Orbiting Space Lab
- All
- News
-
Rocket Lab Deploys Eight Satellites to Boost Global Wildfire Monitoring
Rocket Lab successfully launched eight satellites into orbit for OroraTech on March 26. The mission, "Finding Hot Wildfires Near You," aims to improve real-time wildfire detection through thermal infrared imaging. The satellites will join OroraTech’s existing network, operating at a 97-degree inclination, 550 km above Earth. CEO Martin Langer hig...
-
Rocket Lab Launches Final Five Satellites for Kinéis' IoT Constellation
Rocket Lab has successfully launched the last five satellites for Kinéis' "Internet of Things" constellation. The mission, called "High Five," took off on March 17 from the company's New Zealand site. The Electron rocket deployed the satellites into a 404-mile orbit, completing the 25-satellite network. This system enhances global connectivity by ...
-
New Research Reveals Mars’ Red Colour Linked to Ancient Water Presence
A recent study suggests that Mars’ red hue originates from ferrihydrite, an iron oxide that forms in water-rich environments. Scientists recreated Martian dust in labs and found that the mineral remained stable despite the planet’s dry conditions. Data from orbiting spacecraft and rovers confirm this discovery, reshaping theories about Mars’ ...
-
Rocket Lab Delays IoT Satellite Launch to Ensure Safe Trajectory in Space
Rocket Lab has postponed its "IOT 4 You and Me" mission to avoid potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station. This mission, set to deploy five IoT satellites, marks Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025. The company is taking extra precautions to monitor space traffic and ensure the rocket follows a safe trajectory. The sat...
-
SpaceX and Vast Seek Research Ideas for Dragon and Haven-1 Space Station
SpaceX and Vast have called for research proposals for experiments aboard the upcoming Haven-1 space station and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The station is set to launch in August 2024, followed by a Crew Dragon mission carrying astronauts. Research will focus on human physiology in microgravity and autonomous experiments for low-Earth orbit. Sel...
-
SpaceX Successfully Launches 131 Satellites on Transporter 12 Mission
SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deployed 131 satellites into low Earth orbit on 14 January 2025. Among the payloads were 37 satellites from Planet Labs, including the AI-powered Pelican-2, designed for high-resolution imaging and real-time data analysis. The mission also saw the Falcon 9 booster success...
-
Rocket Lab Delays Launch of Synspective's Earth-Imaging Satellite
Rocket Lab's scheduled launch of Synspective's Earth-imaging satellite, "Owl The Way Up," was postponed on December 20, 2024. The delay, announced by the company, was due to the need for further analysis of sensor data. The mission aims to deploy one of Synspective's Strix radar-imaging satellites, part of a broader plan to establish a 30-satellite...
-
NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System Successfully Deploys in Space
After more than four months in orbit, NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System has achieved full deployment. The solar sail, which launched aboard Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle in April, harnesses photon momentum to propel itself through space. Equipped with cameras, the spacecraft is set to capture high-resolution images of the deployed sail.
-
Russia’s Withdrawal From International Space Station Could Mean Early Demise of Orbital Lab and Sever Another Russian Link With West
Russia announced to exit International Space Station in 2024. The country currently operates six of the 17 modules of the ISS – including Zvezda, which houses the main engine system. This engine is vital to the station’s ability to remain in orbit and also to how it moves out of the way of dangerous space debris. It is yet to be identified if R...
-
Chinese Astronauts Enter Wentian Lab Module After It Docks With Under-Construction Space Station
Chinese astronauts boarded the country’s space laboratory, Wentian, hours after it docked with the under-construction space station on Sunday. The country has succeeded in sending its largest-ever spacecraft into Earth's orbit to become part of the space station named Tiangong, while the Mengtian module will be launched in October, and the three ...
-
NASA's Capstone Satellite Breaks From Earth’s Orbit, Heads Towards Moon Ahead of Upcoming Artemis Program
NASA’s Capstone satellite is headed to the moon, after it broke from the Earth’s orbit on Monday, according to the US space agency. Launched six days ago from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula by the company Rocket Lab in one of their small Electron rockets, the Capstone satellite will send back vital information for months as the first to take a n...
-
US Rocket Companies Face Capacity Crunch for Satellite Launches Due to Russia Sanctions
The US satellite Internet boom could be in trouble as Russian sanctions have created a capacity crunch for rockets to ferry the satellites to space. Industry officials believe that US rocket companies won't be able to keep up with the demand for launches.
-
As Chinese Space Lab Crashes To Earth, ISRO On Overnight Vigil
An 8-tonne Chinese space laboratory that will hurtle down to Earth late Sunday or early Monday morning (Indian time) is not likely to hit India, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO believe.
-
Google Street View's Latest Destination: The International Space Station
You've used Google Street View to check out a new apartment, map traffic before you hit the road and search for haunting slices of the everyday world.
-
China's First Cargo Spacecraft Docks With Orbiting Space Lab
China's first cargo spacecraft docked successfully with the Tiangong-2 space lab on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency reported, marking a major step towards Beijing's goal of establishing a permanently manned space station by 2022.
