Universe Today
• Matthew Williams
MIT PhD candidate Lanie McKinney is developing technology to convert chemicals in the Martian atmosphere into rocket propellant, potentially enabling astronauts to produce the resources needed for their return journey on Mars rather than transporting all return propellant from Earth.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
Latest source-backed stories
MIT PhD candidate Lanie McKinney is developing technology to convert chemicals in the Martian atmosphere into rocket propellant, potentially enabling astronauts to produce the resources needed for their return journey on Mars rather than transporting all return propellant from Earth.
Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on Sept. 18, marking the fifth Electron mission in roughly six weeks. The flight underscores the company’s accelerating launch cadence as it supports commercial Earth-observation customers with dedicated small-launch services.
Germany’s DLR is preparing to launch the MAPHEUS-17 suborbital research mission from Esrange Space Center in Sweden as early as Oct. 1. The flight will support DLR’s ongoing use of suborbital missions for scientific and technology research, although no further payload or schedule details were provided.
ViaSat said its third and final terabit-class ViaSat-3 broadband satellite has entered service over the Americas. The milestone came days after SpaceX launched the final three satellites for SES’s O3b mPower constellation, marking the completion of both operators’ major network deployment campaigns.
High activity
NASA is discussing a potential block of 10 or more low-Earth-orbit missions with Boeing’s Starliner, despite risks encountered during its 2024 crewed test. At the same time, NASA is extending SpaceX’s Crew Dragon contract by three additional ISS missions worth about $950 million.
Space Cargo Unlimited has secured a dedicated mission on SpaceX’s new Starfall reentry vehicle, booking roughly one-third of the vehicle’s available capacity. The commitment signals early commercial demand for Starfall as a platform for microgravity research and recurring in-space payload opportunities.
China is reportedly interested in SpaceX’s Raptor 3 engine, underscoring the strategic importance of the company’s propulsion technology as SpaceX prepares for a significant Starship test. The developments highlight both the widening competitive interest in advanced launch systems and SpaceX’s growing influence in the global space sector.
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