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      <p>
        The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules to deorbit satellites within five years after the completion of missions, down from its previous requirement of 25 years.
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        The new rules were adopted to increase accountability and reduce collision risks which would further increase orbital debris and result in space communication failures.
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      <p>
        <b>Analyst Quicktake</b>
        : In May 2022, over 31,000 debris objects were tracked by space surveillance networks. If space waste is not managed it could lead to a Kessler Syndrome, where orbital junk around Earth reaches a point where it creates more and more space debris through collisions, causing problems for satellites, astronauts, and mission planners which could disrupt the internet, weather, and communication services. There have been recent interests to manage space debris and the 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13323">
          UK Space Agency awarded GBP 4 million
        </a>
         last week to two companies to develop missions to remove space debris. This new rule by the FCC will benefit space debris management companies like Orbit Guardians, Astroscale, and ClearSpace.&nbsp;
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  <p>
    <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/us-agency-adopts-new-space-junk-rules-reduce-exploration-risks-2022-09-29/">
      Reuters
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


Space Travel and Exploration Tech

US adopts new space debris rules to reduce collision risks

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

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 <p>Rocket Lab, which is a company that specializes in space travel and launches, has successfully launched a South Korean Earth observation satellite and an Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) from NASA into orbit. The ACS3 uses sunlight to power its propulsion, presenting a fuel-free and efficient method of space exploration.</p>
 <p>The main goal of the ACS3 is to further develop solar sailing technology. Using the force of sunlight, it intends to propel spacecraft. A significant aspect of this launch is testing the deployment of new composite booms, which are used to unfurl the solar sail. With the data gathered from this mission, Rocket Lab has plans to design a larger solar sail system. This expanded solar sail system will be primarily used for tasks such as space weather prediction, asteroid reconnaissance, and observations of solar polar regions.</p>
 <p>According to Rocket Lab, the ACS3 is a crucial tool for efficient space exploration. It potentially makes fuel-free space missions a reality. Apart from this, it can also be employed in satellites that provide early warnings about space weather, surveillance missions that monitor asteroids and other minor astronomical objects, and missions that focus on studying the sun's polar regions.</p>

</div>

Rocket Lab launches South Korean Earth-observation satellite and NASA solar-sailing tech

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 <p>Orbex, a space launch firm based in the UK, has secured around USD 20.77 million financing in a round led by SNIB, Octopus Ventures, BGF, and Heartcore, as well as EIFO and several corporate and individual investors. The raised funds will be used to further progress the development of Orbex's small satellite launch rocket. After testing and commencing launches, Orbex aims to initiate a Series D funding round to ensure long-term sustainability.</p>
 
</div>

Orbex raises GBP 16.7 million to advance development of rocket

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 <p>Goodspeed Capital Management (GCM) has acquired Special Aerospace Services (SAS), a global solutions provider for aerospace, aviation, defense, and energy organizations. </p>
 <p>Post-purchase, SAS will integrate into GCM’s newly formed platform where it will offer space engineering, defense, and communications technology solutions. The customer base to be catered will include US defense and intelligence agencies, and commercial space customers. The leadership of the platform will come under Heather Bulk, SAS’s co-founder and CEO, along with industry expert Warren Kohm as CFO.</p>
 <p>Colorado-based SAS has had a history of collaborations with both private and public sector clients in the Aerospace and Aviation industries. In addition, SAS is the parent company of SAS Flight Factory that supplies rapid prototypes, precision machines, and component testing capabilities.</p>
 
</div>

Special Aerospace Services acquired by Goodspeed Capital Management

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 <p>Dark, a French firm specializing in space debris diversion systems, has successfully raised USD 6 million in a seed extension round. The funding round was led by Long Journey Ventures and included contributions from Eurazeo and Frst.</p>
 <p>This funding will be channelled towards further developing the technology that drives its orbital defense platform. The company aims to wrap up an orbital defense demonstration by 2026.</p>
 <p>Established in 2021, Dark has realigned its focus from the development of a multi-purpose air-launched rocket towards orbital defense, specifically through mitigating orbital debris.</p>
 
