Daily Archives: February 5, 2024

The Dangerous Pursuit of Journalism in Russia: A Harrowing Reality – Medriva

Posted: February 5, 2024 at 6:27 am

Journalism, in its purest form, is the pursuit of truth, no matter how harsh or controversial. However, in some parts of the world like Russia, the pursuit of this truth can be fraught with danger. The environment for journalists in Russia has become increasingly treacherous, with those engaged in real journalism facing the risk of harm and even death. The level of danger and censorship faced by journalists who attempt to uncover and report on controversial or sensitive topics in Russia is alarmingly high.

Journalists often find themselves on the front lines of protests and civil unrest, in order to capture the reality of the situation. This was the case in Moscow when journalists were briefly detained while reporting on a protest by soldiers wives. This incident not only reflects the danger faced by journalists in Russia, but also highlights the risks associated with investigative journalism in the region.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, almost all independent media have been banned, blocked and/or declared foreign agents or undesirable organisations. President Vladimir Putin has isolated himself and the official discourse is based on historical grievances and conspiracy theories. Journalists are not safe from the threat of serious charges under vaguely worded draconian laws. The economic crisis has forced many media outlets to close and has impoverished the few remaining independent journalists.

While the internet connection rate in Russia is high, most Russians get their news from government-controlled television and social media. This control over the flow of information puts independent journalists at risk of heavy sentences, torture, fines, and detentions under various pretexts.

In another incident, Russian police detained about two dozen people, many of them journalists, at an event led by wives demanding that husbands mobilized to fight in Ukraine be brought back to Russia. This incident further highlights the oppressive conditions under which journalists in Russia must operate.

As Russia continues its massive unprovoked attack on Ukraine, many Russian media outlets have been hacked, with anti-war messages being placed on their websites. These instances of cyber-activism underscore the dire state of media freedom in Russia and the measures being taken by activists to make their voices heard.

Russian state-run television has been noted to amplify the views of those who may be perceived as sympathetic to their cause. Recently, they hyped up news of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson visiting Moscow, with speculation suggesting that he might be there to interview President Putin. However, this also brings into question the level of access and freedom foreign journalists have in Russia, with many reporting restrictions and controls.

In conclusion, the environment for journalists in Russia is a dangerous one, marked by high levels of government control, censorship, and physical danger. The pursuit of truth becomes a perilous journey in such conditions, and it is a testament to the courage and resilience of journalists that the world continues to receive reports from the region.

Originally posted here:
The Dangerous Pursuit of Journalism in Russia: A Harrowing Reality - Medriva

Posted in Censorship | Comments Off on The Dangerous Pursuit of Journalism in Russia: A Harrowing Reality – Medriva

Port of Oakland’s new TMS provides real-time insights for truckers – CCJ

Posted: at 6:26 am

As of 11 a.m. on Feb. 1, 326 trucks had exited the east gate of the SSA Marine Oakland International Container Terminal in California, marking an average total turn time of one hour and 12 minutes. Thats according to the Port of Oaklands Freight Intelligent Transportation System (FITS), launched a month ago, that aims to improve operations across the port for its many stakeholders, including truck drivers.

The FITS solution includes the new Oakland Portal that provides improved efficiency and visibility into the movement of goods through real-time insight into vessel operations and statuses, regional traffic conditions, rail crossing access, turn time data and more.

The Oakland Portals website and app displays a snapshot of the total turn time for each of the four terminals on the main page with the option to click on each for additional details like specific gate information. Each truck that enters a terminal is required to have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that is read at the entrance and exit security booths beginning at 0600 every day. The time it takes each truck to get from the security entrance to security exit is the truck turn time.

Pia Franzese, senior maritime projects administrator at the Port of Oakland, said turn times is just one of the many pieces of information the new portal offers, and this level of visibility all in one place will have a positive impact on the efficiency and collaboration of port activities, creating a domino effect for stakeholders, improving their decision-making abilities for their individual needs.

