Vuyyuru Prashanth’s Post

Europe's Vega-C rocket has successfully returned to space, marking its first launch since a failed mission two years ago. The rocket lifted off from French Guiana, carrying the Sentinel-1C satellite for the EU's Copernicus Earth observation program. This mission aims to enhance radar imagery for environmental monitoring. The Vega-C, an upgraded version of the original Vega rocket, can transport over two tonnes of payload and is designed to be more cost-effective. The rocket was grounded for two years following a failure during its second mission, which resulted in the loss of two satellites due to a motor anomaly. With the ongoing geopolitical tensions and reliance on Russian launch vehicles halted, the Vega-C is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining Europe's access to space. The European Space Agency plans four additional launches with the Vega-C in 2025 and five more in 2026. #VegaC #EuropeanRocketVegaC #CopernicusEarthObservationProgramme #SpaceExploration #EUSpaceProgramme

Today the International Space Station (25544 / 1998-067A) performed a maneuver to minimize the collision risk with a piece of space debris. The secondary object was debris from a DMSP satellite launched in 1995: DMSP 5D-2 F13 (USA 109). The specific debris object was 40680 / 1995-015FU, originating from a DMSP F13 break up on 3 Feb 2015 due to a faulty battery charger which plagues this particular satellite design. The ISS maneuver lasted 5 min, 31 sec and started at 2024-11-19 20:09. The conjunction time for the secondary object would have been at 2024-11-19 22:27:28. https://lnkd.in/gF2PFaVt (nasa.gov URL) #SpaceTrafficManagement #SpaceSituationalAwareness #SpaceDebris

The New York Times: Space Sustainability - Dead Russian Satellite Broke Into More Than 100 Pieces in Space - The cause of the incident, which added to a growing amount of dangerous space junk in low Earth orbit, remains unknown. The most concerning, possibility is that the event was deliberate. In 2021, Russia intentionally fired a missile at one of its own defunct satellites in orbit. China and India have also conducted antisatellite missile tests, as has the United States, which committed itself to a ban of such tests 2022 The U.S. Space Force will work to catalog the debris from Resurs P1, though it could take a few months. Until then, “it’s literally Russian roulette,” Dr. McDowell said. Untracked space junk presents a risk to other spacecraft in orbit, and before it is properly recorded in warning systems used by satellite operators, they will not be able to avoid collisions. In the worst case scenario, the break up of Resurs P1 could create a domino effect: Debris from one satellite smashes into another, which then collides with another — a reaction that is costly and disruptive, Dr. McDowell said, though in this case seems unlikely. https://lnkd.in/g7aFijQE

🌘Accidents in space can happen even to those with the best intentions. But what happens if there is no one to clean up afterwards? 🌒 👉 Despite all endeavours against space debris it keeps being created, even within the most prestigious missions and on a global scale. 👉 The most recent examples include Europe's Ariane 6 and China's Qianfan constellation, where upper rocket stages could not reach de-orbit burn but are still in orbit today. With no one being able to clean them up, they will pose a threat to other space objects in the coming years. This is why we need active debris removal (ADR) technologies to destroy large space debris objects like rocket parts. Find out more about the details of the two missions: https://lnkd.in/d6JPAB5M https://lnkd.in/e4TUYW7p

Integrity Flash Edition 110 is Out! Dive into the latest developments in global space operations, detailed in our newest edition: -China's Qianfan-2 Satellites: An exclusive look at the evolving constellation aiming to revolutionize low-latency satellite broadband services with plans for over 14,000 satellites in orbit. -Yaogan-43 Satellite Adjustments: What recent orbital maneuvers reveal about China's strategic evolution in space. -Shijian-17 in the Western Hemisphere: A breakdown of its maneuvers and implications for GEO-based operations. -Shiyan-12 Proximity Operations: Insights into China's inspection missions in GEO and their potential objectives. -Shiyan-26 Launch Analysis: Explore China's latest advancements in experimental satellite capabilities. Stay Informed. Stay Ahead. Don’t miss out on these critical insights shaping the future of space operations and defense. https://lnkd.in/dYcr3xPH

