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ISS astronauts clear spot for Axiom crew

Like shuffling cars around in the driveway, space station astronauts moved a Crew Dragon capsule to make room for an incoming Axiom crew.

NASA

Weekend weather conditions around Kennedy Space Center look mostly favorable for SpaceX's next launch, which will send four private astronauts to the International Space Station.

The Axiom-2 mission for Axiom Space and NASA, set for liftoff at 5:37 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 21, has a 60% chance of "go" conditions according to a Space Force weather report released Thursday. Pad 39A will host.

After liftoff, former NASA astronautPeggy Whitson, Axiom-2 mission commander, joined by private spaceflight participantJohn Shoffnerand government-sponsored Saudi Arabian astronauts Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, will spend about a day in orbit catching up to the ISS. If Falcon 9 launches as planned on Sunday, Crew Dragon should arrive at the ISS at 9:30 a.m. EDT Monday, May 22.

The crew is planned to spend eight days docked to the space station to experience what it's like to live in orbit. They will spend time working on numerous science, communication, and educational outreach projects before they return for a splashdown landing in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.

Astronauts in space: Can they eat, tweet, shower, FaceTime, use TikTok or Spotify? Mostly yes

Rocket launch schedule: Upcoming Florida launches and landings

Everything we know: Meet the private Axiom-2 crew set for launch from Kennedy Space Center on Sunday

A weather system likely to produce thunderstorms during the afternoon this weekend may pose a threat to launch conditions.

"Another boundary begins to move into the Southeast U.S. on Saturday, extending the lower storm coverage near the spaceport," Space Launch Delta 45 forecasters said Thursday.

The primary concerns for liftoff on Sunday are cumulus and anvil clouds that could produce lightning.

"On Sunday, the boundary will likely be close to Central Florida, again providing a focusing mechanism for afternoon and evening convection," forecasters said. "Luckily, the prevailing flow will allow the east coast sea breeze to move inland, keeping most storms away from the spaceport."

Shortly after liftoff, the Falcon 9 booster will somersault and target Landing Zone 1 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, bringing with it sonic booms. Forecasters listed conditions for booster recovery as "low risk."

The 230-foot rocket and crew capsule must launch exactly on time during the instantaneous window or delay to another day. Unfortunately, weather conditions are expected to deteriorate substantially for the backup launch opportunity about 24 hours later on Monday, May 22.

"The primary launch weather concerns for a Monday evening attempt include cumulus, debris, and anvil clouds associated with the thunderstorms," forecasters said, predicting only a 20% chance of "go" conditions for Monday.

Beyond Monday, NASA officials said teams would have to stand down until a future date could be determined to best fit into a busy summer at the station, which includes the first crewed flight demonstration of the Boeing Starliner capsule in July and NASA's Crew-7 mission with SpaceX no earlier than August.

Look for FLORIDA TODAY's live launch coverage to begin 90 minutes before liftoff athttps://www.floridatoday.com/space/. For the latest, visitfloridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Jamie Groh is a space reporter for Florida Today. You can contact her at JGroh@floridatoday.com. Follow her onTwitter at @AlteredJamie.

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources.Please support it with a subscription here.

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Weather OK for Sunday's SpaceX Axiom-2 private astronaut launch to ISS - Florida Today

What goes up must come downif you dont do anything about it.

NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990, and in the decades since scientists have benefitted from its unprecedented views far beyond our galaxy. And even though its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, is now performing its own exploration even further into the cosmos, the Hubble can do plenty of useful astronomy.

But Earths gravity and atmosphere will inevitably pull the bus-sized telescope back to the planet, perhaps as soon as 2028. NASA will need to safely bring it back down to crash into the Pacific Ocean, or better yet: Lift it into a higher orbit so it can continue its mission, which has already cost the US about $16 billion since the idea for the telescope was conceived in 1977.

Its a tantalizing idea for space companies of all stripes. Elon Musks SpaceX has partnered with Jared Isaacman, the founder of payments company Shift4, on a series of space tourism missions onboard its crewed Dragon spacecraft. One project Isaacman has proposed is flying to the Hubble and raising its orbit to keep it at work for another decade or more.

Now, two space start-ups that have emerged in SpaceXs wakethe space servicing company Astroscale and the space tug builder Momentushave teamed up with their own proposal to rescue the iconic observatory. The firms are developing the technology needed to fly a robot to the Hubble, have it grapple the telescope with a robotic arm, and use a water-fueled propulsion system to slowly lift it 100 km (62 miles) higher.

