Orbital Dawn
@orbitaldawn.com
A game about space! Build space stations, search for resources and build your interplanetary economy.
patreon.com/OrbitalDawnGame
www.orbitaldawn.com
patreon.com/OrbitalDawnGame
www.orbitaldawn.com
Congratulations to Blue Origin for a successful launch and booster recovery! Excited to see the ESCAPADE mission unfold as well.
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Congratulations to Blue Origin for a successful launch and booster recovery! Excited to see the ESCAPADE mission unfold as well.
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
Blue Origin are live with the second attempt to launch ESCAPADE to Mars, and maybe land the New Glenn booster.
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Blue Origin are live with the second attempt to launch ESCAPADE to Mars, and maybe land the New Glenn booster.
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
www.blueorigin.com/missions/ng-2
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
A #CosmicVision mission, #ESAJuice is en route to Jupiter.
Juice successfully performed the world's first Lunar-Earth flyby in 2024, followed by a Venus flyby this year. The spacecraft is now on track to swing by Earth two more times and arrive at Jupiter in July 2031. 1/ #CM25
Juice successfully performed the world's first Lunar-Earth flyby in 2024, followed by a Venus flyby this year. The spacecraft is now on track to swing by Earth two more times and arrive at Jupiter in July 2031. 1/ #CM25
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
A #CosmicVision mission, #ESAJuice is en route to Jupiter.
Juice successfully performed the world's first Lunar-Earth flyby in 2024, followed by a Venus flyby this year. The spacecraft is now on track to swing by Earth two more times and arrive at Jupiter in July 2031. 1/ #CM25
Juice successfully performed the world's first Lunar-Earth flyby in 2024, followed by a Venus flyby this year. The spacecraft is now on track to swing by Earth two more times and arrive at Jupiter in July 2031. 1/ #CM25
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
Exactly 25 years ago, at 09:21 UTC, the era of continuous human presence on the International @Space_Station began.
Since Crew One took up residence in 2000, 21 @esa.int astronauts have lived and worked on this orbital outpost, conducting essential research to benefit life on Earth.
Since Crew One took up residence in 2000, 21 @esa.int astronauts have lived and worked on this orbital outpost, conducting essential research to benefit life on Earth.
November 2, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Exactly 25 years ago, at 09:21 UTC, the era of continuous human presence on the International @Space_Station began.
Since Crew One took up residence in 2000, 21 @esa.int astronauts have lived and worked on this orbital outpost, conducting essential research to benefit life on Earth.
Since Crew One took up residence in 2000, 21 @esa.int astronauts have lived and worked on this orbital outpost, conducting essential research to benefit life on Earth.
Exciting to see another Ariane 6 launch soon!
📺 #WatchLive: #CopernicusEU Sentinel-1D is just days away from launch on Ariane 6 flight VA265.
🚀 Next Tuesday, 4 November, from 20:35 GMT/21:35 CET on #ESAwebTV2, watch the liftoff live 👉 watch.esa.int
More details 👇 @cnes.fr @thalesaleniaspace.bsky.social @transport.esa.int @euspa.bsky.social
🚀 Next Tuesday, 4 November, from 20:35 GMT/21:35 CET on #ESAwebTV2, watch the liftoff live 👉 watch.esa.int
More details 👇 @cnes.fr @thalesaleniaspace.bsky.social @transport.esa.int @euspa.bsky.social
Watch live: Sentinel-1D launch on Ariane 6
The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is about to get its fourth satellite, with Sentinel-1D now ready for liftoff. Launch will take place with an Ariane 6 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana and live cover...
www.esa.int
October 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Exciting to see another Ariane 6 launch soon!