The Port of Oakland (Port) launched the FITS portal to help solve port challenges and provide a centralized source for reliable, real-time information. Before FITS, we had increasingly heard feedback from Port stakeholders that they had to go to multiple sites to get information for Port operations, creating a cumbersome process with conflicting information. Multiple platforms led to inefficiencies and confusion for users, Franzese said. The intent of the Oakland Portal is to have a one-stop platform where port stakeholders can go to find secure information relevant to them, such as information about terminals and turn times. The portal serves as the foundation for the ports data technology, which will continue to expand. We plan to continuously add to this portal, such as a smart parking system and container data, among many others.

FITS is comprised of various IT hardware and software infrastructure elements, including upgrades to the ports fiber, installing changeable message signs to the roadway, a buildout of an emergency operations center, a weigh-in-motion scale so truckers can weigh themselves on the way out and smart cameras that collect metrics on vehicle speeds, traffic patterns and pedestrian counts that the port reports internally and externally to stakeholders. Additional intelligence is added to these devices, such as video analytics, Franzese said, to determine how long it takes a truck driver to wait at a terminal and then get through a terminal. The information comes together in the Oakland Portal to improve situational awareness and management for users, which improves mobility and safety, she said. Another part of FITS included the development of two applications: the Oakland Portal and the Smart Parking System (SPS). The SPS, launching later this year, will allow stakeholders to make parking reservations.

Together, all of these elements work to improve operational efficiencies and provide real-time, reliable information to port stakeholders, such as truckers, terminal operators, wharfingers and ocean carriers, to enable better-informed, data-driven decisions, Franzese said.

In additional to improving operational efficiency, these elements will impact sustainability, she added.

For example, the Oakland Portal and other technologies within the FITS platform provide visibility into traffic congestion, informing the trucking community about the best times to arrive at the port, she said. This information reduces wait times and congestion, which contributes to less emissions. Overall, the more efficient the port is with goods movement and traffic circulation, the less pollution will result, creating a more sustainable port community.

That port community, Franzese said, has been key to implementing and improving the new system.

While still in its early days, she said the Oakland Portal is running smoothly and has secured positive feedback from users as well as feedback on additional information users would like to see, which is a good sign since engagement shows people are using the tool and want to see it expand to more fully meet their needs.

The port designed the system and portal based on its specific needs, and Franzese said the port would advise other ports developing similar tools to do the same.

We would recommend other ports think about the idea of an integrated data environment by first thinking of users, personas and use cases to make sure whatever is developed has the users experience at the forefront of every step, she said. In addition, we recommend having a systems integration perspective and a port-owned central place, such as a data hub where the data comes to, and a central place, such as a website and app, where users can consume the information. It is so easy to have disparate systems; however, the power of data is having different datasets layered on top of each other.

Franzese said the Port of Oaklands data previously came from third-party sources, but FITS enables data to come directly from the ports equipment, providing greater control and confidence that the information is accurate.

One of the greatest benefits that FITS allows, she said, is the ability to proactively address any issues via predictive modeling. The data from the system allows the port to identify pinch points in the terminal or specific periods of the day where there is increased congestion or bottlenecks in the movement of containers, for example. It also helps the port understand when to schedule maintenance or other activities to not adversely affect port users.

Parsons Corporation, which has worked with the port, Alameda County Transportation Commission, the City of Oakland, the California Department of Transportation and subcontractors over the last four years to develop FITS, will leverage artificial intelligence with video and data analytics to predict freight wait times and develop predictive models around road blockages at train crossings. The data collected will also be used to create customized dashboards for custom border protection and port shipment tracking.

Parsons advanced traffic management software solution, iNET, was integrated with an enhanced version of the SecrSpace smart parking system and a new custom GoPort website and mobile application for iOS and Android, to create FITS. FITS Oakland Portal is powered by the Advent eModal platform.

Here is the original post:

Port of Oakland's new TMS provides real-time insights for truckers - CCJ

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on Port of Oakland’s new TMS provides real-time insights for truckers – CCJ

11.24% CAGR Growth in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Market by Solution (on-premise and cloud-based … – PR Newswire

Posted: at 6:26 am

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thetransportation management systems (TMS) marketis estimated to grow byUSD 3.70 billion from 2022to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.24% during the forecast period.The market share growth by theon-premisesegmentwill be significant during the forecast period.Large organizations dominate the on-premises solutions market due to their focus on data security over cost-effectiveness. These solutions, installed on the organization's infrastructure, ensure end-to-end quality control and are preferred for handling critical data. They generate revenue through one-time perpetual licenses and offer greater customization and control. In today's risk-conscious environment, the emphasis on risk management has driven the demand for on-premises solutions, particularly among less price-sensitive buyers prioritizing security.

