Steam thruster entrusted to raise orbit of Artemis 2 cubesat. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The ground tests are not a perfect simulation of the thruster’s performance in space, he acknowledged, with issues such as sloshing and formation of gas bubbles that the thruster, operating in microgravity, will face. However, he said that the gas bubbles should remain in the center of the fuel tank and not interfere with the flow of propellant, and the tank will be at a high enough pressure to mitigate sloshing.”
New rocket plans continue to emerge to support China’s growing space ambitions. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “New entrants are still emerging in China, despite big leads for more established players. This is due to strong policy support from the central government and provincial and local governments offering backing, looking to foster space clusters and high-tech growth, and demand for launch from megaconstellation projects. The newer companies also appear to be reacting to new trends and breakthroughs in the launch sector, such as those made by SpaceX, reflected in plans for chopstick-style recoveries and FFSC engines.”
SpaceX launches eighth mission of the X-37B military spaceplane. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The X-37B is an autonomous reusable vehicle that resembles a miniature space shuttle. It was designed for autonomous flight and repeated use for extended experiments and technology demonstrations. The spacecraft has flown since 2010 for long missions that last years. Although it’s launched like a satellite, at the end of each mission it returns to Earth and lands on runways.”
Russia launches mice, microbes and more on monthlong mission to Earth orbit. Space.com article. Pull quote: “Like its predecessor, Bion-M No. 2 is expected to circle Earth for a month. It will do so in a different orbit, however — one that takes it over the poles, increasing the exposure to cosmic radiation substantially compared to Bion-M No. 1.”
Watch 2 fiery blasts erupt from the sun — is Earth in the danger zone? Space.com article. Pull quote: “Solar physicist Ryan French added, "A stunning eruption of filament plasma from the sun this morning! This size of event can cause strong aurora activity if directed towards Earth, but alas — this one was not."”
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