The multinational company Dawn Aerospace, based in New Zealand, announced that its experimental aircraft Mk-II Aurora successfully completed its first supersonic flight on November 12, 2024. Piloted by Brazilian Iagho Amaral, Aurora reached Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 82,500 feet (25 kilometers), becoming the first civil aircraft to break the sound barrier since the Concorde.
The historic flight took place at Glentanner Aerodrome, located near Mount Aoraki Cook in New Zealand. In addition to meeting its initial speed and altitude objectives, the aircraft set a world record by reaching an altitude of 20 kilometers from ground level in just 118.6 seconds, surpassing the previous record by 4.2 seconds, achieved by a modified F-15, known as the &#8216;Streak Eagle,&#8217; in the 1970s.
As explained by Dawn Aerospace&#8217;s CEO, Stefan Powell, this achievement marks a significant milestone in the development of high-performance aircraft. The Mk-II Aurora prototype is designed to fly up to 100 kilometers in altitude, the so-called «edge of space» — also known as the Karman Line — and perform two flights daily in this category. During these missions, it is expected to reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 during ascent and reentry, thanks to its pure rocket propulsion system, which delivers a thrust-to-weight ratio 20 times greater than conventional jet engines.
According to a report from our associated outlet Aeroin, Dawn Aerospace highlighted New Zealand&#8217;s key role in the development of this project. With vast open skies and testing zones in the South Pacific, the country is well-positioned to lead advanced aerospace research, including the development of hypersonic technology. Powell expressed his gratitude to the New Zealand government and its people for their support in achieving this milestone.
«We look forward to continuing our collaboration with international customers, the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre, and the New Zealand Space Agency as we expand our capabilities and move towards commercial operations,» Powell stated.

Dawn Aerospace Advances Space Travel with Supersonic Mk-II Aurora Prototype

Within the framework of the 23rd edition of the FIDAE fair, Thales, a renowned French technology company, signed a collaboration agreement with Universidad Mayor, a prestigious university in Chile, for the training of future space technicians.
The agreement includes academic collaboration mainly in seminars, conferences, lectures for students and technology transfer from Thales to the University. It will also encourage joint participation in applied projects and research of mutual interest and support the development of students through internships, practicums, degree work, among others.
«In the year that Thales in Chile celebrates 55 years of continuous and uninterrupted presence in a country that has given us the confidence and the possibility to exercise a leadership position in our markets, we are very happy to work together and collaborate with Universidad Mayor as part of the contribution we seek to make to society and maintain our commitment to support Chile in its spatial development and future professionals in science and technology, building a future that goes hand in hand with technological innovation, sustainability and inclusion», said Wellington Rodrigues, General Director of Thales for the Southern Cone (Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay).
See also: <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2024/03/thales-unveils-first-100-solar-powered-atc-radar-station-in-chile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thales Unveils First 100% Solar-Powered ATC Radar Station in Chile</a>
«One of our purposes as a university is the creation of knowledge and how we link with society to disseminate and apply it. Together with Thales we want to promote joint and multidisciplinary work, which will be a great opportunity for our students to acquire better tools to develop in their areas. Our School of Engineering has made great advances of which we are proud, in areas such as cybersecurity, remote sensing and aerospace, with the development of a nanosatellite by an Electronic Engineering team, and this agreement will help us to continue developing in these areas», said Dr. Patricio Manque, Rector of the Universidad Mayor.
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Thales and Universidad Mayor of Chile to collaborate in the training of space and technology technicians

GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) anunció hoy su lanzamiento oficial como empresa pública independiente que busca definir el futuro del vuelo, una vez concluida la escisión de GE Vernova. GE Aerospace cotizará en la Bolsa de Nueva York (NYSE) bajo las nomenclaturas de «GE». Este, 02 de abril de 2024 a las 9:30 a.m  hora del Este, GE Aerospace y GE Vernova tocaron juntas la campana de apertura en la NYSE.   <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
El Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de GE Aerospace, Henry Lawrence Culp Jr., señaló que “con la exitosa puesta en marcha de tres empresas independientes que cotizan en Bolsa, el día de hoy se marca un histórico paso final en la transformación plurianual de GE. Estoy tremendamente orgulloso de nuestro equipo, de su resiliencia y de su dedicación para lograr este momento crucial».  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
Culp añadió que «sobre la base de un siglo de aprendizaje y continuando con el legado de innovación de GE, GE Aerospace avanza con un sólido balance y un mayor enfoque para innovar el futuro del vuelo, elevar a las personas y llevarlas a casa de forma segura. Con FLIGHT DECK, nuestro propio modelo operativo, que será nuestra base, estoy seguro de que desarrollaremos todo nuestro potencial al servicio de nuestros clientes, colaboradores y accionistas».   
Con una base instalada de aproximadamente 44 mil motores comerciales y unos 26 mil motores militares y de defensa en todo el mundo, GE Aerospace se lanza como líder mundial consolidado en propulsión, servicios y sistemas en la industria aeroespacial. La empresa generó aproximadamente 32 mil millones de dólares en ingresos ajustados* en 2023, con un 70% generado por los servicios y la fuerte economía del mercado posventa de motores.   <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-239049" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GE-Aeroespace-1024x576-1-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/GE-Aeroespace-1024x576-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/GE-Aeroespace-1024x576-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/GE-Aeroespace-1024x576-1.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
En el Día del Inversor de la compañía, celebrado en marzo, GE Aerospace reafirmó sus planes para 2024 y presentó una estrategia financiera a más largo plazo, que incluye la previsión de alcanzar unos 10 mil millones de dólares de beneficio operativo* en 2028. Además, GE Aerospace compartió un marco de asignación de capital para invertir en crecimiento e innovación, al tiempo que devuelve aproximadamente entre el 70 y 75% de los fondos disponibles a los accionistas.  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
El lanzamiento de GE Aerospace representa la finalización de la transformación financiera y operativa plurianual del conglomerado de GE. En los últimos años, GE ha tomado medidas para fortalecer significativamente el negocio, incluyendo más de 100 mil millones de dólares en reducción de deuda desde 2018. Simultáneamente, la implementación y adopción de nuevas metodologías en toda la empresa y una búsqueda incesante de la mejora continua al servicio del cliente, permitieron un cambio profundo y sostenible en la cultura. Esta base más sólida hizo posible la creación con éxito de tres empresas independientes: GE HealthCare, GE Vernova y GE Aerospace, cada una bien posicionada para seguir construyendo sobre la historia de innovación de GE.  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
Respecto a los titulares de acciones comunes de GE, estos tenían el derecho a recibir una acción común de GE Vernova por cada cuatro acciones comunes de GE. Debido al impuesto federal sobre la renta de los Estados Unidos, la distribución se ha realizado de manera eficiente desde el punto de vista fiscal para los accionistas de GE en los Estados Unidos.  <span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> 
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &amp; Garrison LLP han desempeñado la función de asesor jurídico para la empresa. Evercore, Morgan Stanley y PJT Partners fueron los principales asesores financieros de GE durante la operación. El conglomerado, además recibió asesoramiento jurídico de DLA Piper y Gibson, Dunn &amp; Crutcher LLP y asesoramiento financiero de Citibank, The Consello Group, BNP Paribas y UBS.