For more insights on the historical (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023to 2027)-Request a Free sample report

Technavio has segmented the market based onSolution (On-premise and Cloud-based), Mode of Transportation (Roadways, Railways, and Airways), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

Insights on the market contribution of various segments including country and region wisehistoric data (2017 to 2021), and forecast market size (2023to 2027)- Download a Free Sample Report

Increasing number of smart-connected devicesis a key factor driving growth.The increasing complexity of managing multiple devices drives the demand for machine-to-machine (M2M) and machine-to-human (M2H) communications. TMSutilize various technologies like RFID and GPS to efficiently monitor and manage physical assets, leading to improved business processes and real-time decision-making. The global rise in connected devices is a key driver of TMS demand.

Insights on Market Drivers, trends, & Challenges, historic period(2017 to 2021), and forecast period(2023 to 2027)-Request a Free sample report!

Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Benefits

Transportation Management Systems (TMS) offer various benefits across logistics and supply chain management. These systems streamline freight management, fleet management, and shipment tracking, optimizing routes and enhancing warehouse and inventory management. TMS also facilitates carrier management, freight brokerage, and freight visibility, supporting transportation planning and efficient billing and payment processes. They enable load tendering, multi-modal transportation, and last-mile delivery, all while providing real-time analytics and demand forecasting. Additionally, TMS helps manage transportation costs, ensure compliance, and facilitate electronic data interchange (EDI). They support cross-docking, reverse logistics, inbound and outbound logistics, and supply chain visibility, along with company management and load consolidation. TMS also excels in handling intermodal and international transportation needs.

What are the key data covered in this Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Market report?

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Related Reports:

The Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Software Market size is projected to increase byUSD 450.49 million,at aCAGR of 9.88%between 2023 and 2028.

TheFleet Telematics Systems Marketsize is forecast to increase byUSD 88.48 billion, at aCAGR of 23.87%between 2023 and 2028.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

HistoricSizes

Five Forces Analysis

Segmentation by Solution

Segmentation by Mode of Transportation

Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers,Challenges, &Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emergingtrends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize theirpositions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionableinsights to identify opportunities in existing and potential areas and assess their competitive positions within changingscenarios.

Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [emailprotected] Website: http://www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio

See the article here:

11.24% CAGR Growth in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Market by Solution (on-premise and cloud-based ... - PR Newswire

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on 11.24% CAGR Growth in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Market by Solution (on-premise and cloud-based … – PR Newswire

MileMaker announces partnership with Turvo to bring advanced TMS – TheTrucker.com – The Trucker

Posted: at 6:26 am

CHICAGO Commercial truck routing and mileage software companyMileMaker recently unveiled the integration of its web services interface with Turvos cloud-based platform to form an advanced transportation management system (TMS).

According to a news release, this move will allow Turvos customers to access MileMakers truck-specific mileage calculations.

This partnership seamlessly integrates MileMakers renowned truck-specific mileage calculations into Turvos platform, empowering our users with accurate and up-to-date information for enhanced decision-making, said Brett Williams, senior vice president of sales at Turvo. Together, we aim to streamline logistics processes, reduce costs, and elevate overall operational efficiency for the benefit of the entire supply chain.

Isaac Salvadori-Black, director of partnerships at MileMaker, said he and his fellow executives are excited to collaborate with Turvo to bring MileMakers commercial truck mileage, rating and routing solutions to a broader audiences.

He added: This partnership will enable transportation companies to leverage our data, from both Guide 19 and Guide 20, within the Turvo platform, making it easier than ever to access accurate mileage, helping to improve overall logistics operations.

The software provides door-to-door routing, tailoring each route to a users specific requirements, vehicle specifications customizable Points of Interest, midpoints and more.

According to the news release, MileMakers mileage data enables users to negotiate and streamline freight rates, payments and audits, while also improving freight cost and fuel surcharge forecasts. Turvos platform offers real-time visibility, collaboration tools and other innovative features that result in an end-to-end communication and analytics platform for freight brokers, 3PLs, shippers and carriers.

Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Erica N. Guy decided to stay in her hometown to begin her professional career in journalism. Since obtaining her bachelors degree from UAPB, Erica has professionally written for several publications about several topics ranging from lifestyle, tech, culture, and entertainment, just to name a few. Continuing her love for her hometown, she joined our team in June 2023, where she is currently a staff writer. Her career goals include continuing storytelling through her writing by being the best professional writer she can be. In her spare time, Erica enjoys trying new foods, cozying up with a good book, spending time with family and friends, and establishing herself as a future businesswoman.

Read more:

MileMaker announces partnership with Turvo to bring advanced TMS - TheTrucker.com - The Trucker

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on MileMaker announces partnership with Turvo to bring advanced TMS – TheTrucker.com – The Trucker

Transportation Management Software & Solutions – Who are the Major Players in the Indian Market? – India Shipping News

Posted: at 6:26 am

Meta Description: Discover top transportation management solutions in 2023 for streamlined logistics. Optimise your supply chain management with the latest innovations.

In todays fast-paced logistics and supply chain management world, efficient transportation is the key to success. But who are the major players in the market when it comes to transportation management software and solutions? Before diving into that, lets first understand transportation management solutions.

A transportation management system (TMS) is a digital solution designed to streamline and optimise the movement of goods from one place to another. It helps organisations plan routes, manage shipments, track vehicles, and monitor inventory efficiently, saving valuable time and money.

No wonder the TMS market is large and growing. Analysts project the global TMS market size to grow at an impressive rate of 19.7%, reaching $33.3 billion in 2028 from the current $13.5 billion in 2023.

In this article, well explore the major players in the TMS market and how their solutions benefit logistics and supply chain management businesses.

Top Transportation Management Software in 2023

Heres a look at some of the top transportation management solutions in 2023. They are the driving force behind the success of countless businesses in the year:

1. SuperProcure Freight Sourcing

SuperProcure Freight Sourcing specialises in optimising freight procurement. It allows businesses to source carriers efficiently, negotiate rates, and track shipments seamlessly. This TMS streamlines the entire sourcing process, ultimately saving time and cost.

Pricing: SP Freight Sourcing has separate monthly and yearly plans for three categories- Starters, Professionals, and Enterprises. The lowest rate begins at Rs 5400/month. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial.

2. UDHAN

UDHAN, a vital TMS player, supports transport contractors with cash flow challenges. It offers efficient invoicing, precise cash flow forecasting, and strategic financial partnerships. UDHAN also provides freight financing options through Unanus partner bank. This includes pre-shipment finance, post-shipment finance, and bill discounting based on invoices, ensuring visibility and availability of working capital for transport contractors.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

3. Digital CN-Intelligent Logistic Solution

Digital CN simplifies logistics with its swift and secure mobile app. It digitises and shares key transport documents, including Consignment Notes and Proof of Delivery. This TMS automates booking processes, leveraging eWay Bill Data for streamlined consignment note generation. Its auto SMS notifications to consignors, consignees, and drivers enhance efficiency in logistics operations, making it an essential tool for transportation management.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

4. FASTag

FASTag offers a hassle-free vehicle tracking solution that relies solely on vehicle numbers. This TMS provides milestone-based location updates when vehicles cross highway toll plazas, eliminating the need for extra tracking devices and associated capital investments. It ensures real-time tracking, reduces driver communication overhead, and allows simultaneous monitoring of multiple vehicles through the government tracking API.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

5. Intugine-Rail/Rake Tracking

Intugines Rail/Rake Tracking is a game-changer in rail logistics. It delivers real-time milestone-based location updates, eliminating the need for additional tracking devices and capital investment. It streamlines rail monitoring, provides asset tracking within the Rail/Rake through the government tracking API, and facilitates the simultaneous tracking of multiple Rail/Rake with unique FNR numbers.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

6. Fleetable Transport Management System

Fleetable offers a comprehensive transport solution that covers various aspects of fleet management. It provides all the tools necessary to optimise fleets, from vehicle maintenance and driver monitoring to fuel management. The result is reduced operational costs and enhanced operational efficiency.

