Space & News’ Post

The search is on worldwide for environmentally friendly alternatives to hydrazine (N2H4), which is used in spaceflight as a propellant for satellite propulsion systems. #DLR in #Lampoldshausen research has resulted in two promising products that are now being tested in space and brought to market. Our #spin-off ISPTech and our colleagues from DLR-Institut für Raumfahrtantriebe are presenting two technologies responding to the space market's need to develop more #cost-effective and #reliable propulsion solutions. One of the two technologies developed, HyNOx, is characterized by high performance, #safe #handling and low costs. The second technology, a self-igniting propellant combination called HIP_11, is patented and was also developed by #DLR. Both innovations complement each other: HyNOx is ideal for smaller and lighter satellites or spacecraft, while HIP_11 offers clear advantages for larger and heavier spacecraft. You will find these and other exhibits at the DLR stand MS-F13 at #IAC2024 in #Milan from October 14 to 18, 2024. #DLR #Forschung #Innovation #Transfer

Flying first on #Ariane6 - "With Europe's new Ariane 6 #rocket now at its #spaceport in #FrenchGuiana, the passengers it will launch to space are getting ready to be added to the top of the tall new rocket. Ariane 6 will launch several satellites, deployers and experiments from space agencies, companies, research institutes, universities and young professionals on its first flight. "Ariane 6 is designed to be versatile, offering space actors bespoke launch options all while keeping costs down," says Michel Bonnet, head of Ariane 6 missions and system engineering and ESA's lead for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight. "The varied missions launching on the first flight, from nine countries and dozens of organizations, are a perfect demonstration of the team spirit behind this rocket and the design ethos that underpins it.""... #ESA #EuropeanSpaceAgency read & learn more #EU #space #EUspace #nextspace

What a week for space with the successful launch of the European Space Agency - ESA Ariane 6. With the UK aiming to be the leading destination for commercial spaceflight activity, the need for better communications, navigation and security, space represents a growing opportunity to develop technologies not yet imagined. But how do you test something or know if it’s even viable when it’s destined for space? Space represents several opportunities but also the need for additional analysis, simulation, modelling and systems engineering, because sending ‘things’ to space is still relatively new. https://lnkd.in/dPiBQisC #SiriusAnalysis #WorkingInSpace #SystemsEngineering #Analysis #EuropeanSpaceAgency #Simulation #Modelling #TeamSirius

Scottish space companies like Orbex are leading the charge with innovations in cleaner fuels and intelligent manufacturing, proving that reaching orbit with a significantly reduced carbon footprint is achievable 👣 Orbex's Prime rocket is a 19-meter, two-stage system designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit. The rocket is made from carbon fibre, which is lighter and stronger than aluminum, reducing the fuel needed for launches. The company is set to accelerate the development and launch of this rocket, pushing the boundaries of sustainable spaceflight. With Space-Comm Expo Scotland set to launch tomorrow, it's a great time to take a look at the journey the Forres-based spaceflight company has been on to get where it is today 🔎 Initially presented to our partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as an inward investment opportunity, Orbex has since secured a £14.6 million investment package. It operates design facilities in Denmark, has a registered office in England, and holds active patents across Europe and the U.S. covering various aspects of its rocket technology 📈 "Our technology is pivotal in making the UK a hub for European orbital launch, and we're entering a critical phase of development," says Phillip Chambers, CEO of Orbex. "We're building a sustainable, cost-effective launch vehicle to compete with the best of Europe’s spaceflight manufacturers. This additional funding will help us move into the operational launch phase and scale our business." Orbex is part of a booming sector expected to create 20,000 jobs and generate billions for Scotland's economy over the next decade. If you're interested in scaling your business from Scotland, let's talk 👉 https://ow.ly/o7lW50Tj3nk #ScotlandIsNow #SpaceCommExpoScotland 📸 Credit Orbex

Many of us in Europe are preparing for the Ariane 6 maiden launch today, but what do you think about the recent Chinese achievements in launcher reusability? China recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting its first 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight test of a reusable launch vehicle on June 23, 2024, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This test, which lasted six minutes, demonstrated the rocket's ability to perform vertical soft landings using a deep variable-thrust liquid oxygen-methane engine. The success of this test lays the groundwork for the maiden flight of a larger, four-meter class reusable carrier rocket scheduled for 2025, aiming to enhance launch efficiency and reduce costs through reusability. In contrast, the European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the Ariane 6 rocket for the first time on July 9, 2024. Ariane 6, developed over nearly a decade, is designed to replace Ariane 5 and improve Europe's orbital capabilities. Unlike China's focus on reusability, Ariane 6 does not incorporate reusable boosters, as ESA determined that the current low demand for launches in Europe does not justify the economic investment in reusable technology. Ariane 6 will support a wide range of missions, including deploying multiple payloads into different orbits, and is expected to fly nine to twelve times per year by 2026. These developments highlight differing strategic approaches: China is advancing reusable technology to lower spaceflight costs, while Europe focuses on enhancing payload capacity and mission flexibility with Ariane 6. Both efforts signify important progress in global space launch capabilities. If you love space and want to be in on the breaking inside conversations in the space economy, feel free to subscribe to my newsletter, Trailblazers. It’s the fastest-growing space newsletter and it’s free! 👉 https://buff.ly/3VZIM9r 🎥 Credit: itsthemind on IG (via CASC) #space #ariane6 #europe #china #rocketlaunch #spacesustainability #spaceeconomy #spacetech

