September 2020 SPACE ECONOMY NEWS -Update Dr Jack …



September 2020 SPACE ECONOMY NEWS -Update Dr Jack Dyer, Blue Economy Future SAContents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u September 2020 SPACE ECONOMY NEWS -Update Dr Jack Dyer, Blue Economy Future SA PAGEREF _Toc49920964 \h 1NASA PAGEREF _Toc49920965 \h 1NASA Seeks Next Class of Flight Directors for Human Spaceflight PAGEREF _Toc49920966 \h 1NASA Invites Media to Northrop Grumman’s September Antares Launch PAGEREF _Toc49920967 \h 1Global Survey Using NASA Data Shows Dramatic Growth of Glacial Lakes PAGEREF _Toc49920968 \h 1NASA Selects Proposals for New Space Environment Missions PAGEREF _Toc49920969 \h 1NASA Names Robyn Gatens Acting Director for Space Station PAGEREF _Toc49920970 \h 2NASA to Highlight Artemis Booster Test with Live Broadcast, Telecon PAGEREF _Toc49920971 \h 2NASA Awards Environmental and Medical Services Contract PAGEREF _Toc49920972 \h 2NASA Administrator to Open Space Station R&D Conference PAGEREF _Toc49920973 \h 2Astronaut Jeanette Epps Joins First Operational Boeing Crew Mission PAGEREF _Toc49920974 \h 2NASA Awards Grants to Minority Serving Institutions PAGEREF _Toc49920975 \h 2NASA Awards SRACES Contract PAGEREF _Toc49920976 \h 3NASA TV to Air Departure of Japanese Cargo Ship from Space Station PAGEREF _Toc49920977 \h 3NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station to Answer Girl Scouts’ Questions PAGEREF _Toc49920978 \h 3NASA Awards Contract for Consolidated Information Technology Services PAGEREF _Toc49920979 \h 3NASA Awards Laboratory Services Contract PAGEREF _Toc49920980 \h 3NASA Administrator Statement on the Passing of Mike Freilich PAGEREF _Toc49920981 \h 3NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station Answers STEM Students’ Questions PAGEREF _Toc49920982 \h 4NASA Astronauts to Discuss Historic SpaceX Crew Dragon Test Flight PAGEREF _Toc49920983 \h 4NASA Astronauts Safely Back from First Commercial Crew Trip to Station PAGEREF _Toc49920984 \h 4NASA Broadcasts First Splashdown of American Astronauts in 45 Years PAGEREF _Toc49920985 \h 4Space News PAGEREF _Toc49920986 \h 4Musk emphasizes progress in Starship production over testing PAGEREF _Toc49920987 \h 4Space Force to add hundreds of new members as airmen begin to transfer over PAGEREF _Toc49920988 \h 7NASA space technology faces potential budget pressure PAGEREF _Toc49920989 \h 8Lockheed Martin enlists Tyvak and Telesat for Space Development Agency contract PAGEREF _Toc49920990 \h 8Pentagon report: China amassing arsenal of anti-satellite weapons PAGEREF _Toc49920991 \h 9Intelsat buys Gogo commercial aviation business for $400 million PAGEREF _Toc49920992 \h 9ULA investigating cause of Delta 4 Heavy mission abort PAGEREF _Toc49920993 \h 10Tech executive Victoria Coleman named director of DARPA PAGEREF _Toc49920994 \h 11China makes progress on spaceport project for sea launches PAGEREF _Toc49920995 \h 11Rocket Lab returns to flight with Capella Space launch PAGEREF _Toc49920996 \h 12SpaceX launches Argentine radar satellite, rideshare smallsats on Falcon 9 rocket PAGEREF _Toc49920997 \h 13Report: Space Force improving delivery of orbit monitoring software PAGEREF _Toc49920998 \h PAGEREF _Toc49920999 \h 15Space News PAGEREF _Toc49921000 \h 15BROWSE CATEGORIES PAGEREF _Toc49921001 \h 15Pictures from space! Our image of the day PAGEREF _Toc49921002 \h 16SpaceX makes Starship progress, despite test flight delays, Elon Musk says: Report PAGEREF _Toc49921003 \h 16An airplane-size asteroid gives Earth a close shave today PAGEREF _Toc49921004 \h 16September full moon 2020: The 'Corn Moon' swings by Mars PAGEREF _Toc49921005 \h 16Sept. 1, 1979: Pioneer 11 becomes 1st spacecraft to visit Saturn PAGEREF _Toc49921006 \h 16Ozone pollution levels have increased over the past 20 years, study finds PAGEREF _Toc49921007 \h 17Best night sky events of September 2020 (stargazing maps) PAGEREF _Toc49921008 \h 17Meet 'Lunar Cruiser': Japan's big moon rover for astronauts gets a nickname PAGEREF _Toc49921009 \h 17SpaceX delays launch of next 60 Starlink internet satellites to Thursday PAGEREF _Toc49921010 \h 17The Andromeda galaxy's halo is even more massive than scientists expected, Hubble telescope reveals PAGEREF _Toc49921011 \h 18Vintage NASA satellite falls to Earth, meets fiery doom after 56 years in space PAGEREF _Toc49921012 \h 18Commercial crews and private astronauts will boost International Space Station's science PAGEREF _Toc49921013 \h 18NASA asteroid mission Lucy begins spacecraft assembly before 2021 launch PAGEREF _Toc49921014 \h 18Black hole 'hair' could be detected using ripples in space-time PAGEREF _Toc49921015 \h 19Rocket Lab's Electron booster returns to flight with Earth-observing satellite launch PAGEREF _Toc49921016 \h 19Watch live tonight: Arianespace's Vega rocket returns to flight with smallsat fleet launch PAGEREF _Toc49921017 \h 19SpaceX launches Earth-observation satellite for Argentina, nails rocket landing PAGEREF _Toc49921018 \h 19The top space stories of the week! PAGEREF _Toc49921019 \h 20SpaceX delays Starlink fleet launch due to weather, aims for another rocket flight tonight PAGEREF _Toc49921020 \h 20Earth's core is a billion years old PAGEREF _Toc49921021 \h 20Space News PAGEREF _Toc49921022 \h 20BROWSE CATEGORIES PAGEREF _Toc49921023 \h 20Hunting for medium-sized black holes with the next generation of gravitational wave detectors PAGEREF _Toc49921024 \h 21SpaceX doubleheader! Watch 2 Falcon 9 rockets lift off from Florida Sunday PAGEREF _Toc49921025 \h 21US spy satellite launch delayed a week after abort in final seconds PAGEREF _Toc49921026 \h 21Space photos: The most amazing images this week! PAGEREF _Toc49921027 \h 21California wildfire damage spotted from space (photos) PAGEREF _Toc49921028 \h 21Mars dust devil! Curiosity rover spots Red Planet twister (photos) PAGEREF _Toc49921029 \h 22Boeing's Starliner could launch to the space station in December PAGEREF _Toc49921030 \h 22International Space Station at 20: Commercialization increases as end of life looms PAGEREF _Toc49921031 \h 22Skylab 4 capsule to land in new exhibit at Oklahoma History Center PAGEREF _Toc49921032 \h 22NASA delays new astronaut selection due to coronavirus constraints PAGEREF _Toc49921033 \h 2356-year-old NASA satellite expected to fall to Earth this weekend PAGEREF _Toc49921034 \h 23Jupiter's ocean moons raise tides on each other PAGEREF _Toc49921035 \h 23Want to find life on Venus? Check for spores in the atmosphere, new research suggests. PAGEREF _Toc49921036 \h 23United Launch Alliance debuts first-ever 3D projection on a Delta IV Heavy rocket PAGEREF _Toc49921037 \h 24See Jupiter and Saturn with the moon this weekend PAGEREF _Toc49921038 \h 24NASA-sponsored moon mission will launch on a SpaceX rocket PAGEREF _Toc49921039 \h 24NASA event marks 100th anniversary of women's voting rights PAGEREF _Toc49921040 \h 24Earth may have been born wet PAGEREF _Toc49921041 \h 25Space Chat with : Tune in Fridays for science, space and more! PAGEREF _Toc49921042 \h 25NASA Mission Control braces for Hurricane Laura as astronauts watch from space PAGEREF _Toc49921043 \h 25Space News PAGEREF _Toc49921044 \h 25BROWSE CATEGORIES PAGEREF _Toc49921045 \h 25Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan PAGEREF _Toc49921046 \h 25Three big threats to satellites — and what to do about them (op-ed) PAGEREF _Toc49921047 \h 26A huge Delta IV Heavy rocket will launch a new US spy satellite overnight. Here's how to watch. PAGEREF _Toc49921048 \h 26Astronaut Jerry Carr, who led NASA's final Skylab crew, dies at 88 PAGEREF _Toc49921049 \h 26Mars ahead! UAE's Hope spacecraft spots Red Planet for 1st time PAGEREF _Toc49921050 \h 26LightSail 2 solar sail spots Hurricane Laura from space as satellites track storm's path PAGEREF _Toc49921051 \h 27Launchapalooza! You can watch 5 rockets launch in 4 days this week PAGEREF _Toc49921052 \h 27Satellite megaconstellations could have 'extreme' impact on astronomy, report finds PAGEREF _Toc49921053 \h 27Astronomers discover the fastest-spinning white dwarf yet — and it's a vampire PAGEREF _Toc49921054 \h 27Astronaut and satellites see tropical storms Laura and Marco from space PAGEREF _Toc49921055 \h 28NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps to make rookie spaceflight aboard Boeing's Starliner PAGEREF _Toc49921056 \h 28Hubble telescope catches stunning view of Comet NEOWISE after its spectacular summer sky show PAGEREF _Toc49921057 \h 28China's Mars mission tests instruments on its way to the Red Planet PAGEREF _Toc49921058 \h 28Mars lander InSight picks up tiny ground tilt caused by Phobos moon transit PAGEREF _Toc49921059 \h 29Space station crew spend extra night in Russian segment as air leak investigation continues PAGEREF _Toc49921060 \h 29New 'Raised By Wolves' trailer offers more clues into HBO Max's exciting sci-fi series PAGEREF _Toc49921061 \h 29'Star Trek: Fleet Command' mobile strategy game is beaming up the entire Trek timeline PAGEREF _Toc49921062 \h 29Iowa crop damage from Derecho thunderstorms seen from space PAGEREF _Toc49921063 \h 30Rocket Center gets $500K grant to 'save' mock NASA space shuttle PAGEREF _Toc49921064 \h 30SpaceX fires up SN6 Starship rocket prototype ahead of potential test flight PAGEREF _Toc49921065 \h 30Space X PAGEREF _Toc49921066 \h 30RECENT LAUNCH PAGEREF _Toc49921067 \h 31SAOCOM 1B MISSION PAGEREF _Toc49921068 \h 31UPCOMING LAUNCH PAGEREF _Toc49921069 \h 31STARLINK MISSION PAGEREF _Toc49921070 \h 31MISSION COMPLETE PAGEREF _Toc49921071 \h 31CREW DRAGON RETURNS FROM SPACE STATION PAGEREF _Toc49921072 \h 31STARSHIP TAKES FLIGHT PAGEREF _Toc49921073 \h 31RETURNING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES PAGEREF _Toc49921074 \h 32CREW DRAGON DOCKING SIMULATOR PAGEREF _Toc49921075 \h 3305/01/20 PAGEREF _Toc49921076 \h 34NASA SELECTS LUNAR OPTIMIZED STARSHIP PAGEREF _Toc49921077 \h 34UGUST 30, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921078 \h 34SAOCOM 1B PAGEREF _Toc49921079 \h 34ROSCOSMOS PAGEREF _Toc49921080 \h 36ARTICLES ARCHIVE PAGEREF _Toc49921081 \h 46CHINA SPACE AGENCY PAGEREF _Toc49921082 \h 47VIRGIN GALACTIC PAGEREF _Toc49921083 \h 47News PAGEREF _Toc49921084 \h 48Read the latest news and updates from Virgin Galactic PAGEREF _Toc49921085 \h 48Virgin Galactic Announces Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results PAGEREF _Toc49921086 \h 48Virgin Galactic Unveils Mach 3 Aircraft Design for High Speed Travel, and Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Rolls-Royce PAGEREF _Toc49921087 \h 49Virgin Galactic Reveals SpaceshipTwo Cabin Interior PAGEREF _Toc49921088 \h 49JULY 15, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921089 \h 50Virgin Galactic Announces Michael Colglazier as Chief Executive Officer in Preparation for Commercial Service PAGEREF _Toc49921090 \h 50JULY 02, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921091 \h 50Virgin Galactic Announces Date for World’s First Virtual Reveal of Spaceship Cabin Design PAGEREF _Toc49921092 \h 50JUNE 25, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921093 \h 51Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Completes Second Flight from Spaceport America PAGEREF _Toc49921094 \h 51JUNE 25, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921095 \h 51Virgin Galactic Flight Test Program Update: SpaceShipTwo Preparing for Second Test Flight from New Mexico PAGEREF _Toc49921096 \h 51JUNE 22, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921097 \h 52Virgin Galactic Signs Space Act Agreement with NASA for Private Orbital Spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) PAGEREF _Toc49921098 \h 52JUNE 19, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921099 \h 52Virgin Galactic and Partners Announce Aerospace Leadership Program for Black Scholars PAGEREF _Toc49921100 \h 52MAY 05, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921101 \h 53Virgin Galactic Enters Space Act Agreement with NASA To Advance High Mach Technologies PAGEREF _Toc49921102 \h 53MAY 05, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921103 \h 53Virgin Galactic Announces First Quarter 2020 Financial Results PAGEREF _Toc49921104 \h 53MAY 01, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921105 \h 53Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Completes First Flight From Spaceport America PAGEREF _Toc49921106 \h 53APRIL 28, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921107 \h 54Supporting our local communities in New Mexico in the fight against COVID-19 PAGEREF _Toc49921108 \h 54APRIL 27, 2020 PAGEREF _Toc49921109 \h 54Virgin Galactic signs Space Act Agreement with NASA in the fight against COVID-19 PAGEREF _Toc49921110 \h 54DECEMBER 02, 2019 PAGEREF _Toc49921111 \h 55Virgin Galactic places Main Oxidiser Tank into its next spaceship PAGEREF _Toc49921112 \h 55OCTOBER?28,?2019 PAGEREF _Toc49921113 \h 58Invest in the Future of Human Spaceflight PAGEREF _Toc49921114 \h 58Continue Reading PAGEREF _Toc49921115 \h 61OCTOBER?8,?2019 PAGEREF _Toc49921116 \h 62Boeing to Invest in Human Spaceflight Pioneer Virgin Galactic PAGEREF _Toc49921117 \h 62Virgin Galactic Opens the Doors to the ‘Gateway to Space’ PAGEREF _Toc49921118 \h 62Virgin Galactic Opens the Doors to the ‘Gateway to Space’ PAGEREF _Toc49921119 \h 63Project credits: PAGEREF _Toc49921120 \h 67Designed by: PAGEREF _Toc49921121 \h 67Consultant team: PAGEREF _Toc49921122 \h 68Construction: PAGEREF _Toc49921123 \h 68VMS Eve arrives home to Spaceport America – a view from Chief Pilot Dave Mackay PAGEREF _Toc49921124 \h 68JULY?31,?2019 PAGEREF _Toc49921125 \h 69Virgin Galactic Completes Wing for Next Spaceship PAGEREF _Toc49921126 \h 69JULY PAGEREF _Toc49921127 \h 69NASA Seeks Next Class of Flight Directors for Human SpaceflightSept. 