Pricing: Custom pricing

7. Axlerate Fleet Management Solution

Axlerates primary focus is on improving fleet performance. It provides tools to optimise routes, reduce fuel consumption, and monitor driver performance. Major Axlerate products include Axle Tags, Axle Directory, Axle Marketplace, Axle Cards, Axle Finance, etc. Businesses can harness these capabilities to maximise their fleets efficiency and minimise operational expenses.

Pricing: Custom pricing

8. Corelogis TOPS

Corelogis TOPS stands out for its high level of customisation. It is tailored to meet diverse logistics requirements and covers order management, route optimisation, and robust reporting capabilities. Its adaptability makes it an excellent choice for businesses with unique logistics needs.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

9. eMist for Transporters-eFleet

eMist offers a cloud-based TMS that simplifies fleet management. It includes real-time tracking, route optimisation, and analytics, facilitating continuous improvement in logistics operations. The user-friendly interface ensures accessibility for a wide range of users.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

10. RaoDo Freight Operating System

RaoDo focuses on streamlining freight operations with features like load optimisation and document management. It simplifies freight management, helping organisations handle shipments more efficiently and accurately.

Pricing: Custom pricing

11. Bigchillar Freight Matching and Digital Lending

Bigchillar combines freight matching with digital lending capabilities. It assists in matching shippers with suitable carriers while also offering digital lending options for financing transportation needs. For shippers, it provides the flexibility to choose from a pool of transporters, ensuring timely availability and digital documentation. On the other hand, fleet owners benefit from better pricing, efficient trip management tools, and convenient access to capital.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

12. Fleetx Transport Management System

Fleetx provides a comprehensive TMS solution that covers route planning, vehicle maintenance, real-time tracking, and driver scoring. It empowers businesses with actionable insights, enabling them to optimise logistics operations and enhance overall efficiency. Over 1,500 brands and enterprises trust this TMS for their logistics needs.

Pricing: Custom Pricing

Wrapping Up

As we wrap up our exploration of the top transport management software solutions in 2023, its evident that this industry is bustling with innovation. From simplifying invoicing to real-time tracking and freight financing, these TMS players have transformed the logistics game, making it more efficient and hassle-free.

Amid this dynamic landscape, Bosch L.OS emerges as a unifying platform, bringing together multiple players and their unique TMS offerings. By doing so, Bosch L.OS empowers customers with a versatile range of TMS solutions, allowing them to choose and customise the tools that best suit their logistics needs.

This cooperative spirit highlights the evolving nature of the TMS industry, where collaboration and integration are key to meeting the ever-shifting demands of modern logistics and supply chain management.

Reference

1.Transportation Management System Market Growth Drivers & Opportunities | MarketsandMarkets. (n.d.). MarketsandMarkets. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/transportation-management-market-232446179.html#:~:text=%5B333%20Pages%20Report%5D%20MarketsandMarkets%20forecasts,19.7%25%20during%20the%20forecast%20period.

2.SP Freight Sourcing SuperProcure. (2023, July 17). SuperProcure. https://www.superprocure.com/freight-sourcing/

3.Udhan. Bosch Logistics Operating System. (n.d.). https://www.l-os.com/in/en/solutions/transportation-management/Udhan

4.Digital CN- Intelligent Logistics Solution. (n.d.). Bosch. https://www.l-os.com/in/en/solutions/transportation-management/digital-cn

5.FASTag. (n.d.). Bosch. https://www.l-os.com/in/en/solutions/transportation-management/fastag

6.Rail/Rake Tracking. (n.d.). Bosch. https://www.l-os.com/in/en/solutions/transportation-management/rail-rake-tracking

7.Fleetable. (2023, October 4). Best Fleet and Transport Management Software in India. https://fleetable.tech/

8.Axlerate | Unified smart Fleet management solutions for logistics. (2023, September 1). Axlerate. https://www.axlerate.com/

9.Purplespot. (n.d.). Corelogis. https://corelogis.in/

10.eFleet Systems Pvt. Ltd. (n.d.). EFleet Systems. https://efleetsystems.com/

11.RoADO | Logistics Simplified. (n.d.). https://www.roado.co.in/

12.BigChillar. (n.d.). BigChillar. https://bigchillar.com/#/web

13.FleetX: Best Fleet management software in India | Fleetx.io. (2021, October 1). fleetx.io. https://www.fleetx.io/

Here is the original post:

Transportation Management Software & Solutions - Who are the Major Players in the Indian Market? - India Shipping News

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on Transportation Management Software & Solutions – Who are the Major Players in the Indian Market? – India Shipping News

SpaceX, NASA targeting Feb. 22 for launch of Crew-8 astronaut mission – Space.com

Posted: at 6:26 am

SpaceX's next astronaut launch for NASA will take place in just three weeks, if all goes according to plan.

