Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- “Continuous Heartbeat” Wins the Day in NASA’s LEO Microgravity Strategy SpacePolicyOnline.com · 17 Dec 2024 NASA released its new Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy today with goals and objectives for the post-International Space Station era. NASA has long held that the United States must have
- U.S. Space Force launches expedited GPS mission using Falcon 9 rocket Spaceflight Now · 17 Dec 2024 The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and the Space Operations Command (SpOC) shifted the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 07 spacecraft to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket due to dela...
- Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Starshield satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California for the NRO Spaceflight Now · 17 Dec 2024 The NROL-149 mission is scheduled to be the sixth and final mission of the year supporting the agency’s proliferated architecture. Liftoff from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base is set for 5:19 a.m. PST (8:19 a.m...
- SpaceX launches U.S. Space Force ‘rapid response’ GPS mission SpaceNews · 17 Dec 2024 The mission named RRT-1 is the first “Rapid Response Trailblazer” launch designed to demonstrate U.S. capabilities to rapidly deploy national security satellites
- Submarines for space exploration ESA · 16 Dec 2024 Submarines are emerging as a unique research platform to study human adaption to extreme environments – from ocean depths to outer space.
- T-Mobile opens beta for Starlink smartphone connectivity SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 T-Mobile has opened beta registration for Starlink’s direct-to-smartphone satellite service, enabling text messaging early next year on select newer devices in most U.S. cellular dead zones with a clear sky view.
- NASA releases long-term strategy for robotic Mars exploration SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 NASA has refined its strategy for future robotic exploration of Mars, advocating for a regular cadence of smaller missions to answer key questions in advance of human missions.
- Artemis II Core Stage Moves to High Bay 2 NASA · 16 Dec 2024 In this image from Dec. 11, 2024, the 212-foot-tall SLS (Space Launch System) core stage is lowered into High Bay 2 at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With the move to High Bay 2,...
- Starlink set to hit $11.8 billion revenue in 2025, boosted by military contracts SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 Quilty Space in a new report says the U.S. government contract awarded SpaceX a $537 million contract for Starlink services for Ukraine’s military
- Europe Allocates €10.6B to Build and Launch IRIS2 Constellation European Spaceflight · 16 Dec 2024 The European Space Agency and the European Commission have signed a contract with the SpaceRIDE consortium to develop and launch the IRIS2 secure communications constellation. In late October, the European Commission ann...
- Station Science Top News: Dec. 13, 2024 NASA · 16 Dec 2024 Benchmarks for solidifying metal alloys Researchers report benchmark data for modeling the growth of specific types of microstructures that form during solidification of metal alloys under different conditions. These mic...
- NASA Sees Progress on Starlab Commercial Space Station Development NASA · 16 Dec 2024 A NASA-funded commercial space station, Starlab, recently completed four key developmental milestones, marking substantial progress in the station’s design and operational readiness. The four milestones are part of a NAS...
- NASA Finalizes Strategy for Sustaining Human Presence in Low Earth Orbit NASA · 16 Dec 2024 As part of the agency’s efforts to enable broader use of space, NASA has released its final goals and objectives for low Earth orbit, defining the long-term approach toward advancing microgravity science, technology, and...
- Launch Roundup: SpaceX plans for five customer missions; Rocket Lab to launch mission for Synspective NASASpaceflight · 16 Dec 2024 The orbital launch manifest for the week of Dec. 16 through Dec. 22 is set…
- Celebrating 20 Years: Night Sky Network NASA · 16 Dec 2024 by Vivan White & Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific NASA’s Night Sky Network is one of the most successful and longstanding grassroots initiatives for public engagement in astronomy education. Started...
- Sols 4393-4395: Weekend Work at the Base of Texoli Butte NASA · 16 Dec 2024 Earth planning date: Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 Curiosity continues to make great progress over the Mount Sharp bedrock and will spend the weekend investigating the northern base of the “Texoli” butte. The science team back o...
- NASA Welcomes Thailand as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory NASA · 16 Dec 2024 Following a signing ceremony Monday in Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, NASA congratulates Thailand as the 51st nation to commit to the safe and responsible exploration of space that benefits humanity. “Thailand’s commi...
- NASA Names New Leader of STEM Engagement NASA · 16 Dec 2024 NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Elaine P. Ho will serve as the next associate administrator of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM), where she will lead the agency’s efforts to inspire Artemis Generat...
- NASA Mars Orbiter Spots Retired InSight Lander to Study Dust Movement NASA · 16 Dec 2024 New images taken from space show how dust on and around InSight is changing over time — information that can help scientists learn more about the Red Planet. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) caught a glimpse of t...
