Tag

Payload

All articles tagged with #payload

space7 days ago•6 min saved

NASA’s Mars relay orbiter may favor communications over science for 2028 window

A non-public NASA document for the Mars Telecommunications Network (formerly the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter) lists four top-level goals focused on Mars-to-Earth communications and navigation support, with science payloads not required but not precluded. NASA emphasizes schedule risk and potential trade-offs, suggesting that any science instruments must not jeopardize the late-2028 launch. The procurement landscape is competitive, involving Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, and SpaceX, and NASA recently awarded Rocket Lab a small contract to study end-to-end Mars communications, a move that could complicate the main award process.

via Ars Technica|

#mars #nasa #payload

science-and-technology8 months ago•3 min saved

Spacecraft Crash Results in Loss of 166 Human Remains at Sea

A spacecraft carrying human remains, cannabis, and other payloads launched by The Exploration Company experienced a partial failure when its Nyx capsule crashed into the Pacific Ocean after a successful orbit, resulting in the loss of all cargo, including ashes and DNA of over 166 individuals. The mission aimed to test cargo transport technology for future space missions, with plans for a demonstration to the ISS in 2028, despite the setback.

via Universe Today|

#cosmic-cargo #nyx-capsule #payload

space2 years ago•4 min saved

Chinese Rocket's Crash on Moon Unveils Secret Payload and Twin Craters

US researchers have revealed that a Chinese rocket segment that crashed into the moon in March 2022 was carrying a secret payload. The rocket's upper stage left a distinctive double crater on the lunar surface, indicating the presence of an undisclosed additional payload. The unusual stability of the rocket's tumbling motion suggested the presence of a substantial mass on the booster's top end. The exact nature of the payload remains unknown, leaving room for speculation. This discovery highlights the importance of monitoring space debris and understanding the remnants of space missions on celestial bodies.

via EurAsian Times|

#chinese-rocket #lunar-surface #moon

space2 years ago•4 min saved

Chinese Rocket Crashes on Moon, Leaving Twin Craters and Secret Payload

A study published in The Planetary Science Journal claims to have "definitive proof" that a mysterious rocket that crashed into the moon in March 2022 came from China and was carrying an undisclosed payload. The rocket, identified as the spent upper stage of China's Chang'e 5-T1 rocket, left behind two overlapping craters at its crash site. The researchers propose that the rocket's mass distribution, with twin rocket boosters acting as one mass and a mysterious counterweight on the other, caused the double crater. The exact nature of the payload remains unknown and is unlikely to be determined.

via Livescience.com|

#change-5-t1 #chinese-rocket #crater

space2 years ago•3 min saved

Chinese Rocket Mystery Solved: Double Moon Crater Caused by Crash-Landed Booster

Two craters that appeared on the Moon last year were caused by a spent Chinese rocket booster, according to a study. The rocket booster, possibly carrying an additional unknown payload, crashed into the lunar surface. The debris was initially denied by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but a team of scientists from the University of Arizona has now provided evidence confirming the collision. The presence of two equal-sized craters and the stable rotation of the object suggest the presence of an extra payload. The incident highlights the need for increased monitoring of space debris beyond Earth as lunar missions become more frequent.

via The Register|

#chinese-rocket #lunar-surface #moon

space2 years ago•3 min saved

Ispace's Lunar Lander Redesign and Moon Mission Delay: Japan's Moon Market Investment

Ispace U.S., the American subsidiary of Japanese company ispace, has unveiled a revised design for its lunar lander, APEX 1.0, which will be used on a NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission. The redesign was necessary to accommodate the needs of NASA payloads, and the lander will now be able to host up to 300 kilograms of payloads, expandable to 500 kilograms. The launch of the mission has been pushed back to 2026 due to the lander redesign. Ispace anticipates growing demand for lunar landers and has lowered its sales forecast for the current fiscal year.

via SpaceNews|

#clps-mission #ispace #lunar-lander

space-technology2 years ago•6 min saved

The Reality of Space Elevators is Approaching

The concept of a space elevator, which could bring the cost of sending a payload to any Earth orbit as low as $100 per pound, has been around since the 1950s. However, the biggest challenge has been finding a material strong enough to build the tether. Carbon nanotubes were once thought to be the solution, but their synthesis has proven difficult. Other options, such as Kevlar fibers and graphene, are being explored. Despite progress, the need for a space elevator may have evaporated as reusable rockets and alternative launch technologies, such as SpinLaunch's centrifuge, continue to develop.

via Freethink|

#future-technology #payload #reusable-rockets

science-and-technology2 years ago•1 min saved

China's First Civilian Astronaut Set to Launch into Space on Shenzhou-16 Mission

China will send its first civilian astronaut, payload expert Gui Haichao, into space as part of a crewed mission to the Tiangong space station on Tuesday. Until now, all Chinese astronauts sent into space have been part of the People's Liberation Army. The mission commander is Jing Haipeng, and the third crew member is Zhu Yangzhu. China has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space programme, with hopes of eventually sending humans to the Moon and building a base there.

via NDTV|

#astronaut #china #payload

space3 years ago•2 min saved

Ispace's Lunar Lander Successfully Enters Moon's Orbit for Private Japanese Mission.

Japanese aerospace company ispace's private Moon mission, the Hakuto-R lander, has successfully entered lunar orbit after a three-month journey. The lander is carrying the United Arab Emirates' first Moon mission, a lunar camera from Candensys Aerospace, an AI flight computer from Mission Control Services, NASA's lunar flashlight, and a miniature lunar rover. The landing is scheduled for late April, and ispace is already planning two more missions to the Moon.

via The Register|

#japanese-aerospace #lunar-orbit #moon-landing