Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- Shutdown Showdown Coming To a Head SpacePolicyOnline.com · 30 Sep 2023 With only 12 hours remaining in FY2023, the question of whether the government will be fully open tomorrow remains up in the air. Neither the House nor the Senate has
- NASA to extend New Horizons mission through late 2020s SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2023 NASA has agreed to extend operations of its New Horizons spacecraft through late this decade to support “multidisciplinary” science that could include another Kuiper Belt object flyby.
- ESA Calls for Small Moon Mission Ideas European Spaceflight · 29 Sep 2023 A call for proposals from the European Space Agency is asking European industry to submit ideas for “small lunar missions.” The call was published as a component of the agency’s Terrae Novae exploration programme, which...
- How Sierra Space Protects America’s Next Space Plane, Dream Chaser NASASpaceflight · 29 Sep 2023 Dream Chaser, the so-called “mini shuttle”, is set to bring back the capability of returning experiments and equipment from the International Space Station (ISS) through Earth’s atmosphere for an eventual runway landing.
- Space Development Agency funds demonstration of satellite laser links in ‘degraded’ environments SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2023 The Space Development Agency awarded a $14.2 million contract to General Atomics to produce two optical communications terminals hosted on two small satellites for an in-space demonstration.
- NASA's Perseverance Captures Dust-Filled Martian Whirlwind NASA · 29 Sep 2023 The six-wheeled geologist spotted the twister as part of an atmospheric exploration of Jezero Crater.
- Uranus Orbiter and Probe: 35 Years in the Making Space Scout · 29 Sep 2023 The solar system contains 8 planets, each possessing incredible uniqueness. Of these, some stand out as being perhaps the least explored. Every planet has had at least one orbiter take incredible amounts of in situ obser...
- Ispace revises design of lunar lander for NASA CLPS mission SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2023 The American subsidiary of Japanese company ispace has revised the design of a lunar lander it is providing for a NASA mission, pushing back the launch of that mission by a year.
- European Commission Launches Targeted Consultation for EU Space Law European Spaceflight · 29 Sep 2023 The European Commission has launched a targeted stakeholder consultation for an EU Space Law that could be adopted in 2024. The creation of an EU Space Law (EUSL) was identified as a priority for the Commission during a...
- China to attempt lunar far side sample return in 2024 SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2023 China will launch its Chang’e-6 lunar sample return mission next year in an attempt at a first-ever collection of material from the far side of the moon.
- NASA delays Psyche launch a week SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2023 NASA has postponed the launch of the asteroid mission Psyche a week to update the configuration of thrusters on the spacecraft.
- Rogers Demands Air Force IG Investigation of USSPACECOM HQ Decision SpacePolicyOnline.com · 28 Sep 2023 The long simmering feud between the Alabama and Colorado congressional delegations over the location of U.S. Space Command headquarters erupted again today at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Chairman
- Rogers to continue to challenge decision to keep Space Command in Colorado SpaceNews · 28 Sep 2023 he chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) during a hearing Sept. 28 grilled military officials over their role in the Biden administration’s decision to keep U.S. Space Command’s headqua...
- Blue Origin, Sierra Space weigh future of Orbital Reef space station as partnership turns rocky CNBC · 28 Sep 2023 The Orbital Reef space station partnership between Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Sierra Space is on rocky footing, CNBC has learned.
- Astroscale inspector satellite ready for launch SpaceNews · 28 Sep 2023 Astroscale says a mission to inspect an upper stage abandoned in low Earth orbit, as a precursor to removing it, is ready for launch, but a recent launch failure will keep it on the ground for the time being.
- SpaceX to close out third quarter with record-breaking Starlink mission NASASpaceflight · 28 Sep 2023 SpaceX is set to close the third quarter of 2023 with its 70th launch of the year. The mission, Starlink Group 6-19, is set to lift off this Friday, Sept. 29, at 6:39 PM EDT (22:29 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-...
- Investing in Space: Japan’s ispace opens Denver headquarters as companies chase moon market CNBC · 28 Sep 2023 It seems like everyone wants to go to the moon these days, with serious lunar programs underway in China, India, Japan and the United States. One company is pushing to tap two of those markets: Tokyo-based lunar lander c...