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
Orion on a roll 🌀
Last week, the Artemis II Orion - complete with crew module 👩🚀, @esa.int's European Service Module ⚡, solar arrays ☀️ + launch abort system 🛡️ - was rolled 10km to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Next step - stacking on the SLS rocket 🚀
📸: ESA-M. Born
Last week, the Artemis II Orion - complete with crew module 👩🚀, @esa.int's European Service Module ⚡, solar arrays ☀️ + launch abort system 🛡️ - was rolled 10km to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Next step - stacking on the SLS rocket 🚀
📸: ESA-M. Born
October 20, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Orion on a roll 🌀
Last week, the Artemis II Orion - complete with crew module 👩🚀, @esa.int's European Service Module ⚡, solar arrays ☀️ + launch abort system 🛡️ - was rolled 10km to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Next step - stacking on the SLS rocket 🚀
📸: ESA-M. Born
Last week, the Artemis II Orion - complete with crew module 👩🚀, @esa.int's European Service Module ⚡, solar arrays ☀️ + launch abort system 🛡️ - was rolled 10km to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Next step - stacking on the SLS rocket 🚀
📸: ESA-M. Born
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
🆕 Researchers combed through images from ESA's #MarsExpress and #ExoMars spacecraft to find 1039 swirling dust devils 🌪️
Using these dust devils to track raging winds on Mars, their findings include that the strongest winds blow much faster than we thought!🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Using these dust devils to track raging winds on Mars, their findings include that the strongest winds blow much faster than we thought!🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
This new catalogue of dust devils gives us a much clearer picture of the Red Planet’s weather and climate.
But besides pure science, it will also be useful for planning future missions, like dealing with the irksome dust that settles on the solar panels of our robotic rovers.
But besides pure science, it will also be useful for planning future missions, like dealing with the irksome dust that settles on the solar panels of our robotic rovers.
October 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
🆕 Researchers combed through images from ESA's #MarsExpress and #ExoMars spacecraft to find 1039 swirling dust devils 🌪️
Using these dust devils to track raging winds on Mars, their findings include that the strongest winds blow much faster than we thought!🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Using these dust devils to track raging winds on Mars, their findings include that the strongest winds blow much faster than we thought!🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
Today, @esa.int's Columbus lab on the International Space Station circled Earth for the 100,000th time🎉
During that time, we’ve seen:
🧳4.26 billion km travelled
🧪250+ experiments
👩🚀16 ESA astronauts
🥼75 m³ of lab space
🕣19,280 shifts run by the Columbus Control Centre
🔗 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
During that time, we’ve seen:
🧳4.26 billion km travelled
🧪250+ experiments
👩🚀16 ESA astronauts
🥼75 m³ of lab space
🕣19,280 shifts run by the Columbus Control Centre
🔗 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Columbus: 100 000 orbits and counting
Today, the Columbus laboratory aboard the International Space Station completes its 100 000th orbit around Earth—a remarkable achievement for Europe’s science module in space. Since its...
www.esa.int
September 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Today, @esa.int's Columbus lab on the International Space Station circled Earth for the 100,000th time🎉
During that time, we’ve seen:
🧳4.26 billion km travelled
🧪250+ experiments
👩🚀16 ESA astronauts
🥼75 m³ of lab space
🕣19,280 shifts run by the Columbus Control Centre
🔗 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
During that time, we’ve seen:
🧳4.26 billion km travelled
🧪250+ experiments
👩🚀16 ESA astronauts
🥼75 m³ of lab space
🕣19,280 shifts run by the Columbus Control Centre
🔗 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
What appears to be a craggy, starlit mountaintop kissed by wispy clouds is actually a cosmic dust-scape being eaten away by the blistering winds and ultraviolet light of nearby, massive, infant stars. What else did #NASAWebb find in Pismis 24? https://bit.ly/4mr3cmt
September 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
What appears to be a craggy, starlit mountaintop kissed by wispy clouds is actually a cosmic dust-scape being eaten away by the blistering winds and ultraviolet light of nearby, massive, infant stars. What else did #NASAWebb find in Pismis 24? https://bit.ly/4mr3cmt
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
We welcome #JAXA's interest in participating in the Ramses mission to the asteroid #Apophis, which will make a safe but exceptionally rare and scientifically valuable flyby of Earth in April 2029.
ESA and JAXA advance potential Apophis mission collaboration
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has requested funding to participate in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses).
www.esa.int
August 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
🚀 Next launch incoming...
Join us live tonight (or early morning) for the next Ariane 6 flight #VA264 that will launch Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 into orbit from 01:10 BST/02:10 CEST on esawebtv.esa.int
📅 Liftoff schedule at 01:37 BST/02:37 CEST.
🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...
Join us live tonight (or early morning) for the next Ariane 6 flight #VA264 that will launch Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 into orbit from 01:10 BST/02:10 CEST on esawebtv.esa.int
📅 Liftoff schedule at 01:37 BST/02:37 CEST.
🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...
August 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
🚀 Next launch incoming...
Join us live tonight (or early morning) for the next Ariane 6 flight #VA264 that will launch Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 into orbit from 01:10 BST/02:10 CEST on esawebtv.esa.int
📅 Liftoff schedule at 01:37 BST/02:37 CEST.
🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...
Join us live tonight (or early morning) for the next Ariane 6 flight #VA264 that will launch Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 into orbit from 01:10 BST/02:10 CEST on esawebtv.esa.int
📅 Liftoff schedule at 01:37 BST/02:37 CEST.
🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...
Today is the 11th anniversary of the Rosetta spacecraft entering orbit around comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta and its lander Philae greatly expanded our knowledge of comets and of the origin of water on Earth.
August 6, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Today is the 11th anniversary of the Rosetta spacecraft entering orbit around comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta and its lander Philae greatly expanded our knowledge of comets and of the origin of water on Earth.
Space Shuttle Atlantis carrying the Raffaello MPLM to ISS on STS-135. Image c/o NASA
August 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Space Shuttle Atlantis carrying the Raffaello MPLM to ISS on STS-135. Image c/o NASA
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
All four Dragon crew members have now entered the International Space Station. A formal welcome ceremony is planned in about one hour. Watch live: youtube.com/live/nSm9UW7...
August 2, 2025 at 8:10 AM
All four Dragon crew members have now entered the International Space Station. A formal welcome ceremony is planned in about one hour. Watch live: youtube.com/live/nSm9UW7...
Midnight update: A new "remastered" version of the Orrery music is available on YouTube and Bandcamp. A stunning new soundscape invokes the serenity and wonder of outer space.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_wF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_wF...
Orbital Dawn - The Stars are Calling (2025 Remaster)
YouTube video by Silver Alicorn
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Midnight update: A new "remastered" version of the Orrery music is available on YouTube and Bandcamp. A stunning new soundscape invokes the serenity and wonder of outer space.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_wF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_wF...
SpaceX Crew-11 launches in 10 minutes!
July 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM
SpaceX Crew-11 launches in 10 minutes!
Meet Startrain and Startrain Express, the heavy launch system for taking crew to the Moon, Tiris and beyond! How far would you like to go?
July 30, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Meet Startrain and Startrain Express, the heavy launch system for taking crew to the Moon, Tiris and beyond! How far would you like to go?
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
📷 This NASA/ESA #Hubble Space Telescope image shows reflection nebula GN 04.32.8. Reflection nebulae are clouds of dust that don't emit their own light, as other nebulae do. Instead, light from nearby stars scatters off their dust, lighting them up.
🔗 esahubble.org/images/potw2... @stsci.edu
🔗 esahubble.org/images/potw2... @stsci.edu
July 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
📷 This NASA/ESA #Hubble Space Telescope image shows reflection nebula GN 04.32.8. Reflection nebulae are clouds of dust that don't emit their own light, as other nebulae do. Instead, light from nearby stars scatters off their dust, lighting them up.
🔗 esahubble.org/images/potw2... @stsci.edu
🔗 esahubble.org/images/potw2... @stsci.edu
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
We cannot catch a break this summer 🥵
After a successful launch last week, we're getting ready for another one in two weeks!
Ariane 6 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5A to orbit on 13 August at 01:37 BST, 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 local time).
#VA264
After a successful launch last week, we're getting ready for another one in two weeks!
Ariane 6 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5A to orbit on 13 August at 01:37 BST, 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 local time).