GE Aerospace se lanza como empresa pública independiente y cotizará en Bolsa

Latin America represents a key area for the growth strategy of Leonardo (the large Italian Aerospace, Security and Defense company), and its presence and display during the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) will be consistent with its commitment to the region.
The company currently operates in Latin America with a fleet of 400 helicopters, 70 naval systems, including new generation systems, in addition to fixed-wing aircraft, primary and secondary radars for air traffic control and space solutions. Leonardo participates in the FIDAE 2024 edition to underline that it is prepared to support the nation&#8217;s defense and security needs, as well as the growth of the civil sector.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image aligncenter wp-image-237854 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="893" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO.jpg 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-300x223.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-768x572.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-564x420.jpg 564w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-80x60.jpg 80w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-485x360.jpg 485w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-696x518.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-1068x795.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-265x198.jpg 265w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/03/fidae-FOTO_NOTICIAS_NEUTRO-150x112.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a>
Leonardo has a long-standing presence in Chile, with a range of products and services in the government and civil sectors. More than 20 Leonardo helicopters of various models are flying today in Chile for the civil and government sectors, including the AW119K, performing a wide range of missions, including law enforcement, medical evacuation, rescue, disaster relief, firefighting and passenger transport. These are supported on-site by service centers that ensure mission effectiveness and safety.
<h2>C-27J Spartan</h2>
<figure id="attachment_130242" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-130242" style="width: 1110px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-130242 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan.jpg" alt="C-27J Spartan" width="1120" height="745" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan.jpg 1120w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan-768x511.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan-696x463.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan-1068x710.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/04/C-27J-Spartan-631x420.jpg 631w" sizes="(max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-130242" class="wp-caption-text">C-27J Spartan</figcaption></figure>
In the aeronautical sector Leonardo shows the C-27J Spartan already operated by Peru and Mexico. Multiple capabilities and performance characteristics have made the Spartan the perfect aircraft for the LATAM scenario, operating in both hot equatorial conditions and Antarctic environments, and from the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains to short unpaved runways in forests or remote rural areas. The C-27J is an impressive force multiplier, truly effective also in firefighting, and the only aircraft in its class with mission range to fly the route and return from the coast of Chile to Easter Island without refueling.
<h2>ATR72 MPA</h2>
<figure id="attachment_238692" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238692" style="width: 1430px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-238692 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP.jpg" alt="Leonardo ATR72 MP" width="1440" height="960" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP.jpg 1440w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-630x420.jpg 630w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-696x464.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Leonardo-ATR72-MP-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238692" class="wp-caption-text">Leonardo&#8217;s ATR72 MPA maritime patrol aircraft</figcaption></figure>
Also on the stand will be the ATR72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), which combines the reliability and low operating costs of the ATR 72-600 airliner with a state-of-the-art mission system, which manages all sensors on board the aircraft, combining the information received in real time into an overall tactical situation.
<h2>Osprey radar</h2>
<figure style="width: 1430px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://uk.leonardo.com/o/adaptive-media/image/11320346/h_959/Osprey-header_1440760.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image" src="https://uk.leonardo.com/o/adaptive-media/image/11320346/h_959/Osprey-header_1440760.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="760" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">With 3 antennas, the Osprey can provide 360° of radar coverage.</figcaption></figure>
Leonardo will showcase its Osprey electronic scanning surveillance radar. International customers use the Osprey from fixed or rotary wing aerial platforms for missions covering defense, security, civil protection and environmental monitoring, as well as search and rescue.
<h2>BriteCloud</h2>
<figure id="attachment_129717" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-129717" style="width: 2550px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-scaled.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-129717 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-scaled.jpeg" alt="BriteCloud FIDAE 2022" width="2560" height="1962" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-300x230.jpeg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-1024x785.jpeg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-768x589.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-1536x1177.jpeg 1536w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-2048x1570.jpeg 2048w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-696x534.jpeg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-1068x819.jpeg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-1920x1472.jpeg 1920w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-548x420.jpeg 548w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/03/Leonardo-BriteCloud-80x60.jpeg 80w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-129717" class="wp-caption-text">BriteCloud active RF decoy system</figcaption></figure>
To provide fast aircrafts with effective protection against advanced RF guided missile and tracking radar threats, Leonardo&#8217;s offering includes BriteCloud, a compact digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) countermeasure. BriteCloud is designed to launch from standard chaff and flare dispensers and requires minimal platform integration.
<h2>Air defense radars</h2>
<figure id="attachment_238694" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238694" style="width: 950px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Radar-Kronos-HP-Grand-Mobile.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-238694 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Radar-Kronos-HP-Grand-Mobile.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Radar-Kronos-HP-Grand-Mobile.jpg 960w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Radar-Kronos-HP-Grand-Mobile-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Radar-Kronos-HP-Grand-Mobile-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238694" class="wp-caption-text">Radar Kronos HP Grand Mobile</figcaption></figure>
Leonardo will bring to FIDAE 2024 the RAT 31DL L-band surveillance radar, designed to operate within modern military Air Defense systems, and the Kronos HP Grand Mobile. The latter leverages on the horizontal and vertical beam steering capability of its Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna to optimize detection, tracking, threat classification and missile guidance against multiple targets. The radar can also perform simultaneous tracking of multiple targets with an update rate of up to 1 second for targets performing many maneuvers.
<h2>Cybersecurity and Space</h2>
As a global security player, Leonardo will also showcase solutions for Cybersecurity and Resilience to protect institutions, businesses and citizens, ensuring the security of digital ecosystems and the resilience of strategic assets, Leonardo&#8217;s latest generation of air traffic management (ATM) systems, as well as space solutions.

FIDAE 2024: Leonardo continues its strong commitment to Latin America

A classic Douglas DC-8-72, with registration N817NA, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was finally retired, concluding more than 50 years of service to different airlines and organizations. In its last stage, the aircraft was used for the collection of scientific data and the monitoring of the atmosphere.
This morning, the DC-8 landed at NASA&#8217;s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California, after a long mission in Asia-Pacific. Along with international researchers, <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2024/02/la-vigencia-de-un-clasico-dc-8-de-la-nasa-parte-a-asia-con-26-instrumentos-para-recolectar-datos-en-vuelo/">the aircraft&#8217;s last mission for the US space agency was to examine air quality in Asia</a> as part of a global initiative to better understand the air we breathe.
In collaboration with the Korea National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), the Asia Air Quality Satellite and Airborne Research (ASIA-AQ) mission collects detailed atmospheric data in various locations in Asia.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-177280" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572.jpg" alt="" width="1100" height="619" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572.jpg 1100w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-768x432.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-696x392.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-746x420.jpg 746w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/12/image-169Gallery-1999343e-1252572-150x84.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px" />
Looking to the future and with the aim of continuing the scientific studies and atmospheric monitoring it currently conducts, in late 2022, <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2022/12/la-nasa-compra-un-boeing-777-para-reemplazar-un-douglas-dc-8/">NASA decided to acquire a Boeing 777-200ER that belonged to Japan Airlines</a> for a value of USD 30 million.
It has serial number 32892/435 and was stored in Victorville (California) since May 2020. In December 2022, the aircraft flew with US registration N774LG to Langley Air Force Base, where it will be modified at NASA&#8217;s Langley Research Center.
<h2>Brief history of NASA&#8217;s DC-8</h2>
The DC-8-72, with registration N817NA/817, is a passenger aircraft modified for laboratory functions. It is used to collect data for experiments in support of projects that serve the world scientific community. It was built in 1969 and acquired by NASA in 1985.
The aircraft was produced at the Douglas factory located in Long Beach, California. It first flew in 1969, and was delivered to Alitalia under the registration I-DIWK and the name Giacomo Puccini.
After operating for ten years for the Italian company, it passed to Braniff International Airways between 1979 and 1982. The DC-8 was stored until 1984, when it was acquired by Quiet Nacelle Corporation, which also changed its iconic JT3D engines for the more efficient CFM56s.
Finally, in 1986, under the registration N801BA, NASA incorporated the DC-8 to conduct studies of the atmosphere, emissions of polluting gases and other similar experiments as its main missions.
The aircraft is expected to be exhibited in Idaho before ending up in a museum.

