All articles tagged with #cargo missions
This week features multiple space launches including cargo resupply missions to the ISS with Soyuz and Falcon 9 rockets, the launch of the Indonesian Nusantara Lima satellite, Chinese Yaogan 45, and several other satellite deployments, highlighting active international space activity.
The Exploration Company unveiled an updated model of its Nyx spacecraft at the Paris Air Show, with plans for a crewed version capable of carrying 4-5 astronauts, targeting a development timeline of about 10 years and requiring European government support, while currently focusing on cargo missions including upcoming tests and commercial missions.
Blue Origin and SpaceX, the two companies with NASA contracts to develop crewed lunar landers, are also beginning work on cargo versions of their spacecraft. NASA has exercised options in Human Landing System awards made to both companies to begin initial design and development work of versions of their landers that can carry large amounts of cargo to the lunar surface. The cargo landers are expected to have high commonality with the human landing systems already in work, with the preliminary design requirements including delivering 12 to 15 metric tons to the lunar surface. The earliest the cargo landers would be used is projected for no earlier than the early 2030s.