Virgin Orbit has announced plans to go public on the Nasdaq stock exchange through a special purpose acquisitions company (SPAC) merger. The deal with NextGen Acquisition Corp. II values Virgin Orbit at $3.2 billion.

The combined company is expected to pull in up to $483 million in cash when the deal closes, which Virgin Orbit believes will happen by the end of this year. Around $383 million of that is expected to come from funds NextGen holds in trust, and the other $100 million from a common stock PIPE (private investment in public equity) offering at $10 per share. Virgin Orbit's existing stakeholders will own around 85 percent of the combined company, with NextGen shareholders owning about 10 percent, PIPE investors (which will include Boeing) holding roughly three percent and the SPAC sponsor owning the remaining two percent or so.

Virgin Orbit will use the funds to scale up its rocket manufacturing endeavors and bolster the company's space solutions business and Virgin Orbits ongoing product development initiatives. An SPAC merger with a company (usually a shell corporation) that's already listed on a stock exchange allows a business to go public without going through the usual initial public offering process.

The first spaceflight company to go public through an SPAC, and the company that really kicked off the SPAC trend, was Virgin Galactic back in 2019, which sought to fund its tourist trips to space. Virgin Galactic spun out Virgin Orbit as a separate company in 2017 so they could respectively focus on space tourism and small satellite launches. Virgin Galactic held its first fully crewed flight in July (with founder Richard Branson on board), while Virgin Orbit had its first successful satellite deployment in January.

Virgin Orbit launches its satellites from a custom Boeing 747, with the LauncherOne rocket taking payloads into space. The company says this approach offers a "significant performance advantage" over traditional ground launches (an approach adopted by the likes of SpaceX) while lowering "local carbon emissions and acoustic impacts" at launch sites.

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Virgin Orbit is going public to fund its space satellite program - Engadget

Laurence R. Young '57, SM '59, ScD '62, the Apollo Program Professor Emeritus of Astronautics and professor of health sciences and technology at MIT, died peacefully at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Aug. 4 after a long illness. He was 85.

A longtime member of the MIT community, Young was widely regarded for his pioneering role in the field of bioastronautics, the study of the impact of the space environment on living organisms, focusing in particular on the human factors of spaceflight. Many biological systems processes that comprise and govern the human body from bones and muscles to cardiovascular regulation and sensory-motor control depend on Earth's gravity to function properly. To protect astronauts from potentially negative effects of weightlessness, radiation, and psychological stress encountered in space, developing artificial life support systems for human protection is vital for future missions.

Young joined the faculty in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro) at MIT in 1962. There, he co-founded the Man-Vehicle Laboratory (now the Human-Systems Laboratory) with Y.T. Li to conduct his research on the visual and vestibular systems, visual-vestibular interaction, flight simulation, space motion sickness, and manual control and displays.

"Larry was one of the first engineers to introduce math modeling techniques to aerospace-relevant areas of physiology and human factors. He knew that the quantitative approach would lead to new insights, so he started with eye movements and then moved on to perception," says Charles Oman, senior research engineer of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT and longtime colleague of Young. "I still remember in those days, some skeptics said perceptions were too complicated to model, but he proved them all wrong, and in the process, revolutionized the fields of vestibular physiology and flight simulation. His success and enthusiasm for his work were infectious."

Young was born in New York City on December 19, 1935 to Benjamin and Bess Young. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science in 1952, Young received a BA from Amherst College in 1957; a certificate in applied mathematics from the Sorbonne, Paris as a French Government Fellow in 1958; BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering and an ScD in instrumentation from MIT in 1962.

Young's career extended beyond MIT to the national and international stage; he consulted with NASAs Marshall Spaceflight Center on the Apollo project and later became a qualified payload specialist for the U.S. space shuttle's Spacelab biological laboratory in 1993. While he never flew a space mission, he served as backup crew (alternate payload specialist) on Spacelab Life Sciences-2 (STS-58) and was principal or co-investigator on seven shuttle missions conducting human orientation experiments.

