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Space Age Sustainability: Designing for Reusable Spacecraft The increasing number of objects orbiting Earth is creating a growing problem – space debris. Bernd M. Weiss, Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, Rene Lauferé; and Margot CLAUSS from Luleå University of Technology propose a solution: designing spacecraft for reusability (refers to using a spacecraft multiple times). https://lnkd.in/guuBh2m4 Join the "Design is a Team Sport" movement at ICED25 Dallas. How can design thinking be applied to create reusable space technologies? What are the biggest challenges to overcome in achieving space sustainability? Share your thoughts on the future of space exploration and its environmental responsibility! Don't miss out!  · Register for ICED25 Dallas: iced.designsociety.org/ The University of Texas at Dallas, The Design Society #SpaceSustainability #SpacecraftDesign #CircularEconomy #DesignForReuse #SpaceExploration

Singaporean rockets set for Arnhem space port launch Spaceport operator and launch technology infrastructure company, Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singaporean rocket company Equatorial Space Systems (ESS) to launch Dorado suborbital rockets at the Arnhem Space Centre. ESS has plans for rockets including orbital rockets and the MOU paves the way for a comprehensive Spaceport Services Agreement which could see ESS launching its Volans rocket featuring up to 500kg payload capacity. The Dorado launches are planned from the end of this year and will carry science experiments and technology demonstrator payloads. Initially ESS will leverage the same launch pad used by NASA in 2022 when ELA conducted three successful suborbital launches with the US space organisation – the first successful commercial launches for Australia and the first commercial launches for NASA outside of the US. #manufacturing #manufacturingnews #Space https://lnkd.in/gEgyTQz8

Today marks the launch of Pakistan's inaugural satellite mission to the moon. The lunar endeavor, ICUBE-Qamar, is set to commence aboard China's Chang'E6 spacecraft from Hainan, China, as confirmed by the Institute of Space Technology. ICUBE-Q, developed through a collaboration between the Institute of Space Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) of China, and Pakistan's national space agency SUPARCO, will be carried by the Chang'E6 mission. The live broadcast of the launch event can be viewed on the IST website at 12:50 PM. Equipped with two optical cameras for lunar surface imaging, ICUBE-Q has undergone rigorous testing and integration with the Chang'E6 mission. Chang'E6 represents China's sixth lunar exploration mission, aiming to land on the moon's far side to collect surface samples for research upon return to Earth. Pakistan's involvement in this mission is underscored by the inclusion of iCube-Q, a CubeSat satellite developed by IST. CubeSats, characterized by their small, standardized design, serve a myriad of purposes in space exploration, including scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives. They are utilized across various fields such as Earth observations, communications, and astronomy, owing to their compact size and modular structure. Source : https://lnkd.in/dbdSdWub

These startups, space agencies, and aerospace giants are pioneering the construction of humanity's next off-world habitats. For 25 years, the International Space Station has been a hub for revolutionary research in low orbit. However, with its deorbiting scheduled for 2030, a global shift is underway. Countries and private enterprises are collaborating to establish new space stations, extending their reach from low Earth orbit to the moon.

Neil Armstrong’s “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is echoed to this day and will likely continue to be quoted when talking about the achievements of humankind. Still, today marks the 63rd anniversary of a different space exploration achievement.   On the 12th of April 1961, Yuri Gagarin was carried into the atmosphere by the Vostok 1 rocket and became the first cosmonaut to see Earth from space. Upon seeing his home planet, he was quoted as saying “The Earth is blue. How wonderful.”   The team behind the Vostok 1 rocket took time to master orbital mechanics to ensure that the spacecraft had a safe, efficient, and backed-up flight path for Gagarin to travel. A lot of the information surrounding the rocket’s flight is rather bizarre, but the most interesting piece of information surrounding it is the rocket’s actual design.   Atop a rocket sat a sphere with a diameter of 7ft and 6.5 inches in which Gagarin was situated. This design was rather dangerous as it prevented reorientation whilst in space, and there was no landing gear so when it would re-enter the atmosphere it tumbled and could not land safely on the ground. The first-ever orbit around Earth by a manned craft only took 108 minutes before Gagarin and the craft re-entered the atmosphere.   To combat the tumbling and lack of landing gear, the spacecraft had a built-in ejection system that launched Gagarin from the craft 1km in the air, allowing him to parachute to the ground and land safely.   The mission was an unbelievable feat of engineering, a masterclass in orbital mechanics, and a giant leap for mankind in its own right as they innovated the life support systems used on the flight and proved that humans could make it to space and back.   As I mentioned at the start, Neil Armstrong’s quote is almost common knowledge these days, but Gagarin had an equally as impactful observation to share with the world when he returned to Earth: “Looking at the earth from afar you realize it is too small for conflict and just big enough for co-operation.” #spaceexploration #engineering

