China NewSpace Launch Providers’ Success May Bolster Further Commercial Aerospace / Lunar Developments Expected mid-August is the launch of China Rocket Co. Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) which has had 3 successful launches from East and South China Sea ocean platforms. i-Space (aka Interstellar Glory) has 3 successes and 4 failures of
NASA Moon to Mars Focus: International Conference on Mars and Lunar-Robust Exploration Science Forum Four members of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and representatives of California Institute of Technology and NASA Mars Exploration Program convene The Tenth International Conference on Mars in Pasadena, July 22-25. Goals are an overview of Mars
International Moon Day 2024 – Envisioning Moon South Pole Crewed Missions 2020s and Moon Station 2050 In its third year of official recognition by the United Nations, International Moon Day 2024 is being honored with thousands of global events marking the first human touchdown on the Moon in 1969. The
SpaceX to Launch Multitude of Satellites, Polaris Dawn Crew Mission in July SpaceMonth Launching from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL on July 8 is $70M Falcon 9 carrying the first communication geostationary satellite built in Türkiye, Türksat 6A. This payload headed to GTO takes 4,250 kg of the available 8,300
July 2024 Space Month Challenges and Opportunities Monday start to July 2024 International Space Month begins with inspired visions of a human return to the lunar surface, possibly 2026. USA with its Artemis international and commercial partners could accelerate work for a human lunar landing near the Moon South Pole
Chang’E-6 Lunar Farside Samples Planned to Land in Inner Mongolia June 25 The first–ever Moon farside sample is targeted to return to Earth on June 25 for China National Space Administration under its highly successful Chang’E (CE) program. The samples, which may be ~2 kg from a depth of ~2
ISS Expedition 71 Planning Series of 3 EVAs; Starliner Astronauts Staying Longer The International Space Station (ISS) continues its shining example of humans exploring, working and living beyond Earth. NASA Astronauts Suni Williams and Barry Wilmore are staying longer after arriving on NASA Commercial Crew Program Boeing Starliner CST-100 to
International Space University Begins 36th Space Studies Program (SSP 2024) ISU’s nine-week summer Space Studies Program (SSP) is held at locations around the world and this year is at Rice University in Houston TX, USA June 8 to August 3. The program fosters international collaboration for space exploration and the
Starship Test Flight 4 Set for June 5 to Last >1 Hour, Test Re-Entry Survivability The next dramatic Starship flight launching from Starbase at Boca Chica, Texas is scheduled for NET June 5 at 07:00 CDT — and dependent on FAA approval. It will be the fourth flight of a
ISS Expedition 71 Plans to Welcome Progress 88P with 2,500 kg of Supplies, Experiments The seven-member crew of International Space Station Expedition 71 continue their mission of science and exploration this week while (still) awaiting the launch of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore in Boeing Starliner CST-100, which could fly
“Mountain on the Moon” Challenges ISDC / NewSpace America, Asia Commercial Landers Malapert Summit high ground, chosen as 1 of the 13 potential landing sites for the Artemis III Human Return to the Moon, at about 5,000-meters altitude is located within ~4 degrees latitude of the lunar South Pole. The
CAPS and AbSciCon24 Astrobiology Meetings Share Progress, Plans for Next-Gen Exploration Missions The 3rd open session of the National Academies of Sciences Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences (CAPS) will be held May 20 in Washington DC. CAPS connects the research community, federal government and public, and gathers information on
Boeing Starliner CST-100 Inaugural Crewed Flight to ISS Set for May 6 United Launch Alliance is set to launch its Atlas V rocket NET May 6 from SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida for the long-awaited Boeing CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test with a launch mass of 13,000 kg carrying Astronauts
Chang’E-6 to Launch May 3, Complete Phase 3 of Chang’E Lunar Program China’s Chang’E-6 orbiter, return capsule, lander, ascender and its international payloads are set to launch aboard a Long March 5 from Wenchang Space Launch Center, Hainan Island at 19° N as early as May 3. Launch mass is
Earth Day 2024: ESTEC Studies Planetary Protection, MVA Considers Earth-Moon Environmentalism, ESA Astronaut Class Graduates The 54th Earth Day on April 22 will be marked by protest marches, volunteer cleanups, petition drives, tree plantings and educational events around the world, with ~1B participants in 192 countries. The theme of Earth
ISS Exp 71 to Welcome 1st Crewed Starliner and Dream Chaser Demo Missions in Summer Newly commenced ISS Expedition 71 is underway with Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko continuing command from Exp 70, and crewmates Nikolai Chub, Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Alexander Grebenkin, and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson. The 6-month Exp 71
Total Solar Eclipse Festivities Across North America Precede Global Yuri’s Night Celebrations A week of astronomical and astronautical merriment awaits revelers at a slew of events celebrating the coming total solar eclipse and commemorating humankind’s first foray into space. 5 multi-day viewing parties are planned: Texas Eclipse Festival (April 5-9),
NewSpace Africa Conference 2024 Highlights Growing Commercial Space Activity in Region 3rd annual NewSpace Africa Conference being held at Talatona Convention Centre in Luanda, Angola from April 2-5 with theme ‘The Role of Space in Closing Africa’s Poverty Gap’. The Nigeria-based event co-organizer, data analytics company Space in Africa, estimates
Luxembourg Opens 6th Space Resources Week, Paris Hosts IAF Spring Meetings With semi-overlapping dates, two Europe conferences will host significant events over three days this week: The Space Resources Week in Luxembourg (March 25-27), and the Spring Meetings of the International Astronautical Federation (March 26-28). Space resource utilization and exploration
ISS Undergoes Multi-Crew Changeovers and Cargo Arrival Heading into Expedition 71 The International Space Station, now more than 25 years in LEO and having 270+ Astronaut visitors, will see many rendezvous and departures this month of crewed and cargo spacecraft. Expedition 70 Commander Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and Loral O’Hara
Moon Matters: LPSC2024 in USA Being Held Prior to PRC Launch of Queqiao 2 Lunar Relay The 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, sponsored by NASA, USRA and the Lunar and Planetary Institute, will convene ~2,000 planetary scientists and students from March 11-15 in the Woodlands, Texas. There will be
Next-Gen NASA Astronaut Class to Graduate Under Artemis Program NASA Astronaut Group 23 is set to receive astronaut wings at March 5 graduation ceremony being held at Johnson Space Center in Houston TX. Nicknamed ‘The Flies’, Group 23 consists of 5 women and 7 men, 10 of whom are USA
Crew-8 and Transporter 10 Launching to Space in the Coming Days, Starship IFT-3 Also Possible The robust SpaceX launch cadence continues with Crew-8 ISS mission on Endeavour, which is to be the 13th crewed flight of Dragon capsule (9th within NASA Commercial Crew program) set for launch on Falcon 9
USA Returning to Moon Surface After 51+ Years with Intuitive Machines Odysseus Lander The second NASA CLPS-funded ($118M delivery contract) commercial mission is on its way to the Moon following February 15, 01:05 EST launch from KSC LC-39A via SpaceX Falcon 9. The Nova-C class lander Odysseus separated from the
