Payload
• Douglas Gorman
The European Space Agency has selected Edge Aerospace under an agreement to develop an orbital data-center architecture and a supporting use-case roadmap. The study is aimed at clarifying how on-orbit compute/data-center concepts could be packaged into credible, deployable services.
Breaking Defense
• Theresa Hitchens
By Breaking Defense: The former NASA administrator still has eyes for the moon, but is now focusing on possible future Space Force operations in cislunar space.
SpaceNews.com
• Debra Werner
By SpaceNews.com: DENVER – South Korea’s Hancom InSpace is expanding its Earth-observation constellation with Sejong-3, a cubesat with a hyperspectral sensor, launched in March on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare and currently undergoing commissioning.
Space.com
• Keith Cooper
By Space.com: A prototype ion engine that uses lithium metal vapor as a propellant has aced its first tests, achieving 25 times more power than the ion engine on the Psyche mission.
SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
By SpaceNews.com: Two European countries signed the Artemis Accords May 4 as part of a surge of countries joining in the wake of the Artemis 2 mission.
Space.com
• Andrew Jones
By Space.com: After Artemis 2, NASA's moon return hinges on two unproven commercial landers, each of which faces major technical and timeline challenges.
SpaceWatch Global
• Joshua Faleti
By SpaceWatch Global: Planet Labs has launched three new Pelican satellites, one of which is the first satellite to orbit for the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF).
Aviation Week
• Bill Carey
By Aviation Week: Viasat has announced that avionics engineering house L2 Aviation has joined its Velaris service offering for sat connectivity with AAM and eVTOLs.
Breaking Defense
• Theresa Hitchens