Throughout various points during his career, Young held visiting professor positions at ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology); the Zurich Kantonsspital; the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers in Paris; the College de France, Paris; the Universite de Provence, Marseille; and Stanford University. Notably, Young also founded National Space Biomedical Research Institute, serving as director from 1997 to 2001.

Closer to home, Young served as director of the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium; launched the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST) doctoral program in bioastronautics; and after retiring in 2013, remained active in AeroAstro, serving as a senior advisor lending his expertise on the departments 2020 strategic plan committee. The MIT Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) is HSTs home at MIT.

Larry was amazing at everything he did he loved MIT in practice and in concept, always promoting his students above himself and forever asking what would make our school better able to change the world. As founding member of HST and bedrock of IMES, his ideas have forever changed how we teach and how we bridge engineering and medicine, says Elazer Edelman, the Edward J. Poitras Professor in Medical Engineering and Science, director of IMES, and a practicing cardiologist at Brigham and Womens Hospital. His scientific and educational reforms made the universe more accessible and our world safer and healthier, creating new communities of scholars, new fields of studies like biomedical engineering and new leaders. His life affected every living person and at the same time touched each of those he met personally on an individual level.

In tandem with his extensive contributions to research, Young is remembered for the widespread dissemination of his knowledge through his impact as a teacher. Young mentored many colleagues when they were students, including (but not limited to) Oman, Edelman, and Professor David Mindell with whom he would later develop the highly popular course STS.471J / 16.895J / ESD.30J (Engineering Apollo). Many of Young's mentees would become influential members of aerospace academia and industry in their own right; these include NASA astronaut and moonwalker Charlie Duke.

"I literally can't count the thousands of students and alumni that Larry touched, myself among them. Recently, Larry led the charge to compose a handbook of bioastronautics, leaving us with the encyclopedic knowledge so future generations will continue with this work," says Dava Newman, the Apollo Professor of Astronautics, director of the MIT Media Lab, HST affiliate, and former Young mentee. "With all of the science we've learned and through all his years of mentoring, the moonshot Larry leaves with us is to never think about any constraints and boundaries, to literally always shoot for the moon, to Mars and beyond that's the big dream that he inspired in me and all of his colleagues."

Throughout his career, Young received extensive recognition for his contributions, service, and leadership to the aerospace field. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He served on numerous academy committees and chaired NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts External Council. He held fellowships with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Biomedical Engineering Society, the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, and the Explorers Club. In 1992, he was among the recipients recognized with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Jeffries Award "for outstanding contributions to space biology and medicine as a principal investigator on the Spacelab Life Sciences 1 mission." In 1995, NASA recognized his achievements with a Space Act Award for his development of an expert system for astronauts. In 1998, he received the prestigious Koetser Foundation Prize in Zurich for his contributions to neuroscience. In 2013, he received the Pioneer Award from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. In 2018, he received the AIAA de Florez Award for Flight Simulation, and the Aerospace Medical Association's Professional Excellence Award for Lifetime Contributions.

Outside of his career as an engineer, Young was an avid skier, which led him to become active in ski injury research. He was a director of the International Society for Skiing Safety and chaired the Ski Injury Statistics Subcommittee of the American Society for Testing and Materials Committee on Snow Skiing before being elected committee chair in 1987. He received the United States Ski Association Award of Merit and the Best Research Paper Award from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

In addition to countless alumni, colleagues, and friends, Young is survived by his beloved wife Vicki Goldberg; his sister Ellen Rosenberg; children Eliot Young SM 87, SM 90, ScD 93; Leslie Young PhD 94; and Robert Young; his first wife and the mother of his children Jody Williams; and grandchildren Joshua Young, Evan Young, David Young, Alexander Young, and Rachel Young.