Introducing Radian One: The Future of Space Travel Radian Aerospace, a pioneering US-based company, is gearing up to test a scale model of its groundbreaking "spaceplane" this year, aiming to revolutionize space missions as we know them! 🚀✈️ Founded in 2016, Radian Aerospace is bringing back the dream of a Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO) spaceplane—a concept last attempted by NASA's X-33 program. The Radian One spaceplane is fully reusable and takes a fresh approach to space launches. Instead of traditional vertical rocket launches, Radian One will use a rocket-powered sled system on a two-mile-long rail to accelerate from a standard runway. This innovative method reduces fuel requirements, potentially lowering costs and offering a smoother ride for passengers. Key features of Radian One include: 🚀 Fully Reusable Design: Capable of up to 100 missions, minimizing waste and reducing costs. ⏱️ Rapid Turnaround: Can relaunch just 48 hours after landing, enhancing mission flexibility. 🧑🚀 Crew Capacity: Can carry up to five crew members and stay in orbit for up to five days. 🌍 Horizontal Launch and Landing: Operates like a jet aircraft, eliminating the need for complex launch pads. 🛠️ SSTO Capabilities: Reaches orbit without shedding parts, thanks to innovative technologies like its rocket-powered sled launch. With plans to have a full-size version ready by 2028, Radian Aerospace is poised to make history. If successful, this could be a game-changer for space exploration, satellite deployment, and even space tourism. 🌠 The future of space travel is on the horizon, and it's taking off in a whole new direction! #SpaceInnovation #RadianAerospace #FutureOfSpaceTravel #AerospaceEngineering #Spaceplane #RocketScience Source @EuroNews Visit: www.shesightmag.com

🚀 The rapid growth of rocket launches is reshaping spaceflight—and pushing regulatory limits. ⚠️ With a 1,500% rise in FAA license applications, Varda Space Industries CEO Will Bruey proposes introducing standardized safety metrics, like pre-approved population maps, to streamline the process without compromising safety. ⭐ This shift is crucial to avoid stagnation in the commercial space industry. ❓ Do you agree? #SpaceLaw #SpaceRegulation #VardaSpace #CommercialSpace #FAA #SpaceSafety #Payload https://lnkd.in/gjyeKj5e

📈 Lodestar Space Secures $2.5M Pre-Seed Funding To Safeguard Space Infrastructure Co-led by Inflection.xyz and Lunar Ventures, this round also saw participation from notable investors like Charlie Songhurst, Zehan Wang, and Mehdi Ghissassi, with additional non-dilutive funding from the UK Space Agency. Key Highlights: 🔹Innovative Solutions: Developing a platform-agnostic robotic system for inspecting and repairing satellites. 🔹Recent Achievements: Conducted successful zero-gravity tests with MIT and The Aurelia Institute. 🔹Future Plans: Demonstrating robotic arm capabilities in orbit by the end of 2025. 🔹Strategic Roadmap: Developing a flight-ready model scheduled to fly as a hosted payload next year. 🔹Expansion Goals: Plans to expand operations to the U.S. and attract the Department of Defense's attention. Thomas Santini and Neil Buchanan, the founders, aim to revolutionize space security by creating versatile robotic systems. With advisors like former SpaceX VP Lee Rosen and former Spaceflight Inc. CEO Curt Blake, Lodestar is on track to enhance the safety and longevity of orbital assets. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/dJWTqNvi #SpaceTech #Innovation #FundingNews #SpaceSecurity #Robotics

China To Debut Large Reusable Rockets In 2025 and 2026: Andrew Jones reports via SpaceNews: The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) plans to launch four-meter and five-meter-diameter reusable rockets for the first time in 2025 and 2026 respectively, Wang Wei, a deputy to the National People's Congress, told China News Service March 4. The reports do not clearly identify the two rockets. CASC is known to be developing a new, 5.0m-diameter crew launch vehicle, known as the Long March 10. A single stick version would be used to launch a new-generation crew spacecraft to low Earth orbit and could potentially fly in 2025. A three-core variant will launch the "Mengzhou" crew spacecraft into trans-lunar orbit. The rocket is key to China's plans to put astronauts on the moon before 2030. The Long March 10 lunar variant will be 92 meters long and be able to launch 27 tons into trans-lunar orbit. The 4.0-meter-diameter launcher could be a rocket earlier proposed by CASC's Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). That rocket would be able to launch up to 6,500 kg of payload to 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). It would notably use engines developed by the commercial engine maker Jiuzhou Yunjian. CASC's first move to develop a reusable rocket centered on making a recoverable version of the Long March 8. That plan appears to have been abandoned. SAST also plans to debut the 3.8m-diameter Long March 12 later this year from a new commercial launch site. While the Long March 10 has specific, defined uses for lunar and human spaceflight, the second reusable rocket would appear to be in competition with China's commercial rocket companies. While this suggests duplication of effort, it also fits into a national strategy to develop reusable rockets and support commercial ecosystems. The moves would greatly boost China's options for launch and access to space. It would also provide new capacity needed to help construction planned low Earth orbit megaconstellations. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 #𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆: InSpacePropulsion Technologies GmbH (ISPTech), a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.), announces the closing of its €2M pre-seed round. ISPTech is addressing a key challenge that satellite manufacturers and operators face, by developing innovative propulsion systems based on non-toxic, so-called “green” propellants. This approach allows significantly reduced overall costs, rapid availability and simplifies spacecraft operations. The propulsion systems offer superior performance compared to the current green propulsion market standard. With its solutions, ISPTech addresses any spacecraft, from small CubeSats to large satellites, capsules or landers. The round is led by HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds and backed by co-investments of First Momentum Ventures and Possible Ventures, three renowned deep-tech investors. The investment will be used to make ISPTech’s propulsion technologies ready for its first customers and spaceflight. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/e7D23s-M Felix Lauck, Lukas Werling, Koen Geurts, Dr. Maximilian Ochs, Dr. Christoph Baumeister, Tobias Jacob