Feb. 22 is the target launch date for Crew-8, which will send four people to the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month stay, NASA announced on Wednesday (Jan. 31). That's more specific than the last update we got, which identified "late February" as the target.

Crew-8's Crew Dragon capsule will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard the Dragon will be Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps of NASA and Alexander Grebenkin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

Dominick will command Crew-8, while Barratt will serve as pilot. Epps and Grebenkin will be mission specialists.

Related: SpaceX launches Crew-6 astronaut mission to space station for NASA

Crew-8 will employ the Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour, which already has four astronaut missions to the ISS under its belt. The spacecraft also flew the Demo-2 test mission in 2020 SpaceX's first-ever crewed flight Crew-2 in 2021, Crew-6 in 2023 and the private Ax-1 mission in April 2022.

Crew-8's Falcon 9 rocket, by contrast, will be flying for the first time.

"The booster recently completed stage testing and will undergo final assembly in the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A ahead of the Dragon and Falcon 9 mate," NASA officials wrote in an update on Wednesday. "Once all rocket and spacecraft system checkouts are complete, the integrated stack will be rolled to the pad and raised to vertical for a static fire test prior to launch."

Another SpaceX mission is scheduled to lift off from Pad 39A before Crew-8 does: IM-1, the first flight of Intuitive Machines' robotic Nova-C moon lander.

IM-1 will fly atop a Falcon 9 during a three-day window in mid-February, if all goes according to plan. SpaceX and Intuitive Machines, which is based in Houston, haven't told us which dates that window covers. But we do know that any launch during the window will result in a lunar landing attempt on Feb. 22, the same day that Crew-8 aims to lift off.

As its name suggests, Crew-8 is the eighth operational astronaut mission that SpaceX will fly to the ISS for NASA. The most recent one, Crew-7, arrived at the orbiting lab last August and will come back to Earth in a few weeks.

Crew-9, whose crewmembers NASA just revealed, will launch this August, if all goes according to plan.

View post:

SpaceX, NASA targeting Feb. 22 for launch of Crew-8 astronaut mission - Space.com

Posted in Spacex | Comments Off on SpaceX, NASA targeting Feb. 22 for launch of Crew-8 astronaut mission – Space.com

SpaceX gearing up to launch Intuitive Machines private moon lander in February – Space.com

Posted: at 6:26 am

A private lunar lander has taken another step toward its historic moonshot.

The robotic Nova-C spacecraft was encapsulated inside the payload fairing of its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket today (Jan. 31) to prep for liftoff, which is right around the corner.

"As our combined teams closed the two fairing halves, I saw the lunar lander for the last time on Earth," Trent Martin, vice president for space systems at the Houston company Intuitive Machines, which built the lander, said during a call with reporters this afternoon.

Launch, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida's Space Coast, will occur during a three-day window in mid-February, if all goes according to plan. SpaceX and Intuitive Machines have not yet announced what those dates are, though Martin said today that Nova-C's lunar landing try will take place on Feb. 22 regardless of which day it takes flight.

If launch cannot occur during the February window, the next opportunity will come in March.

Related: Moon mining gains momentum as private companies plan for a lunar economy

The coming mission, called IM-1, aims to put Nova-C down near an impact crater called Malapert A, which lies within 10 degrees latitude of the moon's south pole. This area is of great interest to scientists and exploration advocates, for it's thought to harbor large amounts of water ice.

IM-1's Nova-C lander, which Intuitive Machines named Odysseus, is carrying six NASA science instruments via the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, or CLPS for short. CLPS aims to leverage private robotic landers to help gather science data that will pave the way for a permanent human presence on and around the moon, which NASA is working toward with its Artemis program.