1, 2020?-?NASA is looking for leaders for one of the best jobs on Earth for human spaceflight – including missions to the Moon – the position of flight director in mission control at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.NASA Invites Media to Northrop Grumman’s September Antares LaunchSept. 1, 2020?-?Media accreditation is open for the launch from Virginia of Northrop Grumman’s 14th commercial resupply services mission to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station aboard its Cygnus spacecraft.Global Survey Using NASA Data Shows Dramatic Growth of Glacial LakesAug. 31, 2020?-?In the largest-ever study of glacial lakes, researchers using 30 years of NASA satellite data have found that the volume of these lakes worldwide has increased by about 50% since 1990 as glaciers melt and retreat due to climate change.NASA Selects Proposals for New Space Environment MissionsAug. 28, 2020?-?NASA has selected five proposals for concept studies of missions to help improve understanding of the dynamics of the Sun and the constantly changing space environment with which it interacts around Earth.NASA Names Robyn Gatens Acting Director for Space StationAug. 27, 2020?-?Kathy Lueders, NASA’s associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, has named Robyn Gatens as acting director of the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters.NASA to Highlight Artemis Booster Test with Live Broadcast, TeleconAug. 27, 2020?-?NASA will broadcast a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket full-scale booster test at 2:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 2, on NASA Television and the agency’s website, followed by a media teleconference.NASA Awards Environmental and Medical Services ContractAug. 27, 2020?-?NASA has awarded a contract to HSG LLC of Las Vegas to provide the agency environmental management, environmental health, and medical services.NASA Administrator to Open Space Station R&D ConferenceAug. 25, 2020?-?NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is set to open the ninth annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) at 10 a.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 27, as the microgravity laboratory celebrates the 20th anniversary of continuous human presence in space.Astronaut Jeanette Epps Joins First Operational Boeing Crew MissionAug. 25, 2020?-?NASA has assigned astronaut Jeanette Epps to NASA’s Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on a mission to the International Space Station.NASA Awards Grants to Minority Serving InstitutionsAug. 24, 2020?-?NASA has awarded 14 planning grants to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) through its Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), part of the agency’s Office of STEM Engagement.Previous123…NextNASA Awards SRACES ContractAug. 14, 2020?-?NASA has awarded the Strategic Research and Analysis, Communications, and Exhibits Services (SRACES) contract to Media Fusion LLC of Huntsville, Alabama, to provide comprehensive strategic research and analysis, communications, and exhibits services at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.NASA TV to Air Departure of Japanese Cargo Ship from Space StationAug. 13, 2020?-?Eleven years after the launch of the first H-II Transfer cargo vehicle (HTV) to the International Space Station, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) HTV-9 will depart the orbital laboratory Tuesday, Aug. 18, with live coverage beginning at 1:15 p.m. EDT on NASA Television and the agency’s website.NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station to Answer Girl Scouts’ QuestionsAug. 7, 2020?-?Girl Scouts from across the nation will pose questions next week to NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy aboard the International Space Station.NASA Awards Contract for Consolidated Information Technology ServicesAug. 7, 2020?-?NASA has selected ASRC Federal Data Solutions (AFDS) Inc. of Beltsville, Maryland, to receive a contract for Ames Consolidated Information Technology Services at the agency's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.NASA Awards Laboratory Services ContractAug. 7, 2020?-?NASA has awarded the Laboratory Services contract (LSC) to Alutiiq Essentials Services LLC of Kodiak, Alaska, to provide laboratory services at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.NASA Administrator Statement on the Passing of Mike FreilichAug. 5, 2020?-?Statement from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on the passing of Mike Freilich, passionate explorer and former director of NASA's Earth Science Division.NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station Answers STEM Students’ QuestionsAug. 5, 2020?-?Students participating in Space Station Explorers STEM programs across the nation will pose questions this week to NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy aboard the International Space Station.NASA Astronauts to Discuss Historic SpaceX Crew Dragon Test FlightAug. 3, 2020?-?NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will discuss their recently completed SpaceX Demo-2 test flight mission to the International Space Station during a news conference at 4:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 4.NASA Astronauts Safely Back from First Commercial Crew Trip to StationAug. 2, 2020?-?Two NASA astronauts splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday for the first time in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft, returning from the International Space Station to complete a test flight that marks a new era in human spaceflight.NASA Broadcasts First Splashdown of American Astronauts in 45 YearsAug. 2, 2020?-?NASA is broadcasting the return of the agency’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley from the International Space Station – the first splashdown of an American crew spacecraft in 45 years.Space News emphasizes progress in Starship production over testingby?Jeff Foust?—?September 1, 2020Elon Musk tweeted this image of the "Starship Production Complex" in Boca Chica, Texas, in June. Credit: Twitter @elonmuskWASHINGTON — SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said the company is making “good progress” on its next-generation Starship launch vehicle despite delays in the schedule of test flights of the vehicle.In an interview broadcast during the Humans to Mars Summit by the advocacy group Explore Mars Aug. 31, Musk emphasized the progress the company has made not on test flights of the vehicle but instead development of production facilities for Starship at Boca Chica, Texas.“We’re making good progress. The thing that we’re really making progress on with Starship is the production system,” he said, referring to the growing campus at Boca Chica. “A year ago there was almost nothing there and now we’ve got quite a lot of production capability.”Those facilities have cranked out a series of prototypes of Starship, which is intended to serve as the upper stage of the overall launch system. Musk said that construction will start this week on “booster prototype one,” a reference to the Super Heavy first stage of the system.That production capability, he argued, is essential to the long-term development of the overall launch system. “Making a prototype of something is, I think, relatively easy,” he said. “But building the production system so that you can build ultimately hundreds or thousands of Starships, that’s the hard part.”That focus on production belies the lack of progress on actual testing of the vehicle. At?a September 2019 event at Boca Chica, Musk, with a Starship prototype standing behind him, said that the vehicle would fly to an altitude of 20 kilometers in one or two months. “I think we want to try to reach orbit in less than six months,” he said, a schedule he said at the time was accurate to “within a few months.”Eleven months later, a Starship prototype has flown only once:?an Aug. 4 “hop” test of a prototype known as SN5?that flew to an estimated altitude of 150 meters before landing on a nearby pad. Another prototype, SN6, was being prepared for a similar hop test Aug. 30 that was scrubbed for undisclosed reasons. Four other prototypes were destroyed in ground tests prior to the SN5 flight.Musk, asked when Starship would make its first orbital flight, said, “Probably next year.” He didn’t specify if that would be the Starship vehicle alone or the full stack with the Super Heavy booster. “I hope we do a lot of flights. The first ones might not work. This is uncharted territory. Nobody’s ever made a fully reusable orbital rocket.”He later said he expected the launch system, ultimately intended to transport people to Mars, will do “hundreds of missions with satellites before we put people on board.”Musk quoted a cost estimate for developing Starship of $5 billion, a figure he has stated in the past. He played down?the NASA Human Landing System award the company received in April, valued at $135 million, to study using the Starship system as a means for landing NASA astronauts on the moon for the Artemis program. “Definitely the NASA support is appreciated,” he said. “It’s helpful, but it’s not a gamechanger.”The overall design of the system is still evolving. While SpaceX previously described Super Heavy as having 31 Raptor engines, Musk said the final number may be less. “We might have fewer than 31 engines on the booster, because we’re trying to simplify the configuration,” he said. “It might be 28 engines. It’s still a lot of engines.”Musk spent a large chunk of the nearly half-hour interview going into technical details about the Raptor engines that will power Starship, discussing chamber pressures, thrust-to-weight ratios and specific impulse. But asked what he thought what sort of headline would accompany a successful human Mars landing, he was stumped. “I haven’t thought about that at all,” he said, settling on “humanity is on Mars.”“We need a lot of people fired up to go to Mars,” he said. “It’s going to be kind of risky, but kind of a cool, fun adventure.”Space Force to add hundreds of new members as airmen begin to transfer overby?Sandra Erwin?—?September 1, 2020Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman meets with airmen at the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Credit: U.S. Space ForceThe 2,400 Air Force space operators who are transferring to the Space Force are spread across 175 locations around the worldWASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force in the coming weeks will add more than 2,400 new members who agreed to leave the Air Force and volunteered to join the space service.With restrictions on mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Space Force will hold a virtual swearing-in ceremony Sept. 15 during the Air Force Association’s Virtual Air, Space and Cyber Conference.The 2,400 space operators who are transferring to the Space Force are spread across 175 locations around the world, spokeswoman Lynn Kirby said.About half of Space Force’s new members are located at Buckley, Peterson, and Schriever Air Force Bases in Colorado, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Kirby said the other half are at other U.S. and overseas locations including Germany, Greenland, Japan and the United Kingdom.The 2,400 airmen were?chosen from more than 8,500?who applied for the opportunity to transfer. Only airmen in the space operations and space systems operations career fields were selected.On the official date of transfer, enlisted members will be administered the oath of enlistment and sign enlistment contracts into the Space Force. ?Officers will be administered the oath of office and sign Space Force commissioning documents.?Both officers and enlisted members have to commit to a minimum of two-years of active-duty service.NASA space technology faces potential budget pressureby?Jeff Foust?