Momentus orbital transfer vehicle suffers power problem after launch

Momentus’ Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle. Credit: Niall David / Momentus The first test flight of a commercial orbital transfer vehicle from Momentus is suffering from a problem with its solar panels after launching last month on a SpaceX rocket, and the company said Monday that its confidence in completing the spacecraft’s demonstrations has “substantially declined.” …

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FAA moves SpaceX a step closer to receiving Starship launch license

An aerial photo of SpaceX’s Starship launch complex near Boca Chica Beach, Texas. Credit: SpaceX The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday outlined more than 75 actions SpaceX has to implement in order to reduce the environmental effects of flying its gigantic 40-story-tall Starship rocket from South Texas, but the federal regulator found no significant impacts …

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Two hurricane research satellites lost in Astra launch failure

Astra’s Rocket 3.3 vehicle lifted off at 1:43 p.m. EDT (1743 GMT) Sunday from Cape Canaveral with the first two NASA TROPICS hurricane research satellites. Credit: Astra / NASASpaceflight Two small NASA hurricane research satellites were destroyed after launch from Cape Canaveral Sunday when their commercial rocket, provided by Astra, prematurely shut down its upper …

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Photos: Artemis 1 rocket hauled to launch pad for another countdown rehearsal

NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket rolls to pad 39B at sunrise on June 6. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight Now NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket rolled out to pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on June 6, preparing for another countdown rehearsal later this month to try loading cryogenic propellants into the massive launcher. …

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Live coverage: Astra counting down to launch today at Cape Canaveral

Astra is counting down to the first of three launches this summer to deploy a fleet of six small NASA hurricane research satellites. Liftoff of Astra’s small launcher from Cape Canaveral with the first two TROPICS nanosatellites is scheduled during a two-hour window opening at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT), weather permitting. The official launch …

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#ICRA2022 Competitions

Photo credits: Wise Owl Multimedia As one of the ICRA Science Communication Award Winner, I covered the virtual aspects of ICRA 2022. IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2022 is absolutely the best robotics conference. It generally covers a vast range of robotics including but not limited to perception, control, optimization, machine learning …

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NASA to purchase five more Dragon crew missions from SpaceX

SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft is seen docked at the International Space Station in this May 21 photo. Credit: NASA NASA says it plans to buy five more crew rotation missions on SpaceX’s fleet of Dragon spaceships, bringing SpaceX’s contract with the space agency to 14 operational astronaut launches, likely enough to keep the International Space …

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Astra to begin three-launch campaign with NASA hurricane research satellites

Astra’s Rocket 3.3, tail number LV0010, stands its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station before launch on NASA’s TROPICS-1 mission. Credit: Brady Kenniston / Astra Astra is preparing to launch the first of three straight dedicated missions for NASA this weekend at Cape Canaveral to deploy six shoebox-size hurricane research satellites, helping pioneer …

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U.S. Space Force orders eight launches from ULA and SpaceX

Artist’s illustration of a Vulcan Centaur launch. Credit: United Launch Alliance The U.S. Space Force recently ordered five military satellite launches from United Launch Alliance and three from SpaceX, awards valued at $846 million for missions scheduled to fly in the next two years. The task orders maintain the split between ULA and SpaceX for …

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How to make sure regulation helps and not hinders Inspection & Maintenance robotics?

One of the essential factors for widespread robotics adoption, especially in the inspection and maintenance area, is the regulatory landscape. Regulatory and legal issues should be addressed to establish effective robotics deployment legal frameworks. Common goals of boosting the widespread adoption of robotics can only be achieved by creating networks between the robotics community and …

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