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ISRO Unveils World’s Largest 10-Tonne Vertical Mixer for Solid Propellants
ISRO, in collaboration with CMTI, has developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest of its kind for solid propellants. The system improves precision, efficiency, and safety in propellant production, which is vital for rocket motors. Weighing 150 tonnes, the mixer successfully passed factory-level tests. It is expected to enhance India...
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NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions
NASA and General Atomics conducted key tests on nuclear reactor fuel at Marshall Space Flight Center. The fuel was exposed to extreme temperatures to assess its viability for nuclear thermal propulsion. With successful results, the technology could enable faster space travel, reducing risks for astronauts on long-duration missions. NASA and DARPA a...
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NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission
NASA is inviting private companies to collaborate on deploying the VIPER moon rover, initially halted due to budget constraints. The rover, designed to locate lunar water ice, was previously set to launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Companies must submit proposals by February 20, 2025, with final selections expected mid-year. Chosen firms...
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ISRO’s NVS-02 Satellite Stalls in Orbit Due to Technical Malfunction
A technical issue has stalled the orbit-raising operations of ISRO’s NVS-02 satellite, launched on January 29. While solar panels are functioning and communication is stable, the oxidizer valves have failed to open, preventing thruster activation. Tracking data indicates the satellite remains in its initial orbit. ISRO is assessing alternative wa...
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Chinese Astronauts Successfully Generate Oxygen and Rocket Fuel Through Artificial Photosynthesis in Space
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have made a significant breakthrough by successfully producing oxygen and rocket fuel through artificial photosynthesis. Using carbon dioxide and water, the process mimics the natural photosynthesis found in plants, with the potential to produce methane or formic acid with minor adjustments. Unli...
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Enhancing Mobile Connectivity
SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral on January 27, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. EST. Among these, 13 satellites feature Direct-to-Cell technology designed to enhance mobile connectivity. The Falcon 9 rocket used for the mission was powered by a first-stage booster completing its 20th successful flight. This booster...
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New Supercomputer Set to Propel Electric Spacecraft Technology Forward
Electric propulsion technology, powered by ion engines, is gaining traction for its efficiency in space travel. However, challenges such as back-scattered electrons from the ion plume threaten spacecraft components like solar arrays and antennas. Recent research by scientists from the University of Virginia and the University of Southern California...
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink Satellites, Sets Booster Record
SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites on January 24, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking its 11th Falcon 9 mission of the year. The booster achieved its record 23rd flight and successfully landed on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean, bringing SpaceX's total orbital-class booster recoveries to 401. The sat...
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SpaceX Achieves 400 Orbital Rocket Landings with Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
SpaceX achieved its 400th orbital-class rocket landing with Falcon 9 leading the charge. The company’s focus on reusable technology has reshaped space exploration, with Falcon Heavy contributing through multi-booster landings. Starship development also continues, aiming to support human missions to the moon and Mars. This milestone underlines Spa...
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Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
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China Conducts Five Rocket Engine Tests in a Day, Advancing Space Projects
On January 2, China tested five rocket engines in Beijing and Hebei Province. These tests included hydrogen-oxygen and methane-based engines for various applications, such as lunar missions and deep-space exploration. The trials mark a significant step in China’s efforts to enhance its space programmes. CASC’s engineers have highlighted the suc...
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Flexible, Radiation-Resistant Organic Solar Cells Ideal for Space Exploration, New Study Finds
Organic solar cells are gaining attention for their potential in space missions, offering lightweight and flexible alternatives to traditional silicon and gallium arsenide cells. A study published in Joule found that small molecule-based cells resisted radiation for up to three years, though polymer-based cells experienced efficiency drops, potenti...
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NASA's LEXI Mission Will Explore Earth’s Magnetic Shield from the Moon
NASA is preparing for the launch of the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, scheduled for January 15. The mission will observe Earth’s magnetosphere, capturing X-ray images that reveal how the planet's magnetic shield reacts to solar wind. This project could improve predictions of geoma...
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SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage
SpaceX successfully launched its first Starlink mission of 2025 on January 6, sending 24 satellites into orbit to expand its global internet network. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage returned to Earth, landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions," marking the 17th successful landing for this particular booster. The Starlink constellatio...
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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Set for First Launch in January
Blue Origin is preparing to launch its New Glenn rocket for the first time between January 6-12 from Cape Canaveral. The test flight will feature the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a simulator designed to test the rocket’s payload systems and in-orbit communications. The launch will also test the rocket’s reusable first stage, which will attempt to land...
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ISRO Unveils World’s Largest 10-Tonne Vertical Mixer for Solid Propellants
ISRO, in collaboration with CMTI, has developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer, the largest of its kind for solid propellants. The system improves precision, efficiency, and safety in propellant production, which is vital for rocket motors. Weighing 150 tonnes, the mixer successfully passed factory-level tests. It is expected to enhance India...