The Hubble Space Telescope has been serviced in orbit five times before, most recently in 2009, with astronauts using the Space Shuttle and its robotic arm to latch onto the telescope. Then, they could perform space walks to install new scientific instruments, change batteries, and notably repair a damaged mirror. Humans were required because robots werent capable of the delicate work.

With the Space Shuttle retired, the only way to get astronauts to the Hubble is onboard the Dragon. The vehicle doesnt have its own robotic arm, and its not clear exactly how it would link up to Hubble. But Dragons experience docking autonomously with the International Space Station gives it the tools it needs to maneuver close to the Hubble, and its propulsion system has the power to raise its orbit.

However, unlike past missions where astronauts had to get inside the Hubble, theres no obvious reason this mission requires people in proximityand keeping astronauts alive and comfortable in space is expensive and difficult. A robotic mission would likely be cheaper and just as effective, and the technology to robotically service satellites is now coming into its own with potential for broad use.

Notably, Northrop Grumman has used an autonomous vehicle to grapple a communication satellite and extend its life an additional five years and is developing additional missions based on that design. The US government has a national strategy to develop the kinds of complex software, sensors, and robotic systems to fix and dispose of satellites in orbit. These capabilities are seen as a precursor to more ambitious plans to manufacture goods in space.

Astroscale and Momentus are both working on products intended to be the infrastructure for orbital activity.

Astroscale, a Japanese company with subsidiaries in the US and UK, is focused on space debris and satellite servicing; its first mission saw its ELSA-D spacecraft rendezvous, inspect, and grapple with a target. Now, among other tasks, it is working with Japans space agency launch a mission to inspect a rocket body in orbit, and to develop the tools neededto service different satellites.

Momentus was founded to build orbital transfer vehicles or space tugs, which can be used to deploy satellites to specific orbits after launch, or carry payloads like sensors or communications tech as virtual satellitesfor other companies. It was originally founded by Mikhail Kokorich, a Russian space entrepreneur, but when Momentus went public through a SPAC transaction in 2021, Quartz reported that Kokorich was under a federal investigation and had been forced out of previous US space firms because of rules designed to protect technology with military applications from rival nations. After agreeing to a $7 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Momentus transitioned to a new management team led by CEO John Rood, and recently completed its first orbit-raising maneuver with its Vigoride spacecraft.

That speaks to the complementary nature of the two firms Hubble proposal: Momentus will supply a Vigoride spacecraft and the companys water-fueled propulsion system, which CTO Rob Schwarz says strikes a balance between the efficiency of an electric thruster and the power of a chemical rocket engine. Astroscale will add the package of sensors and software to carefully approach another spacecraft, and a robotic arm to latch onto the space telescope. Then, the vehicle could slowly lift the Hubble to a higher orbit over a period of about 64 days. The companies think they could have the mission ready in less than two years.

A robotic solution is not only the solution thats best suited to accomplishing the objectives of the mission cost-effectively, Ron Lopez, the president of Astroscale US, told Quartz. [This is] also an opportunity as a matter of good public policy to invest into this growing segment of the market of on-orbit servicing and in-space manufacturing.

SpaceX interest in the Hubble mission (and Isaacmans apparent willingness to take it on at no cost to the government) led NASA to ask interested companies to share how they would go about boosting the Hubblefor free. NASAs request for information notes that [p]artner(s) would be expected to provide...the launch vehicle, spacecraft, crew if applicable to the approach, and mission operations...necessary to successfully perform the demonstration.

Between SpaceXs resources and Isaacmans deep pockets, that might not be a big deal. Momentus and Astroscale, however, are still young companies with limited resources. Part of the logic of their joint venture is to share the costs of the mission, which would likely be on the order of tens of millions of dollars, far less than flying the Dragon, which costs more than $200 million for a four-person NASA mission.

For Momentus, performing the mission would be an advertisement for its capabilities and a chance to impress NASA, one of the largest buyers of space services.

A lot of other assets that are not Hubble class would benefit from a servicing mission, but it would have to be a low-cost servicing mission. The business case can still close, Schwarz says. If we do invest, we get to demo our tech, get a lot of public visibility.

Astroscales Lopez held out hope that NASA might be willing to invest in the mission through a public-private partnership with a fixed price contract, though he didnt share specific figures. He noted that NASA has seen good return on investments in other commercial technology, like SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket, and that European and Japanese space agencies are funding more missions focused on space sustainability.

This is an opportunity for NASA to do what it has always done, Lopez said. To enable and engender innovation.