</div>

Dark raises USD 6 million in seed extension funding to advance technology

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 <p>United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully completed their 60-year-old Delta program, marking the occasion with the final flight of the Delta IV Heavy rocket.</p>
 <p>The Delta IV Heavy rocket has completed 12 missions, primarily delivering crucial national security payloads as part of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).</p>
 <p>ULA is set to divert its focus towards the new next-generation Vulcan rocket. This pioneer rocket is expected to deliver higher performance in heavy-lift launch vehicle category compared to its predecessor, despite being a single-core rocket.</p>
 
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United Launch Alliance ends Delta era, advances to Vulcan rocket

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 <p>Rocket Lab, a space travel and launch company, has received a USD 14.49 million contract from the US Space Force. The contract is for launching an Electron mission from Launch Complex 2 to journey into very low Earth orbit.</p>
 <p>Tagged as Space Test Program-30 (STP-330), this mission is planned to take off in 2026. The launch will be facilitated by a Rocket Lab Electron small launch vehicle from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport situated at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.</p>
 <p>The STP-S30 mission will carry a payload weighing 200 kilograms. The payload is a NASA-funded plate-shaped satellite known as DiskSat, created by Aerospace Corp. It has been conceived as a potential alternative to the CubeSat.</p>
 
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Rocket Lab raises USD 14.5 million in contract funding

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 <p>SpaceX, a company specializing in space travel and launches, successfully executed the Falcon 9 rocket launch for the Bandwagon-1 mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 7, 2024.</p>
 <p>Along with the launch, 11 satellites were integrated including 425Sat from Korea, Clusters 8 &amp; 9 from HawkEye 360, CENTAURI-6 from Tyvak International, QPS-SAR-7 TSUKUYOMI-II from iQPS, Capella-14 from Capella Space, and TSAT-1A from Tata Advanced Systems Limited. Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX was responsible for the delivery of these satellites.</p>

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SpaceX launches 11 satellites on first Bandwagon-1 class mission

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<p>Sierra Space, a commercial space entity, launched the Sierra Space Eclipse satellite bus line. Produced for high-rate production, this product has the ability to be refueled while in orbit.</p>
<p>The Sierra Space Eclipse bus line is a state-of-the-art satellite line featuring advanced propulsion and power management systems. The line includes three different satellite bus types, Velocity, Horizon, and Titan, each serving different functionalities. They are utilized for servicing, Earth observation, and improved communications.</p>

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Sierra Space launches Eclipse satellite bus line

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

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 <p>Ispace US, a lunar technology firm, has entered into a payload services agreement with Rhea Space Activity (RSA). Through this deal, Ispace will deliver RSA's autonomous navigation and guidance technology to lunar orbit via its Mission 3, planned for 2026.</p>
 <p>This partnership aims to test RSA’s Jervis Autonomy Module (JAM), an innovative technology that endows spacecraft with autonomous navigation and guidance capabilities, using images of celestial bodies for determining space orbit rather than depending on external communications with satellites or Earth-based stations.</p>
 <p>According to the plan, Ispace will accommodate two JAM modules from RSA on two different communication satellites in lunar orbit. These satellites will maintain communication with Ispace’s Apex 1.0 lunar lander.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> In the same <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/27262"> month </a> , Ispace partnered Control Data Systems (CDS). The two companies intended to leverage Ispace’s transportation services and CDS’ advanced mapping and telecommunication technologies for the continued exploration of the lunar surface to support long-term human habitation and infrastructure on the moon.</p>

Ispace partners with Rhea Space to expand space capabilities

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<p>Blue Origin has announced intentions to launch the first model of their Blue Moon lunar lander, dubbed "MK1-SN001", in 2025. This prototype was first revealed in October 2023. </p>

<p>The planned launch aims to test vital technologies like the BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsions systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing. The company is planning to carry out a minimum of two flights with the Mark 1 model.</p>

</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Recently, in <a href="https:<br>
//spacenews.com/blue-origin-aims-to-launch-first-lunar-lander-in-2025/"> January 2024 </a> , Blue Origin won a contract worth nearly USD 18 million from the US Space Force. The contract was related to integration studies for the company’s New Glenn rocket vehicle. As such, the study aims to assess the trajectory of the launch vehicle, mission design, launch load coordination, and integrated thermal environments.</p>

All Updates