—?September 1, 2020Uncertain overall funding and congressional direction to increase funding on specific projects could create pressure on NASA’s space technology program, an agency official warned Sept. 1.CIVIL?POLICY & POLITICS?NASANUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSIONSPACE TECHNOLOGYLockheed Martin enlists Tyvak and Telesat for Space Development Agency contractby?Sandra Erwin?—?September 1, 2020Lockheed Martin's satellites for the SDA will be about 150 to 200 kilograms and will use Tyvak’s Mavericks MERCIAL?MILITARY?LOCKHEED MARTINSPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCYYORK SPACE SYSTEMSPentagon report: China amassing arsenal of anti-satellite weaponsby?Sandra Erwin?—?September 1, 2020DoD report: China intends to pursue ASAT weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geosynchronous Earth orbit.MILITARY?ASATCHINADODIntelsat buys Gogo commercial aviation business for $400 millionby?Caleb Henry?—?September 1, 2020Commercial satellite operator Intelsat, still operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, is purchasing a large chunk of inflight connectivity provider Gogo’s business for $400 MERCIAL?GOGOIFCINTELSATCOMMERCIAL?LAUNCH?PLD SPACESUBORBITALULA investigating cause of Delta 4 Heavy mission abortby?Sandra Erwin?—?August 31, 2020ULA statement: “Initial indications were with a ground system, and we are working to confirm the exact cause."LAUNCH?MILITARY?DELTA 4NROULATech executive Victoria Coleman named director of DARPAby?Sandra Erwin?—?August 31, 2020Coleman is a member of the Defense Science Board and has held several senior posts in the private sector and academia.MILITARY?DARPAChina makes progress on spaceport project for sea launchesby?Andrew Jones?—?August 31, 2020China is making progress with a spaceport to facilitate sea-based launch activity and development of rockets, satellites and related applications.CIVIL?LAUNCH?CHINALONG MARCH 11Rocket Lab returns to flight with Capella Space launchby?Jeff Foust?—?August 31, 2020Rocket Lab successfully launched a radar imaging satellite for Capella Space Aug. 30 in the first flight of its Electron rocket since a failure nearly two months MERCIAL?LAUNCH?CAPELLAELECTRONROCKET LABSMALL LAUNCH VEHICLESSpaceX launches Argentine radar satellite, rideshare smallsats on Falcon 9 rocketby?Caleb Henry?—?August 30, 2020SpaceX completed its first Cape Canaveral polar launch Aug. 30, delivering an Argentine radar satellite and two smallsats on a Falcon 9 rocket.?COMMERCIAL?LAUNCH?FALCON 9SPACEXReport: Space Force improving delivery of orbit monitoring softwareby?Sandra Erwin?—?August 30, 2020A report submitted to Congress says the Space C2 program has transitioned to agile software development practices.MILITARY?SMCSOFTWARESPACE FORCESPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESShe following is a statement from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine:“President Donald Trump’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget for NASA is worthy of 21st century exploration and discovery. The President’s budget invests more than $25 billion in NASA to fortify our innovative human space exploration program while maintaining strong support for our agency’s full suite of science, aeronautics, and technology work.“The budget proposed represents a 12 percent increase and makes this one of the strongest budgets in NASA history. The reinforced support from the President comes at a critical time as we lay the foundations for landing the first woman and the next man on the South Pole of the Moon by 2024. This budget keeps us firmly on that path.“We are preparing to achieve pivotal milestones this year in development of the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, and the Gateway. These make up the backbone of our Artemis program and are fully supported by this budget. They constitute our ability to build a sustainable lunar presence and eventually send human missions to Mars.“Most noteworthy, is the President’s direct funding of more than $3 billon for the development of a human landing system. This is the first time we have had direct funding for a human lander since the Apollo Program. We are serious about our 2024 goals, and the President’s budget supports our efforts to get the job done.“We soon will launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil for the first time in nearly a decade. This recaptured ability will not only allow us to do more science and more exploration than ever before, but will also broaden commercial activity in low-Earth orbit to support ever greater private partnerships.“As we prepare to celebrate 20 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station this year, we will continue to look for ways to partner with private enterprise and give more people access to the unique environment microgravity offers. Similarly, when we go to the Moon in the next four years, we are interested in taking the world with us. This includes those involved in our Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and the international relationships we have forged over the decades.“The FY 2021 budget positions NASA to spearhead a new era of human space exploration without focusing funds on one program at the expense of others. This all-of-NASA approach to the future will help us take advantage of all the exciting, new horizons emerging in science, aeronautics, and technology.“The decadal survey priorities are strongly supported by this budget, including history’s first Mars sample return mission, the Europa Clipper, and development of a host of new trailblazing Earth observation missions. In aeronautics, the budget backs all our cutting-edge research on commercial use of supersonic aircraft, all-electric airplanes, and development of an unmanned aerial system that will make flying small drones safer and more efficient in the 21st century.“NASA is on the cusp of embarking on era-defining exploration. The civilization-changing technology we develop will deepen humanity’s scientific knowledge of the universe and how to take care of our ever changing world.“I am confident the FY 2021 budget’s proper investment in our agency’s priorities, coupled with your unmatched talents and expertise, will strengthen our national posture for continued space preeminence and, as President Trump said during his State of the Union speech last week, help our nation embrace the next frontier.”?To learn more about NASA’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget, visit: Inclán / Matthew RydinHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600 / 202-603-7522bettina.inclan@?/?matthew.m.rydin@Last Updated:?Feb. 10, 2020Editor:?Sean ission.?Learn moreSpace NewsBROWSE CATEGORIESInfographicsCountdownsReferencesQuizzesWallpapers HYPERLINK "" Pictures from space! Our image of the dayBy? Staff?11 hours agoThis brilliant streak of light is a small section of the Cygnus supernova blast wave, as spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope. HYPERLINK "" SpaceX makes Starship progress, despite test flight delays, Elon Musk says: ReportBy?Chelsea Gohd?11 hours agoSpaceX is "really making progress" with Starship production despite test flight delays, the company's CEO Elon Musk said Monday (Aug. 31.) HYPERLINK "" An airplane-size asteroid gives Earth a close shave todayBy?Hanneke Weitering?13 hours agoAn asteroid the size of a jumbo jet will have a close encounter with Earth today (Sept. 1), zooming past our planet at about one-third the average distance to the moon. HYPERLINK "" September full moon 2020: The 'Corn Moon' swings by MarsBy?Jesse Emspak?14 hours agoThe Corn Moon will be full on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 1:22 p.m. EDT (1722 GMT), four days before the moon occults Mars. HYPERLINK "" Sept. 1, 1979: Pioneer 11 becomes 1st spacecraft to visit SaturnBy?Hanneke Weitering?17 hours agoOn Sept. 1, 1979, NASA's robotic space probe Pioneer 11 became the first spacecraft to fly by Saturn. Here's how it happened in our On This Day in Space video series! HYPERLINK "" Ozone pollution levels have increased over the past 20 years, study findsBy?Chelsea Gohd?17 hours agoA study using commercial aircraft has found that ozone has increased over the Northern Hemisphere over the past 20 years. HYPERLINK "" Best night sky events of September 2020 (stargazing maps)By?Chris Vaughan?17 hours agoSee what's up in the night sky for September 2020, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software. HYPERLINK "" Meet 'Lunar Cruiser': Japan's big moon rover for astronauts gets a nicknameBy?Mike Wall?17 hours agoThe crewed lunar rover being developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Toyota now has a (nick)name. HYPERLINK "" SpaceX delays launch of next 60 Starlink internet satellites to ThursdayBy?Mike Wall?a day agoSpaceX has pushed the launch of its next big batch of Starlink internet satellites back two days, to Thursday (Sept. 3). HYPERLINK "" The Andromeda galaxy's halo is even more massive than scientists expected, Hubble telescope revealsBy?Meghan Bartels?a day agoGalactic halos are both more massive and more complicated than scientists realized, according to new observations from the Hubble Space Telescope. HYPERLINK "" Vintage NASA satellite falls to Earth, meets fiery doom after 56 years in spaceBy?Meghan Bartels?2 days agoA long-retired NASA satellite burned up in Earth's atmosphere over the weekend, the agency has confirmed. HYPERLINK "" Commercial crews and private astronauts will boost International Space Station's scienceBy?Elizabeth Howell?2 days agoA golden age may be coming for human spaceflight research as more astronauts than ever fly to the International Space Station aboard commercial crew vehicles and through private companies. HYPERLINK "" NASA asteroid mission Lucy begins spacecraft assembly before 2021 launchBy?Meghan Bartels?2 days agoNASA's Lucy spacecraft is one step closer to getting up close and personal with a host of strange space rocks as assembly begins. HYPERLINK "" Black hole 'hair' could be detected using ripples in space-timeBy?Paul Sutter?2 days agoHair may record the information swallowed by the gravitational monsters. HYPERLINK "" Rocket Lab's Electron booster returns to flight with Earth-observing satellite launchBy?Mike Wall?2 days agoRocket Lab's Electron launcher aced its return-to-flight mission tonight (Aug. 30), delivering an Earth-observation satellite to orbit. HYPERLINK "" Watch live tonight: Arianespace's Vega rocket returns to flight with smallsat fleet launchBy? Staff?2 days agoAn Arianespace Vega rocket will return to flight tonight, Sept. 1, in an experimental launch carrying 53 small satellites. Watch live. HYPERLINK "" SpaceX launches Earth-observation satellite for Argentina, nails rocket landingBy?Amy Thompson?2 days agoSpaceX launched an Earth-observation satellite along with two small piggyback payloads today (Aug. 30) and aced yet another rocket touchdown. HYPERLINK "" The top space stories of the week!By?Doris Elin Urrutia?3 days agoThese are the top space stories this week from . HYPERLINK "" SpaceX delays Starlink fleet launch due to weather, aims for another rocket flight tonightBy?Tariq Malik?3 days agoSpaceX delayed the launch of its latest Starlink fleet on Sunday (Aug. 30) due to bad weather, even as the company prepares for a launch later in the day. HYPERLINK "" Earth's core is a billion years oldBy?Stephanie Pappas?3 days agoThe solidification of the inner core may have strengthened Earth's magnetic fie.?Learn moreSpace NewsBROWSE CATEGORIESInfographicsCountdownsReferencesQuizzesWallpapers HYPERLINK "" Hunting for medium-sized black holes with the next generation of gravitational wave detectorsBy?Paul Sutter?3 days agoSome patience will be needed. HYPERLINK "" SpaceX doubleheader! Watch 2 Falcon 9 rockets lift off from Florida SundayBy?Amy Thompson?3 days agoSpaceX is preparing for a potential launch doubleheader on Sunday (Aug. 30), and you can watch the action live online. HYPERLINK "" US spy satellite launch delayed a week after abort in final secondsBy?Tariq Malik?4 days agoA U.S. spy satellite launch on a Delta IV Heavy rocket has been delayed a week after a last-minute abort Saturday (Aug. 29). HYPERLINK "" Space photos: The most amazing images this week!By?Doris Elin Urrutia?4 days agoSee the best photos on this week. HYPERLINK "" California wildfire damage spotted from space (photos)By?Mike Wall?4 days agoThe wildfires raging across California have left burn scars visible from space. HYPERLINK "" Mars dust devil! Curiosity rover spots Red Planet twister (photos)By?Mike Wall?4 days agoNASA's Mars rover Curiosity has spotted a dust devil swirling through the parched Red Planet landscape. HYPERLINK "" Boeing's Starliner could launch to the space station in DecemberBy?Hanneke Weitering?4 days agoBoeing is now planning to launch the second uncrewed test flight of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft no earlier than December, the company announced Friday (Aug. 28). HYPERLINK "" International Space Station at 20: Commercialization increases as end of life loomsBy?Elizabeth Howell?4 days agoThe International Space Station hits 20 years of continuous human habitation this fall, and NASA aims to make the most of the years the orbiting lab has left. HYPERLINK "" Skylab 4 capsule to land in new exhibit at Oklahoma History CenterBy?Robert Z. Pearlman?5 days agoA historic NASA spacecraft will soon leave the Smithsonian for the Sooner State. HYPERLINK "" NASA delays new astronaut selection due to coronavirus constraintsBy?Robert Z. Pearlman?5 days agoNASA has delayed the selection of its next astronaut class, citing constraints related to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. HYPERLINK "" 56-year-old NASA satellite expected to fall to Earth this weekendBy?Mike Wall?5 days agoThe OGO-1 geophysics satellite's long space odyssey is nearly at an end. HYPERLINK "" Jupiter's ocean moons raise tides on each otherBy?Mike Wall?5 days agoJupiter's big ocean-harboring moons may have a strong gravitational effect on each other, raising big tides in each others' subsurface seas, a new study suggests. HYPERLINK "" Want to find life on Venus? Check for spores in the atmosphere, new research suggests.By?Charles Q. Choi?5 days agoIn the depths of Venus' hellish atmosphere, a layer of mysterious haze could be home to life, a new study finds. HYPERLINK "" United Launch Alliance debuts first-ever 3D projection on a Delta IV Heavy rocketBy?Samantha Mathewson?5 days agoUnited Launch Alliance (ULA) shared a spectacular 3D projection of the Delta IV Heavy rocket at Cape Canaveral ahead of this week's satellite launch. HYPERLINK "" See Jupiter and Saturn with the moon this weekendBy?Joe Rao?5 days agoStep outside around 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 28-29) and in a single glance you'll be able to partake in a gathering of the moon and the two gas giants of the solar system. HYPERLINK "" NASA-sponsored moon mission will launch on a SpaceX rocketBy?Meghan Bartels?5 days agoA NASA-contracted lunar lander bound for the moon's South Pole will launch on a SpaceX rocket in late 2022. HYPERLINK "" NASA event marks 100th anniversary of women's voting rightsBy?Elizabeth Howell?5 days agoNASA commemorated the 100th anniversary of when some American women won the right to vote by celebrating today's female pioneers, who are spreading their wings far into space. HYPERLINK "" Earth may have been born wetBy?Mike Wall?5 days agoEarth may not have needed asteroid and comet strikes to fill its oceans, a new study reports. HYPERLINK "" Space Chat with : Tune in Fridays for science, space and more!By?Chelsea Gohd?6 days agoThis Friday, "Space Chat" explores SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation. HYPERLINK "" NASA Mission Control braces for Hurricane Laura as astronauts watch from spaceBy?Hanneke Weitering?6 days agoTo prepare for the potentially catastrophic storm, NASA has temporarily closed Johnson Space Center, sending space station flight controllers to backup hubs in Texas and Alabama..?Learn moreSpace NewsBROWSE CATEGORIESInfographicsCountdownsReferencesQuizzesWallpapers HYPERLINK "" Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon TitanBy?Mike Wall?6 days agoResearchers have been crafting a concept mission that would send a submarine to Saturn's huge moon Titan, which sports lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons on its frigid surface. HYPERLINK "" Three big threats to satellites — and what to do about them (op-ed)By?Herbert O. Funsten?6 days agoThe more congested space is, the more contested it becomes, creating challenges for both national and global security. HYPERLINK "" A huge Delta IV Heavy rocket will launch a new US spy satellite overnight. Here's how to watch.By?Amy Thompson?6 days agoA United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is set to blast off on Saturday (Aug. 29) at 2:08 a.m. EDT (0608 GMT) with it a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. HYPERLINK "" Astronaut Jerry Carr, who led NASA's final Skylab crew, dies at 88By?Robert Z. Pearlman?6 days agoFormer NASA astronaut Gerald "Jerry" Carr, who led the record-setting, final mission to the first U.S. space station, Skylab, has died at 88. HYPERLINK "" Mars ahead! UAE's Hope spacecraft spots Red Planet for 1st timeBy?Meghan Bartels?7 days agoThe United Arab Emirates' first-ever interplanetary mission is well on its way to Mars and has the photos to prove it. HYPERLINK "" LightSail 2 solar sail spots Hurricane Laura from space as satellites track storm's pathBy?Meghan Bartels?7 days agoA unique satellite has joined the fleet of orbital eyes keeping watch over Hurricane Laura as it approaches the Gulf Coast. HYPERLINK "" Launchapalooza! You can watch 5 rockets launch in 4 days this weekBy?Mike Wall?7 days agoFive missions are scheduled to launch from Thursday to Sunday (Aug. 27 to Aug. 30), three of them from Florida's Space Coast. HYPERLINK "" Satellite megaconstellations could have 'extreme' impact on astronomy, report findsBy?Mike Wall?7 days agoHuge constellations of internet satellites could fundamentally change how astronomers study the night sky and how the rest of us experience it, a new report finds. HYPERLINK "" Astronomers discover the fastest-spinning white dwarf yet — and it's a vampireBy?Paul Sutter?7 days agoAstronomers recently spotted perhaps the strangest white dwarf yet: a dead star the spins twice a second, sucking down material from a nearby companion as it goes. HYPERLINK "" Astronaut and satellites see tropical storms Laura and Marco from spaceBy?Samantha Mathewson?7 days agoSatellites have spotted tropical storms Marco and Laura as they simultaneously marched toward the Gulf of Mexico. HYPERLINK "" NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps to make rookie spaceflight aboard Boeing's StarlinerBy?Meghan Bartels?7 days agoNASA has added a third astronaut to the crew preparing to fly on the first operational mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule to the International Space Station: Jeanette Epps. HYPERLINK "" Hubble telescope catches stunning view of Comet NEOWISE after its spectacular summer sky showBy?Elizabeth Howell?8 days agoThe Hubble Space Telescope turned its powerful eyes to a celestial visitor to our skies — Comet NEOWISE, which put on a stunning show in the United States earlier this summer. HYPERLINK "" China's Mars mission tests instruments on its way to the Red PlanetBy?Andrew Jones?8 days agoChina's Tianwen-1 spacecraft is performing well on its cruise to Mars and is preparing for its second trajectory correction maneuver. HYPERLINK "" Mars lander InSight picks up tiny ground tilt caused by Phobos moon transitBy?Meghan Bartels?8 days agoNASA's InSight Mars lander can detect a nearly imperceptible tilt caused by the planet's moon Phobos passing in front of the sun, scientists have realized. HYPERLINK "" Space station crew spend extra night in Russian segment as air leak investigation continuesBy?Mike Wall?8 days agoAstronauts spent another night in the International Space Station's Russian segment while ground controllers continue to search for the source of an air leak on the orbiting lab. HYPERLINK "" New 'Raised By Wolves' trailer offers more clues into HBO Max's exciting sci-fi seriesBy?Scott Snowden?8 days agoEarth has been all but destroyed and the last humans are being raised by androids. HYPERLINK "" 'Star Trek: Fleet Command' mobile strategy game is beaming up the entire Trek timelineBy?Elizabeth Howell?8 days agoMobile fans of "Star Trek Fleet Command" can now play characters from every Trek timeline. HYPERLINK "" Iowa crop damage from Derecho thunderstorms seen from spaceBy?Elizabeth Howell?8 days agoMany Iowa farmers suddenly saw their crops flattened after a set of strong thunderstorms battered the state this month, NASA reported while sharing satellite images of the damage. HYPERLINK "" Rocket Center gets $500K grant to 'save' mock NASA space shuttleBy?Robert Z. Pearlman?8 days agoAn early space shuttle mockup qualified as an "American Treasure" worthy of preservation and a half-a-million-dollar federal grant. HYPERLINK "" SpaceX fires up SN6 Starship rocket prototype ahead of potential test flightBy?Mike Wall?8 days agoSpaceX has fired up the latest prototype of its Starship Mars-colonizing spacecraft, keeping the vehicle on track for a possible test flight this weekend.Space X LAUNCHSAOCOM 1B MISSION HYPERLINK "" \t "_blank" REPLAYUPCOMING LAUNCHSTARLINK MISSION HYPERLINK "" UPDATEMISSION COMPLETECREW DRAGON RETURNS FROM SPACE STATION HYPERLINK "" REPLAYSTARSHIP TAKES FLIGHT HYPERLINK "" \t "_blank" REPLAYRETURNING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES HYPERLINK "" LEARN MORECREW DRAGON DOCKING SIMULATORCrew Dragon is designed to autonomously dock and undock with the International Space Station. However, the crew can take manual control of the spacecraft if necessary. HYPERLINK "" \t "_blank" TRY IT05/01/20NASA SELECTS LUNAR OPTIMIZED STARSHIPNASA selected SpaceX to develop a lunar optimized Starship to transport crew between lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. HYPERLINK "" LEARN MOREUGUST 30, 2020SAOCOM 1BOn Sunday, August 30 at 7:19 p.m. EDT, or 23:19 UTC, SpaceX's Falcon 9 successfully lifted off carrying the?SAOCOM 1B mission. This mission put both the SAOCOM 1B spacecraft into orbit as well as two rideshare payloads, Tyvak-0172 and PlanetiQ’s GNOMES-1. HYPERLINK "" VIEW ARTICLE HYPERLINK "" AUGUST 02, 2020RETURNING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT TO THE U.S.View article? HYPERLINK "" AUGUST 18, 2020STARLINK MISSIONView article?? HYPERLINK "" AUGUST 06, 2020STARLINK MISSIONView article? HYPERLINK "" AUGUST 05, 2020STARSHIP TAKES FLIGHTView article? HYPERLINK "" JULY 20, 2020ANASIS-II MISSIONView article?? HYPERLINK "" JUNE 30, 2020GPS III SPACE VEHICLE 03 MISSIONView article?ROSCOSMOSAsteroid 2011 ES4 fly-byAugust 30, 2020, 06:51 GMTApollo group asteroids are approaching Earth quite often. For example, in August 2020 about 80 approaches were detected with the closest at less than 8,000 km. Given that, most of the objects are new and just ten had been detected previously (in 2007-2018).Emergencies monitoringAugust 27, 2020, 11:10 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from August 20 to August 27, 2020, more than 1.3 million square kilometers of data was sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry with over 234 thousand square kilometers sent to the International Charter on Space & Major Disasters.Space Odyssey: Navy Pacific Fleet trainingAugust 26, 2020, 12:03 GMTHeld in Vladivostok, at the premises of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet (NPF), were training sessions for the military personnel involved in search and rescue of Soyuz MS crewed spacecraft under the ISS program. Taking part in them were specialists from the RSC Energia search and rescue department, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Rosaviatsia, Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) of Russia and Institute for Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.Roscosmos supervisory board meetingAugust 25, 2020, 13:08 GMTOn August 25, 2020 Roscosmos supervisory board regular meeting took place presided over by Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov.Elektro-L No. 2 satellite transferred to 14.5 deg. western longitude pointAugust 25, 2020, 12:50 GMTOn August 25, 2020, Elektro-L No. 2 spacecraft currently located in 14.5 deg. western longitude point had its equipment switched on and started transmitting information on Earth. Its scheduled transfer from 76 deg. eastern longitude was completed during July 21 – August 23.Glavkosmos to promote the space systems of ISS-Reshetnev Company abroadAugust 25, 2020, 12:01 GMTGlavkosmos JSC and JSC Academician M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems (ISS-Reshetnev Company) signed a Memorandum on joint participation in the implementation of the Comprehensive Scientific and Technical Program of the Full Innovation Cycle "Global information satellite systems" (GISS Program) on the sidelines of the International military-technical forum Army-2020. Dmitry Loskutov, Director General of Glavkosmos, and Nikolay Testoedov, CEO of ISS-Reshetnev Company, signed the Memorandum.Official statement on the situation at the ISSAugust 24, 2020, 15:00 GMTAs a result of a working meeting of the mission control centers of the partner countries, a decision was made to open the hatches on August 25, 2020 at 08:00 UTC. After that the ISS-63 long-term mission crew will continue routine work onboard the International Space Station.Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko awarded with the Order of Merit to the FatherlandAugust 23, 2020, 17:15 GMTRussian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to award Roscosmos cosmonaut corps commander, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center instructor test cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko with the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, II degree.Cosmonaut Ivan Vagner on the situation at the ISSAugust 22, 2020, 16:30 GMTISS-63 long-term expedition flight engineer Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner on the situation at the ISS:ISS-64 crew practices emergency situations in the ISS Russian segmentAugust 22, 2020, 11:17 GMTISS-64 long-term mission crewmembers continue studying the International Space Station Russian segment during the final exam session and practice coping with non-nominal situations. On August 21, 2020, commander Sergey Ryzhikov, flight engineers Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Kathleen Rubins familiarized themselves with the emergency equipment location in the International Space Station Russian segment. This is a standard procedure carried out after the crew’s arrival at the station.Nauka module is being installed at the workstationAugust 21, 2020, 17:09 GMTOn August 21, 2020, specialists from Rocket and Space Corporation Energia and Khrunichev Space Center (part of Roscosmos) are accepting and installing the Nauka module at the workstation at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.Dmitry Rogozin and Askar Mamin discuss cooperation in spaceAugust 21, 2020, 11:31 GMTRoscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin held a working meeting to discuss current cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan in space.Official statementAugust 20, 2020, 16:21 GMTAccording to the Chief Operating Control Group of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, on Friday the station crewmembers will move to the Zvezda module to organize air pressure control in the American segment modules.Emergencies monitoringAugust 20, 2020, 11:27 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from August 13 to August 20, 2020, more than 871 thousand square kilometers of data was sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry with over 138 thousand square kilometers sent to the International Charter on Space & Major Disasters.ISS-64 crew continues preflight trainingAugust 19, 2020, 14:45 GMT60th anniversary of Belka’s and Strelka’s missionAugust 19, 2020, 06:10 GMTOn August 19, 1960, a three-stage carrier rocket was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with the second ‘satellite-spaceship’ 1K, which was a prototype of the Vostok manned spacecraft. Under the program of preparations for the world’s first manned space mission, the spacecraft put into orbit some living beings who later safely returned to the Earth.Cosmonaut candidates take 2nd stage of parachute trainingAugust 18, 2020, 11:32 GMTOn August 15 – September 9, 2020 cosmonaut candidates take the second stage of special cosmonaut parachute training in Tatarstan. Every candidate will have to make 40 jumps. The general space training group includes Konstantin Borisov, Alexander Gorbunov, Alexander Grebyonkin, Alexey Zubritsky, Sergey Mikayev, Kirill Peskov, Oleg Platonov and Evgeny Prokopyev.Dmitry Rogozin pays a working visit to VostochnyAugust 17, 2020, 10:47 GMTOn August 17, 2020, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin paid a working visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The head of Roscosmos got acquainted with the construction progress at the town of Tsiolkovsky and its residential area.Implementing composites in powerplantsAugust 17, 2020, 08:29 GMTKeldysh Center (part of Roscosmos) has implemented adjustable composite duct with a sectional duct. Composite materials allow cutting the structure weight by half, provide a wide thrust adjustment range, as well as enhance duct working temperature range up to 2000 K and more.Angara-A5 launch pad reshipped at Sovetskaya Gavan portAugust 14, 2020, 10:30 GMTBulky structures of the heavy Angara-A5 carrier rocket were delivered via the Northern Sea Route from Severodvinsk to Sovetskaya Gavan port in the Far East and reshipped onto a R3-RSN class barge to be further transported to the Vostochny Cosmodrome via Amur and Zeya rivers.Erecting equipment tests at BaikonurAugust 14, 2020, 07:39 GMTYuzhny Space Center specialists (a branch of the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation, TsENKI, part of Roscosmos) tested the erecting equipment to measure actual loads generated at the beams and platform of the transportation and installation unit while moving and verticalizing the space rocket.Emergencies monitoringAugust 13, 2020, 11:13 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from August 6 to August 13, 2020, more than 877 thousand square kilometers of data was sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry with over 26 thousand square kilometers sent to the International Charter on Space & Major Disasters.Nauka ISS module sent off to BaikonurAugust 10, 2020, 21:37 GMTOn the night of August 11, 2020, the train carrying the new Russian ISS segment module set off to the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Khrunichev Center. The Center specialists successfully finalized vacuum tests of the module.Indian cosmonauts feel well and continue trainingAugust 06, 2020, 14:50 GMTThe Indian cosmonauts are undergoing training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) following the courses of the general space training program and of the systems of the Soyuz MS crewed spacecraft. The completion of their training at GCTC is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021. The contract for the Indian candidates’ training for a spaceflight was signed between Gavkosmos and the Human Spaceflight Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation on June 27, 2019. On February 10, 2020, GCTC started training of the four Indian cosmonauts.Emergencies monitoringAugust 06, 2020, 10:54 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from July 30 to August 6, 2020, more than 533 thousand square kilometers of data was sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry with over 23 thousand square kilometers sent to the International Charter on Space & Major Disasters.Cospas-Sarsat rescue system accuracy increasedAugust 06, 2020, 09:16 GMTRussian Space Systems holding specialists (RSS, part of Roscosmos) took part in the Cospas-Sarsat international rescue system tests. Together with the colleagues from Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Spain, USA, Turkey and Norway, they refined the system characteristics and received information on new opportunities to locate emergency beacons. The tests showed that ground experimental emergency signal receiving station corresponds to the requirements and shows accuracy of SOS-beacon location even better than that of foreign colleagues.Soyuz solo piloting programAugust 06, 2020, 07:59 GMTGagarin Cosmonaut Training Center instructors, Energia Rocket and Space Corporation specialists together with Roscosmos cosmonauts conducted special training sessions to estimate special characteristics of a Soyuz spacecraft flight piloted by only one cosmonaut. Later, basing on all the comments and suggestions, an opinion will be issued to organize such preparations.Kanopus-V satellite captures explosion consequences at Beirut portAugust 05, 2020, 14:30 GMTRussian Kanopus-V Earth’s remote sensing satellite captured the consequences of an explosion at the Beirut port (Lebanon). A powerful blast shook the port area on August 4, 2020 near the Navy base. The photos clearly show the scale of destruction at the embankment near the epicenter: a whole number of buildings were destroyed by the shockwave. The photo also shows the explosion epicenter.Cosmonaut candidates finish zero-g training courseAugust 05, 2020, 11:51 GMTThe 2018 selection cosmonaut candidates conducted another flight on the Ilyushin Il-76MDK aircraft taking the final zero-g training this year. During the training, the future cosmonauts practiced donning the Sokol-KV2 spacesuits and operator activity.Kondor-FKA spacecraft mockup arrived at VostochnyAugust 04, 2020, 07:10 GMTVostochny Space Center specialists (a branch of the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation, TsENKI, part of Roscosmos) received and stored the Kondor-FKA test weight and propulsion unit mockup. The equipment developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome for integrated tests of the unified technical complex and fuel-and-neutralization station.Luna-25 flight units of scientific instruments delivered to NPO LavochkinAugust 03, 2020, 12:27 GMTIn July 2020, flight units of Russian scientific instruments were delivered from Space Research Institute to NPO Lavochkin (part of Roscosmos). Russian space industry specialists have started installing them on the Luna-25 spacecraft.Angara-1.2 carrier rocket information and telemetry systemAugust 03, 2020, 08:48 GMTRussian Space Systems holding (part of Roscosmos) has created information and telemetry system to be used in the new Angara-1.2 light-class carrier rocket. The system will ensure measurements and parameters control while testing and operating the rocket.New ISS international crew to launch on a Soyuz in OctoberAugust 01, 2020, 21:01 GMTAnother expedition to the International Space Station will launch in October 2020 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Soyuz MS-17 crewed spacecraft. The ISS-64 long term expedition prime crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and astronaut Kathleen Rubins. Backup – Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky, Pyotr Dubrov and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei.o Ekspress satellites injected into orbitJuly 31, 2020, 15:48 GMTOn July 30, 2020, at 21:25:19 UTC the Proton-M carrier rocket with Briz-M booster and Ekspress-103 and Ekpress-80 successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Proton active flight stage lasted for 587 seconds with the orbital assembly was injected into suborbital trajectory.Nikolai Tikhonov exits cosmonaut teamJuly 31, 2020, 13:53 GMTTest cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov terminated his contract with Roscosmos on July 31, 2020.Proton-M successfully launches from BaikonurJuly 30, 2020, 21:35 GMTProton-M carrier rocket with the Briz-M booster successfully launched from pad No. 39 of Site No. 