Space Endeavours

Amazon launches test satellites.

Chinese astronauts enter the new Tiangong space station.

The fourth Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite series has been successfully delivered by Airbus Defence and Space. Weighing in at 860 kg and measuring 12.3 by 0.9 metres, the Sentinel-1D SAR will ensure data continuity of insights only possible from space.

Sentinel-1D is equipped with the SAR instrument (C-band radar) to provide all-weather, day-and-night radar imagery of the entire Earth’s surface as part of the Copernicus programme funded by the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA). Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for the Sentinel-1 satellites with Airbus responsible for both radars led by Friedrichshafen (Germany), including electronics subsystems made by Airbus in Portsmouth.

Former NASA astronaut Ken Mattingly II, best known for helping the crew of Apollo 13 return to Earth safely in 1970 after the loss of an oxygen tank in space doomed the lunar landing, has died at 87.
“Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that also called Mattingly “one of our country’s heroes.”

The Blue Origin New Shepard rocket is preparing to take flight once again. Blue Origin says that New Shepard 24th mission will take 33 science payloads to space. New Shepard’s engine is fueled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen. During flight, the only byproduct is water vapor with no carbon emissions.

Airbus landing technology to enable missions to the lunar surface, including Peregrine to be launched early in 2024. Griffin lunar module legs successfully tested. Technology required for interplanetary missions pushes engineering to its limits. Upcoming lunar missions will pave the way for humans to spend sustained periods on the Moon, investigating its surface and learning how to live and work there. Astrobotic’s Peregrine spacecraft is due to land on the lunar surface soon and Airbus’ technology will be instrumental in taking this next step on the Moon. Peregrine, was developed by Astrobotic under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative, and is scheduled for launch in 2024. Airbus was responsible for the layout, sizing, design, manufacture and qualification of the landing system. The four legs of the spacecraft will absorb the shock and stabilize Peregrine to enable the safe touchdown of this commercial mission onto the lunar surface.

Japan's lunar lander made it to the moon.

Ingenuity helicopter drone that was flying around on Mars had a crash landing and damaged its blades. This pretty much has ended the mission on Mars.

Looking back at the legacy of the Ingenuity mission.

Cargo mission to the ISS by Northrop Grumman.

Spending a year in space?

The international space station.

Boeing Starliner prep.

America is back on the moon. Intuitive Machine’s autonomous Nova-C lunar lander Odysseus successfully touched down in the South Pole region of the moon Thursday evening, marking the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years. Below is a concept of the craft...not from the actual mission.

Latest SpaceX mission with 3 U.S Astronauts and 1 Russian Cosmonaut.