That's 42 For Artemis - SpaceNews This Week

Top stories of the week from SpaceNews

Welcome to our weekly roundup of the top SpaceNews stories of the week, brought to you every Friday! This week, NASA and Boeing set a June 1 launch date for Starliner, two more countries signed the Artemis Accords, Europe launched an initiative to mitigate orbital debris, and more. Our Top Story Peru and Slovakia sign the Artemis Accords By Jeff Foust, May 30, 2024 WASHINGTON — Peru and Slovakia signed the Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration, bringing the number of countries who have signed to 42. In separate ceremonies at NASA Headquarters May 30, Peru's foreign minster, Javier González-Olaechea, and Tomáš Drucker, Slovakia's minister of education, research, development and youth, signed the Artemis Accords alongside NASA and U.S. State Department officials. Other News From the Week LAUNCH Electron launches first NASA PREFIRE Earth science cubesat Rocket Lab launched the first of two NASA Earth science satellites on an Electron rocket May 25. The first PREFIRE cubesat will measure the infrared emissions at the poles, filling in gaps in data about those regions that can be used to improve climate models. The next launch is expected for June 1, according to NASA. NASA and Boeing moving ahead with Starliner test flight after propulsion issues NASA and Boeing are moving ahead with a June 1 crewed test flight of Starliner. This decision comes despite a helium leak that was detected in one of the spacecraft's thrusters. After inspecting the issue, engineers concluded that the leak, traced to a damaged seal in a flange, did not need immediate repair and that Starliner is fit to fly even if the leak worsens. Additionally, they discovered a "design vulnerability" in the propulsion system that could prevent Starliner from performing a deorbit burn in an unlikely series of failures. NASA and Boeing have developed a backup deorbit burn mode to address this. Backup launch opportunities are available June 2, 5, and 6. Falcon 9 launches ESA's EarthCARE mission SpaceX's successful launch of EarthCARE, an 800-million-euro ($870 million) ESA-led mission to study clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere, signals Europe's current (and perhaps temporary) reliance on SpaceX. SpaceX sets early June launch of next Starship test flight This launch, expected June 5 at the earliest, will test SpaceX's ability to bring both stages of the Starship back intact — a major milestone toward Starship reusability. MILITARY China's secretive spaceplane releases object into orbit China's experimental reusable spacecraft has released an unknown object into orbit. While China has maintained secrecy around the spacecraft, there is speculation that the payload was either a small satellite or hardware jettisoned at the end of a mission. Space Force narrows anti-jam satellite contest to Boeing, Northrop Grumman The PTS-R program aims to develop a constellation of satellites resistant to cyber attacks and jamming, ensuring U.S. forces can maintain secure communications in contested environments. Both companies won contracts for prototypes in 2020. Ursa Major completes ground tests of new hypersonic rocket engine Ursa Major announced it completed hot-fire testing of its 4,000-pound-thrust closed catalyst cycle Draper engine. Funded by the U.S. Air Force, the engine is intended for hypersonic missile defense, or could be used to simulate hypersonic threats. CIVIL Chang'e-6 set for weekend landing attempt as sun rises over Apollo crater If all goes well, China will find itself one step closer to completing the first-ever sample return mission from the far side of the moon. China is targeting the Apollo crater within the vast South Pole-Aitken basin, and now plans to land on June 1 after waiting for optimal conditions. ESA lines up initial signatories for Zero Debris Charter The agreement calls on signatories to work towards a set of targets by 2030 intended to reduce debris. They include reducing the risks of a satellite creating debris through a collision or break up to no greater than 1-in-1,000 and keeping the risk of casualties on the ground caused by debris from a reentering satellite to "significantly" lower than 1-in-10,000. AI AI startup Wallaroo tapped to help Space Force operationalize machine learning The New York-based startup is setting its sights on the military market and is participating in the U.S. Space Force's TAP Lab accelerator program. During the program, Wallaroo will focus on object detection, like identifying deceptive spacecraft behavior, and launch warnings using data like seismic signatures.  OPINION Will France opt in or out of the U.S. Space Command's Operation Olympic Defender? By Jessica Martin, May 30, 2024 France is still mulling over the invitation to join Operation Olympic Defender (OOD), a U.S.-led military alliance meant "to deter hostile actions in space." France has ties with both the U.S. and China, so its ultimate decision could send shockwaves through international space policy spheres. With U.S. Space Command now fully operational, with North Korea's and Russia's nuclear threat levels escalating, and with France's renewed investments and fresh pair of agreements on space collaboration with the U.S. and China, there is bountiful reason for France to laboriously debate its OOD membership. How privacy-preserving technology can advance satellite collision detection By Manuel Capel, May 28, 2024 SpaceNews is committed to publishing our community's diverse perspectives. 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