NASA selected Blue Origin to launch the two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft to study magnetosphere of Mars earlier this month. The contract was awarded as part of the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch programme. Blue Origin is expected to utilise a New Glenn rocket in “late 2024” for this mission.
Meanwhile, D-Orbit signed a contract with Patriot Infovention to launch and deploy LOGSATS (LOra Gateway Service and Aircraft Tracking Satellite), a 3U cubesat manufactured by Patriot Infovention. The satellite will demonstrate both the first Thai space-based Internet-of-Things (IoT) communications systems and the aviation monitoring system of Thailand.
Propulsion start-up Plasmos plans to launch its first Space Truck demonstration mission in January 2024, according to an internal statement by the company. Its Space Truck spacecraft can be used for satellite delivery, microgravity manufacturing and spacecraft servicing (with the addition of robot arms in its AAA Truck configuration). It can normally accommodate one 400 kg satellite or four 75 kg satellites and a six kg payload in its Musketeer configuration. It can land back on Earth to within 1 km of a target area.