IM-1's NASA instruments include a laser-based descent and landing sensor, a camera system designed to capture in great detail the plume created by Odysseus' lunar touchdown and a new type of "space-age fuel gauge," which will use sensors to measure the amount of propellant left in the lander's tanks a challenging task in the microgravity environment.

"Future spaceflight missions using cryogenic propellants can potentially take the guesswork out of monitoring propellant reserves and save fuel by using this technology," Debra Needham, program scientist in the Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office at NASA headquarters, said in today's briefing.

Odysseus is also carrying six commercial payloads on IM-1, for a variety of customers. You can learn more about the mission via Intuitive Machines here.

Nova-C won't be the first CLPS-supported lunar lander to lift off. That distinction went to Astrobotic's Peregrine spacecraft, which launched Jan. 8 on the first-ever mission of United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket.

Vulcan Centaur performed well, but Peregrine suffered a crippling fuel leak shortly after deploying from the rocket's upper stage. The lander's handlers managed to keep it operating in deep space for 10 days, eventually steering it to a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 18.

So Odysseus could become the first private spacecraft ever to ace a lunar landing. Success would keep the moon milestones rolling in; on Jan. 19, the robotic SLIM lander survived its rocky landing attempt, making Japan just the fifth country to put a probe on the moon's surface. The other four nations are the Soviet Union, the United States, China and India.

Continue reading here:

SpaceX gearing up to launch Intuitive Machines private moon lander in February - Space.com

Posted in Spacex | Comments Off on SpaceX gearing up to launch Intuitive Machines private moon lander in February – Space.com

NASA names astronauts for SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission to the ISS – Space.com

Posted: at 6:26 am

NASA has named the four astronauts who will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission this summer.

The Crew-9 quartet consists of cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and three NASA astronauts: Zena Cardman, Nick Hague andStephanie Wilson, NASA revealed in an announcement on Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 31).

Cardman will command the mission, Hague will be its pilot and Wilson and Gorbunov will serve as mission specialists.

Crew-9 will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Space Coast no earlier than this August. A final target date has not yet been announced.

Related: International Space Station Everything you need to know

Crew-9 will be the first spaceflight for both Cardman and Gorbunov, who were selected by their nations' space agencies in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Hague has two space missions under his belt, including a long-term trip to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019. That flight lifted off about five months after an aborted ISS launch, during which a rocket problem forced the Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying Hague and cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin to make an emergency landing. (Both were unhurt.) Hague has spent a total of 203 days in space.

Wilson has racked up a total of 42 days off Earth across three orbital missions, all of which flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery. The most recent of those three flights, STS-131, launched in April 2010.

As its name suggests, Crew-9 will be the ninth operational astronaut mission that SpaceX flies to the ISS for NASA using the company's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule.

It will overlap briefly with Crew-8, whose four astronauts are scheduled to launch toward the orbiting lab no earlier than Feb. 22.

Continued here:

NASA names astronauts for SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to the ISS - Space.com

Posted in Spacex | Comments Off on NASA names astronauts for SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission to the ISS – Space.com

Starlab commercial space station to launch on Starship – SpaceNews

Posted: at 6:26 am

ORLANDO, Fla. Starlab Space, the joint venture developing the Starlab commercial space station, has selected SpaceXs Starship to launch the station on a single flight.

Starlab Space, a joint venture of Voyager Space and Airbus Space and Defence, announced Jan. 31 it reached an agreement with SpaceX to launch the Starlab station on Starship. The companies did not disclose terms of the agreement or a projected launch date, although a spokesperson for Starlab Space said the company was confident that Starlab would be launched before the decommissioning of the International Space Station, currently scheduled for 2030.

SpaceXs history of success and reliability led our team to select Starship to orbit Starlab, Dylan Taylor, chairman and chief executive of Voyager Space, said in a statement. SpaceX is the unmatched leader for high-cadence launches and we are proud Starlab will be launched to orbit in a single flight by Starship.

Voyager and Airbus announced Jan. 9 that they had finalized the Starlab Space joint venture that the companies announced the previous August. Voyager had been working with Airbus since last January on the design of Starlab after ending an earlier partnership with Lockheed Martin.

The companies designed Starlab to be launched on a single flight. The station features a large habitation and laboratory module with a smaller service module attached to it for power and propulsion.

