Space Business News
December 20, 2023
ROCKET SCIENCE
Blue Origin returns to space after year-long hiatus



Washington (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
Blue Origin launched its first rocket in more than a year on Tuesday, reviving the US company's fortunes with a successful return to space following an uncrewed crash in 2022. Though mission NS-24 carried a payload of science experiments, not people, it paves the way for Jeff Bezos' aerospace enterprise to resume taking wealthy thrill-seekers to the final frontier. The New Shepard suborbital rocket blasted off from the pad at Launch Site One, near Van Horn, Texas, at 10:42 am (1642 GMT). Af ... read more

MICROSAT BLITZ
NASA's BurstCube Passes Milestones on Journey to Launch
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Dec 19, 2023
Scientists and engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have completed testing for BurstCube, a shoebox-sized spacecraft designed to study the universe's most powerful ... more
AEROSPACE
NASA Awards Turbofan Engine Core Technology Demonstration Contract
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 15, 2023
NASA has embarked on a significant collaboration with GE Aerospace, based in Cincinnati, for the development of more fuel-efficient engines, specifically targeting single-aisle aircraft. This initia ... more
MISSILE NEWS
N. Korea's 'reckless' missile launches need 'robust' global response: G7
Berlin (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
World powers said Tuesday that the international community needed a firm and unified response to North Korea's "reckless" nuclear build-up and missile launches. ... more
ROBO SPACE
DeepSouth: Western Sydney University Unveils Neuromorphic Supercomputer
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 13, 2023
Researchers at the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) at Western Sydney University have unveiled a groundbreaking development in computational technology: DeepSouth, the world's fi ... more
Previous Issues Dec 19 Dec 18 Dec 15 Dec 14 Dec 13
ROCKET SCIENCE


After a 12-day hiatus, launches resume on the Space Coast

ROCKET SCIENCE
Competition: developing Europe's space cargo return service
Paris (ESA) Dec 19, 2023
ESA is launching a competition which initiates a first phase of activities for European companies to eventually demonstrate a complete cargo delivery service to and from space stations in low-Earth ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Blue Origin scrubs return of New Shepard rocket flight due to technical issue
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 18, 2023
Blue Origin has scrubbed its first flight since last year's uncrewed booster mishap. Monday's launch in West Texas was called off earlier in the day, first for cold weather and then due to an unspecified "ground system issue." ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Sierra Space's Dream Chaser New Station Resupply Spacecraft for NASA
Louisville CO (SPX) Dec 18, 2023
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit of life on Earth, has delivered the first Dream Chaser spaceplane, ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab puts Japanese satellite into orbit
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 15, 2023
Rocket Lab returned its Electron rocket into space for the first time since September with a successful New Zealand flight on Friday that released a Japanese satellite into orbit. ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin headed back into space after accident
Washington (AFP) Dec 18, 2023
The American company Blue Origin plans to launch its rocket Big Shepard Monday for the first time since an accident more than a year ago, as the firm founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos heads back into space. ... more

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MICROSAT BLITZ


Tyvak's Milani nanosat advances in Hera mission with successful test readiness review

ROCKET SCIENCE
China launches its tallest rocket, Long March 5, carrying Yaogan 41 satellite
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2023
In a significant advancement in China's space exploration endeavors, the Long March 5 carrier rocket, renowned as one of the world's most powerful operational rockets, successfully deployed a remote ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
NASA: Let's Ketchup on International Space Station Tomato Research
Houston TX (SPX) Dec 15, 2023
Growing food aboard the International Space Station is one of the many research investigations ripe for long duration spaceflight missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio rece ... more
MICROSAT BLITZ
Design the patch for Hera's Milani CubeSat
Paris (ESA) Dec 14, 2023
Milani needs you! This is your chance to design a mission patch for the Milani CubeSat which will fly with ESA's Hera planetary defence spacecraft to the Didymos binary asteroid system. ESA is ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China's space programme: Five things to know
Beijing (AFP) Dec 14, 2023
When Chang'e-3 became the first Chinese craft to land on the Moon 10 years ago, it kicked off nationwide celebrations - and a decade of major successes for a rapidly accelerating space programme. ... more
UAV NEWS
Iranian, Chinese charged by US with exporting drone components to Iran
Washington (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
The United States has charged an Iranian and a Chinese national with allegedly supplying microelectronics to Iran for use in the drone program of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. ... more
UAV NEWS


