The Space Race - Weekly Roundup Oct 1st

Hi, space fans! 

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Space Race Weekly Roundup.

🚀 Blue Origin Advances Towards New Glenn Launch

Blue Origin successfully conducted a 15-second hot fire test of the New Glenn’s second stage, marking a key milestone ahead of its planned launch in November 2024. The test validated the performance of the two BE-3U engines and tested key systems, ensuring readiness for future missions.

Read more 👉🏻 Blue Origin Completes Hot Fire Test for New Glenn’s Second Stage

🌍 Homeward Bound: SpaceX to the Rescue!

Two NASA astronauts, stuck at the ISS since June 2024, will finally return home after SpaceX’s Dragon capsule arrived to bring them back next year. Initially assigned to Boeing’s Starliner, safety concerns forced a switch to SpaceX. This marks another twist in NASA's commercial crew program.

Read more 👉🏻 Stuck NASA astronauts welcome SpaceX capsule that'll bring them home next year

🌌 Mapping the Milky Way Like Never Before

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has created the most detailed infrared map of the Milky Way using the VISTA telescope. After a 4000-hour survey, astronomers can now better understand the galaxy’s structure, providing new insights into its formation and evolution.

Read more 👉🏻 ESO Unveils Most Detailed Map of the Milky Way

🚀 Firefly's MLV Pushes Boundaries with Reusability Plans

Firefly Aerospace is advancing its Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) project, incorporating new Miranda and Vira engines. With a focus on reusability, MLV aims to utilize a ground-based catch system akin to SpaceX’s Mechazilla. Strategic collaboration with Northrop Grumman supports its development, highlighting Firefly’s potential in the launch market.

Read more 👉🏻 Firefly offers insight on MLV testing, reusability plans

🕳️ Black Hole Beam Sparks Stellar Eruptions

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered that a supermassive black hole’s jet in the M87 galaxy is causing nearby stars to erupt more frequently. Twice as many stellar eruptions were found near the jet, suggesting that something in the jet’s vicinity is accelerating nova activity.

Read more 👉🏻 Hubble sees black hole beam boosting stellar eruptions

🌌 XRISM Unveils New Cosmic Secrets

The XRISM X-ray telescope has revealed surprising details about the environments surrounding supernova remnants and black holes. Key findings include a donut-shaped supernova remnant and the motion of matter around a black hole in NGC 4151. These discoveries offer new insights into star evolution and black hole growth.

Read more 👉🏻 XRISM reveals movements of cosmic material around supernova remnant and black hole

⚕️ Boosting Human Health Research in Space

NASA astronaut Nick Hague, part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, is set to advance health research aboard the International Space Station. His tasks include studying space-related vision disorders and testing countermeasures like thigh cuffs and vitamin regimens, contributing to future Moon and Mars missions and even potential health solutions on Earth.

Read more 👉🏻 NASA Astronaut Nick Hague Boosts Human Health Research in Space

🚀 China Reveals Lunar Spacesuit for 2030 Moon Mission

China’s space agency has unveiled a new lunar spacesuit design for its upcoming crewed moon mission, set for before 2030. The suit, modeled by astronauts, incorporates elements of Chinese culture and advanced technology for mobility and safety in harsh lunar conditions.

Read more 👉🏻 China unveils lunar spacesuit

🌕 Moon Cargo Unloading: NASA’s New Robotic Arm LANDO

NASA is testing a new robotic arm called LANDO to assist with lunar missions. This innovative system, developed by a team at Langley Research Center, autonomously moves objects on the Moon’s surface. It successfully lifted and maneuvered payloads in recent demonstrations, showcasing its potential for future space operations.

Read more 👉🏻 Unloading Cargo on the Moon

⚠️ "Partial Success" for Deep Blue Aerospace's Rocket Test

Deep Blue Aerospace conducted a vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) test of its Nebula-1 rocket stage, marking progress towards future orbital launches. Despite a landing anomaly, which made the rocket explode, the test completed 10 of 11 verification tasks successfully.

Read more 👉🏻 Deep Blue Aerospace hop test suffers anomaly moments before landing

🛰️ Deimos Wins ESA Contract for DRACO Mission

The Spanish company Deimos has secured a €17 million contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop DRACO, a capsule designed to study the effects of uncontrolled atmospheric reentry. This mission aims to improve satellite design for safer reentry by gathering data using 200 sensors and four cameras.

Read more 👉🏻 ESA Awards Contract for Capsule Designed for Destruction

🇵🇹 Portugal’s Spaceport Ambitions Take Off!

The Atlantic Spaceport Consortium successfully launched two atmospheric rockets from Santa Maria Island, Portugal, showcasing the country’s potential for a commercial launch facility. The tests were conducted in collaboration with NAV Portugal to establish guidelines for a future spaceport and demonstrate the national capability in rocket development.

Read more 👉🏻 Spaceport Startup Demonstrates Launch Capability in Portugal

📹 Our latest videos

In case you missed them, here are the latest videos we've published on our YouTube channel

• What Is NASA Actually Doing On The Moon

• What Actually Happened On SpaceX's FOURTH Starship Test Flight

• Something Weird Is Happening On Jupiter

🚀 Upcoming Rocket Launches

Mark your calendars! Here are the upcoming rocket launches of the week:

• Friday, October 4th: Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) - Starlink Group 10-10 mission

• Friday, October 4th: Vulcan VC2S (United Launch Alliance, USA) - Certification Flight 2

• Monday, October 7th: Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) - Hera mission

And that’s all for this week! Stay tuned for more updates :)

Juan from The Space Race team