NASA Retires Iconic DC-8 Research Aircraft

The United States warned its allies that Russia plans to deploy a satellite armed with a nuclear warhead by the end of the year, but Moscow emphatically denies it.
U.S. intelligence services believe that Russia is close to deploying a nuclear weapon in space, or a simulated warhead for testing, which would violate the Outer Space Treaty signed and ratified by 110 (including Russia and the rest of the nuclear powers).
According to President Joe Biden himself, the warhead would be an essential part of a space weapon designed to destroy enemy satellites. He also added that this alleged weapon does not represent a direct threat to human life. Instead, according to analysts, it would be a veiled threat by Putin, so as to avoid being pressured in excess regarding his claims on Ukraine or other areas of Russian strategic interest, because it could seriously damage the world economy, without directly attacking any human being.
<h2>What if it explodes by accident?</h2>
According to sources consulted by Bloomberg, U.S. intelligence agencies do not believe that Moscow plans to detonate any orbital weapons in the short and medium term. However, they warn that an accidental explosion could be dangerous enough to affect up to a third of the satellites in orbit, wreaking havoc on communications systems.
Depending on the size of the warhead, a detonation could result in the destruction of several satellites, or just force them out of their established orbit, requiring corrections. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs reports nearly 7,800 operational satellites in Earth orbit.
The United States and its allies are reportedly trying to dissuade Russia from deploying this capability, particularly through Chinese and Indian diplomacy, as they believe Moscow would be more amenable to their influence.
According to Western intelligence agencies, Russia has been conducting secret launches of military satellites since early 2022, which are suspected to be related to this hypothetical orbital nuclear weapon.
<h2>The official Russian refusal</h2>
The Russian Defense Minister, Sergey Shoigu, confronted the accusations launched by the US.
<figure style="width: 490px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.militarynews.ru/img/pics/main/photo_2023-12-19_16-38-04.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image" src="https://www.militarynews.ru/img/pics/main/photo_2023-12-19_16-38-04.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="308" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoigu</figcaption></figure>
«We do not have any deployment of nuclear weapons in space or the use of any other elements of nuclear weapons on satellites, or the creation of fields that would not allow satellites to function effectively. We don&#8217;t have this, and they know we don&#8217;t have this, but they still make noise,» Shoigu said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
<h2>Star Wars re-released</h2>
This situation is reminiscent of the once Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), dubbed as the «Star Wars program.» The concept was announced on March 23, 1983 by President Ronald Reagan as a complex, space-based missile defense system to protect the United States from Soviet strategic ballistic nuclear weapons attacks. Reagan called on U.S. scientists and engineers to develop a system that would render nuclear weapons obsolete.
<figure id="attachment_233935" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-233935" style="width: 287px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IDE.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-233935 size-medium" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IDE-297x300.png" alt="" width="297" height="300" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-297x300.png 297w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-768x775.png 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-696x702.png 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-416x420.png 416w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-96x96.png 96w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-150x151.png 150w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE.png 800w" sizes="(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233935" class="wp-caption-text">Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Logo</figcaption></figure>
A wide range of advanced weapon concepts were studied, including lasers, particle beam weapons, and ground and space-based missile systems, along with various sensor, command and control, and high-performance computer systems that would be required to control a system consisting of hundreds of combat centers and satellites that would span the globe and engage in a very short battle.
<figure id="attachment_233936" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-233936" style="width: 790px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IDE-Star-Wars-Program.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-233936 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IDE-Star-Wars-Program.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="562" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-Star-Wars-Program.jpg 800w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-Star-Wars-Program-300x211.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/IDE-Star-Wars-Program-768x540.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233936" class="wp-caption-text">This is how they imagined in the 1980s what the «Star Wars» project would look like once it was implemented.</figcaption></figure>
Finally, due to costs and technical difficulties, the «Star Wars» program was gradually abandoned. There is a popular belief that in reality it was all a theatrical operation put together by the American intelligence agencies to force the Soviet Union to spend enormous resources (which it did not have to spare) to counter a threat that did not exist. Eventually, this story became part of the motley folklore of the Cold War.
<figure id="attachment_233932" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-233932" style="width: 1346px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/misiles-nucleares-norteamericanos-en-el-espacio.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-233932 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/misiles-nucleares-norteamericanos-en-el-espacio.jpg" alt="" width="1356" height="676" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/misiles-nucleares-norteamericanos-en-el-espacio.jpg 1356w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/misiles-nucleares-norteamericanos-en-el-espacio-300x150.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/misiles-nucleares-norteamericanos-en-el-espacio-1024x510.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/misiles-nucleares-norteamericanos-en-el-espacio-768x383.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1356px) 100vw, 1356px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233932" class="wp-caption-text">US nuclear missile-armed satellite «Hercules», built in secret to circumvent prohibitions on the non-militarization of space. Image excerpt from the 1979 film «Meteor».</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Space domain as an operational theater</h2>
However, since the 1960s, both NATO and the USSR were already aware of the importance of exoatmospheric space for the conduct of military operations on the surface of the globe, but also as a battlefield in its own right. The Space Domain gained increasing relevance over the years thanks to the advent of the digital communications era, the entry of new state actors in the production and launching of satellites, as well as the irruption of private companies in the space industry, with the consequent reduction in the cost of this market and the increase of entities (public or private) that were able to put their own space devices into orbit.
<figure id="attachment_233937" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-233937" style="width: 290px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo-Space-Comand.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-233937 size-medium" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/logo-Space-Comand-300x298.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="298" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/logo-Space-Comand-300x298.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/logo-Space-Comand-150x150.jpg 150w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/logo-Space-Comand.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233937" class="wp-caption-text">U.S. Space Command logo.</figcaption></figure>
The current dependence of global economies and States actors (think of the importance of GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou guidance for the current war operations) on the satellite network has led to the creation in recent times of specific military commands in the space domain, as is the case of the American Space Command or the one of the UK. Another option adopted was to extend the Air Force&#8217;s area of responsibility to Earth orbit, as France and <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2022/06/the-spanish-air-force-is-now-a-space-force-too/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spain</a>, among many others, have done. In this sense, Russia was a pioneer in recognizing orbital space as a military domain of its own legitimacy, and in 2015 created the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation (VKS), by merging the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Forces, the latter being created in 2001 to continue military operations in space that were previously carried out by agencies of the extinct USSR.
<h2>As a reflection</h2>
Regardless of whether the US accusations are founded or not, or whether the alleged Russian orbital anti-satellite weapon carries a nuclear warhead or not, what is certain is that the major military and economic powers have recognized the strategic value of the space domain, and are acting accordingly. We should not be surprised that they are generating measures of orbital action or deterrence, since it responds to their current and future interests, and is within the technical reach of actors such as the USA, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, France, and perhaps India.
Everything seems to indicate that we are facing a «new» arms race whose battlefield will be space. Whether Russia is the first power to violate the Outer Space Treaty by deploying this new orbital capability, or whether it is the United States or China, it is certain that the others will soon follow. And in any case, the militarization of space was present since the beginning of the space race, never stopped, and is now entering a new and vigorous stage, thanks to technological advances that make space more accessible and safer.
In closing, I want to leave you with a scene from the hilarious movie Iron Sky, about the potential annulment of the Outer Space Treaty. I would almost argue that the point of this note is to play this scene.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Iron Skye (2012) Space Battle - Impressive Russian Space Ship!" width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mFPhWdIs7Bs?start=205&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Comedy exposes and advances many truths.

