David Khan

After the radio transmitter was synchronised with the optical communication module of the DSOC space probe, the first session took place – a copy of engineering data was transmitted from a distance of 226 million km. The transmission speed was 25 Mbit/sec.

According to Mira Srinivasan of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, on 8 April this year during the session it was possible to transmit 10 minutes of data from the probe, which confirmed the effectiveness of interaction between the optical and main radio communication systems of the spacecraft.

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China’s National Space Administration has released a promotional video demonstrating the device of its future base on the Moon. This is a continuation of the International Lunar Exploration Station project – a joint development of Russia and China, announced back in 2021. American journalists paid attention to a strange detail in the video – you can see a NASA Shuttle rocket taking off in the distance.

The video was quickly corrected and the image blurred, but the U.S. believes it was done for a reason. Perhaps it’s a hint that the US lunar programme is lagging behind China’s. Or a demonstration that NASA will be flying to visit Chinese colonists on the Moon, not the other way round.

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Alberto Minetti, professor of physiology at the University of Milan, and a group of his associates have developed an original way of keeping fit for astronauts who will have to explore the Moon. It consists in training on the so-called ‘Wall of Death’. The structure is shaped like a cylinder and resembles the one used by stuntmen on motorbikes.

The researchers did not limit themselves to just one idea, they decided to test the approach in practice. A crane and a system of suspended ropes were used to simulate the lunar gravitational force – with their help, the runner was indeed able to run along the side wall. Speaking to the press, Professor Minetti marvelled that the idea had never occurred to anyone before. This revolutionary way of exercising will avoid the health effects on the Selenauts due to prolonged exposure to microgravity.

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The newly created U.S. Space Force had a milestone event – three officers (officially called Guardians in the agency) marched in the desert of West Texas, during which they had to perform physical fitness tests in accordance with army standards. The participants were rewarded with spurs, cowboy hats and the title of the first ‘Space Cowboys’ of the newest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Becoming a spurs holder is a time-honoured tradition in the army cavalry, where recruits have to demonstrate their skills with edged weapons and horse riding. For Space Force officers, whose service is spent mostly in front of computer screens in well-equipped, comfortable command centres, this is almost a forgotten exotic.

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The Tenacity spaceplane was recently delivered to NASA in preparation for its flight to the ISS. It was previously thoroughly tested by engineers at the Neil Armstrong Test Centre in Ohio. Tenacity is expected to be launched at the end of the year to deliver 3,540 kilograms of food, water and equipment for research and experiments to the space station.

Tenacity has been developed by independent company Sierra Space since 2004. During this time, the company managed to outperform competitors offering similar vehicles to NASA. Tenacity is a reusable, versatile spacecraft optimised for low orbit missions. It has not only three-mode engines for easy manoeuvring, but also wings that make atmospheric flight and autonomous landing on a runway possible.

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