Clean Orbit Newsletter: Mar. 14, 2022
The first time a man-made space missile has unintentionally hit the moon, technical advancements made in space debris research, Privateer's Wayfinder debut, and more
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In a first, a mysterious rocket part is about to slam into the moon — by accident
A leftover rocket part that has been hurtling through space is about to smash into the moon. The mysterious hunk of metal is set to make its violent mark on our lunar neighbor Friday around 7:25 a.m. Eastern, marking what's believed to be the first time a manmade space missile has unintentionally hit the moon. For now, space junk is not a huge concern for the moon — but it is a growing problem closer to home in Earth's orbit.
NASA’s Robotic OSAM-1 Mission Completes its Critical Design Review
NASA engineers and leadership confirmed that the OSAM-1 design is complete and meets specified requirements. NASA can now proceed with flight manufacturing, assembly, and integration of the three-armed robotic spacecraft. In combination, on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing technologies and capabilities could help create a more sustainable future for exploration of our solar system and beyond, from servicing spacecraft so that they can journey farther, to constructing and maintaining structures to support a continued human presence in space.
What’s Up In Space? 3 Experts Weigh In.
Duke Space Diplomacy Lab hosted journalists Ramin Skibba, Loren Grush, and Jeff Foust for a conversation about the development of research, policy proposals, and solutions to mitigate risks in space. The conversation focused on U.S.-Russia relations, space debris, and legal regulations.
The US has plans to patrol the space around the moon
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) demonstrated plans to monitor the space between the Earth and moon past where traditional satellites orbit the planet through its Cislunar Highway Patrol System (CHPS).
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s Privateer comes out of stealth mode with satellite tracker ‘Wayfinder’
Wayfinder is a 3D globe that allows satellite operators and the casual observer to peel back the layers of constellations, orbits, and countries to get a better picture of what is going on up there. Available now on the company’s website, you can also scrub both forwards and backward in time to track the positions of satellites.
Department of Defense to Prototype Robotic Arms for Modular Space Systems
To help provide a new upgrade capability, the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU’s) Modularity for Space Systems (M4SS) project is working to reduce the cost and enhance the utility of future space platforms, orbital transfer vehicles, and serviceable satellites, while enabling servicing vehicles to properly equip and assemble modular satellites.
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Clean Orbit advocates for proactive, sustainable solutions to the growing threat of space debris in low earth orbit. Follow our newsletter for the latest developments in Space Traffic Management (STM), Active Debris Removal (ADR), and orbital close calls.