NASA
• Cheryl Warner
NASA introduced the X-70 Fractal at the UP.Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, describing it as a high-performance, adaptable research platform. The aircraft is intended to accelerate development and testing of advanced aviation technologies, including new flight-control capabilities and greater maneuverability.
NASA
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NASA says the X-70 Fractal will serve as an experimental aircraft, but the announcement provides little detail on its design, schedule or research objectives. The program adds a new aircraft to NASA’s flight-research portfolio; further specifics will determine what technologies it is intended to advance.
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NASA introduced the X-70 Fractal at the UP.Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, describing it as a high-performance, adaptable research platform. The aircraft is intended to accelerate development and testing of advanced aviation technologies, including new flight-control capabilities and greater maneuverability.
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NASA has awarded Viasat, SES and Astranis work to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts under its Space Communications and Navigation program’s Communications Services Project. The systems are intended to serve existing spacecraft without requiring changes to their onboard systems, supporting continuity as NASA develops communications services.
NASA’s Artemis II launch created a large disturbance in Earth’s ionosphere, according to the reports, with the resulting hole potentially causing a temporary reduction in GPS accuracy. The event highlights how powerful rocket launches can affect the atmospheric conditions that satellite-navigation signals traverse.
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Democrats’ midterm gains shifted control of congressional committees responsible for NASA funding and Space Force oversight, raising the prospect of closer scrutiny for SpaceX and defense spending. In Texas, the electoral shift also puts deals Elon Musk struck with the state at risk, while defense stocks fell on spending concerns.
Starfish Space’s Otter spacecraft has switched off its communications link after a problem with its fault-protection system, ending its mission to inspect inoperable satellites. The loss of contact cuts short a NASA-funded demonstration of the company’s satellite-servicing vehicle.
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Starfish Space says it can no longer receive data from its first full-scale Otter servicing spacecraft after a fault-protection issue disrupted communications. The failure prematurely ended SSPICY, a NASA-funded, $15 million mission to inspect inoperable satellites, shortly after the vehicle’s launch.
NASA Human Landing System engineers describe Artemis III test articles and docking operations intended to support future crewed lunar landings. Separately, University of Alabama in Huntsville students and researchers report three rocket-motor firings on a prototype landing pad designed to make lunar operations safer.
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