[United Launch Alliance To Launch Final Delta Heavy IV Rocket Today] The era of Delta Heavy IV is coming to an end. For the last 64 years, United Launch Alliance's (ULA's) heavy-lift rocket has led an impressive career lofting large payloads into space. However, on Tuesday (March 28), the rocket will lift off one last time when it launches from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch window opens at 1:40 p.m. ET (1740 GMT). Aboard the Delta Heavy IV rocket for the mission, known as NROL-70, will be a classified payload being launched on behalf of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO rarely discloses the nature or capabilities of its spy satellites, and this particular mission offers no exception. Yet, while the payload is a secret, the launch is not. You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of ULA, starting at 1:15 p.m. ET (1715 GMT). The specific nature of the spacecraft launching atop ULA's Delta Heavy IV rocket today of course remains a mystery, but we can assume it's a sophisticated spy satellite given the customer. The NRO is an agency within the Department of Defense tasked with developing, building and operating the United States' surveillance satellites. A mission description published by ULA states the payload aboard today's launch launch will "strengthen the NRO's ability to provide a wide-range of timely intelligence information to national decision makers, warfighters, and intelligence analysts to protect the nation’s vital interests and support humanitarian efforts worldwide." In addition to the Delta IV Heavy, ULA plans on retiring another one of its rockets: The workhorse Atlas V. The idea is to make way for the company's new Vulcan Centaur, which launched on its first mission on Jan. 8, 2024 when it sent Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander moonward. The Atlas V will keep flying through 2029, however, as it is already booked for missions to help develop Amazon's Project Kuiper internet constellation and send Boeing's Starliner crew capsule to the International Space Station on its first launch, slated for no earlier than May 1. Source: https://lnkd.in/eMcE68qC #galaxyaerosgh #space #spaceexploration #spacenews

Could a "destroyer in orbit" be the key to protecting our satellites? ULA is taking satellite defense to the next level with their Vulcan Centaur rocket, aiming to deploy what Tory Bruno calls "destroyers in orbit." 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞? https://lnkd.in/dGsh3BfS

This week's space industry insights on #NewsHub: 1. The UK Chapter of SSPI Names Dr. David Parker FRAeS of the UK Space Agency as the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year 👏https://lnkd.in/gHtGyWcE 2. A new radar satellite supported by the UK was launched into space from French Guiana at 9:20pm GMT on Thursday 5 December. https://lnkd.in/gSqqmNgi 🛰️ 3. The Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO) partners exchanged views on space threats, conducted a tabletop exercise, and endorsed a joint statement, reaffirming the importance of CSpO’s mission and the commitment of its members to the Outer Space Treaty. https://lnkd.in/g9CKS4Ff 4. 🌎 NI SPACE Initiative Launched to Tackle Blue Green Algae. https://lnkd.in/gG_xVwVy 5. Astroscale’s ADRAS-J Achieves Historic 15-Meter Approach to Space Debris. https://lnkd.in/gUivDgxd 6. HyImpulse unveils HyMOVE, its unique orbital transfer vehicle. https://lnkd.in/gpA7U9vu 7. Orbite to expand luxury space training with Series A funding. 🚀 https://lnkd.in/gpzABWZH 8. New antennas for the Satellite Control Network are coming next year. https://lnkd.in/gcenmwrV Follow Space-Comm Expo for more! 🌌 #SpaceNews #IndustryInsights

In a recent article, The Guardian highlighted the growing concerns surrounding space debris, particularly in light of the Russian satellite debris posing a significant threat to the International Space Station. As the number of satellites and space debris increases, the risks to both manned and unmanned space missions escalate. This critical issue underscores the necessity for advanced space situational awareness (SSA) solutions. NorthStar is at the forefront of delivering essential SSA capabilities through our innovative space-based solutions. By providing precise tracking and monitoring of space objects, we mitigate the dangers posed by orbital debris, ensuring the safety and sustainability of space operations for both commercial and government entities. Our commitment to a safer space environment is not just a mission—it's a responsibility we proudly uphold. #SpaceDomainAwareness #SpaceSustainability

[SpaceX Launches Advanced Weather Satellite For US Space Force] SpaceX launched its second national security mission of the year Thursday (April 11). A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:25 a.m. EDT (7:25 a.m. local California time; 1425 GMT), on a mission for the U.S. Space Force called USSF-62. USSF-62 will send the Weather System Follow-on — Microwave (WSF-M) satellite to low Earth orbit. WSF-M is a next-generation spacecraft that "will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains," according to BAE Systems, which developed and built the satellite. WSF-M's primary instrument is a microwave imager, which will measure sea surface winds, the strength of tropical cyclones and gather other environmental data. Also flying on the satellite is a space weather sensor provided by the U.S. government, according to BAE Systems. The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth safely, touching down at Vandenberg's Landing Zone 4 just under eight minutes after liftoff. It was the third launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. The rocket's payload fairing — the "nose cone" that protects satellites during launch — is also a spaceflight veteran, marking a first for a national security launch, Horne said in his statement. USSF-62 is SpaceX's 37th launch of 2024 and its second of the year for the Space Force. A Falcon 9 launched the six-satellite USSF-124 mission from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 14. Source: https://lnkd.in/ejpWH57V #galaxyaerosgh #space #spaceexploration #spacenews