Star Wars re released? U.S. warns Russia plans to deploy nukes in space, Kremlin denies it

Virgin Galactic has reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that an alignment pin detached from its mothership during the «Galactic 06» flight, the company announced on February 5, 2024. Despite the incident, the spaceflight was deemed safe and successful, with no safety impact on the crew on board, the mothership, the spaceship, or individuals on the ground.
The incident came to light during a standard post-flight review when it was discovered that the alignment pin had become detached from the launch pylon of the VMS Eve mothership. Virgin Galactic promptly notified the FAA on January 31, adhering to regulatory requirements, and has since been conducting a thorough review of the incident in partnership with the FAA.
The alignment pin is crucial for ensuring the spaceship aligns correctly with the mothership during ground preparations. It also plays a significant role during the flight by transferring drag and other forces from the spaceship to the mothership. However, the company clarified that the pin does not support the spaceship&#8217;s weight nor does it have an active function once the spaceship is released for its journey into space.
Virgin Galactic emphasized that the detachment of the alignment pin did not compromise the safety or integrity of the flight. The flight procedures and protocols in place are designed to manage such incidents effectively, ensuring the safety of the crew and the success of the mission. The company also highlighted that its flights are conducted in restricted airspace and specific geographical locations to minimize risks to ground personnel and structures.
Following the incident, Virgin Galactic is focused on reviewing and addressing the detachment of the alignment pin. The company reassured that the shear pin fitting assembly, which works in conjunction with the alignment pin, remained intact and undamaged on the mothership.
As Virgin Galactic prepares for its next mission, «Galactic 07,» scheduled for the second quarter of 2024, it has promised to provide further updates upon completion of the review.

Virgin Galactic Addresses Detached Alignment Pin Incident, States No Impact on Flight Safety

<article>
<section>Virgin Galactic Holdings announced today a significant strategic realignment and related workforce reduction to bolster the production of its upcoming Delta Class spaceships.</section>
<section>The company&#8217;s senior leadership is set to discuss this major decision and provide additional details during the third-quarter earnings call scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2023.</section>
<section>
<h2>A Difficult Decision Amidst Economic Pressure</h2>
In an internal memo to employees, CEO Michael Colglazier expressed the challenging nature of this decision, highlighting the impacts on the team and the company&#8217;s long-term financial health.
</section>
<section></section>
</article>
<article>
<section>The internal memo by CEO Michael Colglazier outlines the need for workforce reductions due to market fluctuations and the high investment demands of spaceship production. Colglazier acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the team and extends his gratitude, juxtaposing the company&#8217;s achievements with the difficult decision of letting employees go.</section>
<section>The reduction, says the memo, aligns with the company&#8217;s future vision of creating a sustainable financial model to navigate the complexities of today&#8217;s economic landscape. The process will be executed with direct communication, underscoring the company&#8217;s commitment to its employees&#8217; welfare even in trying times.»[Interest rates remain high] and geopolitical unrest continues to expand, and the combination of these factors makes near-term access to capital much less favorable» says Colglazier, adding that «The Delta ships are powerful economic engines. To bring them into service, we need to extend our strong financial position and reduce our reliance on unpredictable capital markets.»
«We will accomplish this, but it requires us to redirect our resources toward the Delta ships while streamlining and reducing our work outside of the Delta program», he states.
«This is a tough moment… but these actions are being taken to remove reliance on unpredictable capital markets, and these actions protect our ability to succeed as we build and lead our industry through the long term. I ask for your understanding and continued engagement as we adjust our operating focus and move forward», Colglazier concludes.
</section>
</article>

Virgin Galactic Cuts Workforce and Realigns Operations Amid Market Uncertainties

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azercosmos, announced the signing of a cooperation agreement for the sale of two state-of-the-art multispectral electro-optical satellites from IAI, with native resolution greater than 0.5 meters, long lifetime and high imaging performance.
Under the terms of the agreement, IAI will provide Azercosmos with two satellites under the Azersky -2 program, technology and expertise for the construction and operation of the satellites.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
IAI and the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan &#8211; Azercosmos, Announce Groundbreaking Agreement on Azersky-2 program!
The companies signed on a cooperation agreement for the sale of two of IAI’s cutting-edge multi spectral electro optical satellites. <a href="https://t.co/4IvPMsbZjU">pic.twitter.com/4IvPMsbZjU</a>
— Israel Aerospace Industries (@ILAerospaceIAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ILAerospaceIAI/status/1709192896707015008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
IAI expects the transaction to bring exciting developments in the field of satellite technology, opening up new exploration opportunities for both companies. The agreement includes a long-term business partnership between IAI and Azercosmos, reflected in the establishment of an ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, academia and research in the space field in Azerbaijan over the years.
See also: <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/07/azerbaijan-tested-prototype-of-its-first-su-25-ml-frogfoot-modernized-in-turkey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azerbaijan tested prototype of its first Su-25 ML “Frogfoot”, modernized in Turkey</a>
IAI and Azercosmos are committed to the successful implementation of the Azersky-2 program, and look forward to mutually beneficial cooperation in future space programs.
<figure id="attachment_218324" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-218324" style="width: 815px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Azersky-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-218324 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Azersky-2.jpg" alt="IAI´s spy satellites for Azerbaijan " width="825" height="510" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/10/Azersky-2.jpg 825w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/10/Azersky-2-300x185.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/10/Azersky-2-768x475.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-218324" class="wp-caption-text">IAI optronic observation and intelligence satellites.</figcaption></figure>
IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy &#8211; «For IAI, the sky is not a limit but merely the starting point for our systems capabilities. Our commitment to innovation and exploration motivates us to partner with the foremost experts in the global space community, as we ambitiously shape the future of space observation together. We are proud to have made significant contributions to this cooperation for Azerbaijan, and we are sure that this collaboration will propel us to new heights.»
Azercosmos Chairman of the Board, Samaddin Asadov &#8211; “This project is unique for both Azercosmos and Israel Aerospace Industries, and will undoubtedly contribute to the development of space cooperation between our countries. I consider our cooperation to be an important step in the development of human capital and space technologies in the country.”

