Ars Technica
• Eric Berger
Rocket Lab says NASA’s decision in a Mars spacecraft procurement appears inconsistent with the stated eligibility criteria. The company’s challenge raises questions about how the agency applied requirements in selecting an awardee for a mission involving Mars exploration.
Space Exploration & Science Missions
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A new instrument aboard a CubeSat could extend advance warnings of solar storms by a factor of 10. The capability would improve monitoring of solar radiation, helping characterize space-weather conditions that can affect spacecraft, satellite operations and other space-based systems.
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Rocket Lab says NASA’s decision in a Mars spacecraft procurement appears inconsistent with the stated eligibility criteria. The company’s challenge raises questions about how the agency applied requirements in selecting an awardee for a mission involving Mars exploration.
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Europe’s Vega C rocket launched the FLEX and Copernicus-3C Earth-observation spacecraft from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on Sept. 14. The satellites will support monitoring of plant health and ocean conditions, marking another step in Europe’s Earth-observation and space-transportation programs.
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Avio is preparing the VV30 mission, carrying the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-3C and FLEX spacecraft together aboard a Vega C rocket. The launch will use the ELV pad at Kourou, French Guiana, highlighting Vega C’s role in deploying multiple spacecraft on a single mission.
NASA and IBM have developed an artificial intelligence model designed to sift through the vast volume of data the agency has collected about the moon. The collaboration applies AI to lunar research, potentially helping scientists identify patterns and prioritize areas for further study.
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Rocket Lab has challenged NASA’s decision to award Blue Origin a $700 million contract for a Mars orbiter, arguing the selection conflicts with eligibility requirements established by Congress. The protest puts the procurement’s compliance with those statutory rules under review.
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NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched Aug. 30 from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. After reaching space, the observatory deployed its solar array and communications systems and powered on its Coronagraph Instrument, marking early progress in commissioning the mission.
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European partners will move forward without NASA on a Venus mission after the agency withdrew its planned radar instrument, highlighting the potential impact of shifting U.S. space partnerships. The decision could push Europe toward greater independence in planetary science while increasing the significance of alternative international partners, including China.
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