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NASA

Second SAR satellite advances Space42’s hybrid connectivity and imagery vision

TAMPA, Fla. — Emirati operator Space42 said Jan. 15 it has established communications with its recently launched Foresight-2 satellite, the second synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload for the hybrid imaging and connectivity provider. Provided by Finnish SAR operator Iceye, Foresight-2 was one of 131 payloads SpaceX sent to sun-synchronous orbit Jan. 14 on a Falcon 9 rocket. Iceye also said it successfully made contact with three other SAR satellites on the Transporter-12 rideshare mission, which will join the Finnish operator’s constellation to provide services to government and commercial customers. All four satellites are designed to provide imagery with 25-centimeter resolution using radar signals, which are unaffected by cloud cover, weather, or lighting conditions. United...

CMSSF Bentivegna talks with senior enlisted Guardians > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

CMSSF Bentivegna talks with senior enlisted Guardians > United States Space Force > Article Display

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- “We get to do some really exciting stuff in the Space Force,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna. “Our mission is at the heart of joint warfighting and protecting our way of life!”Bentivegna gave two talks for U.S. Space Force master sergeants and senior master sergeants stationed at Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever SFB, and Cheyenne Mountain Complex, on Jan. 10, as an opportunity to shape the future of the USSF and receive feedback from key enlisted leaders.When asked why he wanted to speak to these two specific groups, Bentivegna said they are the group he doesn’t get to speak to often but are a pivotal cohort for the success of the USSF.“When I speak and engage, it’s usually with...

American, Japanese robotic landers share rocket launch to the Moon – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

American, Japanese robotic landers share rocket launch to the Moon – Spaceflight Now

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander pictured atop a bespoke payload canister, which encased ispace’s Resilience lunar lander prior to encapsulation inside SpaceX’s Falcon 9 payload fairings. Image: SpaceX For the first time in lunar exploration, two robotic landers, from two different nations launched to the Moon on one rocket. But despite Texas-based Firefly Aerospace and Tokyo-based ispace sharing one SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the two missions are taking very different paths and timelines to reach the lunar surface. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center happened Jan. 15 at 1:11 a.m. EST (0611 UTC). The flight was the 100th orbital launch for SpaceX from the historic pad formerly used by Apollo and the Space Shuttle. Minutes after deployment, Firefly confirm...

Guardians train to support 2025 Presidential Inauguration > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

Guardians train to support 2025 Presidential Inauguration > United States Space Force > Article Display

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, Washington, D.C. (AFNS) -- Forty-Five U.S. Space Force members from across the country recently came together at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling to join with the U.S. Space Force Honor Guard for the 60th Presidential Inauguration, scheduled for Jan. 20. This marks the first time the Space Force will participate in a presidential inauguration, a significant milestone for the youngest branch of the U.S. armed forces. Founded 17 months ago, the Space Force Honor Guard is comprised of 43 members. To meet the occasion, Guardians from diverse career fields answered a call to action, augmenting the Honor Guard and represen...

Blue Origin scrubs first New Glenn launch attempt due to “vehicle subsystem issue” – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

Blue Origin scrubs first New Glenn launch attempt due to “vehicle subsystem issue” – Spaceflight Now

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket stands at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station prior to the rocket’s inaugural flight on the NG-1 mission. Image: Blue Origin Update 3:20 a.m. EST (0820 UTC): Blue Origin scrubbed the launch. Blue Origin is preparing to step into a new chapter of rocketry, by debuting its first orbital class rocket, New Glenn. It will also attempt to recover the first stage booster on landing platform the Atlantic Ocean. The company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was targeting the inaugural launch of New Glenn during a three-hour window on Monday, Jan. 13. However, launch teams ran into what they described as a “vehicle subsystem issue” that took longer to potentially resolve than they had time available in the window. A new launch date was still being ...