Excerpt from:

Laurence Young, professor emeritus of astronautics and renowned expert in bioastronautics, dies at 85 - MIT News

AUSTIN, Texas & EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Slingshot Aerospace, Inc., a company building world-class space simulation and analytics solutions, announced today that Dan Berkenstock, Founder and former CEO, Skybox; Dr. Kathleen Howell, Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University; Kevin OConnell, Former Director, Office of Space Commerce; and Mandy Vaughn, Former President of VOX Space (a Virgin Orbit subsidiary), have joined Slingshot Aerospaces advisory board, effective immediately. Additionally, the company has hired Dr. Belinda Marchand, formerly a member of the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin and founder of Progalaxia, LLC, to serve as Director of Astrodynamics and Space Systems R&D, and former U.S. Space Force Deputy Chief of the Space and Missile Systems Centers Rapid Development Division, Alonso Segura, to serve as Senior Director, Space Systems Accounts, effective immediately.

All these individuals bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that will accelerate our vision to create space sustainability for a safer, more connected world, said Melanie Stricklan, Co-founder and CEO, Slingshot Aerospace. Space is the most complex environment and organizations are making high-risk decisions without access to complete, accurate, real-time, interoperable information. Each person will be invaluable to our team as we build technologies that provide a full, dynamic picture of the space domain, allowing our customers to make decisions at the speed of relevance.

Slingshot Aerospace Advisors

Dan Berkenstock, Former Product Manager at Google; Founder and former CEO of Skybox; Former Research Associate at NASA

Berkenstock is an entrepreneur and engineer with more than 20 years of industry experience. He co-founded Skybox Imaging, which was acquired by Google, where he led the vision, implementation, and delivery of revolutionary information, products, and services derived from timely satellite imagery as CEO. After the companys acquisition, he served as Head of Product and Partner Development at Google. Previously, he served as a Research Associate at NASA where he developed advanced methods for aerodynamic shape optimization on surfaces.

Today, Berkenstock is working to complete a PhD at Stanford University focused on using convex optimization techniques in multidisciplinary shape optimization, and serves on the boards of several early stage aerospace startups. He was named Satellite Executive of the Year by Via Satellite magazine in 2014. In 2011, Dan was named to the MIT Technology Review list of 35 Innovators under 35.

Dr. Kathleen Howell, Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University

Dr. Howell is a scientist and aerospace engineer with nearly four decades of experience. Her distinguished career is highlighted by her contributions to dynamical systems theory applied to spacecraft trajectory design, which led to the use of halo orbits in multiple NASA space missions. Today, she is a Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor at Purdue University in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

In 2017, Dr. Howell was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for contributions in dynamical systems theory and invariant manifolds culminating in optimal interplanetary trajectories and the Interplanetary Superhighway." She was elected as a Member of the International Academy of Astronautics in 2020. Dr. Howell was awarded the 1984 Presidential Young Investigator Award, which was presented to her from the White House by Ronald Reagan. In 2002, she was named one of the 50 most important women in science by Discover Magazine, and in 2004, she was the recipient of the Dirk Brouwer Award from the American Astronautical Society.

Dr. Howell earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University. She went on to receive her MS and PhD degrees from Stanford University in 1977 and 1983, respectively. Dr. Howell started as an assistant professor at Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1982 and is the school's first female tenured professor.

Kevin OConnell, Former Director, Officer of Space Commerce

OConnell has over 35 years of experience in the U.S. government, research organizations, and as an entrepreneur and business leader. Most notably, he was Director of the Office of Space Commerce, the principal organization for space commerce policy activities within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its mission is to foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry. OConnell has also researched and written extensively on the policy, security, and global market issues related to commercialization of remote sensing, or the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites. He served as the Executive Secretary and Staff Director of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency Commission, and was a member, and later Chair, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations federal advisory committee on remote sensing. Previously, OConnell served as a senior consultant to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as an independent advisor to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

OConnells background also includes extensive experience in national security and intelligence matters, including assignments in the Department of Defense, Department of State, National Security Council, and the Office of the Vice President. He spent a decade conducting and managing research in these areas at the RAND Corporation, including as the first director of RANDs Intelligence Policy Center, and was a long-standing Adjunct Professor of comparative intelligence at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service, Security Studies Program. Most recently, he founded Space Economy Rising, LLC, where he works with clients and partners worldwide on all aspects of the growing space economy.