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A pair of space upstarts are competing with SpaceX to rescue the ... - Quartz

WISeKey and FOSSA Systems to Launch New WISeSat -Ready Satellites with SpaceX

Geneva and Zug Switzerland May 19, 2023 WISeKey International Holding Ltd (WISeKey, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY), a leading cybersecurity, IoT and AI company, announced that in cooperation with FOSSA Systems (FOSSA) would be launching several new WISeSat-Ready FOSSA powered satellites with SpaceX, adding to the 13 FOSSA satellites already in orbit.

These new satellites will be part of the 80-satellite constellation which FOSSA has been planning to deploy since early 2022, aiming to provide global and real-time IoT connectivity for industrial applications with a 10-hour data latency. The launch will be carried out by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 Vehicle, no earlier than June 2023.

This next-generation will deliver higher capacity services in a commercial manner for a wider range of applications, supporting IoT and other space-related services in areas such as communications or remote sensing in the fields of Signal Intelligence.

The WISeSaT Satellite is a security-IoT hardened nanosatellite designed to further drive down satellite costs for IoT applications. As more satellites are deployed, WISeSat and FOSSA will offer lower latency times, reaching near real-time data with the 80 satellites projected for 2024. This new FEROX generation of satellites provides unprecedented capabilities comparable to that of 6 12U satellites in a fraction of the size, mass, and cost.

These WISeSaT ready platforms will enable secure and robust IoT connectivity and space-enabled services for assets in remote locations and applications such as maritime shipment, emergency locators, agriculture or farming.

WISeKey is offering this technology to its IoT clients in a SaaS model allowing both remote and redundant urban IoT communications for companies seeking to securely connect their assets via satellite communication covering large and unserved geographic areas such as maritime, deserts, mountains, etc., at affordable prices. WISeKey Trust and Security solutions offer unique integration into an end-to-end platform that communicates in real-time with WISeSat. Satellite by ensuring the authenticity, confidentiality, and integrity of the devices, objects, data and transactions.

WISeKeys INeS platform uses state-of-the-art cryptographic algorithms to meet the highest standards for issuing, managing, and validating digital credentials for IoT devices, including those connected with WISeSaT.Satellite. This platform is scalable and can support environments for hundreds of millions of devices and sensors, and is able to remotely collect data from the field and transmit to the backend.

Additionally, INeS features Entity Management (any custom attributes such as identities, group, type, role, and life cycle), Message Security Policy Management, and Business Rules Management. Interfacing via the cloud and connecting devices and applications, INeS is capable of remotely identifying credentials and controlling activation, deactivation, revocation, renewal, and secure provisioning.

About WISeKey WISeKey (NASDAQ: WKEY; SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large-scale digital identity ecosystems for people and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT respecting the Human as the Fulcrum of the Internet. WISeKey microprocessors secure the pervasive computing shaping todays Internet of Everything. WISeKey IoT has an installed base of over 1.6 billion microchips in virtually all IoT sectors (connected cars, smart cities, drones, agricultural sensors, anti-counterfeiting, smart lighting, servers, computers, mobile phones, crypto tokens, etc.). WISeKey is uniquely positioned to be at the leading edge of IoT as our semiconductors produce a huge amount of Big Data that, when analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can help industrial applications predict the failure of their equipment before it happens.

Our technology is Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKeys Swiss-based cryptographic Root of Trust (RoT) provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit http://www.wisekey.com .

Press and investor contacts: WISeKey International Holding Ltd Company Contact: Carlos Moreira Chairman & CEO Tel: +41 22 594 3000 info@wisekey.com

WISeKey Investor Relations (US) Contact: Lena Cati The Equity Group Inc. Tel: +1 212 836-9611 lcati@equityny.com

Disclaimer: This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance, or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

About FOSSA

FOSSA Systems is a Spanish company that provides dedicated space services and complete IoT solutions that enable the transmission of information from a device located anywhere on the planet through satellite connectivity. FOSSA provides turnkey solutions for companies of all sizes with satellite & IoT as its core. FOSSA is pioneering a market that currently has 10 billion connected devices and that it expects to have more than 25 billion by 2025. With their 80-satellite constellation, they expect to connect millions of devices directly to their network, offering global and real-time direct-to-device LPWAN coverage. FOSSA has verticalized the manufacturing process of satellites, space operations and ground segment services and currently has 13 satellites in orbit.

Press and Investor contacts: FOSSA Systems S.L. Julian Fernandezat contact@fossa.systems

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WISeKey and FOSSA Systems to Launch New WISeSat-Ready ... - InvestorsObserver

TALLAHASSEE A measure now before Gov. Ron DeSantis would extend liability protections to private aerospace companies if crew members are injured or killed in spaceflights.