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The rocket carried two Russian telecommunication satellites Ekspress-80 and Ekspress-103 built by ISS Reshetnev company (part of Roscosmos). The launch and flight of the carrier rocket went nominally.Proton-M with Ekspress satellites ready for launchJuly 30, 2020, 13:30 GMTA State Commission meeting took place at Baikonur as part of the launch preparations to inject two Russian Ekspress satellites into orbit. The satellites were manufactured by ISS Reshetnev company.ISS-64 crews practiced manually controlled deorbitJuly 30, 2020, 12:29 GMTThe crews have never used manually controlled deorbit since the beginning of the Soyuz family crewed spacecraft operation, however, they do have such opportunity meaning they need to know how to do it.Perspective space systems roadmapJuly 30, 2020, 12:22 GMTOn July 30, 2020, the roadmap harmonized with the concerned agencies and ministries to develop hi-tech perspective space systems was introduced to the Government of the Russian Federation to be approved.Emergencies monitoringJuly 30, 2020, 09:37 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from July 23 to July 30, 2020, more than 1.2 million square kilometers of data was sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry (201 routes excluding cloudy routes and those of several simultaneous requests).Baiterek project agreementJuly 30, 2020, 06:54 GMTOn July 30, 2020, a ceremony was held to sign an agreement to conclude a contract between Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (part of Roscosmos) and the Baiterek joint venture to provide services to develop Baiterek Space Rocket System based on a new-generation medium space rocket for launching unmanned spacecraft.ISS-64 crew takes part in hydrolab testingJuly 29, 2020, 15:15 GMTHydrolab complex systems preliminary tests continue at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center including extravehicular activity tasks with the hydrolab test and training brigade involved.Regarding Proton-M launchJuly 29, 2020, 14:13 GMTGiven the necessity to additionally check the Proton-M carrier rocket components and assemblies, the State Commission decided to postpone the launch of the rocket with the Briz-M booster and Ekspress-80 and Ekspress-103 Russian telecommunication satellites.ISS orbit correction conductedJuly 29, 2020, 14:10 GMTOn July 29, 2020, an orbit correction of the International Space Station was conducted using the Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft engines. The engines were switched on at 13:57 UTC for 336 seconds giving the station velocity increment of 0.65 meters per second. As a result, the ISS mean orbit altitude increased by 1.1 km.ExoMars-2022 project works continueJuly 29, 2020, 09:36 GMTNPO Lavochkin specialists together with Thales Alenia Space continue working on the Russian-European ExoMars-2022 project at Thales Alenia Space Italia (Torino, Italy) following all the limitations caused by the epidemiological situation in the European Union and Russia.Progress MS-14 spacecraft to adjust ISS orbitJuly 27, 2020, 10:15 GMTIn order to form the ballistic conditions prior to the Soyuz MS-17 crewed spacecraft launch, an orbit correction of the International Space Station is scheduled for July 29, 2020.Proton-M with Ekspress satellites rolled out to the launchpadJuly 26, 2020, 06:50 GMTAt the Baikonur Cosmodrome, prelaunch preparations continue to launch the Proton-M carrier rocket with the Briz-M booster and Ekspress-80 and Ekspress-103 Russian spacecraft. According to the working schedule, in the morning of July 26, 2020 the rocket was delivered to the Site No. 200 launchpad and verticalized on the pad (launcher No. 39).Proton-M ready for rolloutJuly 25, 2020, 14:35 GMTProton-M carrier rocket with the Briz-M booster rollout preparations have been completed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The vehicle is scheduled to launch from Site No. 200 on July 29, 2020, at 21:27:42 UTC to inject Ekspress-80 and Ekspress-103 Russian telecommunication satellites into orbit.ISS-64 backup crew takes spacewalk trainingJuly 25, 2020, 05:43 GMTRussian International Space Station crewmembers take typical extravehicular activity (EVA) training including emergency spacewalks regardless whether spacewalks are included in the flight program or not.Medical and physiological research for ISS-64 crewJuly 24, 2020, 05:45 GMTOn July 22, 2020, the ISS-64 Expedition crewmembers Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov got acquainted with the Russian scientific medical and physiological research program scheduled for the preflight period, while staying in orbit and after the flight.Progress MS-15 spacecraft forming part of the ISSJuly 23, 2020, 21:45 GMTThree hours 18 minutes and 31 seconds after the launch, on July 23, 2020 at 17:45 UTC, the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft routinely docked to the Pirs docking compartment of the Russian segment of the International space station thus setting a new flight time record. The berthing and docking operations were performed automatically under control of the specialists from the Mission Control Center of TsNIIMash (part of Roscosmos) and Russian ISS-63 crewmembers, Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner.Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft launched from the Baikonur CosmodromeJuly 23, 2020, 14:35 GMTOn July 23, 2020, cargo spacecraft Progress MS-15 developed and manufactured by RSC Energia was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome under the program of the 76th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).Progress MS-15 cleared for launchJuly 23, 2020, 10:50 GMTSoyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft at the Site No. 31 launchpad 24 hours before the launch. State Commission meeting took place at Site No. 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome reviewing the works on the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft.Emergencies monitoringJuly 23, 2020, 08:48 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from July 16 to July 23, 2020, more than 624 thousand square kilometers of data was sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry with over 49 thousand square kilometers sent to the International Charter on Space & Major Disasters.NEOWISE comet photoJuly 21, 2020, 09:40 GMTOvernight July 20 into July 21, 2020 the experimental optical post in Kislovodsk (Stavropol Krai, Russia) captured the C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) comet. The comet was discovered by the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer space infrared telescope on March 27, 2020 and named after it.Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin congratulated UAE on the successful Hope probe launchJuly 20, 2020, 12:52 GMTRoscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin congratulated UAE on the successful Hope probe launchISS-64 crew takes the final preflight preparation stageJuly 20, 2020, 11:12 GMTThe full 64th long-term International Space Station Expedition crew will take joint training at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) as part of the preflight preparations for the launch scheduled for early October 2020. The ISS-64 crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and NASA astronaut Kathleen Rubins. Backup crew are Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy, Pyotr Dubrov and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei.Progress MS-15 rolled out to the launchpadJuly 20, 2020, 05:05 GMTSoyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft preflight preparations are finalizing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. On July 20, 2020, in accordance with the State Commission decision, the rocket was rolled out to the Site No. 31 launchpad.Final assembly of launch vehicle with Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraftJuly 19, 2020, 12:45 GMTAt the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the prelaunch processing of the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft under the program of the 76th resupply mission to the International Space Station is being completed.Angara launchpad sent off to VostochnyJuly 17, 2020, 19:28 GMTOn July 17, 2020 the Barents vessel with the Angara carrier rocket launchpad set off from Severodvinsk to the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Over the last few days, the bulky equipment weighing over 2,000 tons gone through a multistage loading process. Currently, the vessel is going out of the Zvezdochka shipyard water area and will go via the Northern Sea Route.Progress MS-15 sent to final assembly with the launch vehicleJuly 17, 2020, 11:22 GMTThe Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft preflight preparations are finishing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome under the program of the 76th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).Emergencies monitoringJuly 16, 2020, 11:35 GMTRoscosmos continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from July 9 to July 16, 2020, more than 578 thousand square kilometers of data sent to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry (69 routes excluding cloudy routes and those of several simultaneous requests).Progress MS-15 designers’ inspection and encapsulation into payload fairing completedJuly 16, 2020, 10:22 GMTDrawing to a close at the Baikonur Cosmodrome the processing of the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft for the launch under the program of the 76th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).To Mr. J.BridenstineJuly 15, 2020, 19:15 GMTDmitry Rogozin, Director General of the Roscosmos State Corporation, congratulates NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on the 45th anniversary of the Soyuz — Apollo missionDmitry Rogozin takes part in BRICS space agencies videoconferenceJuly 15, 2020, 14:20 GMTOn July 15, 2020, a videoconference with heads of BRICS space agencies took place presided over by Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin. The event was also participated by the President of the Brazilian Space Agency Carlos Augusto Teixeira de Moura, the Chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organization Dr. Kailasavadivoo Sivan, the Head of China National Space Administration Zhang Kejian, Executive Director of the South African National Space Agency Dr. Valanathan Munsami, as well as Sous-Sherpa, Deputy Director of the Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Pavel Knyazev.Angara launchpad ready to be sent off to VostochnyJuly 15, 2020, 11:49 GMTOn July 15, 2020, Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation, (TsENKI, part of Roscosmos) Director General Andrey Okhlopkov paid a working visit to the JSC Industrial Technologies (Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast). He inspected production facilities and testbeds where the Angara space rocket launchpad was manufactured and tested.Soyuz – Apollo, the symbol of cooperation in spaceJuly 15, 2020, 04:00 GMT45 years ago, on July 15, 1975 the first ever joint international spaceflight took place. The Soyuz – Apollo joint project was started on October 26-27, 1970 with the first meeting of the Soviet and American specialists to discuss the approach and docking means compatibility of crewed spacecraft.Dmitry Rogozin pays a working visit to Voronezh Rocket Engine Building CenterJuly 14, 2020, 12:20 GMTRoscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin pays a working visit to the Voronezh Rocket Engine Building Center (part of the NPO Energomash rocket engine building integrated structure of Roscosmos).Progress МS-15 mated to the adapter sectionJuly 14, 2020, 11:47 GMTThe preflight preparations of the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft for the launch under the program of the 76th re-supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) continue at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.Filling of Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft completeJuly 13, 2020, 09:43 GMTAt the Baikonur Cosmodrome, RSC Energia specialists continue scheduled processing of the Progress MS-15 cargo transportation spacecraft for the launch under the program of the 76th re-supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).ISS orbit correction conductedJuly 11, 2020, 19:12 GMTOn July 11, 2020, an orbit correction of the International Space Station was conducted using the Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft engines. The engines were switched on at 19:15 UTC for 262 seconds giving the station velocity increment of 0.51 meters per second. As a result, the ISS mean orbit altitude decreased by 900 meters.FMBA: charter flight with medics and equipment arrives at BaikonurJuly 10, 2020, 12:20 GMTOn July 10, 2020, charter flight arrived at Baikonur Krayniy Airport carrying the joint detachment of Russia’s Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) specialists headed by FMBA deputy head Vladimir Romanov and FMBA Healthcare and Industrial Medicine Department chief Mikhail Ratmanov. Roscosmos charter flight delivered 14 FMBA specialists, four lung ventilators, 10 extra beds, movable X-ray machine, 10 oxygen concentrators and 6,000 sets of personal protection