-
Rocket Lab Deploys Eight Satellites to Boost Global Wildfire Monitoring
Rocket Lab successfully launched eight satellites into orbit for OroraTech on March 26. The mission, "Finding Hot Wildfires Near You," aims to improve real-time wildfire detection through thermal infrared imaging. The satellites will join OroraTech’s existing network, operating at a 97-degree inclination, 550 km above Earth. CEO Martin Langer hig...
-
Rocket Lab Launches Final Five Satellites for Kinéis' IoT Constellation
Rocket Lab has successfully launched the last five satellites for Kinéis' "Internet of Things" constellation. The mission, called "High Five," took off on March 17 from the company's New Zealand site. The Electron rocket deployed the satellites into a 404-mile orbit, completing the 25-satellite network. This system enhances global connectivity by ...
-
New Research Reveals Mars’ Red Colour Linked to Ancient Water Presence
A recent study suggests that Mars’ red hue originates from ferrihydrite, an iron oxide that forms in water-rich environments. Scientists recreated Martian dust in labs and found that the mineral remained stable despite the planet’s dry conditions. Data from orbiting spacecraft and rovers confirm this discovery, reshaping theories about Mars’ ...
-
Rocket Lab Delays IoT Satellite Launch to Ensure Safe Trajectory in Space
Rocket Lab has postponed its "IOT 4 You and Me" mission to avoid potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station. This mission, set to deploy five IoT satellites, marks Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025. The company is taking extra precautions to monitor space traffic and ensure the rocket follows a safe trajectory. The sat...
-
SpaceX and Vast Seek Research Ideas for Dragon and Haven-1 Space Station
SpaceX and Vast have called for research proposals for experiments aboard the upcoming Haven-1 space station and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The station is set to launch in August 2024, followed by a Crew Dragon mission carrying astronauts. Research will focus on human physiology in microgravity and autonomous experiments for low-Earth orbit. Sel...
-
SpaceX Successfully Launches 131 Satellites on Transporter 12 Mission
SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deployed 131 satellites into low Earth orbit on 14 January 2025. Among the payloads were 37 satellites from Planet Labs, including the AI-powered Pelican-2, designed for high-resolution imaging and real-time data analysis. The mission also saw the Falcon 9 booster success...
-
Rocket Lab Delays Launch of Synspective's Earth-Imaging Satellite
Rocket Lab's scheduled launch of Synspective's Earth-imaging satellite, "Owl The Way Up," was postponed on December 20, 2024. The delay, announced by the company, was due to the need for further analysis of sensor data. The mission aims to deploy one of Synspective's Strix radar-imaging satellites, part of a broader plan to establish a 30-satellite...
-
NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System Successfully Deploys in Space
After more than four months in orbit, NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System has achieved full deployment. The solar sail, which launched aboard Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle in April, harnesses photon momentum to propel itself through space. Equipped with cameras, the spacecraft is set to capture high-resolution images of the deployed sail.
-
Russia’s Withdrawal From International Space Station Could Mean Early Demise of Orbital Lab and Sever Another Russian Link With West
Russia announced to exit International Space Station in 2024. The country currently operates six of the 17 modules of the ISS – including Zvezda, which houses the main engine system. This engine is vital to the station’s ability to remain in orbit and also to how it moves out of the way of dangerous space debris. It is yet to be identified if R...
-
Chinese Astronauts Enter Wentian Lab Module After It Docks With Under-Construction Space Station
Chinese astronauts boarded the country’s space laboratory, Wentian, hours after it docked with the under-construction space station on Sunday. The country has succeeded in sending its largest-ever spacecraft into Earth's orbit to become part of the space station named Tiangong, while the Mengtian module will be launched in October, and the three ...
-
NASA's Capstone Satellite Breaks From Earth’s Orbit, Heads Towards Moon Ahead of Upcoming Artemis Program
NASA’s Capstone satellite is headed to the moon, after it broke from the Earth’s orbit on Monday, according to the US space agency. Launched six days ago from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula by the company Rocket Lab in one of their small Electron rockets, the Capstone satellite will send back vital information for months as the first to take a n...
-
US Rocket Companies Face Capacity Crunch for Satellite Launches Due to Russia Sanctions
The US satellite Internet boom could be in trouble as Russian sanctions have created a capacity crunch for rockets to ferry the satellites to space. Industry officials believe that US rocket companies won't be able to keep up with the demand for launches.
-
As Chinese Space Lab Crashes To Earth, ISRO On Overnight Vigil
An 8-tonne Chinese space laboratory that will hurtle down to Earth late Sunday or early Monday morning (Indian time) is not likely to hit India, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO believe.
-
Google Street View's Latest Destination: The International Space Station
You've used Google Street View to check out a new apartment, map traffic before you hit the road and search for haunting slices of the everyday world.
-
China's First Cargo Spacecraft Docks With Orbiting Space Lab
China's first cargo spacecraft docked successfully with the Tiangong-2 space lab on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency reported, marking a major step towards Beijing's goal of establishing a permanently manned space station by 2022.
