Satellites have become integral to modern life, impacting sectors like communication, Earth observation, defense, and scientific research. This article offers an exhaustive analysis of the UCS Satellite Database to unearth trends and insights into satellite operators, purposes, orbital classes, users, launch vehicles, and the age of these satellites.
Read More Insights into the UCS Satellite Database (January 2023)Timing is paramount, particularly in the sphere of space exploration. Each mission can be likened to a complex puzzle, requiring each piece to slot perfectly into place for the broader picture to emerge. To ensure all parts align just right, there are two significant types of checkpoints used: ‘No Earlier Than’ (NET) and ‘No Later Than’ (NLT). These terms effectively bracket the ‘earliest’ and ‘latest’ dates for task completion. This article reviews these critical markers relative to their importance in maintaining the timely progression of space missions and ensuring the successful attainment of their objectives.
Read More Time in Space: A Review of Typical Milestones and NET/NLT Designations in Space ProjectsThe Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL), an ambitious project by the U.S. Air Force, remains an important footnote in the history of human space exploration. This program, which ran from 1963 to 1969, aimed to develop a manned space station with a dual purpose: scientific research and military reconnaissance. Although the MOL never reached operational status, its advances and the human capital it developed made significant contributions to America’s subsequent space endeavors.
Read More The US Air Force Manned Orbital Laboratory: A Legacy of InnovationAll crewed spacecraft from 1961 to currently planned future vehicles.
Read More Crewed Spacecraft from the Past to the FutureMore than 1/3 of the announced commercial missions are space tourism flights.
Read More Insights into Starship’s Announced Commercial Flights 2024 to 2030