means.First Angara launchpad components arrive at VostochnyJuly 10, 2020, 09:14 GMTOn July 10, 2020, the first rail cars carrying Angara space rocket complex components arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Vostochny Space Center specialists (a branch of the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation, TsENKI, part of Roscosmos) unloaded the sections at the storage site. Every section weighs over 50 tons and was manufactured by JSC Industrial Technologies (Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast).Nauka module successfully passes ground testsJuly 10, 2020, 06:37 GMTKhrunichev Center specialists (part of Roscosmos) have completed vacuum tests of Nauka, the new Russian ISS segment module.Progress MS-15 cargo vehicle is admitted to fuelingJuly 09, 2020, 14:45 GMTThe Technical Management meeting was held at the Baikonur Cosmodrome taking a decision to admit Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft to fueling the combined propulsion system and the cargo spacecraft refueling system.Progress MS-13 completes its missionJuly 08, 2020, 22:15 GMTOn July 8, 2020, in accordance with the International Space Station flight program, the Progress MS-13 cargo spacecraft successfully completed its mission. At 18:22 UTC, the vehicle undocked from the International Space Station.Dmitry Rogozin visits NPO Iskra and Proton-PMJuly 08, 2020, 13:25 GMTAs part of his working visit to Perm Krai, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin together with the Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin visited NPO Iskra and Proton-PM (part of NPO Energomash integrated structure). Here the modern manufacturing complex is created to produce RD-191 rocket engines for the Angara family carrier rocket and other perspective rocket and space equipment. The project is to be implemented by 2025.ISS orbit correction scheduled for July 11July 08, 2020, 08:04 GMTInternational Space Station orbit correction is scheduled on July 11, 2020 to form a working orbit prior to the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft and Soyuz MS-17 crewed spacecraft launches.Elektro-L No. 3 flight tests continueJuly 08, 2020, 06:08 GMTOn July 5, 2020, as part of the Elektro-L No. 3 hydrometeorological satellite flight tests, the vehicle received a correction impulse concluding its transfer to the point of satellite location area at 76 degrees eastern latitude. On July 6, 2020, satellite hardware functional checks began.Progress MS-13 readied for undockingJuly 08, 2020, 05:55 GMTAccording to the International Space Station flight program, the Progress MS-13 cargo spacecraft mission is coming to an end. The Russian ISS crewmembers of the 63rd long-term expedition, Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner are finalizing the preparations to undock the freighter on July 8, 2020 at 18:22 UTC.TsENKI specialists continue prelaunch works at BaikonurJuly 07, 2020, 12:16 GMTYuzhny Space Center specialists (a branch of the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation, TsENKI, part of Roscosmos) have commenced preparing the Vostok launching complex of the site No. 31 for the upcoming Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket launch with the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft.Roscosmos subsidiary signs contract to place another SM-GLONASS station in BrazilJuly 07, 2020, 11:09 GMTPrecision Instrument Engineering Systems company (part of Roscosmos) signed a contract with the Federal University of Pará and the Research Development and Support Fund to place a SM-GLONASS measurement station in the city of Belen, Brazil.Official statementJuly 07, 2020, 07:40 GMTRoscosmos press office informs that today investigative authorities detained Ivan Safronov, advisor to Roscosmos Director General.Progress MS-15 solar array check completeJuly 06, 2020, 14:43 GMTAt the integration and test facility of Site No. 254 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome processing preflight preparations are underway for the launch of the Progress MS-15 cargo transportation spacecraft. RSC Energia and Yuzhny Space Center specialists completed a scheduled operation of check insolation for the solar arrays of the spacecraft onboard power supply system.Luna-25 automatic station tests to finish in summer 2021July 05, 2020, 07:41 GMTLuna-25 Russian spacecraft being the continuation of the namesake Soviet stations is scheduled to launch in 2021. Currently, ground testing of the Luna-Globe design and development work is underway.Soyuz-2.1a rocket prelaunch preparationsJuly 04, 2020, 11:38 GMTPrelaunch preparations are underway at the Baikonur Cosmodrome prior to its launch with the Progress MS-15 cargo spacecraft. On July 3, 2020, Yuzhny Space Center specialists (a branch of the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation, TsENKI) together with Progress Rocket and Space Center (both parts of Roscosmos) have completed mechanical assembly of the second stage of the carrier rocket.ISS off-schedule orbit correctionJuly 03, 2020, 16:00 GMTOn July 3, 2020 at 15:53 UTC, TsNIIMash Mission Control Center (part of Roscosmos) conducted an off-schedule orbit correction of the International Space Station to evade possible space debris collision. The operations went nominal in full accordance with the Russian specialists of the ballistic service.RSS to create telemetry system for Rokot-M rocketJuly 03, 2020, 07:46 GMTTelemetry system currently developed by Russian Space Systems specialists (RSS, part of Roscosmos) will help substantially cut weight dimension characteristics of the new Rokot-M light carrier rocket and preflight preparation expenses. The Rokot-M third stage – Briz-KM booster will include Astra onboard telemetry system developed by NPO IT (part of RSS).Emergencies monitoringJuly 02, 2020, 10:36 GMTRoscosmos Russian Earth’s remote sensing means operator Russian Space Systems continues monitoring the emergencies via the Russian orbit group. During the period from June 25 to July 2, 2020, the following events were monitored on the territory of the Russian Federation by request of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry with more than 1 million square kilometers of data sent to the Ministry (184 routes excluding cloudy routes and those of several simultaneous requests).Dmitry Rogozin pays a working visit to VostochnyJuly 02, 2020, 09:39 GMTOn July 2, 2020, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin paid a working visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The head of Roscosmos inspected the first stage construction in progress, as well as Zvyozdny district of the Tsiolkovsky residential area.L-39 aircraft flight training for cosmonautsJuly 01, 2020, 14:46 GMT‘Ready for takeoff!’ – goes the cosmonaut having received all the tasks and undergone preliminary training. Flight training on Aero L-39 Albatros are regular among Russian cosmonauts. Professional cosmonauts with piloting background must have no less than 10 flight hours per year, while most prepared fly on their own.Helicopter training for cosmonautsJuly 01, 2020, 07:15 GMTRoscosmos cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Misurkin and Sergey Prokopiev continue helicopter practice flights in Moscow region to master and strengthen the skills to control vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.ARTICLES ARCHIVECHINA SPACE AGENCY's Mars probe travels around 100 mln km08-31China's Gaofen-7 satellite put into service08-21China launches new optical remote-sensing satellite08-07China National Space Administration congratulates the NASA Perseve...07-30China's Mars probe photographs Earth and Moon07-30Tianwen-1: China successfully launches probe in first Mars mission07-23China launches satellite for space environment study07-07China's lunar rover travels about 463 meters on moon's far side07-01China launches last BDS satellite06-24China launches new Earth observation satellite06-181?2?3?4?5?6?7?8?9?10?下页?尾页?总页数:41VIRGIN GALACTIC HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" HYPERLINK "" \t "_blank" HYPERLINK "" This website uses cookies for analytics and to give you the best user experience when you visit our site. 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By clicking OK,?LET'S GO!?or closing this message you agree to our use of cookies.OK, LET'S GO!XNewsRead the latest news and updates from Virgin GalacticLooking forDownloadable Assets?Click?Here HYPERLINK "" Virgin Galactic Announces Second Quarter 2020 Financial ResultsRead more HYPERLINK "" Virgin Galactic Unveils Mach 3 Aircraft Design for High Speed Travel, and Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Rolls-RoyceCompany Announces Completion of Mission Concept Review Program MilestoneRead more HYPERLINK "" Virgin Galactic Reveals SpaceshipTwo Cabin InteriorAR Enabled Mobile App, Launched After Live Online Event, Brings Cabin and Spaceflight Experience Alive for Space Enthusiasts EverywhereRead more HYPERLINK "" JULY 15, 2020Virgin Galactic Announces Michael Colglazier as Chief Executive Officer in Preparation for Commercial ServiceRead more HYPERLINK "" JULY 02, 2020Virgin Galactic Announces Date for World’s First Virtual Reveal of Spaceship Cabin DesignPublic Live-Streaming of Major Milestone Celebration Set for July 28, 2020Read more HYPERLINK "" JUNE 25, 2020Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Completes Second Flight from Spaceport AmericaSuccessful Glide Flight Puts Virgin Galactic on the Path for Space Flight from New MexicoRead more HYPERLINK "" JUNE 25, 2020Virgin Galactic Flight Test Program Update: SpaceShipTwo Preparing for Second Test Flight from New MexicoFlight Results to be Released with Media Broll Package Post-Market CloseRead more HYPERLINK "" JUNE 22, 2020Virgin Galactic Signs Space Act Agreement with NASA for Private Orbital Spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS)Increases Commercial Participation in Human Spaceflight to ISS to Advance LEO EconomyRead more HYPERLINK "" JUNE 19, 2020Virgin Galactic and Partners Announce Aerospace Leadership Program for Black ScholarsCombined Scholarship, Fellowship and Mentorship Program aims to Increase the Number of Black Leaders in the Aerospace IndustryRead moreMAY 05, 2020Virgin Galactic Enters Space Act Agreement with NASA To Advance High Mach TechnologiesVirgin Galactic Announces Partnership to Enable the Development of High Speed Point-to- Point TechnologiesRead more HYPERLINK "" MAY 05, 2020Virgin Galactic Announces First Quarter 2020 Financial ResultsRead more HYPERLINK "" MAY 01, 2020Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Completes First Flight From Spaceport AmericaSpaceShipTwo goes solo in New Mexico airspaceRead more HYPERLINK "" APRIL 28, 2020Supporting our local communities in New Mexico in the fight against COVID-19By Mike Moses, President at Virgin GalacticRead more HYPERLINK "" APRIL 27, 2020Virgin Galactic signs Space Act Agreement with NASA in the fight against COVID-19By George Whitesides, CEO Virgin GalacticRead more HYPERLINK "" DECEMBER 02, 2019Virgin Galactic places Main Oxidiser Tank into its next spaceshipRead moreVirgin Galactic has kicked off its?Astronaut Readiness Program?