Articles by SpaceAge

November 17-23, 2025 / Vol 44, Week 46 / Hawai`i Island, USA
Lunar Broadcast Precursor: Terrestrial Edition

November 17-23, 2025 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Vol 44, Week 46: Lunar Broadcast Precursor — Terrestrial Edition

HANBIT-Nano Debuts, Boosting Global SmallSat Access; Other S. Korea Launches in Pipeline

NET November 22, Innospace of Republic of Korea launches HANBIT-Nano rocket from Alcântara Space Center, Brazil (2.4°S). Innospace partners with AEB, Brazilian Air Force and Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) for safety and operations. A 2-stage vehicle, 21.8 meters tall, diameter 1.4m, ~25,000kg tons, it has 1st-stage hybrid engine using paraffin wax / liquid oxygen to produce 245 kN thrust. It can take 90kg to LEO or SSO and will take 18kg on this flight, including 5 satellites: 2 from Brazil space agency AEB, 2 from Universidade Federal do Maranhão of Brazil and 1 from Grahaa Space of Bengaluru (India). It also carries 2 inertial navigation system (INS) devices, from AEB and Castro Leite Consultoria of Brazil, and an empty aluminum cocktail can from Brewguru of Korea. INS devices are alternative to GPS. Innospace CEO Soojong Kim is its largest investor, contributing ~25% of its ~US$40M funding. Other investors include IMM Investment, Shinhan Venture Investment, et al. Per-kg launch cost of $27,000-$33,000 is below traditional rates. Such affordable access democratizes space, fosters international collaboration and promotes sustainable orbital economies. Korea Aerospace Research Institute will launch CAS500-3 aboard Nuri rocket NET November 26 from Naro Space Center, S. Korea, 34.2°N, and will have Arianespace launch KOMPSAT-7 on Vega C from Guiana Space Centre NET November 28. (Image Credits: Innospace)

APRSAF-31 in Philippines: Empowering Asia-Pacific Region through Space Initiatives in Action

The 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31) convenes under the banner “Empowering the Region through Space Ecosystems in Action,” November 18–21 at Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, Philippines hosted by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) with JAXA as a pivotal organizer. Building on APRSAF-30’s record over 700 participants from 30+ countries, the 31st edition promises even broader collaboration. This landmark gathering amplifies Asia-Pacific collaboration, uniting space leaders to harness technology for societal resilience, disaster management, and industry growth. Plenary sessions spotlight regional space ecosystems, disaster-risk applications, and workforce development, featuring Astronauts Takuya Onishi and Koichi Wakata, alongside visionaries from ISRO, KASA, and ASA. Working groups – Space Education for All Working Group (SE4AWG), Satellite Applications for Societal Benefit Working Group (SAWG), Space Frontier Working Group (SFWG), Enhancement of Space Capability Working Group (SCWG), Sentinel Asia, and Space Applications For Environment (SAFE) drive actionable initiatives. Key nations and participants include Philippines (PhilSA) as the host and general co-chair, Japan (JAXA, MEXT) as co-organizer and co-chair, Australia (ASA), India (ISRO), Republic of Korea (KASA), Taiwan (TASA), Indonesia (BRIN), Malaysia (MYSA), Singapore (OSTIn), Thailand (GISTDA), Vietnam (VNSC), UAE (UAESA), UNOOSA, ESA, ASEAN SCOSA. Culminating in the APRSAF Awards, joint statement, evening reception, APRSAF-31 charts the next orbit for inclusive, innovative space cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.  (Image Credits: APRSAF)

Humans in Space

⭐ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 73 crew—consisting of Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Jonny Kim and Chris Williams of NASA; Kimiya Yui of JAXA; and Oleg Platonov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos—continues a busy schedule including unloading gear and processing biological samples from recently arrived JAXA HTV-X1 cargo vehicle with 4.5 tons of supplies, advancing bone cell research in the Life Sciences Glovebox; and preparing for Soyuz MS-28 launch NET November 27.

⭐ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 crew working aboard the station with supplies from Tianzhou-9, while damage to Shenzhou-20 craft from space debris continues being evaluated by ground controllers; Sz-20 three-member crew now returned to Earth after using Sz-21 craft; Sz-22 ship will launch to TSS uncrewed with supplies to act as return vehicle for Sz-21 crew.   

🌔 Lunar Enterprise News: Lunar Experts Favor More Moon Rock Returns: Selenology to Benefit Humanity │ Zarubin Highlights ISS Lessons for Cooperative International Lunar Program 

☄ Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Nov 17: Apollo Asteroid 2022 FG4 (0.047 AU); Wed Nov 19: Apollo Asteroid 3361 Orpheus 1982 HR (0.037 AU); Fri Nov 20: Apollo Asteroid 2013 NJ4 (0.032 AU); Sat Nov 22: Aten Asteroid 2020 YT (0.052 AU)

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