Israel sells two optronic intelligence gathering satellites to Azerbaijan

The Indian space mission Chandrayan-3 successfully landed on the South Pole of our natural satellite, a milestone in the history of space exploration.
Chandrayaan-3 is India&#8217;s third lunar exploration mission, whose objective is to demonstrate the capability of soft landing on the lunar surface with its lunar lander and also to demonstrate safe ground travel capabilities, for which it consists of a lander and deployable rover configuration.
In addition to the importance of being able to conduct in-situ experiments, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) expects Chandrayan-3 to support future Indian interplanetary missions.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Chandrayaan-3 Mission Soft-landing LIVE Telecast" width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DLA_64yz8Ss?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h2>Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission</h2>
Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module (LM), a propulsion module (PM) and a rover, with the objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies needed for future interplanetary exploration missions.
The lander was able to land softly at a specific lunar site at the South Pole (the first time mankind has ever landed there) and should deploy the rover, which will perform in situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during its journey.
<figure id="attachment_213878" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213878" style="width: 1697px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-scaled.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-213878 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-scaled.webp" alt="" width="1707" height="2560" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-scaled.webp 1707w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-200x300.webp 200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-683x1024.webp 683w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-768x1152.webp 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-1024x1536.webp 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-1365x2048.webp 1365w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-696x1044.webp 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-1068x1602.webp 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-1920x2880.webp 1920w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-280x420.webp 280w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Chandrayan-3-150x225.webp 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213878" class="wp-caption-text">Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module and lander. The rover is housed inside the lander. Photo: ISRO</figcaption></figure>
The Lander and Rover carry science payloads to perform experiments on the lunar surface. The primary function of the PM is to carry the LM from the launch vehicle&#8217;s injection orbit to 100 km of the final lunar circular polar orbit, and then separate from the LM and PM.
Apart from this, the propulsion module also has a scientific payload as an added value that will be operated after separation from the lander. It is a spectro-polarimetric sensor to study spectral and polarimetric (studies the polarization of light emerging from a body to obtain information on some of its physical properties) measurements of the Earth from the Moon&#8217;s orbit.
<figure id="attachment_213879" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213879" style="width: 2550px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-scaled.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-213879 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-scaled.webp" alt="" width="2560" height="1704" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-scaled.webp 2560w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-300x200.webp 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-1024x682.webp 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-768x511.webp 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-1536x1022.webp 1536w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-2048x1363.webp 2048w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-696x463.webp 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-1068x711.webp 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-1920x1278.webp 1920w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-631x420.webp 631w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Lanzador-espacial-India-150x100.webp 150w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213879" class="wp-caption-text">The LVM3 M4 space launcher was responsible for delivering the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission to orbit. Photo: ISRO</figcaption></figure>
The launcher chosen for Chandrayaan-3 was the LVM3 M4, which lifted off on July 14. Thus, the journey of the lander and rover from Earth to its destination on the Moon took 40 days.

India becomes first to land on the South Pole of the Moon

Spainsat NG is the next generation of secure communications satellites for the Armed Forces and the State being built by Spain.
Under the name Spainsat New Generation (Spainsat NG), the next generation of powerful and more efficient Spanish satellites, designed to provide greater secure communications capabilities to the Spanish Armed Forces and State authorities, are already under construction and will be launched into space in 2024 and 2025.
The set is composed of two new generation satellites and their ground control and monitoring component, which will allow linking via satellite with military units deployed in areas of operations outside Spanish territory. The Spainsat NG program is managed in coordination between the Spanish Ministry of Defense and the government satellite services operator Hisdesat.
<h2>The satellites</h2>
The two large and sophisticated twin satellites &#8211; Spainsat NG I and Spainsat NG II &#8211; each weighing approximately 6.1 tons, under development since May 2019 by the Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space consortia, are based on Airbus Defence and Space Corporation&#8217;s Eurostar Neo platform.
Their central structure is about the size of a large van &#8211; some seven meters long &#8211; and their total wingspan with solar panels deployed is close to 50 meters. The array was equipped with an efficient electric propulsion system, which should position and maintain them in their respective geostationary orbits some 36,000 kilometers above the Earth.
Once in orbit, Spainsat NG I will occupy the 30º West orbital position and NG II will be located at 29º East, covering a wide area of the planet from the United States to South America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe and reaching as far as Singapore, allowing secure communication over two thirds of the Earth.
<figure id="attachment_213007" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213007" style="width: 1014px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Spainsat-Nueva-Generacion.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-213007 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Spainsat-Nueva-Generacion.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="578" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Spainsat-Nueva-Generacion.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Spainsat-Nueva-Generacion-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Spainsat-Nueva-Generacion-768x434.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213007" class="wp-caption-text">Planned coverage of future Spanish secure communications satellites. Image: Hisdesat.</figcaption></figure>
The new satellites will provide expanded and more secure command and control capabilities to the Ministry of Defense and the Spanish State, connecting neuralgic centers linked to security, defense and intelligence.
<h3>Three-way communication</h3>
Spainsat NG has three operating bands of the electromagnetic spectrum reserved for government use.
The main one is the X-band, a spectrum reserved for military use. Another is the military Ka band, which is used for the transmission of large volumes of data. The new addition to the communications satellite currently in use is the UHF band, which is of special interest to the Armed Forces.
A novelty in the X-band is that it will have a reconfigurable active antenna, both for reception and transmission. It offers dual polarization and «can generate 16 different communications beams,» notes the program manager, which means that they are all independent of each other and each can have a different size, shape and orientation.
In addition, they have «geo-location capability and can distribute their power in a flexible way», a great evolution compared to the current Spainsat, which has only one active antenna for reception &#8211; called IRMA &#8211; with a single polarization and four beams with geolocation capability.
<figure id="attachment_213006" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213006" style="width: 1014px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Spainsat-NG.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-213006 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Spainsat-NG.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="707" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Spainsat-NG.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Spainsat-NG-300x207.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Spainsat-NG-768x530.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213006" class="wp-caption-text">Spainsat NG space component. Image: Hisdesat</figcaption></figure>
In the military Ka-band, the Spainsat NGs will use six steerable beams and a semi-global receive beam, which surpasses the capabilities currently offered by the Spainsat, which only has one steerable transmit beam and one fixed receive beam.
This remarkable increase in capabilities is largely due to the fact that the NGs integrate a DTP -acronym for Digital Transparent Processor-. The DTP makes the satellites capable of managing a total bandwidth of eight Giga Hertz, allowing complete connectivity and control over the available channels in the X and Ka bands and frequency reuse. On the other hand, Spainsat&#8217;s mechanics are based on the assignment of classic analog transponders.
A reserve margin has been added to the required capacities, which can be made available to other official national or third allied and friendly countries, so the new spacecraft were designed in accordance with the security requirements of NATO.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="SPAINSAT NG Program" width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FIN-EUeIPOg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h2>Broad industrial participation</h2>
According to the Spanish Ministry of Defense, Spain&#8217;s space industry is making a major contribution to making the complete system a reality. The companies Acorde, Anteral, Arquímea, Airbus Crisa, GMV, Iberespacio, Indra, Sener Aeroespacial, Tecnobit and also the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) are making key contributions in the field of state-of-the-art electronics and mandatory testing.
The integration of the communications module is carried out in Spain, with Airbus Space Systems in Spain as the company responsible for the X-band payload and Thales Alenia Space Spain for the UHF and military Ka-band payloads. Other Spanish space companies will also be involved.
<h2>Terrestrial component</h2>
As or more important than the satellites themselves, the ground component of the Spainsat NG system is used to transmit commands (telecommands) of all kinds to ensure the proper functioning, resolve incidents and carry out movements of the space component.
<figure id="attachment_213008" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-213008" style="width: 1014px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Antena.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-213008 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Antena.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="721" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena-300x211.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena-768x541.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena-696x490.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena-597x420.jpg 597w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena-100x70.jpg 100w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/08/Antena-150x106.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-213008" class="wp-caption-text">Satellite antenna for terrestrial communication and command. Image: Hisdesat.</figcaption></figure>
The main control and monitoring center will be set up in Hoyo de Manzanares, near Madrid, and the redundant one will be located in INTA&#8217;s Maspalomas Space Station, on the southern tip of the island of Gran Canaria. Its development, construction and main technical equipment will be the responsibility of the Spanish company GMV.
<h2>Putting into orbit</h2>
Hisdesat contracted the services of the North American company SpaceX for its Falcon 9 launcher to put NG I into orbit in 2024 and NG II in 2025. The signing took place in Madrid on November 4. The agreement established with <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/04/spacex-suspends-the-first-launch-of-the-starship-designed-to-travel-to-the-moon-and-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpaceX</a> ensures that the launch can be carried out from either of the two launch complexes that the American company has at Cape Canaveral (Florida), one in the military zone and the other in the area dedicated to commercial or scientific flights.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Falcon 9 | Overview" width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4TXCZG_NEY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
With two propulsion stages, the Falcon 9 is a recoverable rocket, considered the most reliable on the market. From its first flight on June 4, 2010, until March 24, 2010, it has flown 218 times, 216 of which have been fully successful, for a reliability rate of 99%. The high success rate of its flights is evidenced by what happened in 2022, when the Falcon 9 was launched 60 times &#8211; an average of five times a month &#8211; all of which were successful.