New SSDS flight project! With the contract now signed and the press release published we’re excited to introduce ‘Sailing to the Stars!’ Sailing to the Stars is a mission to deploy light sails inside the International Space Station (ISS). Astronauts will set up the deployer, manually trigger the sail release, and capture video footage to livestream down to Earth! Doing so will allow us to better understand the dynamics of the sail release, informing future light sail CubeSat missions. We’re also thrilled to announce that our very own Verena Padres shall be leading this project! A sophomore Mechanical Engineering major, Verena will be seeing the mission through to launch in 2025! She recruited a small team last semester, and they’ve already brought the project from concept to PDR and initial prototyping. Project funding, launch opportunity, and astronaut time are awarded through the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) via The ISS National Laboratory (ISSNL). The specific solicitation is NLRA 2023-5: Leveraging The ISS For Education And Workforce Development. This time last year Prof. Peck first learned of the opportunity and our mentor Andy Filo pitched the mission concept. Joshua Umansky-Castro then wrote Phase I and II of the proposal in February and April, and in July CASIS gave us notice of their intent to award us the grant! We have since been quietly getting the project off the ground, but now that it’s official we’ll begin sharing Sailing to the Stars updates on this account until they establish an online presence of their own! The award goals have an emphasis on promoting diversity, inclusion, and outreach for groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM. In addition to the educational opportunities for students actively developing the flight hardware (with help from Alex Burke, Andy Filo, Rhodium Scientific-Space Biotech and Skyline Celestial), SSDS is partnering with Hiller Aviation Museum, Intrepid Museum, Avery Dennison, Diversity Programs Cornell Engineering via the SACNAS Cornell chapter, and Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics (WoAA) at Cornell to run educational programming and public outreach events to inspire the next generation of engineers!

Celebrating World Space Week: Pioneering Space Collaboration with the MAITRI Mission At NCM, we’re proud to align ourselves with leaders in the tech industry who are pushing boundaries and shaping the future. One such groundbreaking initiative is Space Machines Company's recently announced Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research and Innovation), which marks a historic collaboration between Australia and India. Set to launch in 2026, this mission will see Space Machines Company’s second Optimus spacecraft—a 450 kg Orbital Servicing Vehicle—launched on India’s NSIL Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. This represents the first dedicated launch agreement between Australia and India, focusing on space debris management and sustainability. You can see the Optimus prototype up close at our current Artificial Sky exhibition, showcasing the innovative work that’s making history. Discover more about this incredible venture and what it means for the future of space exploration here: https://bit.ly/47WISCQ Artificial Sky is presented in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology's Centre for Astrophysics and in collaboration with Space Machines Company. #MAITRIMission #SpaceInnovation #NCMExhibitions #AustralianSpaceIndustry #IndiaAustraliaCollaboration #SpaceSustainability

Today is #SpaceDay 🌌🚀👩🚀 This day was created to inspire all of us in the pursuit of knowledge and progress. Learn about how the modern day “Space Race!” is creating big opportunities for the manufacturers, organizations, and agencies that support space exploration technologies. https://hubs.ly/Q02t9-WH0

Time in Space: A Review of Typical Milestones and NET/NLT Designations in Space Projects #SpaceEconomy #NewSpaceEconomy #NewSpace #Space *