#VA264
July 28, 2025 at 9:28 AM
We cannot catch a break this summer 🥵
After a successful launch last week, we're getting ready for another one in two weeks!
Ariane 6 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5A to orbit on 13 August at 01:37 BST, 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 local time).
#VA264
After a successful launch last week, we're getting ready for another one in two weeks!
Ariane 6 will take Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5A to orbit on 13 August at 01:37 BST, 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 local time).
#VA264
Working hard on updating models... Here's the improved Pisces and Fusion spacecraft, with a new docking port based on the International Docking Adapter.
July 27, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Working hard on updating models... Here's the improved Pisces and Fusion spacecraft, with a new docking port based on the International Docking Adapter.
Today is the 20th anniversary of the launch of STS-114. This was the 31st flight of the Discovery Space Shuttle, and the first Space Shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster. This mission brought the Rafaello MPLM and External Stowage Platform 2 to the ISS.
July 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Today is the 20th anniversary of the launch of STS-114. This was the 31st flight of the Discovery Space Shuttle, and the first Space Shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster. This mission brought the Rafaello MPLM and External Stowage Platform 2 to the ISS.
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
A perfect liftoff and smooth flight to orbit for Vega-C carrying five satellites to orbit.
🚀 Flight #VV27 liftoff occured at 23:03 local time 25 July
🛰️🛰️🛰️🛰️ CO3D will map our planet in 3D
🛰️MicroCarb will monitor carbon dioxide from space
🚀 Flight #VV27 liftoff occured at 23:03 local time 25 July
🛰️🛰️🛰️🛰️ CO3D will map our planet in 3D
🛰️MicroCarb will monitor carbon dioxide from space
July 26, 2025 at 6:14 AM
A perfect liftoff and smooth flight to orbit for Vega-C carrying five satellites to orbit.
🚀 Flight #VV27 liftoff occured at 23:03 local time 25 July
🛰️🛰️🛰️🛰️ CO3D will map our planet in 3D
🛰️MicroCarb will monitor carbon dioxide from space
🚀 Flight #VV27 liftoff occured at 23:03 local time 25 July
🛰️🛰️🛰️🛰️ CO3D will map our planet in 3D
🛰️MicroCarb will monitor carbon dioxide from space
The stream starts at 6:40pm Pacific!
It's launch night in French Guiana, Vega-C is ready for liftoff on flight #VV27.
🛰️5 Earth-observing satellites will be launched
⌚23:03 local time 25 July
⌚03:03 BST/04:03 CEST 26 July
Here's how to follow the launch live, and what to watch out for:
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
🛰️5 Earth-observing satellites will be launched
⌚23:03 local time 25 July
⌚03:03 BST/04:03 CEST 26 July
Here's how to follow the launch live, and what to watch out for:
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
Watch live: Vega-C to launch CO3D and MicroCarb
www.esa.int
July 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The stream starts at 6:40pm Pacific!
Reposted by Orbital Dawn
🌍 🛰️ With Metop-SG-A1 now fuelled, preparations are ramping up for launch!
Tune in on Monday, 28 July at esawebtv.esa.int to watch the live pre-launch media briefing, featuring experts from the Metop mission and Copernicus’s Sentinel-5A — flying as an instrument aboard the satellite.
Tune in on Monday, 28 July at esawebtv.esa.int to watch the live pre-launch media briefing, featuring experts from the Metop mission and Copernicus’s Sentinel-5A — flying as an instrument aboard the satellite.
July 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM
🌍 🛰️ With Metop-SG-A1 now fuelled, preparations are ramping up for launch!
Tune in on Monday, 28 July at esawebtv.esa.int to watch the live pre-launch media briefing, featuring experts from the Metop mission and Copernicus’s Sentinel-5A — flying as an instrument aboard the satellite.
Tune in on Monday, 28 July at esawebtv.esa.int to watch the live pre-launch media briefing, featuring experts from the Metop mission and Copernicus’s Sentinel-5A — flying as an instrument aboard the satellite.