Spain started building its new generation of secure satellite communications Spainsat NG

The Artemis Accords, to which Argentina is the latest subscriber, are a series of principles with which NASA seeks to establish a basis for international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and civilian use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Thrilled to announce Argentina has become the newest signatory of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtemisAccords?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArtemisAccords</a> to commit to the safe, transparent exploration of space! Together, we&#39;ll expand humanity&#39;s horizons and create a better future for all. <a href="https://t.co/Chs2HzTBsX">pic.twitter.com/Chs2HzTBsX</a>
&mdash; Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBillNelson/status/1684679047069003776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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This Thursday afternoon &#8211; July 27th &#8211; President Alberto Fernández received the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States, Bill Nelson, at the Argentine Government House to deepen the collaboration and work aimed at developing joint peaceful space activity and to formalize Argentina&#8217;s adhesion to the «Artemis Accords».
See also: <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/05/nasa-selects-blue-origin-jeff-bezos-space-company-to-take-astronauts-to-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASA selects Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, to take astronauts to the moon</a>
The President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Daniel Filmus, who signed an agreement between NASA and the Argentine National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) for «cooperation in the civil exploration and peaceful use of the Moon, Mars and other astronomical objects», said an official statement.
During the meeting, Fernandez described as «very important to take this step» in the joint work to advance in space activity for scientific purposes, for which «it is key that we move forward in space development. We are convinced that it must be a State policy».
<figure id="attachment_210860" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-210860" style="width: 950px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" td-modal-image wp-image-210860 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa.jpg" alt="Argentina suscribe a los Acuerdos Artemisa" width="960" height="1200" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa.jpg 960w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa-240x300.jpg 240w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa-768x960.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa-696x870.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa-336x420.jpg 336w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/07/Argentina-suscribe-a-los-Acuerdos-Artemisa-150x188.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-210860" class="wp-caption-text">Argentine President Alberto Fernandez and NASA Director Bill Nelson. Photo: Presidency.</figcaption></figure>
Bill Nelson, for his part, stressed that «these agreements represent a common principle for peaceful extraterrestrial exploration» and remarked that «after half a century we are about to return to the Moon, but this time we are going to learn to live in a hostile environment and then move on to Mars with human beings».
<h2>Artemis Accords</h2>
The purpose of these Accords is to establish a common vision via a practical set of principles, guidelines, and best practices to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with the intention of advancing the Artemis Program
The Artemis Accords are intended to increase the safety of operations, reduce uncertainty and promote the sustainable and beneficial use of space for all mankind.
The Accords represent a political commitment to the principles described herein, many of which provide for operational implementation of important obligations contained in the Outer Space Treaty and other instruments.
The principles set out in these Accords are intended to apply to civil space activities conducted by the civil space agencies of each Signatory. These activities may take place on the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids, including their surfaces and subsurfaces, as well as in orbit of the Moon or Mars, in the Lagrangian points for the Earth-Moon system, and in transit between these celestial bodies and locations.
For more information on the Artemis Accords, I leave the link to the source <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/img/Artemis-Accords-signed-13Oct2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a>.
<h2>NASA Committee to Study Alleged Alien Activity on Earth</h2>
During the press conference given by Minister Daniel Filmus and NASA Director Bill Nelson after the signing of the Agreements, a journalist asked if the U.S. Space Agency is preparing a report on the alleged evidence of non-human biological remains and extraterrestrial spacecraft presented on Wednesday 26th at a public hearing in the U.S. Congress.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Conferencia de prensa del ministro Daniel Filmus y el administrador de la NASA, Bill Nelson." width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5vcOZrH-BRA?start=358&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Bill Nelson (with the hint of a smile on his face) said that since there is so much «suspicion» about aliens, he decided to appoint a committee of very distinguished scientists who, using NASA sensors, will try to identify these phenomena. The results of their analysis will be reported publicly next month.

Argentina becomes the 28th signatory of NASA’s Artemis Accords

Stratolaunch has received authorization to acquire Virgin Orbit&#8217;s modified Boeing 747. This marks a notable expansion of Stratolaunch&#8217;s air-launch fleet.
After the acquisition, the aircraft will be transformed into a launch platform for Stratolaunch Talon-A reusable hypersonic testbeds. The revamped 747 is projected to become fully operational by 2024, enhancing Stratolaunch&#8217;s in-flight test capacity.
Dr. Zachary Krevor, CEO of Stratolaunch, hailed the acquisition as a «transformational milestone». He affirmed, «We will be able to increase both our flight test capacity and reach to become an even stronger partner to global customers.»
<h2>Stratolaunch&#8217;s Hypersonic Testing Milestone</h2>
Following a successful Talon-A vehicle separation test, Stratolaunch is gearing up for its first hypersonic flight of the TA-1 expendable testbed, slated for late summer 2023. «The need for hypersonic testing has never been greater,» Dr. Krevor said.
Upon finalization of the acquisition, the aircraft will undergo modifications for its new hypersonic test mission. Additionally, the launch platform will be renamed, marking a new chapter for Stratolaunch.