Mandy Vaughn, Former President & CEO, VOX Space

Vaughn is a space industry expert with more than 20 years of experience. She is the former President and CEO of VOX Space, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Orbit, LLC that provides satellite launch services. She originally joined Virgin Group by way of Virgin Galactic, the worlds first commercial spaceline and vertically integrated aerospace company, and eventually transitioned to Virgin Orbit, a revolutionary service that provides launch solutions for small satellites. There, she was the Senior Director of Business Development and Mission Management where she supported customer missions including NASA. She worked her way up within Virgin Group and eventually spearheaded the creation and registration of VOX Space.

Prior to joining Virgin Galactic, Vaughn was a developmental engineer and program manager in the Air Force and a Director with Kinsey Technical Services. She primarily supported programs in the Space Superiority Systems Directorate. In the space superiority mission area, she was the ground segment lead and chief engineer on the space-based surveillance program, and then supported a variety of space and ground-based programs for the directorate. In that role, she supported multiple space situational awareness and command-and-control programs between the U.S. Department of Defense and the intelligence community. Today, she is the Founder and CEO of GXO Inc., where she provides strategic, management, and technical leadership to help deep tech and new space companies excel.

Vaughn is a member of NASAs National Space Councils User Advisory Group and advises on topics like international laws and regulations, national security space, and scientific and human space exploration priorities. She is also the Chair of Workforce Development for the National Security Space Association (NSSA) where she identifies, fosters, and mentors the next generation workforce to build a strong national security space community. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics, both from MIT.

Slingshot Aerospace New Hires

Belinda Marchand, Director of Astrodynamics and R&D, Slingshot Aerospace

Dr. Marchand brings nearly 30 years of experience in both industry and academia to the Slingshot Aerospace team. She began her career as an engineer for McDonnel Douglas Aerospace, later acquired by The Boeing Company. In this initial role, she led technical assessments, simulations, and software development in support of various defense projects. After completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Marchand transitioned from industry to academia, first as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Purdue University and later as an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin). During this time she taught and led a research program rooted in astrodynamics and space vehicle guidance, navigation and control, supporting both space exploration and defense applications.

While on the faculty at UT Austin, Dr. Marchand also served as a senior member of the technical staff at The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and later The Aerospace Corporation, supporting research areas ranging from missile defense applications to lunar space flight. In 2011, she stepped away from academia to join Decisive Analytics Corporation as a Senior Engineer and later went on to start her own consulting company, Progalaxia, LLC, where she continued to apply her technical expertise to various problems in space vehicle trajectory design, guidance, navigation and control.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Marchands research activities have supported numerous NASA space mission concepts, including the areas of formation flight and libration point mission design. She was the recipient of the Air Force Young Investigator award and has been involved in many research subjects in the space domain, from mission design to space situational awareness.

Dr. Marchand holds a PhD from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, where she also completed a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering.

Alonso Segura, Sr. Director, Space Systems Accounts, Slingshot Aerospace

Segura is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with a twenty year record of innovative performance in government acquisitions across all levels of the Department of Defense (DoD). He has led multiple diverse inter-agency teams and managed large investment budgets across all classifications in order to deliver new capabilities in space control, cross-domain command and control, wargaming, foreign military sales, security cooperation, and intelligence surveillance and recognizance.

Most recently, Segura served as Deputy Chief, Rapid Development Division for the U.S. Space Force, where he built and led a diverse rapid prototyping team to plan and deliver multiple satellites to orbit including ride-share platforms, threat emulation platforms, and proliferated constellation proof-of-concept platforms. He also championed the growth of the U.S. space industrial base as a strong advocate for lowering the barriers of entry for non-traditional businesses into DoD acquisitions by advancing the use of innovative contracting methods.

Segura has also been assigned to the former U.S. Air Force Space Commands Space Superiority Directorate, where he led a team of space control experts in the pursuit of national space superiority. And hes also been assigned to U.S. Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon, where he served as the Chief of Airborne Networks, leading a DoD-wide effort to advance sensor-to-user intelligence systems.

Over his career, Segura delivered innovative solutions to DoDs toughest technology challenges, with a passion for expanding the national industrial base. He holds a BS in Physics and Computer Science from the University of Southern California, and a Masters degree in Public Policy from New England College.