The legislation (SB 1318) was among 62 bills DeSantis received Tuesday. He has until May 31 to act on the proposal.

With the state seeing growth in private launches, the bill would cover crew members who are employees or contractors of companies such as SpaceX and others.

Senate bill sponsor Tom Wright, a New Smyrna Beach Republican who chairs the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee, said earlier this year the proposal would adapt Florida law to address the evolution of space flight, allowing company employees of SpaceX, Boeing, Blue Origin and so forth to fly to space under this.

The law doesnt cover ground crew members or change workers compensation rules.

The measure isnt the only legislation now on DeSantis desk that has a tie to the space industry.

A series of road designations in a Department of Transportation bill (HB 21) includes the bridge on State Road 3 over the Canaveral Barge Canal in Brevard County being dedicated to Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire teacher killed in 1986 on the space shuttle Challenger.

The proposal would also name the new NASA Causeway Bridge on State Road 405 over the Indian River in Brevard County after astronaut Sally Ride.

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DeSantis gets bill to protect SpaceX, other firms from accident liability - Orlando Sentinel

May 19, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

Tesla's forthcoming ">Roadster SpaceX Edition, armed with the optional SpaceX Package, could soon make its mark in the electric hypercar realm. The heart of this enhancement is SpaceX's rocket technology, resulting in cold air thrusters positioned around the vehicle for improved acceleration and handling. This addition will allow the supercar to reach a staggering 0-60 mph time of just 1.1 seconds, as confirmed by Elon Musk himself on Twitter.

However, while the Roadster SpaceX Edition is an impressive challenger, it is entering a field currently dominated by a formidable adversary: the Rimac Nevera. Born from Rimac Automobili, the Croatian manufacturer that has been pushing the boundaries of electric hypercars since 2009, the Nevera has become the reigning titan of electric hypercars.

The Neveras achievement is highlighted by its recent extraordinary performance, shattering an astonishing 23 records in a single day (video below). This feat included a rapid 0-60 mph acceleration time of 1.74 seconds (which is slower than the Roadster's projected time and only 2-tenths faster than the Model S Plaid).

However, the most astounding among these records was a 0-400 km/h (249 mph) acceleration time of just 21.31 seconds. With such an impressive performance, the Nevera is currently the fastest production car available, marking a new era in the electric vehicle industry. The test driver said he could've been eating ice cream while breaking these records - it was that easy!

However, such groundbreaking performance comes at a price. The Nevera is estimated to cost a whopping $2.4 million per unit, ten times more than the expected cost of a SpaceX Roadster. Rimac plans to produce only 150 of these record-breaking machines, the Roadster will also be produced in limited numbers. Despite its price, Rimac assures potential owners that the Nevera is more than a hypercar; its a potential record-breaker in their own hands.

Following Nevera's remarkable performance, a Twitter user asked Elon Musk if the Roadster SpaceX Edition could topple Nevera's 0-60 mph time. Musk responded with a simple "lol," leaving EV enthusiasts in suspense. Is this cryptic response a sign of an impending challenge from Tesla? Could the Roadster, with its SpaceX Package, surpass the Nevera's record-breaking performance? Musk was just in the F1 Red Bull pits, perhaps he has the racing bug?

While it's too soon to provide definitive answers, this potential contest marks an exciting moment in electric hypercar performance. With its revolutionary technology, Tesla's Roadster SpaceX Edition could challenge the current hypercar hierarchy and redefine performance standards in the electric vehicle market.

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By Kevin Armstrong

In the realm of electric vehicles, Tesla has always stood apart, not just for its cutting-edge technology and exquisite design but also the personalization it offers owners. One of the most endearing ways Tesla has allowed owners to embrace their vehicles is by allowing them to name them.

Your Tesla can bear a name that resonates with your personality and style. This guide will walk you through the process of naming your Tesla, reveal some hidden Easter Eggs, and offer a cornucopia of popular and creative names to inspire you.

Whether you're cruising in a Model Y, Model 3, X, or S, the process of naming your Tesla remains the same. To assign a name to your Tesla, you can either be in your vehicle or use the Tesla app on your phone.

Tap the Car icon on the bottom left and proceed to the 'Software' section.

This space holds all vital information about your Tesla, from the hardware it's equipped with to any subscriptions you may have, such as Premium Connectivity or Full Self-Driving, and the current software version your vehicle runs on.