Stratolaunch Secures Approval to Acquire Virgin Orbit’s Modified Boeing 747

Blue Origin was contracted by NASA to develop a manned space module (or human landing system) for the Artemis V mission, which will be the third human lunar landing under the Artemis program.
Blue Origin will design, develop, test, and verify its Blue Moon lander to meet NASA’s human landing system requirements for recurring astronaut expeditions to the lunar surface, including docking with Gateway, a space station where crew transfer in lunar orbit. In addition to design and development work, the contract includes one uncrewed demonstration mission to the lunar surface before a crewed demo on the Artemis V mission in 2029. The total award value of the firm-fixed price contract is $3.4 billion.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
We’re excited to be selected by <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> to land astronauts back on the Moon, this time to stay. Time to get to work! <a href="https://t.co/hiAZZCRHMg">https://t.co/hiAZZCRHMg</a> <a href="https://t.co/hdLWxhBFaz">pic.twitter.com/hdLWxhBFaz</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1659576468991778816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Today we are excited to announce Blue Origin will build a human landing system as NASA’s second provider to deliver Artemis astronauts to the lunar surface,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “We are in a golden age of human spaceflight, which is made possible by NASA’s commercial and international partnerships. Together, we are making an investment in the infrastructure that will pave the way to land the first astronauts on Mars.”
<h2>Human once again sets foot on the Moon</h2>
For the Artemis V mission, NASA’s SLS (<a href="http://aviacionline.com/2021/12/northrop-grumman-to-manufacture-propellants-for-next-nasa-rocket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Space Launch System</a>) rocket will launch four astronauts to lunar orbit aboard the <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2022/12/return-to-the-moon-successful-completion-of-the-artemis-i-mission-after-orion-spacecraft-splash-down/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orion spacecraft</a>. Once Orion docks with Gateway, two astronauts will transfer to Blue Origin’s human landing system for about a weeklong trip to the Moon’s South Pole region where they will conduct science and exploration activities. Artemis V is at the intersection of demonstrating NASA’s initial lunar exploration capabilities and establishing the foundational systems to support recurring complex missions in lunar orbit and on the surface as part of NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach.
Adding another human landing system partner to NASA’s Artemis program will increase competition, reduce costs to taxpayers, support a regular cadence of lunar landings, further invest in the lunar economy, and help NASA achieve its goals on and around the Moon in preparation for future astronaut missions to Mars.
NASA previously contracted SpaceX to demonstrate an initial human landing system for the Artemis III mission. Under that contract, the agency also directed SpaceX to evolve its design to meet NASA’s requirements for sustainable exploration and to demonstrate the lander on Artemis IV.
As a result of the contract with Blue Origin to demonstrate on Artemis V a lander that meets these same sustainable lander requirements, including capabilities for increased crew size, longer mission duration, and delivery of more mass to the Moon, multiple providers will be available to compete for future opportunities to fulfill NASA’s lunar surface access needs for Artemis missions.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Introducing Blue Moon" width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmk1oHzvNKA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
By supporting industry’s development of innovative human landing system concepts and designs, NASA hopes to increase access to space for the benefit of all.
“Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA&#8217;s mission needs, provides more robustness and ensures a regular cadence of Moon landings,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, manager, Human Landing System Program at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “This competitive approach drives innovation, brings down costs, and invests in commercial capabilities to grow the business opportunities that can serve other customers and foster a lunar economy.”.
Through the Artemis missions, NASA will send astronauts &#8211; including the first woman and the first person of color &#8211; to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefit and to lay the groundwork for manned missions to Mars. Together, the SLS rocket, Orion, Gateway, advanced spacesuits and human landing systems are NASA&#8217;s foundation for deep space exploration.

NASA selects Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, to take astronauts to the moon

Virgin Orbit, the now defunct satellite launch company owned by Sir Richard Branson, announced that it has reached an agreement with Stratolaunch to sell its assets. The main item in the company&#8217;s portfolio is its aircraft, including «Cosmic Girl.» Stratolaunch was founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
The total value of the deal is $17 million, to be paid in cash. The offer is what is known in the business world as a «stalking horse.» This type of contract is used as an initial or minimum offer. If other bidders are interested in the company, they will have to exceed the offering floor to purchase the asset.
<h4>Related content: <a style="color: #ff9900" href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/04/virgin-orbit-files-for-bankruptcy-after-failed-january-mission/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virgin Orbit declares bankruptcy following failed January mission</a></h4>
In a document filed with the court overseeing its liquidation process, Virgin Orbit stated that the offer does not prevent bidders interested in the company&#8217;s continuity from making offers for its assets. Additionally, the elements Stratolaunch is bidding for are available as well. The company also noted that the bankruptcy process has generated considerable interest in all its assets, not just its aircraft.
Virgin Orbit was founded by billionaire Virgin Group owner Richard Branson. In April, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This came after the company had difficulties securing long-term financing following a <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/01/virgin-didnt-orbit-first-united-kingdom-mission-failed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed satellite launch in January.</a>
The company was separated from the space tourism company Virgin Galactic (which continues to operate normally) in 2017. It aimed to send satellites into space using rockets launched from a modified Boeing 747, nicknamed «Cosmic Girl.»

Virgin Orbit sells its assets

SpaceX has called off the first launch of its Starship spacecraft, designed to carry crew and cargo to the Moon and Mars. The company said its teams will work to take advantage of the next available opportunity but will have to wait at least 48 hours.
The operation, which was to be carried out from the Starbase launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas, was scheduled for today. However, it had to be cancelled due to a problem with a pressurisation valve. At nearly 120 metres long and capable of carrying more than a hundred tonnes of cargo, it is the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built.
See also: <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2022/12/return-to-the-moon-successful-completion-of-the-artemis-i-mission-after-orion-spacecraft-splash-down/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Return to the Moon: successful completion of the Artemis I mission after Orion spacecraft splash-down</a>
<h3>SpaceX, Starship and the return to the Moon</h3>
NASA selected the Starship capsule for its Artemis programme, scheduled to begin next year with the goal of returning astronauts to the Moon in 2025. It is a long-term sequential project to establish a stable human presence on our only natural satellite and develop bases from which to send missions to Mars starting in the next decade.
Last Friday, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Elon Musk&#8217;s aerospace company the necessary licence to launch the rocket into Earth orbit for the first time, kicking off a new phase of its test flights, crucial to SpaceX&#8217;s goals.
<figure id="attachment_195999" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-195999" style="width: 1190px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-195999 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="858" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1.jpg 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-300x215.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-1024x732.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-768x549.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-696x498.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-1068x764.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-587x420.jpg 587w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/04/SpaceX‑Starship‑1-150x107.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-195999" class="wp-caption-text">Starship at SpaceX&#8217;s launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas.</figcaption></figure>
<h4>The Starship spacecraft</h4>
Starship consists of a large 70-metre-long first-phase launch rocket called «Super Heavy» and a 50-metre-long section containing cargo storage space and the crew capsule.
While the programme has already passed multiple suborbital flight tests, Starship has so far never reached Earth orbit powered by its full propellant and capsule configuration. The launch will therefore be an important step towards manned missions to lunar orbit starting next year.
Once launched, the booster would separate from the rest of the equipment and head towards the Gulf of Mexico, while the capsule would continue its journey into orbit. It would then re-enter the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere and land vertically on a platform over the Pacific Ocean, located about a hundred kilometres off the northwest coast of Kauai in the Hawaiian archipelago, ninety minutes after launch. Both are fully reusable.
SpaceX accelerated testing of its Starship spacecraft from 2020, although the programme suffered delays. Some of the first launches ended in explosions and complete loss of the prototypes. However, the company had built them with the intention of making them virtually disposable.
Since then, each test has been used to improve the design and gain regulatory approval. Now all that remains is to wait for the historic first launch, which will be a milestone in this new phase of public-private collaboration in space exploration.