About Slingshot Aerospace

Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. is creating world-class space simulation and analytics solutions. The company brings the space domain into the digital environment and fuses data from different sources to provide a full, dynamic orbital picture. In doing so, Slingshot Aerospace customers can make decisions at the speed of relevance and achieve clarity in complex environments. Launched in 2017 and based in Austin, TX, and Los Angeles, CA, Slingshot Aerospace seeks to help government and commercial customers accelerate space sustainability to create a safer, more connected world. Visit slingshotaerospace.com and follow Slingshot Aerospace on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Slingshot Aerospace media kit, including photos, can be found HERE.

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Slingshot Aerospace Adds 4 Space Experts to Advisory Board Including Former Virgin Group Executive; Former CEO of Skybox; Former Director of Space...

Tic Tac, the brand that sells small capsule-shaped breath fresheners, has capitalized on this summers UFO trend by sending a big mint-shaped vessel into space. The event took place earlier this month amid more pressing matters but caught the publics eye today when Tic Tac shared a video of its minty UFO with Earth as a backdrop.

It was only a matter of time before Tic Tac took advantage of the popular tictac nickname the public has used to describe a UFO witnessed by the US military. The UFO was given that name due to its alleged Tic Tac-shaped design, which paved the way for the Tic Tac brand to, you know, put its own mint-shaped UFO in space.

The launch took place between Ferrero, the company behind the Tic Tac brand, and UK-based aerospace firm Sent Into Space. The confectionery company first announced its plan to launch a custom space vessel packed full of mints in late July, later pulling off the stunt on August 4.

Customer-submitted messages about the breath fresheners were displayed on the vessels built-in screen, giving any aliens who may have been nearby the opportunity to find out what the small candies inside of the vessel were about. The UFO was filled with limited-edition Tic Tac packs, according to Ferrero.

Sent Into Space used high-altitude balloons to send the small capsule into space, resulting in the very amusing video Tic Tac shared on its Twitter account today. The space flight lasted just under three hours. Tic Tac says that 100 people have the chance to get one of the space Tic Tac packs by following instructions thatll be posted on the brands social media accounts.

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Tic Tac launched its own 'UFO' full of breath mints into space - SlashGear

Contract represents the fourth Lunar sensor award for MDA as the number of planned Moon missions grows

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 23, 2021 /CNW/ - MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly-expanding global space industry, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Intuitive Machines, LLC to provide Lunar landing sensors to support its upcoming IM-1 and IM-2 missions. As a result, MDA landing sensors will support the first soft landing US mission to the Moon since 1972, scheduled for early 2022. MDA landing sensors will also support the first ever mining mission to the South pole of the Moon in late 2022.

Intuitive Machines was selected as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. These CLPS missions will help lay the foundation for future missions and a sustainable human presence on the Lunar surface. MDA is currently under contract to provide its Lunar landing sensors to three different commercial customers supporting four individual missions scheduled between 2022 and 2024.

With the space economy increasingly driven by commercial demand, MDA has developed a full suite of affordable sensor products that have been designed for use in Lunar landing, orbital debris removal, rendezvous and docking as well as Earth observation. The product line includes:

This standardized technology ideally positions MDA for further expansion into the rapidly emerging global marketfor space situational awareness sensors that are affordable and available.

QUOTE

"Every week there are major global developments in the commercialization of space that bring us closer and closer to making the vision of an active Lunar village with routine flights from Earth to the Moon a reality. Landing technology has been a critical component of successful flight since the dawn of aviation and now, working with partners like Intuitive Machines, we are commercializing that technology for space flight."

Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer, MDA

LINKS

http://www.mda.space

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MDA_spaceFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/MDAspaceLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/mdaspaceYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/mdaspaceInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/MDA_space

ABOUT MDA

Serving the world from its Canadian home and global offices, MDA (TSX:MDA) is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. With over 2,000 employees across Canada, the US and the UK, MDA is leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. With a track record of making space ambitions come true, MDA enables highly skilled people to continually push boundaries, tackle big challenges, and imagine solutions that inspire and endure to change the world for the better, on the ground and in the stars.

