Tag: Payload

Arianespace Sends Heaviest-Ever Payload to Orbit on Amazon Leo Mission

Spaceflight Now reports, “Arianespace launched its largest and heaviest payload to date on a version of its Ariane 6 rocket that incorporated new solid rocket boosters Wednesday morning. The mission was designated VA269 by Arianespace and Leo Europe 03 (LE-03) by Amazon. It sent 36 Amazon Leo broadband internet satellites into low Earth orbit.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

Video

An Ariane 6 rocket launches 36 Amazon Leo satellites from Kourou, French Guiana (Launch occurs at the 58:55 mark).
Spaceflight Now; YouTube

NASA Seeking Tech Payload Proposals

ExecutiveGov reports that NASA “is seeking proposals from industry, academia and research institutions to test and demonstrate technology and research payloads on commercial suborbital vehicles as part of the Flight Opportunities program.” The agency “said Wednesday awardees can get up to $650,000 each in the form of a grant or cooperative agreement under the program to procure flights from commercial providers that operate suborbital rockets, high-altitude balloons, parabolic aircraft and other vehicles.” NASA “is interested in three topics for the 2021 Tech Flights solicitation: capabilities that support national lunar efforts and other initiatives in cislunar space including scientific discovery and human and robotic exploration; Earth-observing capabilities to support national efforts to address climate change; and technologies that ensure national leadership in space and support the commercial space industry’s growth.” NASA plans to announce awardees by December.
Full Story (ExecutiveGov)