SpaceX suspends the first launch of the Starship, designed to travel to the Moon and Mars

Virgin Orbit filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code today after failing to secure long-term financing, Reuters reported. The company had announced in mid-March that it would <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/03/virgin-orbit-suspends-all-operations-and-may-be-close-to-bankruptcy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily suspend all operations</a> in an effort to raise cash.
With the support of Virgin Investments Limited, the company will seek to use the process to maximise its assets and protect its operations.
<h3>Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy</h3>
The aerospace company, owned by Richard Branson, filed for bankruptcy in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware with the goal of selling its assets. Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit, had previewed the decision at a meeting with some of the workforce last week and confirmed the dismissal of 675 employees, about 85% of the total.
Virgin Orbit had a market value of 65 million dollars at yesterday&#8217;s closing price, according to Reuters. Just two years ago, that figure was more than 3 billion. In its bankruptcy filing, the company said it has «between 200 and 999 estimated creditors».
<h4>The failed January mission</h4>
The company&#8217;s situation deteriorated markedly after its first failed attempt to launch satellites from the United Kingdom in January.
After successfully taking off and flying to the designated area, the Boeing 747 known as «Cosmic Girl» successfully released the orbital launch vehicle LauncherOne, which minutes later managed to leave the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere. However, it did not reach its intended orbit.
This was due to an anomaly that occurred sometime during engine ignition on the second stage of the launch, with the vehicle travelling at a speed of more than 11.000 miles per hour (more than 17.700 kilometres per hour). The failure caused the loss of nine American and British intelligence satellites and forced the premature suspension of the operation.
This situation caused the company&#8217;s value to plummet and added stress to Virgin Orbit&#8217;s already troubled financial situation. The company, which went public in December 2021, was not as successful as Virgin Galactic in raising funds to sustain its operations.
Virgin Orbit&#8217;s goal was to raise 483 million dollars, but it only raised 228 million in gross revenue from Boeing.
<h4>A pioneering company</h4>
Virgin Orbit was the first company to exploit the «airdrop» concept commercially. It emerged in 2017 to meet the growing demand for such launches from governments and private parties. Its system would allowed launches on short notice from any location.
However, the shift in demand towards larger launch rockets and the growth of other players in the sector meant increased competition for Virgin Orbit and changed the scenario in which it originally began operations.

Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy after failed January mission

Virgin Orbit announced on Thursday that it would temporarily suspend all operations in an effort to raise cash while it seeks funding. The company is going through a difficult time that could lead to a declaration of insolvency. It would also lay off almost all of its staff.
See also: <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/01/virgin-didnt-orbit-first-united-kingdom-mission-failed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virgin didn’t Orbit: first United Kingdom mission failed</a>
<h3>Virgin Orbit would be close to bankruptcy</h3>
According to Forbes Argentina, the aerospace company owned by Richard Branson made the decision known in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The move came into effect the following day and will run for a week. In the meantime, Virgin Orbit would be in talks with various potential funding sources.
Sources familiarised with the issue quoted by Reuters said the measures would include laying off most of the employees.
According to CNBC, company officials held meetings throughout the weekend. A potential buyer would have opposed a sale price of around 200 million dollars. Contingency plans could be already being prepared for a possible bankruptcy filing, which could take place this week.
<h4>The failed January mission</h4>
The situation comes as Virgin Orbit is investigating the failed first attempt to launch satellites from the United Kingdom in January.
After successfully taking off and flying to the designated area, the Boeing 747 known as «Cosmic Girl» successfully released the orbital launch vehicle LauncherOne, which minutes later managed to leave the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere. However, it did not reach its intended orbit.
This was due to an anomaly that occurred sometime during engine ignition on the second stage of the launch, with the vehicle travelling at a speed of more than 11.000 miles per hour (more than 17.700 kilometres per hour). The failure forced the premature suspension of the operation.
This caused the company&#8217;s value to plummet and added stress to Virgin Orbit&#8217;s already troubled financial situation. The company, which went public in December 2021, was not as successful as Virgin Galactic in raising funds to sustain its operations.
Virgin Orbit&#8217;s goal was to raise 483 million dollards, but only raised 228 million in gross revenue from Boeing.
<figure id="attachment_43651" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-43651" style="width: 2038px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-43651 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1364" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z.jpg 2048w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-391x260.jpg 391w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-696x464.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-1068x711.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-631x420.jpg 631w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2020/04/EVbj9nuUUAA1U2Z-1920x1279.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-43651" class="wp-caption-text">Orbital launch vehicle LauncherOne.</figcaption></figure>
<h4>A pioneering company</h4>
Virgin Orbit was the first company to exploit the «airdrop» concept commercially. It emerged in 2017 to meet the growing demand for such launches by governments and private parties.
For this, it uses a modified Boeing 747-400 to transport the LauncherOne vehicle to an altitude of approximately twelve thousand metres. From there, the vector is launched and begins its journey into outer space.
The aircraft, registered N744VG and named «Cosmic Girl», is the only one of its kind in service in the world.
<figure id="attachment_119043" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-119043" style="width: 1014px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-119043 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Virgin-Orbit-747-400-LauncherOne-22011201-1024x686-1.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="686" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/01/Virgin-Orbit-747-400-LauncherOne-22011201-1024x686-1.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/01/Virgin-Orbit-747-400-LauncherOne-22011201-1024x686-1-300x201.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/01/Virgin-Orbit-747-400-LauncherOne-22011201-1024x686-1-768x515.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/01/Virgin-Orbit-747-400-LauncherOne-22011201-1024x686-1-696x466.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2022/01/Virgin-Orbit-747-400-LauncherOne-22011201-1024x686-1-627x420.jpg 627w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-119043" class="wp-caption-text">Cosmic Girl.</figcaption></figure>
See also: <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2022/05/cosmic-girl-will-have-a-twin-sister/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmic Girl will have a twin sister</a>

Space