SOURCE MDA Ltd.

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT, Amy MacLeod, [emailprotected], 613-796-6937

http://www.mda.space

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Intuitive Machines selects MDA Lunar landing sensors to support first US mission to the Moon in 50 years - Canada NewsWire

Researchers in Japan are using microwaves to power free-flying drones, a project that could possibly pave the way for a new type of rocket.

Currently, most rockets generate thrust by using controlled explosions of a solid or liquid fuel source, which can make up 90% of their total weight. However, new research published in the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets demonstrates the potential of using an alternative source of fuel: microwaves.

Related: Future astronauts could make methane rocket fuel on Mars

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation. As such, they're jam-packed with energy that can be converted into electricity, much as sunlight can be converted to power by solar panels. In the new study, researchers generated electricity to fuel free-flying drones by beaming microwaves directly at them.

"In drone experiments, microwave power is sent from the antenna on the ground to the antenna on the drone. A rectifier is used to convert RF [radio frequency] to DC [direct current], and the DC power is used to drive the drone's motors. We call it "rectenna" (rectifier + antenna)," one of the new study's authors, Kohei Shimamura of the University of Tsukuba, told Space.com in an email.

Previous studies exploring microwave-powered propulsion used low-frequency waves but found that when the frequency is raised, the power transmission efficiency also increases. Taking this fact into account, the research team used high frequencies (28 gigahertz) to lift a 0.9-pound (0.4 kilograms) drone off the ground.

Sitting directly above the source of the microwave beam, the transmitted power enabled the drone to reach a height of around 2.6 feet (0.8 meters) for 30 seconds. "We used a sophisticated beam-tracking system to ensure that the drone received as much of the microwave power as possible," Shimamura said in a statement.

In the experiment, 30% of the emitted microwaves were captured by the drone, and 40% of those microwaves were converted to electricity for propulsion.

Related: Why a microwave-beam experiment will launch aboard the Air Forces secretive X-37B space plane

"These results show that more work is needed to improve the transmission efficiency and thoroughly evaluate the feasibility of this propulsion approach for aircraft, spacecraft and rockets, Shimamura said. "Future studies should also aim to refine the beam-tracking system and increase the transmission distance beyond that demonstrated in our experiment."

Although the new research showcases the potential of microwave-powered propulsion, the technology largely remains in its infancy, especially when considering its potential use for rocket flight.

"The big challenge is to track the microwave to the rocket until it reaches an altitude of 100 km [approximately 62 miles]. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to control the phase of the thruster and microwave with high accuracy. Also, aligning the phase of multiple microwave sources with high power is a future challenge," Shimamura told Space.com via email. "Cost is a major issue as well as a technical challenge. Building a high-power source of several MW [megawatts] is equivalent to building a nuclear fusion power plant, and the cost of launching a rocket is currently very high."

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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A microwave-powered rocket? Drone project suggests it may be possible - Space.com

Intuitive Machines has partnered with Spaceflight Inc. to provide secondary rideshare services on the companys upcoming IM-2 South Pole Mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than December of 2022.

Using the excess capacity on Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander, Spaceflight Inc. will offer rideshare opportunities onboard their next-gen Sherpa Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) for deployment into trans-lunar and low-lunar orbits and beyond to Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO).

IM-2 South Pole Mission includes a Nova-C class lander to land 130 kg of payloads on the lunar surface. It also has excess capacity on the launch vehicle that delivers 1,000 kg of payloads on an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring into a direct throw high energy orbit. This high-energy ESPA rideshare option allows customers to proceed to lunar capture quickly, redirect to points elsewhere in high Earth orbit, or depart for destinations in the solar system with less demand on their propulsion.

See more here:

Intuitive Machines Partners With SpaceFlight To Provide Secondary Rideshare Services On Their Upcoming IM-2 South Pole Mission SatNews - SatNews...

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced that it has successfully demonstrated the operation of a rocket engine technology for the first time in space. This experiment proved the efficiency of a rotating detonation engine (RDE) which converted the shock waves generated when a mixture of fuel and oxygen reacts explosively into thrust.

