Tag

Spacecraft

All articles tagged with #spacecraft

astronomy5 days ago•58 min saved

Solar Oberth Maneuver Could Put a Spacecraft on Track to Intercept Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

Space.com reports a team proposes using a solar Oberth maneuver near 3.2 solar radii to launch a ~500 kg spacecraft in 2035, aided by a Jupiter gravity assist and heavy boosters, to perform a high-speed flyby of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by around 2085 at about 732 AU from the Sun. The interceptor would be heat-shielded and not intended to enter orbit, making it a close-proximity encounter rather than a rendezvous. While the concept is theoretically feasible and could push the boundaries of solar-system exploration, researchers note more practical, near-term approaches (like ESA’s Comet Interceptor) could target interstellar objects sooner.

via Space|

#3iatlas #astronomy #interstellar-comet

space23 days ago•2 min saved

Mach-25 Return: Varda W-1 Lands After Pharma-Driven Space Mission

A commercial Varda Space Industries W-1 capsule reentered Earth's atmosphere at Mach 25 and landed at the Utah Test and Training Range after a mission to produce ritonavir crystals for pharmaceutical processing, a first for a commercial spacecraft under FAA Part 450 licensing; the mission included capsule separation from its satellite and onboard footage of the dramatic reentry.

via supercarblondie.com|

#reentry #space #spacecraft

space1 month ago•75 min saved

NASA to re-establish contact with silent MAVEN Mars orbiter after solar interference

NASA will attempt to re-contact MAVEN after a month of radio silence caused by the sun’s conjunction between Earth and Mars. MAVEN, launched in 2013 to study Mars’ upper atmosphere and to relay data for rovers, went silent after Dec. 6 as it emerged from behind Mars; the solar conjunction ended Jan. 16 and NASA’s Deep Space Network is attempting to resume communications. Recovery remains uncertain, though MAVEN has enough fuel to stay in orbit until about 2030 and the outcome would impact Mars science and related missions such as Mars Sample Return.

via Space|

#communications #mars #maven

science1 month ago•4 min saved

NASA's Artemis II Mission: Countdown, Crew, and Launch Updates

NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, is scheduled to launch between February 6 and April 2023 from Kennedy Space Center, with a crew of four astronauts testing spacecraft systems and preparing for future lunar landings, but it will not land on the Moon itself.

via BBC|

#artemis-ii #moon-mission #nasa

science1 month ago•1 min saved

NASA Activates Gateway Power System for the First Time

NASA has successfully powered on the Power and Propulsion Element for the Gateway lunar orbit station, demonstrating its capability to generate 60 kilowatts of power, support communications, attitude control, and orbital maneuvers, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration technology.

via NASA (.gov)|

#gateway #lunar-orbit #nasa

space-exploration1 month ago•10 min saved

NASA's ESCAPADE Probes to Delay Mars Mission by a Year

NASA's twin ESCAPADE probes were launched into a loiter orbit near Earth's Lagrange point 2 to analyze solar wind interactions with Mars' atmosphere. They will use Earth's gravity for a slingshot to Mars in late 2026, with a planned orbit insertion in 2027. The extra year in space adds some wear but is deemed manageable, serving as a template for future Mars missions and colonization efforts.

via Space|

#escapade #mars #nasa

space1 month ago•3 min saved

NASA Mars Orbiter Possibly Out of Commission

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft orbiting Mars has been unresponsive since December 6, with recent data suggesting it was spinning unexpectedly, and efforts to re-establish contact are ongoing, but prospects seem uncertain as the spacecraft has been operational for over a decade studying Mars' atmosphere.

via Yahoo|

#mars #maven #nasa

science1 month ago•3 min saved

NASA's Mars and Interstellar Missions Face Communication Blackouts During Solar Conjunction

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft orbiting Mars has been unresponsive since December 6, with efforts to re-establish contact ongoing. The spacecraft, which has been studying Mars' atmosphere for over a decade, appears to have experienced an unexpected spin, and communication attempts are delayed until mid-January due to planetary alignment. The mission's status remains uncertain, raising concerns about its future.

via NBC News|

#mars #maven #nasa

space2 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's MAVEN Mission Faces Communication Challenges Amid Mars Operations

NASA's MAVEN orbiter has lost contact and is tumbling, with its exact location unknown, as the agency prepares for a solar conjunction period during which communication with Mars missions will be impossible until January 16, 2026. Despite attempts using the Curiosity rover's Mastcam, MAVEN was not detected, and the cause of the issue remains unclear, though it may involve guidance or control system problems. NASA plans to resume contact efforts after the conjunction.

via theregister.com|

#communication #mars #maven

science2 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's Artemis II Crew Prepares for Moon Mission with Countdown Rehearsals

NASA is preparing for the Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send four astronauts around the Moon and back, potentially as early as February 2024, marking the first human lunar journey since Apollo 17. The crew has completed a dress rehearsal, and final preparations are underway despite some delays caused by technical issues. The mission will not land on the Moon but will set the stage for future lunar exploration.

via Futurism|

#artemis-2 #astronauts #moon-mission

science2 months ago•1 min saved

NASA and Rocket Lab Launch Experimental DiskSats for Military and Space Research

NASA successfully launched a cost-effective set of four small spacecraft called DiskSats from Wallops Island, demonstrating their maneuverability and potential for flexible, low-cost space missions, with support from the U.S. Space Force and Department of Defense.

via WRAL|

#disksat #nasa #science

science2 months ago•2 min saved

NASA Launches In-Space Test of Dual-Function Satellite Propulsion

NASA is testing two new micropropulsion technologies onboard the CubeSat DUPLEX in space, which use polymer fibers for efficient and safe spacecraft maneuvering, demonstrating capabilities for orbit maintenance and extended missions to the Moon and Mars.

via NASA (.gov)|

#cubesat #duplex #micropropulsion

space2 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's MAVEN Mars Probe Remains Silent Amid Orbit and Spin Changes

NASA is attempting to reestablish contact with the MAVEN Mars orbiter after it lost response, with indications that it may be tumbling and off its expected trajectory, complicating recovery efforts especially with upcoming solar conjunction blocking communication. The spacecraft's status remains uncertain, and its potential loss could reduce NASA's active Mars orbiters to two aging spacecraft.

via theregister.com|

#mars #maven #nasa

science2 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's MAVEN Mission Faces Communication Loss After Anomaly

NASA has lost contact with its MAVEN spacecraft orbiting Mars, which has been studying the planet's atmosphere for over a decade. Despite efforts to reestablish communication, the orbiter appears disoriented, raising concerns about its future. Other Mars orbiters remain operational, and NASA continues to analyze the situation while planning to maintain surface missions. The fate of MAVEN depends on whether contact can be restored before its limited remaining propellant and potential budget cuts threaten its continued operation.

via Gizmodo|

#communication-loss #mars #maven

space2 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's MAVEN Mission at Mars Faces Communication and Operational Challenges

NASA's MAVEN Mars orbiter experienced a significant issue, with analysis indicating unexpected rotation and possible orbital change, likely caused by an energetic event, complicating recovery efforts amid upcoming solar conjunctions.

via SpaceNews|

#communication-loss #mars #maven