Russia’s Luch 2 Expected to Approach Intelsat Bird
Based on the space situational awareness startup’s predictions, Luch 2 will pass near Intelsat 1002 today if it continues on its expected trajectory in GEO.
Jacqueline Feldscher
NOAA Gives HEO’s Holmes a Thumbs Up
It marks the first time NOAA has approved a hosted payload—a milestone that could open the door for other companies to seek approval from the agency for platforms that can hitch a ride aboard satellites manufactured by other entities.
Take Me Out To the (Space)Ball Game
At Thursday afternoon’s Washington Nationals baseball game, the outs were out of this world and the umpires struck back.
US Locks In India’s Ride To the ISS
The leaders announced plans for the joint ISS mission last year, but “securing a carrier” for the flight is a significant update, though they didn’t provide details on which spacecraft would send the astronauts to the orbiting lab.
House Approves NDAA With Cislunar, VLEO Proposals Added
The House passed the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill last week, but not before adding a few space-focused updates during debate on the floor.
Albedo Will Launch Clarity-1 In February
The satellite, dubbed Clarity-1, is already a hit with customers in sectors ranging from climate science to mining to energy grids who are booking time on the sat to add to or in some cases replace the imaging they’re doing now with planes and drones.
Preserving History On the Moon—and Beyond
Surrounded by the relics of space exploration, officials met at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center last week to discuss how to preserve the history of humankind’s farthest incursions into the cosmos 239,000 miles away.
Interstellar Lab Wants To Send Roses To The Moon
The biofarming startup recently announced Mission Little Prince, an ambitious plan to deliver a rose in bloom to the barren, gray lunar surface, and beam a picture back to Earth.
Meet Lithuania, the 40th Artemis Accords Signatory
“For us, it’s very important to become a part of international cooperation platforms and international initiatives,” Neringa Morozaitė-Rasmussen, Lithuania’s vice-minister of the economy and innovation, told Payload. “We see it as an important agreement that…emphasizes peaceful exploration, which is the essence for us.”
China Notches Fourth Successful Lunar Landing
China successfully soft landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side of the Moon over the weekend—the third lunar landing in what is shaping up to be a very busy year on Earth’s satellite.
FCC Chair Pushes For Stricter Debris Rules
The head of the FCC is calling on the agency to change its regulations to further limit how much debris is created in orbit.
Lawmakers Agree To Investigate Russian ASAT Intel Leak
The rare public back-and-forth between Congress and the White House that led to the reveal of Russia’s nuclear ASAT plans is getting a review under an amendment to the NDAA introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA).