ISRO RESCHEDULES LAUNCH OF GISAT-1 SATELLITE CITING TECHNICAL REASONS - The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has rescheduled the launch of the GISAT-1 geo-imaging satellite due to a technical issue with the spacecraft. The GISAT-1 was initially planned to be launched on 5 March 2020 from Sriharikota spaceport but was called off just a day before lift-off. Later, the space agency planned to launch the satellite yesterday (28 March), depending on weather conditions.    More
(Source: Aerospace Technology - Mar 30)

AMERICA’S NEXT MISSILE WARNING SATELLITE ARRIVES IN FLORIDA - The fifth geosynchronous satellite in the Space Based Infrared System constellation was recently delivered to Florida ahead of its anticipated May launch date. SBIRS is the nation’s premier missile warning satellite, providing 24/7 coverage to detect missile launches all over the world. Notably, the U.S. Space Force credits the system with saving lives by providing a critical warning to seek cover after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at U.S. and allied forces in Iraq in January 2020.   More
(Source: C4ISRNet - Mar 30)

STUDY FINDS NOWHERE ON EARTH IS SAFE FROM SATELLITE LIGHT POLLUTION - There appears to be nowhere left on Earth where astronomers can view the stars without light pollution from space junk and satellites, according to a new analysis. The study considered the tens of thousands of objects in orbit as of 2020—before an onslaught of thousands more satellites that companies plan to launch in the coming years. “It’s a bit of an eye-opener,” says John Barentine, director of public policy at the International Dark-Sky Association, who helped author the study, accepted today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and posted online.   More
(Source: Science Magazine - Mar 29)

NASA OFFERS UP TO $400 MILLION FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES DEVELOP SPACE STATIONS - The privatization of space travel and placing satellites into orbit has been great for NASA and the United States in general. NASA now wants to get private companies to develop and build new space stations and has offered up to $400 million in funding to as many as four companies. The funding would be offered under the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) project.    More
(Source: SlashGear - Mar 29)

SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW JUST HOW BAD THE SUEZ CANAL TRAFFIC JAM IS BECOMING - Here’s what the maritime traffic jam caused by the quarter-mile-long MS Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal looks like from space. The European Space Agency shared the satellite image on Friday. Taken on Thursday, it shows hundreds of boats backed up in the Gulf of Suez, waiting to pass through the Egyptian waterway. By now, the queue will likely be much longer.   More
(Source: HuffPost - Mar 28)

FALLING SPACEX DEBRIS PUTS ON A LIGHT SHOW IN THE SKY - If you live in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, you may have seen a strange meteor streaking across the sky Thursday night (March 25). But that was no chunk of asteroid or comet — it was likely SpaceX debris falling and burning up in Earth's atmosphere, experts say. On March 4, SpaceX launched a batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites to orbit aboard a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. Experts think the re-entering upper stage of that rocket is what caused last night's sky show, which speckled the sky with bright glowing dots that moved across the sky.   More
(Source: Space.com - Mar 28)

SATELLITE LAUNCHES FUELING RACE TO CONNECT OUT OF REACH DEVICES - Inaugural satellites for two startups that launched this week on separate rockets aim to disrupt the burgeoning internet-of-things (IoT) market. Australia-based Myriota has started offering its IoT services in the U.S. and Canada, after Rocket Lab launched March 22 the first operational nanosatellite Myriota has ordered from scratch. On the same day, a Soyuz launch arranged by Russia-based GK Launch Services orbited the debut satellite for Spain’s Sateliot, which expects to begin offering commercial services next year.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Mar 28)

U.S. SPACE FORCE’S NEXT MISSILE WARNING SATELLITE ARRIVES AT FLORIDA LAUNCH BASE - A billion-dollar missile warning satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Force arrived at Cape Canaveral earlier this month to kick off final preparations for launch May 17 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. The military’s fifth Space Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, satellite designed to operate in geosynchronous orbit arrived at the Florida launch base March 18 on a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane, officials announced Wednesday.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Mar 27)

MAJOR EARTH SATELLITE TO TRACK DISASTERS, EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE - Designed to spot potential natural hazards and help researchers measure how melting land ice will affect sea level rise, the NISAR spacecraft marks a big step as it takes shape. An SUV-size Earth satellite that will be equipped with the largest reflector antenna ever launched by NASA is taking shape in the clean room at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.    More
(Source: Phys.org - Mar 27)

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