-
NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions
NASA and General Atomics conducted key tests on nuclear reactor fuel at Marshall Space Flight Center. The fuel was exposed to extreme temperatures to assess its viability for nuclear thermal propulsion. With successful results, the technology could enable faster space travel, reducing risks for astronauts on long-duration missions. NASA and DARPA a...
-
NASA Looks for Private Partners To Revive VIPER Moon Rover Mission
NASA is inviting private companies to collaborate on deploying the VIPER moon rover, initially halted due to budget constraints. The rover, designed to locate lunar water ice, was previously set to launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander. Companies must submit proposals by February 20, 2025, with final selections expected mid-year. Chosen firms...
-
ISRO’s NVS-02 Satellite Stalls in Orbit Due to Technical Malfunction
A technical issue has stalled the orbit-raising operations of ISRO’s NVS-02 satellite, launched on January 29. While solar panels are functioning and communication is stable, the oxidizer valves have failed to open, preventing thruster activation. Tracking data indicates the satellite remains in its initial orbit. ISRO is assessing alternative wa...
-
Chinese Astronauts Successfully Generate Oxygen and Rocket Fuel Through Artificial Photosynthesis in Space
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have made a significant breakthrough by successfully producing oxygen and rocket fuel through artificial photosynthesis. Using carbon dioxide and water, the process mimics the natural photosynthesis found in plants, with the potential to produce methane or formic acid with minor adjustments. Unli...
-
SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Enhancing Mobile Connectivity
SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral on January 27, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. EST. Among these, 13 satellites feature Direct-to-Cell technology designed to enhance mobile connectivity. The Falcon 9 rocket used for the mission was powered by a first-stage booster completing its 20th successful flight. This booster...
-
New Supercomputer Set to Propel Electric Spacecraft Technology Forward
Electric propulsion technology, powered by ion engines, is gaining traction for its efficiency in space travel. However, challenges such as back-scattered electrons from the ion plume threaten spacecraft components like solar arrays and antennas. Recent research by scientists from the University of Virginia and the University of Southern California...
-
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink Satellites, Sets Booster Record
SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites on January 24, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking its 11th Falcon 9 mission of the year. The booster achieved its record 23rd flight and successfully landed on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean, bringing SpaceX's total orbital-class booster recoveries to 401. The sat...
-
SpaceX Achieves 400 Orbital Rocket Landings with Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy
SpaceX achieved its 400th orbital-class rocket landing with Falcon 9 leading the charge. The company’s focus on reusable technology has reshaped space exploration, with Falcon Heavy contributing through multi-booster landings. Starship development also continues, aiming to support human missions to the moon and Mars. This milestone underlines Spa...
-
Two Private Lunar Landers Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 for Moon Missions
Marking a milestone in space exploration, two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost by Firefly Aerospace and Resilience by ispace, were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15. Blue Ghost, under NASA's CLPS program, will study lunar regolith and environmental elements, landing in Mare Crisium. Resilienc...
-
China Conducts Five Rocket Engine Tests in a Day, Advancing Space Projects
On January 2, China tested five rocket engines in Beijing and Hebei Province. These tests included hydrogen-oxygen and methane-based engines for various applications, such as lunar missions and deep-space exploration. The trials mark a significant step in China’s efforts to enhance its space programmes. CASC’s engineers have highlighted the suc...
-
Flexible, Radiation-Resistant Organic Solar Cells Ideal for Space Exploration, New Study Finds
Organic solar cells are gaining attention for their potential in space missions, offering lightweight and flexible alternatives to traditional silicon and gallium arsenide cells. A study published in Joule found that small molecule-based cells resisted radiation for up to three years, though polymer-based cells experienced efficiency drops, potenti...
-
NASA's LEXI Mission Will Explore Earth’s Magnetic Shield from the Moon
NASA is preparing for the launch of the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, scheduled for January 15. The mission will observe Earth’s magnetosphere, capturing X-ray images that reveal how the planet's magnetic shield reacts to solar wind. This project could improve predictions of geoma...
-
SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage
SpaceX successfully launched its first Starlink mission of 2025 on January 6, sending 24 satellites into orbit to expand its global internet network. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage returned to Earth, landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions," marking the 17th successful landing for this particular booster. The Starlink constellatio...
-
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Set for First Launch in January
Blue Origin is preparing to launch its New Glenn rocket for the first time between January 6-12 from Cape Canaveral. The test flight will feature the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a simulator designed to test the rocket’s payload systems and in-orbit communications. The launch will also test the rocket’s reusable first stage, which will attempt to land...
