jonathan mcdowell
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Missing Satellite Found After 25 Years of Being Lost in Space
An experimental satellite that launched in 1974 disappeared from ground-based sensors in the 1990s, only to be found again this week. Some defunct satellites or debris can often go missing for years, presenting hazards within an increasingly crowded Earth orbit. But, how exactly do objects disappear in space? The Infra-Red Calibration Balloon (S73-7) satellite was…
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The Most Precious Human Relics Left in Space
Being the space nerd that I am, I often imagine a museum filled with the most important objects ever sent to space. We couldn’t possibly build a place like this, but we can speculate as to which human artifacts deserve a place in our imaginary spaceflight museum. Most things sent to space are utilitarian and…
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Amazon Prepares to Challenge SpaceX’s Starlink With Maiden Satellite Launch
The Bezos-Musk rivalry intensifies this week as Amazon gears up for the launch of two demo internet satellites. This marks the beginning of the Amazon billionaire’s 3,236-satellite-strong megaconstellation that might one day compete with Musk’s leading space-based service, SpaceX—with “one day” being the operative phrase. Amazon’s space initiative, Project Kuiper, is scheduled to launch its…
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Enhanced Space Access Means Remarkable New Science Is on the Horizon
Rocket launches are expensive and laborious, but for decades they’ve been the price of doing business for space agencies hoping to get their latest satellite, telescope, or team of astronauts into the great blue yonder. But new missions and mission concepts are preparing for a brave new world, one in which humankind has an established,…