Egypt air force downs drone off south Sinai

ROCKET SCIENCE
Equatorial Launch Australia Unveils Innovative ASC Advanced Launch Pad Designs
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 19, 2023
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced a significant breakthrough in launch pad technology with the completion of its Arnhem Space Centre Advanced Launch Pad (ASCALP) designs. This developm ... more
MISSILE DEFENSE
Raytheon's LTAMDS achieves new success in tactical ballistic missile interception test
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 19, 2023
Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE: RTX), a leading defense contractor, has announced another milestone in missile defense technology with the successful live-fire demonstration of its Lower Ti ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China's commercial space sector achieves milestones with series of successful launches
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2023
China's space industry, long known for its state-driven Long March rocket series, is now witnessing a rapid expansion in its commercial sector. The Long March family celebrated its 500th spaceflight ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Vulcan Centaur launch delayed until January; Rockets set to launch in 2024
Washington (AFP) Dec 14, 2023
The maiden liftoff of a new American rocket called Vulcan Centaur has been delayed from Christmas Eve to January 8, United Launch Alliance, the company developing it, said Thursday. ... more
AEROSPACE
Taiwan detects another Chinese balloon crossing median line
Taipei (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
A Chinese balloon was detected moving across the sensitive median line separating Taiwan from China, Taipei's Ministry of National Defence said Tuesday, the third time it has reported a sighting this month. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China's Shenlong space plane embarks on another secretive mission in space
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 15, 2023
In a significant advancement for China's space technology, the successful launch of a Long March 2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's vast Gobi Desert has ... more
UAV NEWS
Drone war intensifies between Russia, Ukraine in latest strikes
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 16, 2021
Russia and Ukraine were targeted by dozens of drone strikes early Saturday as dueling bombardments were fired from each side. ... more
MILTECH
Lithuania now a repair hub for Ukraine's tanks
Rukla, Lithuania (AFP) Dec 15, 2023
Two German Leopard tanks damaged in Ukraine were test driven in Lithuania on Friday following repairs, to showcase how the Baltic NATO member has become a hub for such work. ... more
AEROSPACE
Britain, Japan, Italy sign $32B treaty to develop next-generation fighter jet
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 14, 2023
Britain, Japan and Italy signed a $32 billion deal Thursday to develop a next-generation AI-enabled stealth fighter jet that may fly without a pilot. ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
In rare display, US-China friendship carries climate summit
Dubai (AFP) Dec 13, 2023
The scene would be unthinkable elsewhere these days - US and Chinese envoys, smiling and embracing, hailing their friendship as leading the world together in the right direction. ... more
ROBO SPACE
Putin confronted by AI-generated double
Moscow (AFP) Dec 14, 2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared surprised when he was confronted by an AI-generated image of himself asking him if he had doubles during his marathon end-of-year press conference Thursday. ... more
UAV NEWS
Romania summons Russia envoy over drone crash 'crater'
Bucharest (AFP) Dec 14, 2023
Romania has summoned Russia's envoy over a "new violation" of its airspace after the NATO member's territory was hit by a crashed drone during attacks on Ukraine, authorities said Thursday. ... more
AEROSPACE
German army orders 62 Airbus military helicopters
Paris (AFP) Dec 14, 2023
The German army has signed a contract for 62 multi-role military helicopters and taken options on another 20, Airbus said Thursday. in what the company said was the largest order for the H145M. ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Urgency of climate intervention highlighted by rising temperatures and reduced air pollution
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 20, 2023
In the ever-evolving discourse on climate change, a significant debate is emerging, one that may soon capture mainstream attention. The crux of this debate is whether direct intervention in Earth's ... more
ROBO SPACE
OpenAI releases guidelines to gauge 'catastrophic risks' of AI
New York (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI published Monday its newest guidelines for gauging "catastrophic risks" from artificial intelligence in models currently being developed. ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Survivors brave freezing cold after China quake kills 131
Jishishan, China (AFP) Dec 20, 2023
Survivors of China's deadliest earthquake in years huddled in aid tents on Wednesday after overnight temperatures plunged well below zero, with the death toll rising to 131. ... more
FAST TRACK
Mexico's Maya Train underway, despite environmental concerns
Campeche, Mexico (AFP) Dec 15, 2023
Mexico's Maya tourist train glided into action on Friday, promising prosperity for one of the country's poorest regions, but tainted by allegations of environmental devastation. ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hundreds of aid trucks enter Gaza through Rafah, Kerem Shalom crossings
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 18, 2023
Hundreds of trucks filled with humanitarian aid and supplies earmarked for desperate Palestinian civilians have flowed into the Gaza Strip since Sunday after Israeli authorities reopened a pair of crossings. ... more
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Organisers of deadly 2021 China ultramarathon sentenced to jail
Beijing (AFP) Dec 16, 2023
Organisers of a 2021 ultramarathon in northwest China during which 21 runners died in extreme weather conditions have been sentenced to years in prison for their roles, state media reported. ... more
AEROSPACE
French hybrid electric plane picks up US order
Paris (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
French start-up Aura Aero announced Tuesday that US regional airline JSX has signed a letter of intent to purchase 50 of its hybrid-electric planes. ... more
ROBO SPACE
US bans pharmacy Rite Aid from facial recognition use
Washington (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
Pharmacy group Rite Aid was ordered Tuesday to stop using facial recognition for the next five years by a US regulator, which said the company falsely identified consumers as shoplifters using the technology. ... more
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