The size of Starlab made it unlikely that it could launch on anything other than Starship. In a presentation at the Space Tech Expo Europe conference in Bremen, Germany, last November, Manfred Jaumann, vice president of low Earth orbit and suborbital programs at Airbus, said the module has a diameter of more than eight meters. That is larger than what can be accommodated on vehicles in service or under development other than Starship.

Starlab, like Starship, will be made of stainless steel, which Jaumann said was possible because of the existence of large launch vehicles that can place up to 100 tons into low Earth orbit. The module will also be manufactured in a shipyard and completely integrated on the ground before launch, eliminating the need for on-orbit assembly. That cuts the manufacturing time in half to three years, he said, and launch costs by more than 80%.

Working with SpaceX, though, means dealing with a potential competitor. SpaceX was one of the companies that received an unfunded NASA Space Act Agreement in June through the agencys Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative. SpaceXs agreement, NASA said, involved studying the use of Starship as a commercial space station, but neither NASA nor SpaceX provided more details.

Starlabs single-launch solution continues to demonstrate not only what is possible, but how the future of commercial space is happening now, Tom Ochinero, senior vice president of commercial business at SpaceX, said in a statement. The SpaceX team is excited for Starship to launch Starlab to support humanitys continued presence in low-Earth orbit on our way to making life multiplanetary.

View post:

Starlab commercial space station to launch on Starship - SpaceNews

Posted in Spacex | Comments Off on Starlab commercial space station to launch on Starship – SpaceNews

SpaceX launches private Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the ISS (video) – Space.com

Posted: at 6:26 am

SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's robotic Cygnus spacecraft today (Jan. 30), sending the freighter and its 4 tons of cargo toward the International Space Station.

The Cygnus lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida today at 12:07 p.m. EST (1707 GMT).

The launch kicked off the 20th operational cargo mission for Cygnus. SpaceX was not involved in the previous 19; they all lifted off atop Antares or Atlas V rockets.

Related: Facts about Cygnus, Northrop Grumman's cargo ship

The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth as planned today, acing its touchdown at Cape Canaveral about 8 minutes and 20 seconds after launch. It was the 10th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description.

The Cygnus, meanwhile, deployed from the Falcon 9's upper stage in low Earth orbit around 14 minutes and 45 seconds after launch. The freighter then began making its own way to the International Space Station (ISS).

If all goes according to plan, Cygnus will arrive at the orbiting lab at 4:20 a.m. EST (0920 GMT) on Thursday (Feb. 1). You can watch its rendezvous and docking activities live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA.

Northrop Grumman named this Cygnus vehicle after Patty Hilliard Robertson, a NASA astronaut who died in a private plane crash in 2001. She was selected to the astronaut corps in 1998 and was supposed to fly to the ISS in 2002.

The freighter is packed with more than 8,200 pounds (3,720 kilograms) of supplies and scientific hardware. Among the research gear is a cartilage-growing experiment that could help address joint damage and disease here on Earth and a European Space Agency project that will test the 3D printing of metals in microgravity.

You can learn more about this cargo mission, called NG-20,via NASA's overview.

Cygnus will spend about six months docked to the ISS, then head back down for a fiery destruction in Earth's atmosphere.

One experiment aboard Cygnus, called the Kentucky Re-entry Probe Experiment-2, will gather data during this death dive, taking "measurements to demonstrate a thermal protection system for spacecraft and their contents during re-entry in Earth's atmosphere, which can be difficult to replicate in ground simulations," NASA officials wrote in their NG-20 mission overview.

Cygnus is one of three robotic cargo craft that currently service the ISS, along with SpaceX's Dragon capsule and Russia's Progress vehicle. Progress, like Cygnus, is an expendable spacecraft, but Dragon is reusable, surviving the trip through Earth's atmosphere and splashing down softly under parachutes in the ocean.

Editor's note: This story was corrected at 4:40 p.m. EST on Jan. 30 to state that Patty Hilliard Robertson was supposed to fly to the ISS in 2002 (rather than 2022, as originally written).

Read the original post:

SpaceX launches private Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the ISS (video) - Space.com

Posted in Spacex | Comments Off on SpaceX launches private Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the ISS (video) – Space.com