- Growing risks in low Earth orbit demand more responsible space behavior SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 At this very moment, there are over 10,000 operational satellites in low Earth orbit, along with 3,500 decommissioned (or defunct) satellites, tens of thousands of pieces of debris 10 centimeters […]
- Planet-forming discs lived longer in early Universe ESA · 16 Dec 2024 Our understanding of planet formation in the Universe’s early days is challenged by new data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. Webb solved a puzzle by proving a controversial finding made with the NASA/ES...
- NASA’s Webb Finds Planet-Forming Disks Lived Longer in Early Universe NASA · 16 Dec 2024 NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope just solved a conundrum by proving a controversial finding made with the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope more than 20 years ago. In 2003, Hubble provided evidence of a massive planet aro...
- NASA DAVINCI Mission’s Many ‘Firsts’ to Unlock Venus’ Hidden Secrets NASA · 16 Dec 2024 NASA’s DAVINCI probe will be first in the 21st century to brave Venus’ atmosphere as it descends from above the planet down to its surface.
- Why the Earth observation business model is flawed – and what must change SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 Despite its huge potential, the $6.8 billion Earth observation industry continues to struggle to establish a sustainable and scalable business model. New space companies are eager to democratize the vast […]
- China kicks off Guowang megaconstellation with Long March 5B launch SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 HELSINKI — China began the construction of its Guowang megaconstellation early Monday with a launch from Hainan island. A Long March 5B with a Yuanzheng-2 upper stage lifted off from […]
- Europe signs contracts for IRIS² constellation SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2024 The European Commission and ESA signed contracts with an industrial consortium Dec. 16 to develop a secure connectivity constellation with a total cost of 10.6 billion euros ($11.1 billion).
- ESA to support the development of EU’s secure communication satellites system ESA · 16 Dec 2024 A multi-orbit constellation of about 300 satellites that will deliver resilient, secure and fast communications for EU governments, European companies and citizens will be put in orbit after two contracts were confirmed...
- Relive Europe’s greatest space achievements of the year ESA · 16 Dec 2024 Relive Europe’s greatest space achievements of the year
- BepiColombo’s fifth flyby of Mercury reveals planet’s surface in mid-infrared light NASASpaceflight · 15 Dec 2024 The European Space Agency’s BepiColombo spacecraft recently performed its fifth flyby of Mercury on Dec.…
- ULA pitches ‘space interceptor’ role for Vulcan rocket’s upper stage SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2024 The company is proposing military applications for its Centaur V stage in a bid to differentiate itself in the highly competitive space launch market
- What’s Happening in Space Policy December 15-31, 2024 SpacePolicyOnline.com · 15 Dec 2024 Here is SpacePolicyOnline.com’s list of space policy events for the remainder of this year, December 15-31, 2024, and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are
- FAA takes step to streamline launch licensing process SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2024 The FAA is taking a step to streamline licensing for launch operators as the agency faces continues pressure to accelerate that process.
- NISAR planned to launch in March 2025 after antenna repairs SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2024 A joint Earth science mission between NASA and its Indian counterpart is now scheduled to launch as soon as next March after being delayed to repair its main radar antenna.
- Thales Completes Key Element of Mars Sample Return Mission European Spaceflight · 14 Dec 2024 Thales Alenia Space has completed the Orbit Insertion Module for the Earth Return Orbiter, which will ferry samples from the surface of Mars back to Earth. The Earth Return Orbiter is the European Space Agency’s main con...
- Live coverage: SpaceX to launch RRT-1 on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Spaceflight Now · 13 Dec 2024 The payload onboard hasn’t been officially confirmed by a customer or the spacecraft manufacturer. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is set for 8:05 p.m. EST (0105 UTC).
- Rivada brushes off regulatory setback for proposed broadband constellation SpaceNews · 13 Dec 2024 Rivada Space Networks remains confident it can reclaim priority Ka-band spectrum rights for nearly 600 proposed broadband satellites, more than two months after Liechtenstein’s telecoms regulator rescinded its license.
- NASA Awards Multi-Center Administrative Support Services Contract NASA · 13 Dec 2024 NASA has selected FedSync-BFS, LLC of Alexandria, Virginia, to provide administrative services for multiple NASA centers. The Multi-Center Administrative Support Services Contract is a firm-fixed-price and indefinite-del...
- China launches “laser diamond constellation test” satellites SpaceNews · 13 Dec 2024 HELSINKI — China launched a set of satellites likely intended to test inter-satellite laser links early Thursday as the country moves ahead with major constellation projects. A Long March 2D […]
- Atmospheric Probe Takes Flight NASA · 13 Dec 2024 On Oct. 22, 2024, the latest iteration of an atmospheric probe developed by researchers at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, successfully completed a test flight. Building on NASA 1960s rese...
- NASA Technologies Aim to Solve Housekeeping’s Biggest Issue – Dust NASA · 13 Dec 2024 During the flight test with Blue Origin, seven technologies developed by NASA’s Game Changing Development (GCD) program will study regolith mechanics and lunar dust transport in a simulated lunar gravity environment.