– the process of preparing Future Astronaut customers for their flights to space. As the first and only private company to have put humans into space in a vehicle built for commercial service, we are now finalizing all elements of the customer experience, including the recently unveiled customer spacesuits, created in partnership with?Under Armour, and the interior of our Gateway to Space headquarters at Spaceport America. The next phase in this process is to ensure that Future Astronauts are optimally prepared to fly to space.The Astronaut Readiness Program launched this week at the Under Armour Global HQ in Baltimore where we were joined by Future Astronauts who will be among the first to fly with Virgin Galactic. Guided and instructed by some of our key team members, they carried out a number of flight preparation activities. Through completing this unique program they are helping us to tailor and perfect the program for those who follow.Our spacewear partner, Under Armour, hosted this gathering at its extensive, high-tech campus – an ideal location for the variety of different activities.Perhaps the most exciting exercise for many Future Astronauts was being fitted for their personal, spaceflight garments. ?These are tailored to each Future Astronaut and will remain theirs to keep post-flight. We are carrying out the fittings now, so that perfectly tailored training suits and spacesuits will be ready and waiting for our Future Astronauts as they arrive at Spaceport America for final flight preparation and spaceflight.As part of the Readiness Program, in sessions led by Chief Astronaut Instructor, Beth Moses, and Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay, we shared more detailed information with Future Astronauts about what to expect from preparation time at Spaceport America and from the spaceflight itself. Both Beth and Dave flew to space in February this year, so were able to provide exciting insights based on actual experience.Chief Pilot Dave Mackay sits down with Virgin Galactic Future AstronautsHealth and fitness are important components of the spaceflight and a part of our absolute commitment to safety. Virgin Galactic is proud to be opening space to more people than ever before and while our Future Astronauts will not need to meet the incredibly rigorous levels of fitness required of government space agency astronauts, our in-house Medical Team conducted specially designed Medical Consultations with each Future Astronaut as part of the week’s program.Alongside those consultations, the Under Armour team led sessions on mobility and nutrition. Paul Winsper, Vice President of Athlete Performance at Under Armour, is ideally placed to provide this guidance as it draws on the relevant elements of training programs he provides for elite Under Armour athlete ambassadors; helping them to perform to a level which unlocks their true potential. Our Future Astronauts left the session with a tailored performance program, which along with medical consultation results, will aim to use health and fitness as a tool to optimize the spaceflight experience.Lead Designer Nick Cienski trains with Under Armour modelGeorge Whitesides, CEO, Virgin Galactic, said:‘’Introducing our Astronaut Readiness Program to our first customers marks an exciting point in our journey as we move closer to the start of commercial service. It is an important step in the process to ensure that our customers are prepared and equipped with the knowledge and training that will help ensure that they savour every second of their spaceflight which we hope will go beyond expectations. My introduction to Virgin Galactic was as a customer, ?so I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of involving Future Astronauts as we prepare each individual for the trip of a lifetime.’’Virgin Galactic has more than 600 Future Astronauts from 60 countries – all signed up to fly on SpaceShipTwo. We have been a customer-focused business from the start and one of the many benefits of this early customer community has been its assistance in shaping the customer journey.We will now be using the feedback from this week in Baltimore to build on that model. We discussed with our Future Astronauts how the training and the community can be best shaped for those waiting to fly and for those who have flown. Spaceflight has profound and transformative qualities and we want to provide a platform which will allow our Future Astronauts to share their new perspectives with the world and their local communities, thereby inspiring others.Clare Pelly, Head of The Astronaut Office, said:‘’As we kick off the program which will prepare Future Astronauts for a transformational spaceflight experience, we once again draw on the support from our unique, pioneering community. In doing so, we can ensure that each journey with Virgin Galactic is as good and relevant as it possibly can be; not only before, but during and after the incredible, personal experience of spaceflight. ‘’OCTOBER?28,?2019Invest in the Future of Human SpaceflightVirgin Galactic’s Purpose states that “Together we Open Space to Change the World for Good”. The “Together” part of that statement is important; space is hard and transforming the access we have to it, takes a concerted and combined effort.As Richard said in his “Letter to my Grandchildren” on the occasion of Virgin Galactic’s?first space flight: “When you set off on challenging but important adventures exceptional people come forward to join the journey, people who are consistently by your side and on your side, people who share your dreams and people who help make them reality”.That has been Virgin Galactic’s experience from day one: our 600 Future Astronaut customers from 60 countries who provided a vital, early proof of market and who have helped to define and perfect our product; our incredible workforce –the only team in the world to have built and flown a Mach 3 winged, commercial space vehicle and our partners, like?Land Rover,?Under Armour?and?Boeing?who are strengthening our business and enhancing our customers’ experience.The fascination with human spaceflight is universal and as we start to create a new transportation infrastructure which will transform our business and personal relationships with space, there will be more and more opportunities for everyone to get involved. That process of democratisation is at the heart of our business and what drives the new age of space exploration and discovery.We added one more in a long line of firsts today and furthered the democratisation of space, as Virgin Galactic Holdings became the first and only publicly listed human spaceflight company, with shares starting to trade on the New York Stock Exchange this morning, under the stock ticker?SPCE.This historical milestone means that now, for the first time, anyone can invest in the exciting future of human spaceflight and contribute to the benefits to humanity, that we believe will result from improving space transportation and extending the space experience to many thousands of people from all walks of life.The successful conclusion of Virgin Galactic’s merger with Social Capital Hedosophia and the start of trading today is a result of an intense period of work but gives us a solid foundation to complete our flight test program, commence regular commercial passenger flights with our SpaceShipTwo system and also start to look at future technologies and markets as we build the Spaceline for Earth.As Richard said at the start of trading in New York: “To fellow investors, employees of VG and The Spaceship Company, business partners and customers – thank you for your commitment to our great company, which has made today’s exciting announcement possible. With our proprietary spaceflight system, special airspace access at Spaceport America, globally-recognized brand and broad investor interest, we believe Virgin Galactic is ideally positioned to capitalize on the fast-growing, multibillion-dollar commercial space market and ultimately open space to thousands of new astronauts. Today, we accomplished one mission, and as we bring more and more future astronauts to space, we look forward to accomplishing many more.Continue ReadingSee All HYPERLINK "" OCTOBER?8,?2019Boeing to Invest in Human Spaceflight Pioneer Virgin GalacticRead moreVirgin Galactic Opens the Doors to the ‘Gateway to Space’Read more HYPERLINK "" Virgin Galactic Opens the Doors to the ‘Gateway to Space’Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA (15th?August 2019):Virgin Galactic today revealed the first look at the interior fit-out of its?Gateway to Space?building at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The work completed showcased two floors of the building primarily focused on spaceflight operations, which also incorporates communal spaces designed for use in the future by Virgin Galactic customers, along with their friends and families. Completion of this interior work means the spaceport facility is now operationally functional and able to support Virgin Galactic’s flight requirements.One of the hallmarks of the Virgin brand for over nearly half a century has been the use of inspired and bold design to transform customer experiences. It is an ethos that has been successfully applied across industrial sectors and design disciplines. From aircraft cabins to hotel bedrooms and from fitness classes to bank accounts.Virgin Galactic has striven to remain faithful to that tradition by choosing an elegant, experience-focused concept for the space launch system itself. Similarly, the company’s choice to operate from Spaceport America in New Mexico was due in no small part to the state’s decision to commission landmark architecture for the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The Foster + Partners?Gateway to Space?facility pays homage to the past in its respect for the ancient surrounding landscape while powerfully embracing the future through energy efficiency and sustainability. It was also specifically designed to enable Virgin Galactic to create an unparalleled experience as its customers prepare for journeys of a lifetime before graduating as astronauts.The first floor is focused on our home planet, and is named Gaia, representing the point of departure and return, as well as the purpose of each astronaut’s journey. The color palettes and the use of natural materials aims to bring the stunning landscape which surrounds Spaceport inside. The floor design, furniture and fittings promote social interaction and human discourse – a sense of togetherness and unity. An elevated, interactive digital walkway will heighten the departure experience for the Future Astronauts and their friends and family as they set out from Spaceport to VSS Unity on the day of flight. The Earth-focused design will provide a fitting welcome to those newly-graduated astronauts returning from space with a new appreciation and understanding of our home planet.Gaia is subtly and unobtrusively zoned into practical, formal and informal spaces which will host the space operations team, Future Astronauts and their family and friends. It serves as the social hub of the building, where everyone is part of the Virgin Galactic family; Future Astronauts will share breakfast with spaceship pilots, grab coffee with rocket engineers and pass the time of day with the team from Mission Control.The focal point of Gaia is the Barista Island, a central bar made of back-lit Italian marble hovering above hand-crafted oak providing a social hub for our hospitality team to engage with guests and staff. Spaceflight preparation will unite our teams with our Future Astronauts in the pursuit of a common purpose. The Barista Island within Gaia will help to foster that sense of camaraderie and the determination to deliver each Future Astronauts’ personal mission.The second floor is named Cirrus, representing light, air and flight. It is the beating heart of spaceflight operations, and is connected to the community hub of Gaia below through a double height atrium. The color palette graduates from the earthy tones below in Gaia to lighter white and grey shades, reflecting the skies beyond and providing a clean environment supporting operational focus.This area is home to Mission Control, the Mission Briefing Room, the Pilot Corps and the rest of the Flight Operations team.Mission Control enjoys a dedicated space which allows focus on flight operations. Outside this space, the Flight Operations team and the pilots are positioned to give an unrestricted view of ground operation areas including the apron and runway.Virgin Galactic’s space fleet will be housed in the Gateway to Space hangar which is already home to VMS Eve. This huge expanse in the middle of the building is large enough to accommodate two carrier aircraft, each with a wingspan of 140 ft along with five SpaceShipTwo vehicles.The unveiling of Gaia and Cirrus brings to life a beautiful, world-first and world-class facility and means that Spaceport America’s?Gateway to Space?is now functionally operational – ready to host the remaining portion of Virgin Galactic’s test flight program before welcoming its very first Future Astronauts.Project credits:?The fit-out project has been led by veteran Virgin architectural and interior designer, Jeremy Brown, Virgin Galactic’s Design Director, in collaboration with London-based Viewport Studio. Brown joined from Virgin Atlantic to oversee this unique assignment.?Designed by:?Virgin Galactic in collaboration with Viewport Studio, Londonviewportstudio.co.uk?Consultant team:?RMKM,PCM, Progressive Construction Management?Construction:?Flintco – VMS Eve arrives home to Spaceport America – a view from Chief Pilot Dave MackayRead more HYPERLINK "" JULY?31,?2019Virgin Galactic Completes Wing for Next SpaceshipRead more HYPERLINK "" JULY? ................
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