SpaceWatch Global
• Joshua Faleti
At the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, agencies and companies addressed low Earth orbit congestion and debris removal, cislunar interoperability, and lunar communications and transport. ESA also presented a study on developing a reusable two-stage heavy-lift launcher, while U.S. and Chinese space networks were in focus.
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Northrop Grumman’s robotic Cygnus XL is scheduled to leave the International Space Station on Oct. 9, ending a six-month stay. The departure will be streamed live, marking the end of the spacecraft’s current cargo mission.
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At the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, agencies and companies addressed low Earth orbit congestion and debris removal, cislunar interoperability, and lunar communications and transport. ESA also presented a study on developing a reusable two-stage heavy-lift launcher, while U.S. and Chinese space networks were in focus.
On Oct. 7, 2002, NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on STS-112. The mission contributed to building the backbone of the International Space Station, advancing the orbital outpost’s assembly through the shuttle program.
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NBAA says NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will join former Space Shuttle Commander Charlie Precourt for a fireside chat at its Oct. 19 Newsmakers Luncheon. Separately, SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts are expected to splash down off California after undocking from the International Space Station.
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ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her Crew-12 crewmates are scheduled to undock from the International Space Station on Oct. 7, beginning their return to Earth after an eight-month stay. NASA will also provide coverage of Northrop Grumman’s CRS-24 Cygnus XL departure from the station on Oct. 9.
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Launch coverage points to flights from SpaceX, South Korea and China, including a South Korean Earth-observation payload and a Chinese Long March 12 mission. Separately, SpaceX’s Transporter-18 carried Star Catcher’s orbital power-beaming prototype, while NASA and SpaceX targeted Crew-12’s return and NASA named the Crew-14 astronauts for a spring 2027 mission.
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NASA and SpaceX plan to undock Crew-12 from the International Space Station on Oct. 7, following an eight-month mission that included research, station work and spacewalks. Separately, the four-person Crew-13 crew has arrived at Kennedy Space Center ahead of a planned Oct. 1 launch to the orbiting outpost.
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A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts from the United States, Canada and Russia docked with the International Space Station less than eight hours after launching from Florida. The rapid transit marked the fastest journey to the ISS by a U.S. spacecraft, according to the reports.
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