EarthCARE carries four instruments that work together to study clouds and atmospheric aerosols, enabling a comprehensive understanding of their impact on Earth’s climate. The Atmospheric LIDAR (ATLID) measures the altitudes of cloud tops and aerosols using a laser and telescope. It emits ultraviolet pulses and detects the scattered light to calculate the altitude and infer […]

The North Korean space agency launched a Chollima 1 satellite launch vehicle from Sohae on the west coast of the country at 13:44 UTC on Monday, May 27. However, the vehicle exploded during first stage flight, marking the third failure out of the launcher’s four flights to date. The Chollima 1 vehicle, named after a […]

The two key elements that will form the initial capability of NASA’s Gateway lunar space station are making steady progress toward launch as systems integration activities ramp up. The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) are being constructed in different parts of the world, with plans to launch them together […]

## The UK Space Industry: A Flourishing Landscape The UK space industry is experiencing a period of significant growth, with several spaceports under development and companies making strides towards orbital launches. This article explores the current state of play, highlighting key developments and future prospects. ### SaxaVord Spaceport: Leading the Charge SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, […]

The 100th orbital launch attempt of 2024 took place on Saturday, May 25, when Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket successfully lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. This marked the first launch of NASA’s PREFIRE-1 mission, which will study the heat loss from Earth’s polar regions and provide data on our changing climate. […]

## Two New Exoplanets Discovered: One Rocky and One Puffy Astronomers have discovered two new exoplanets, one rocky and one puffy, adding to the growing list of worlds beyond our solar system. The first, SPECULOOS-3b, is an Earth-sized planet orbiting a tiny, ultracool dwarf star about 55 light-years away. This exoplanet likely has a rocky […]

## Starship Prepares for Flight 4: Wet Dress Rehearsals and Beyond SpaceX is gearing up for the next chapter in Starship development with Flight 4, kicking off with a series of critical tests. This includes a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) – a full-stack simulation of launch day, complete with propellant loading and countdown procedures. The […]

## A Week in Space: Delays, Record Launches, and New Spy Constellations This week in space was a whirlwind of activity, with delays, record launches, and new spy constellations taking center stage. Here’s a breakdown of the key events: **Starliner’s Second Attempt:** Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, poised for its first crewed flight test, encountered a delay […]

The space facilities around Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast are undergoing significant upgrades and expansions in preparation for an increase in spaceflight activity. These developments include the construction of new launch pads, upgrades to processing facilities, and expansions to factories and Port Canaveral itself. These improvements are necessary to accommodate the upcoming generation of […]

In a week of highly anticipated launches, two new spacecraft were set to take to the skies: Boeing’s crewed Starliner spacecraft and the first Chang Zheng 6C rocket from China. However, both launches faced delays and rescheduling due to technical issues. The launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was scheduled to be the first crewed launch […]