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Landspace closes in on orbital launch with liquid methane rocket

Landspace closes in on orbital launch with liquid methane rocket Landspace closes in on orbital launch with liquid methane rocket China is meanwhile constructing a new launch complex to support new methalox launch capabilities. HELSINKI — Chinese private firm Landspace is working towards a potential first orbital launch attempt with a methane-fueled launch vehicle later this year. Landspace completed assembly of the four Tianque-12 liquid methane-liquid oxygen engines which power the first stage of the Zhuque-2 rocket in early February. This was preceded by a payload fairing separation test and a series of 400-second hotfire tests of the 80-metric-ton thrust engines in late January. The 49.5-meter-tall, two-stage Zhuque-2 could be the first methane-fueled rocket to launch for orbit. Blue Origin’s New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan—both powered by the former’s BE-4 staged-combustion methalox engin...
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Perseverance landing wins broad political praise

Perseverance landing wins broad political praise Perseverance landing wins broad political praise WASHINGTON — When the White House called to congratulate NASA on the successful landing of the Mars rover Perseverance, acting administrator Steve Jurczyk new immediately it was the real deal. “About an hour after landing, I got a phone call from the president of the United States, and his first words were, ‘Congratulations, man,’” Jurczyk recalled during a Feb. 18 press conference at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “I knew it was him. I wasn’t getting punked.” Jurczyk said that President Biden said he was proud of the landing “and wanted me to send my regards to Percy.” He added that the president wanted to congratulate the team personally in some way. “We’re looking forward to having the president of the United States congratulate the team this week.” Biden also tweeted out his congratulations to the agency for th...
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Location: India
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NASA delays launch of planetary defense mission

NASA delays launch of planetary defense mission NASA delays launch of planetary defense mission WASHINGTON — NASA will delay the launch of a mission designed to test one technique for deflecting a potentially hazardous asteroid, although that delay won’t affect the spacecraft’s arrival at its target. NASA announced Feb. 17 that it will postpone the launch of its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission from its primary launch window of July 21 to Aug. 24 of this year to a backup window that opens Nov. 24 and runs to Feb. 15, 2022. The spacecraft will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. In a statement, the agency said issues with two major components of the spacecraft led it to postpone the launch. One involves its main instrument, the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical-navigation (DRACO), which needs to be reinforced to withstand the launch environment. The other is its...
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Location: India
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Raytheon to challenge Lockheed Martin’s acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne

Raytheon to challenge Lockheed Martin’s acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne Raytheon to challenge Lockheed Martin’s acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne Raytheon CEO Gregory Hayes: “We obviously have some concerns." WASHINGTON — Raytheon Technologies plans to formally oppose Lockheed Martin’s proposed $4.4 billion acquisition of rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne, Raytheon’s CEO Gregory Hayes said Feb. 17. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s engines are used by both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in tactical and strategic missiles the companies make for the U.S. Defense Department. “We obviously have some concerns” about Aerojet being acquired by a competitor, Hayes said at the Barclays Industrial Select Conference. “They are a huge supplier to us,” Hayes said of Aerojet. If Lockheed Martin is allowed to buy the company, “you don’t have an independent supplier on the solid rocke...
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Location: India
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Scientists look ahead to the search for past Martian life with Perseverance

Scientists look ahead to the search for past Martian life with Perseverance Scientists look ahead to the search for past Martian life with Perseverance WASHINGTON — On the eve of the landing of the rover Perseverance on Mars, scientists are looking ahead to the work it will do searching for evidence of past life on the planet and collecting samples for return to Earth. At a Feb. 17 briefing a little more than 24 hours before Mars 2020 arrives at Mars, project officials confirmed that the spacecraft is operating well and on course for a landing at 3:55 p.m. Feb. 18 at Jezero Crater. “Perseverance could land itself already without any more help from us on the ground,” Matt Wallace, deputy project manager, said at the briefing, based on its current status and the procedures on board to perform the various steps of entry, descent and landing (EDL). “So, the spacecraft is ready and, I think, the team is also ready.” ...
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Location: India
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SpaceX launches Starlink satellites, but booster landing fails

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites, but booster landing fails SpaceX launches Starlink satellites, but booster landing fails WASHINGTON — SpaceX launched another set of Falcon 9 satellites Feb. 15, but suffered a rare failed landing of the rocket’s first stage during the mission. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:59 p.m. Eastern, after unfavorable weather conditions caused a one-day delay. The rocket released its payload of 60 Starlink satellites in orbit 65 minutes after liftoff. The rocket’s first stage, however, did not land on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean as planned. Video from the droneship around the time of landing showed a glow in the distance, suggesting a problem with the booster that either caused it to go off-course or to deliberately divert from the landing attempt. SpaceX did not immediately disclose what took place during the failed la...
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Intelsat reveals plan to reorganize and trim debt

Intelsat reveals plan to reorganize and trim debt Intelsat reveals plan to reorganize and trim debt SAN FRANCISCO – Intelsat SA announced a reorganization plan Feb. 12 to reduce the Luxembourg-based communications satellite fleet operator’s debt from nearly $15 billion to $7 billion. Creditors responsible for approximately $3.8 billion of Intelsat’s debt have approved Intelsat’s plan and the company is seeking approval from additional creditors, according to a Plan of Reorganization filed Feb. 12 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Under the plan, Intelsat would issue new stock with 95% of the shares going to unsecured creditors of subsidiary Intelsat Jackson. Intelsat has requested a March 17, 2021 Bankruptcy Court hearing on the proposal. If approved, the company could emerge from Chapter 11 in the second half of 2021, according to an Intelsat news release. Intelsa...
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