17 March 2022
Following a successful test campaign in ESTEC, the structural thermal model of SMILE’s payload module will soon be delivered to China to complete the qualification of the satellite. Integration onto the Chinese platform is expected to begin in early April. Once the complete satellite is finished, it will undergo a comprehensive 5 month long qualification test campaign including thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic compatibility testing, and magnetic, deployment and functional tests at system level.
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more details: Airbus press release... 

19 March 2022
China's central city of Wuhan has vowed to develop a 100 billion RMB (15.7 billion USD) space industry by 2025 and become the country's "valley of satellites," signalling a deepening push by China to become a major space power by 2030. According to a notice from the city government on 16 March, Wuhan is offering firms up to 50 million RMB (7.86 million USD) in financial incentives each in projects related to the manufacturing of satellites, rockets and spacecraft.
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18 March 2022
The HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) team at The University of Arizona published on 18 March an image taken on 11 March with the HiRISE camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter from an altitude of 288 km. It shows in extreme high resolution the path Zhurong has traveled since landing in May 2021. The wheel tracks clearly indicate the 1.5 km journey southwards from the lander.
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cutout with contrast enhanced and pointing arrows to better reveal the tracks
about HiRISE

20 March 2022
This week Jean Deville is discussing the latest news of China's suggestions for opening its CSS to commercial and private companies. He is giving details on the possible options. More news can be found in their weekly newsletter. And if you like to support Jean and Blaine, maybe you would like to buy them a coffee?
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