// THE LIST
Challenges | Campaigns
NASA is seeking approaches to cryogenic containment allowing lunar sample transport from the Moon to Earth. All innovative, actionable solutions are of significant interest. $40,000 prize. Closes November 12. [Forward]
The challenge invites participants to create reusable, high-level technologies for the conquest of space with potential for commercial applications. Winners will be awarded with incredible prizes. November 13-14. [Forward]
Write an essay about leading a one-week expedition at the Moon’s South Pole. Participants receive a NASA certificate. Grand prize is a trip to the Artemis-1 Launch. Closes Dec. 17. [Forward]
NASA needs the software for small unmanned aircraft systems usable for live flight operations. There are multiple challenges with $30,700 in total prizes. Closes March 1, 2021. [Forward]
NASA seeks solutions for energy distribution, management, or storage developable for space flight and future operation on the lunar surface. Up to $500K in prizes. September 25 - March 25, 2021. [Forward]
Join 62,361 volunteers and search for Planet 9 and new brown dwarfs in the backyard of the solar system using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. [Forward]
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will take pictures of over a million stars to search for transiting exoplanets. Help find rare systems that defeat automated search algorithms. [Forward]
Write or draw your vision of why you think Earth needs Space on a postcard and have it launched into space and back on a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket. [Forward]
Events
Space News provides ongoing coverage and daily updates of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the global space industry, including a list of all delayed or canceled space events. [Forward]
Participate with people from around the world in debates, panel discussions, and presentations. Join in virtually October 15-18, 2020. [Forward]
During this free event, leaders from the industry will share the motivations that sparked the conception of their companies and drove positive change in the world through space-based endeavors. [Forward]
Join TechCrunch's editors in Los Angeles on December 17 for a day of fireside chats and panel discussion with the top investors, founders, and technologists forging the future of space. [Forward]
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// FYI
Space Ecosystem | Startups | Deals
Momentus has developed a water-fueled propulsion system and vehicle to provide “last mile” transportation to satellites once launched into space on rockets, enabling rocket makers to provide more flexible service. [Forward]
CEO Nobu Okada said the latest investment makes Astroscale the most funded on-orbit services and logistics company globally and most funded space venture in Japan. [Forward]
The company has developed a system that can predict and alert the operators of satellite networks when there’s the potential for a collision and suggest alternative paths to avoid accidents. [Forward]
Space companies survived the economic fallout in good shape. Many companies in the US were allowed to remain open during stay-at-home orders, and relied on the government as customers. [Forward]
Space Exploration | Development
Blue Origin conducted the latest test flight of its rocket without any passengers on board. New Shepard is designed to take people on a ride past the edge of space. [Forward]
The sampling is set for Oct. 20, 16 years after first proposed. If successful, it will land in a sealed re-entry capsule in the Utah desert on Sept. 24, 2023. [Forward]
Starship SN8 now has flaps powered by electric motors; its first flight will be to 15 km. The SN9 is fully stacked and should be finished by October’s end. [Forward]
How SpaceX's New Raptor Vacuum Engine Is Different From Previous Raptors (and Other Stuff) | YouTube
The new Raptor Vacuum engine is a prototype equipped with a much larger nozzle, which risks flow separation but gives it more power. The nozzle also uses regenerative cooling technology. [Forward]
The Accords outline the principles of future exploration of the Moon and beyond, such as adhering to peaceful, transparent exploration, and creating hardware systems operable by every member nation. [Forward]
Astronomy | Astrophysics | Cosmology
Scientists think non-Earth-like planets could offer conditions suitable for life to evolve, perhaps proving to be "super-habitable." They identified 24 potentially super-habitable planets, all over 100 light-years away from Earth. [Forward]
Venus is one of our solar system’s least habitable planets, with surface temperatures capable of melting lead, but the detection of phosphine in the atmosphere suggests Venusian life may exist. [Forward]
This virtual, speculative museum takes you on a tour through the possible forms alien life might take, ranging from inside the Earth to the most hostile corners of the universe. [Forward]