Now, JAXA has successfully demonstrated that it can also have potential in deep space exploration. By creating detonation and compression waves at extremely high frequencies (1 to 100 kHz), the detonation engine greatly enhances reaction speed, reducing the weight of the rocket engine and allowing it to generate thrust more efficiently, further boosting its performance.

This new engine system was installed on the No. 31 vehicle of the S-520 sounding rocket series operated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. The rocket took off from JAXA Uchinoura Space Center on July 27th at 5:30 JST. The rotary detonation engine produced about 500 N (112 lbf) of thrust once the first stage was separated, which is only a fraction of what conventional rocket engines can achieve in space.

The success of this space flight demonstration experiment has substantially enhanced the chances of the RDE being used in practical applications, including in rocket motors for deep space exploration, first-stage, and two-stage engines, and more.

In the future, JAXA plans to apply detonation engine technology not only for deep space exploration missions but for other scientific operations as well. Reducing the size and weight of spacecraft systems could thus significantly aid interplanetary journeys.

But JAXA is not the only agency working to develop detonation engine tech. Several U.S. organizations are also working on RDEs. The U.S. Navy is particularly interested in RDEs capability to reduce the fuel consumption in their heavy vehicles.

In May 2020, a group of U.S. Air Force engineers claimed to have created a highly experimental functioning model of RDE capable of delivering 200 lbf (about890 N) of thrust by using a hydrogen/oxygen fuel mix.

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Japan Tests Explosion-Powered Rocket for the First Time in Space, Is a Success - autoevolution

A stunning new satellite image captures four different storms churning in the skies above North America as the continent nears the peak of hurricane season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 (GOES-16) captured aerial views of hurricanes Grace and Linda, along with tropical storms Fred and Henri, on Wednesday (Aug. 18). The satellite image also shows swirling billows of smoke streaming across the western U.S. from several major fires in California.

"The pace of hurricane activity around North America often accelerates in mid-to-late summer as seas warm, making it easier for tropical cyclones to develop and intensify," NASA officials wrote in a statement. "August 2021 was no exception. In fact, more storm activity has happened earlier in the year than usual."

Related: GOES-R/GOES-16: A powerful weather satellite in pictures

Using its Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), GOES-16 captured this simulated natural-color image at 1:20 p.m. EDT (1720 GMT), revealing four different storms at various stages of development. Hurricane Grace, which appears in the lower right of the satellite image, on Tuesday (Aug. 17) brought heavy rainfall and flooding to Haiti still reeling from a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Aug. 14 and the Dominican Republic. Then, it continued toward Mexico's Yucatan peninsula on Wednesday, moving west at 15 mph (24 kph), according to the statement.

Tropical Storm Fred, which made landfall in Florida's Panhandle region on Aug. 16, appears in the satellite image moving north along the East Coast of the U.S. The storm brought intense rainfall and strong winds, leaving flooding and tornadoes in its wake. When the storm touched down in Florida, winds were recorded at 65 mph (105 kph), followed by several inches of rain across parts of the state, as well as Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina as the storm moved inland, according to the NASA statement.

Henri, which is expected to reach hurricane status on Friday (Aug. 20), appears near Bermuda in the satellite image. Forecasters say that Henri is headed toward the Northeast U.S. and could impact the coast this weekend.

"Starting early last week, the large-scale conditions became especially favorable for tropical cyclone development in the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic basins," Patrick Duran, a hurricane expert based at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, said in the statement. "The Madden-Julian Oscillation, a global-scale phenomenon that plays a role in tropical convection, became favorable for thunderstorm formation. At the same time, a large atmospheric wave called an equatorial Kelvin wave moved across the Atlantic, making conditions even more favorable for storm development."

Linda, which has been identified as an intense variety of storm called an annular hurricane, is located in the Eastern Pacific, on the left side of the satellite image. The storm reached hurricane status on Aug. 12 and remained strong for several days. While the storm remained at sea, nowhere near land, its winds reached as high as 130 mph (209 kph), making it a Category 4 hurricane, according to the statement.