Locate the image of your car; you'll find your exact model name on the left and a spot for your car's name on the right, highlighted in blue. If your car is yet unnamed, you'll see the default text, 'Name your vehicle.' Tap on this, and a screen to rename your car will appear. Voila! Your Tesla is ready for its new identity.

If you prefer to update your vehicle's name using the Tesla app, you can simply tap your vehicle's name at the top of the app. A prompt will pop up, asking you to rename your Tesla.

Now, here's an interesting twist. Tesla has hidden a few Easter eggs related to the car's name. As a tribute to Monty Python, name your car Patsy", "Rabbit of Caerbannog", "Mr. Creosote", "Biggus Dickus," or "Unladen Swallow" and watch the magic unfold. Fans of Douglas Adams' science fiction comedy, 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,' aren't left out either. Tesla has something special waiting for you too!

Around the globe, Tesla owners have been bestowing upon their vehicles names that are as unique as they are. Drawing from pop culture, puns, personal tastes, and even color themes, here are some popular choices, along with a few creative ideas:

Tributes to Greats: Elon or Musk, no explanation needed, Nikola the inventor, not the truck, Edison, Jarvis (Iron Man's AI assistant), Eevee (the Pokmon), Vader (Star Wars fans, unite!).

Sparky, Wattson, Bolt, Ohm Sweet Ohm, Volta.

Snowy for white Teslas, Raven for black ones, Cherry for red, Sapphire for blue, and Quicksilver for silver.

Storm, Blitz, Thunder, Tornado.

KITT (Knight Rider), Batmobile, Herbie, Lightning McQueen (Cars), Black Panther, RoadRunner (Looney Tunes).

Apollo, Galaxy, Starman, Astro, Orion, Supernova, Eclipse.

Leaf, Gaia, EcoBeast, Wind Whisperer, Solar Flare.

AutoPilot Prime, Car-y McCarface, Watt's Up, Broom Zoom, Charged & Ready.

My Precious, Dream Rider, Freedom Machine, Serenity, Joyride.

The possibilities are truly endless. Let your imagination soar, and bestow upon your Tesla a name that mirrors your personality and style. Whether you're a movie buff, a science enthusiast, a lover of humor, or someone who appreciates the finer things in life, there's an ideal name for your Tesla. Let it reflect what you love, and let it speak volumes about who you are as you cruise down the streets in your one-of-a-kind, personally-named Tesla.

By Kevin Armstrong

When picking an individual to represent a brand, charisma, appeal, and the ability to resonate with potential customers are all crucial. Ryan Reynolds, renowned for his quick wit and charming personality, might be the perfect match for Tesla, an innovative company known for pushing boundaries.

The idea arose from a recent stakeholder meeting where Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who interestingly shares Canadian roots with Reynolds, surprisingly hinted at the company's move towards traditional advertising. This shift would significantly depart from Tesla's usual non-traditional marketing approach.

Enter 'Meet Kevin' - who posed the query about advertising to Musk. In a subsequent move, Kevin created and posted an AI-generated video on social media (posted below) featuring Ryan Reynolds as the pitchman for Tesla. The simulation, which seamlessly integrated Reynolds' likeness and voice into a Tesla pitch, drew attention and even a nod from Musk himself, who responded with a succinct: "Nice."

The suggestion of Reynolds fronting a Tesla campaign has sparked intrigue and excitement among fans. It's not just about Reynolds' on-screen charisma or his uncanny ability to connect with an audience, but also his alignment with the Tesla brand. Like Tesla, Reynolds is known for breaking from tradition and bringing a fresh perspective, as seen in his performances and entrepreneurial endeavors. Plus, the shared Canadian lineage between Musk and Reynolds adds an interesting twist to the story.

As we wait to see how Tesla's venture into traditional advertising unfolds, the potential pairing of Reynolds and Tesla certainly captures the imagination. Also, Blake Lively could ride shotgun with the couple's four children in the back of a Model X or Y. It would be a meeting of innovation and charm and a blend of shared roots and forward-thinking, perfectly encapsulating the Tesla ethos.

However, it's crucial to remember that this is currently all speculation. Yet, the possibility of Ryan Reynolds becoming the pitchman for Tesla is an idea that's hard to resist, as it could bring an appealing twist to the electric vehicle giant's public image. As Musk evaluates this new strategy, one can't help but wonder how a partnership with Reynolds could potentially electrify Tesla's brand further.

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Can Tesla's Roadster SpaceX Edition Eclipse Rimac Nevera's ... - Not a Tesla App