Technology

A 2021 update to the small launch vehicle survey

The Firefly Alpha launch vehicle

How many small launch vehicles are operational in the USA? If you said four you are correct. And did you know there are approximately 163 small launch vehicles being tracked in a leading survey. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

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Canadensys and MDA win Canadian lunar rover contracts

Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program

Earlier this week Public Services and Procurement Canada posted notice that Canadensys Aerospace Corporation and MDA Ltd. had been awarded contracts for the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) Lunar Rover Phase A. The two companies and their respective teams now have up to eight months to make their case as the Canadian Space Agency will downselect to one winning bid to build Canada's first lunar …

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DRDC issues RFI for a Next-Generation Digital High-Resolution Space-Based Radar demonstrator

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image of Victoria, Canada

Needing to add more Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capability beyond the data the Department of National Defence (DND) gets from the RADARSAT Constellation Mission and RADARSAT-2, and as a precursor to adding new SAR capability, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is planning to develop a prototype demonstrator satellite. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, …

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CSA issues rover motion tracking system tender

Indoor workspace for rovers

The Canadian Space Agency is looking for a motion tracking system for its rovers to be used at its indoor workspaces. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

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Rocket Lab wins contract to launch innovative NASA solar sail

NASA Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3)

Rocket Lab stirred up excitement on October 6th with the announcement that they will be responsible for launching the NASA Advanced Composite Solar Sail System Technology Demonstration Mission (ACS3) through a Phase 3 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract, signalling a further vote of confidence in the fast-growing launch company.  This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, …

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The Canadian Space Agency issues Moon program Invitation to Qualify including NASA’s PRISM Program

Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program

As a next step for its $250 million Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has issued an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) notice. The invitation is open until October 29, 2021. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

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Could Canada’s promising new fusion energy reactor technology work in space?

A General Fusion energy reactor

There's renewed interest in fusion energy in the wake of the successful release of over 1.3 megajoules of energy at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). NIF has been attempting to achieve successful fusion ignition by bombarding pellets with nearly 200 high-powered lasers within their Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research device.  This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, …

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