Annular hurricanes are generally characterized by large and symmetrical eyes and few rain bands spiraling outward, according to the statement. These types of hurricanes tend to be significantly stronger and maintain their peak intensities longer than other tropical cyclones because their "annular structure makes these storms more resistant to the negative impacts of unfavorable conditions, like low ocean temperatures or high wind shear," Charles Helms, a scientist based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, said in the statement.

In addition to the active storms, the GOES-16 image also shows the effects of several California wildfires, with streams of smoke visible across the western U.S. In the satellite image, the smoke characterized by darker clouds can be seen across the top of the northwest U.S. Due to gusty winds and low humidity, the state of California has issued a warning of fire-prone conditions across much of Northern California, as well as areas of the North Bay Mountains and East Bay Hills, according to an Aug. 18 state announcement.

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North America is surrounded by 4 storms and wildfire smoke in this satellite view - Space.com

MONTGOMERY Governor Kay Ivey announced today that defense contractor KBR plans to expand its operations in Huntsville with a new headquarters facility and more than 160 additional jobs as it taps the talent pool in Alabamas Rocket City.

KBR will consolidate its presence in Huntsville at two buildings being developed at Redstone Gateway by Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) in partnership with Jim Wilson & Associates as part of a $65 million project. The growth plans will allow KBR to retain its workforce of over 1,100 people in the city.

KBR delivers a range of high-end services and expertise in systems engineering, data analytics and mission operations around the globe. Its in-depth portfolio spans defense modernization; military, civil and commercial space; intelligence; cyber; advanced logistics; and base operations.

Its always great to see a company like KBR that has a major presence in Alabama decide to expand its operation in the state, especially when the jobs being added are highly technical and well paying, Governor Ivey said. KBR is a world-class company, and I look forward to seeing it grow and thrive in Huntsvilles dynamic economy.

Houston-based KBR will provide engineering, scientific and technical services to the defense and aerospace industries at its new location just outside Redstone Arsenal, a sprawling government installation.

Recently named one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S., KBR is excited to enhance its presence in Huntsville, specifically at Redstone Gateway, said Byron Bright, KBR Government Solutions president. Whether were defending our nation or supporting the latest missions in space, we equip those on the frontline and those exploring a new frontier. As our capabilities in aerospace engineering, asset management and spaceflight operations continue to evolve and grow, maintaining offices in close proximity to both existing and future customers is the right thing to do.

KBR has executed two leases with the real estate partners to occupy 90% of a 172,500-square-foot office building and roughly half of a 45,000-square-foot R&D facility at Redstone Gateway. The facility is anticipated to be operational during the first quarter of 2023.

With capabilities that truly span the globe and a culture of innovation and problem-solving, KBR stands out as one of the most impressive companies in its field, said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. These qualities mean KBR shares the same kind of DNA as Huntsville, and I can think of no more perfect place for the company to execute growth plans.

Huntsville officials welcomed KBRs expansion plans.

Were glad to see KBR expanding in Huntsville where the companys best and the brightest engineers and innovators contribute to aerospace and defense industries, said Mayor Tommy Battle. Congratulations to KBR and to COPT on this exciting venture.

The new KBR headquarters represents a positive development for Redstone Gateway, a 486-acre mixed use development that is home to leading defense, aerospace and research companies.

We are thrilled to have this opportunity to support a world-class firm such as KBR at Redstone Gateway and are proud to develop their Huntsville home, said COPT Huntsville Asset Manager James Lomax said. This decision reaffirms Redstone Gateways unrivaled combination of efficiency, convenience, walkable amenities, and access to important commands at Redstone Arsenal as Huntsvilles modern office park.

This deal represents a consolidation and commitment for KBR in the Huntsville market that will allow KBR to take advantage of new workplace strategies and standards, maximize efficiency, while at the same time upgrade their facilities significantly for their workforce, added Thomas Birnbach, president and vice chairman of real estate firm Cresa, which represented KBR.

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Gov. Ivey Announces KBR to Expand Alabama Footprint with New Headquarters and 160 Additional Jobs - Office of the Governor of Alabama - Governor Kay...