionable insights across industries like agriculture, energy, and disaster management. Their Aurora platform simplifies this data, providing businesses with easy-to-use tools for real-world impact. 🏆 Student dream to global recognition Founded in 2019 by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal Pixxel’s journey has been meteoric: - Named to TIME Best Inventions for Sustainability (2023) - Awarded a 5-year contract with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration to supply hyperspectral data - Partnerships with organizations like Rio Tinto and EUSI 🇮🇳 Building the future in India Pixxel recently opened MegaPixxel, a state-of-the-art 30,000+ square feet facility in Bengaluru where satellites are designed, manufactured, and tested in the same building. 🚀 What’s next? By 2025, Pixxel will launch its Fireflies constellation, delivering 5-meter resolution hyperspectral imagery, cementing its position as a leader in Earth observation technology. Pixxel's mission to create a healthier, more sustainable planet is one of the most inspiring stories in the space sector. Keep your eye on them! Congratulations to the entire team on this milestone! 🌏 What other Earth imaging companies should we keep an eye on? Image: Pixxel #SpaceTech #EarthObservation #HyperspectralImaging #FundingNews #Innovation

The Aero/Space industry is booming, and it's centered around a few key hubs. 🌎 From the historic launchpads of Cape Canaveral to the innovative tech of the Bay Area, these cities are shaping the future of space exploration. Which of these Aero/Space hubs do you currently work in? - Huntsville, AL - Los Angeles, CA - Cape Canaveral, FL - Washington, DC - Denver, CO - Seattle, WA - Houston, TX - Bay Area, CA Where do you wish there was another major Aero/Space hub? Comment below and discuss the future of space in the USA! 🚀 #Aerospace #space #innovation #technology #engineering #science #future #worklifebalance #stem #engineering #innovation

The Moon vs Mars Debate: Where should the next giant leap take us? (Poll Below) As NASA's Artemis program progresses, a crucial question emerges: Are we making the right choice focusing on lunar missions before Mars? The Moon offers: 🧪 Test bed for systems/technology (3-day abort capability) 💧 Water ice in polar craters for fuel/resources 🚀 Lower gravity for Spacecraft assembly 📡 Clear view of Earth for comms Mars advocates argue: 🌱 Mars has more resources for sustaining life 🏞️ More potential for terraforming 🛡️ A real atmosphere ⭐ Represents a bolder vision for humanity What's your take? Should we establish a permanent lunar presence first, or direct our resources straight to Mars? #SpaceExploration #NASA #Artemis #Mars #FutureOfSpace #Moon #Space Thoughts on this strategic choice? Let's discuss below. 👇

Welcome to Telemetry Today - The Aero/Space Discovery Hub We're excited to launch a platform dedicated to the most dynamic sector of technology: Aero/Space startups. Telemetry was born from a simple observation: The incredible innovations happening in the Aero/Space startup ecosystem are underserved by traditional media channels. The space deserves a modern and engaging platform to help discover and put a spotlight on the most exciting developments. What can you expect from us? 🚀 In-depth startup spotlights 🎙️ Exclusive founder interviews 📰 Latest industry insights and news 🤝 An interactive Aero/Space community Our mission is to bridge the gap between Aero/Space startup companies and the people who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of flight and space exploration. Whether you're a startup founder, Aero/Space professional, investor, or simply fascinated by the future of transportation and space technology, we invite you to join our community. Follow us to be a part of the conversation and stay up to date with everything Aero/Space! #AerospaceInnovation #StartupTech #AviationTech #SpaceTech

Inversion Space has announced $44M Series A round led by Spark Capital and Adjacent. Inversion is “Making space a transportation layer” by developing autonomous re-entry vehicles to deliver cargo from space. Inversion claims their Arc (Autonomous re-entry capsule) capsule will be able to land anywhere on Earth to an accuracy the size of a football field. Their 20-inch demonstrator capsule, Ray, has already received its FAA reentry license and is planned to fly on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare flight. The company plans to use the funds to increase headcount from 25 to 70, move into a new production facility and complete the development of Arc as well as its first flight. What are your thoughts on space to Earth cargo delivery? Image Credits: Inversion Space #spacenews #space #fundraising