- Germany Commits €2M to Fund Offshore Launch Infrastructure European Spaceflight · 28 Sep 2023 The German government has committed €2 million to support the development of infrastructure that would enable the country to support the launch of microlaunchers from German territory. “Microlaunchers are a cutting-edge...
- Eutelsat and OneWeb combine to create European satellite giant as Musk’s Starlink pressures sector CNBC · 28 Sep 2023 OneWeb, the British satellite giant, completed its combination with French rival Eutelsat Thursday, setting the stage for a European challenger to Elon Musk’s space internet venture Starlink.
- UK to Provide £65M for High-Risk, High-Reward Space Tech Projects European Spaceflight · 28 Sep 2023 The UK Space Agency has announced plans to make £65 million of funding available for what it refers to as “high-risk, high-reward” projects that could boost the United Kingdom’s leadership in space technologies and appli...
- Mynaric optical terminals selected for Northrop Grumman satellites pass key tests SpaceNews · 28 Sep 2023 Mynaric’s laser communications terminals passed key ground tests required to be deployed on Space Development Agency satellites
- Eutelsat completes multi-orbit OneWeb merger after shareholder vote SpaceNews · 28 Sep 2023 Eutelsat has combined its geostationary satellite business with OneWeb’s low Earth orbit constellation after shareholders voted Sept. 28 in favor of the all-share deal.
- FAA closes New Shepard mishap investigation SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 The Federal Aviation Administration announced Sept. 26 it had closed the mishap investigation into a failed launch by Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle more than a year ago, but said the vehicle is not yet cleared to res...
- X-Bow to demonstrate additive manufacturing of solid rocket motors for U.S. Air Force SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded X-Bow Systems, a startup that specializes in solid rocket propulsion, a $17.8 million contract to demonstrate additive manufacturing technologies.
- SpaceX wins first Pentagon contract for Starshield, its satellite network for military use CNBC · 27 Sep 2023 The Pentagon has awarded Elon Musk’s SpaceX its first confirmed contract for the Starshield network it’s developing, a military-specific version of the company’s Starlink satellite internet system, the defense agency sai...
- Rogue Space Systems gets US Air Force funds to advance in-orbit servicing tech SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 Rogue Space Systems, a three-year-old startup with plans for a fleet of small in-orbit servicing spacecraft, announced more U.S. government funding Sept. 27 to develop core technologies.
- FAA closes investigation into Blue Origin rocket failure, requires 21 ‘corrective actions’ CNBC · 27 Sep 2023 The Federal Aviation Administration closed its investigation into last year’s failed flight of a cargo mission by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, the regulator announced on Wednesday.
- ESA to Publish Vega C Test Z40 Test Failure Findings This Week European Spaceflight · 27 Sep 2023 An ESA Independent Inquiry Commission established to investigate the failure of the Vega C Zerfiro 40 (Z40) static fire test will report its findings before the end of the week. The first commercial flight of the Vega C...
- Regreso del astronauta de la NASA que batió récords y sus compañeros NASA · 27 Sep 2023 El astronauta de la NASA Frank Rubio aterrizó sano y salvo en la Tierra con sus compañeros de tripulación el miércoles, tras pasar 371 días en el espacio, un récord para Estados Unidos.
- Record-Setting NASA Astronaut, Crewmates Return from Space Mission NASA · 27 Sep 2023 During his record-breaking mission, Rubio spent many hours on scientific activities aboard the space station, conducting a variety of tasks ranging from plant research to physical sciences studies.
- Frank Rubio Back on Terra Firma After Record-Setting 371-Day Spaceflight SpacePolicyOnline.com · 27 Sep 2023 NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and two Russian colleagues landed in Kazakhstan this morning after 371 days in space, a new record for a U.S. astronaut. The duration was a surprise.
- Soyuz returns ISS crew after record-setting stay SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 A Soyuz capsule landed in Kazakhstan Sept. 27, returning two Russians and one American from the International Space Station after more than a year in orbit.
- Cybersecurity firm Xage gets $17 million contract to protect Space Force networks SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 The cybersecurity firm Xage Security won a $17 million contract to protect Systems Command networks for the next five years.
- China narrows field for low-cost space station cargo missions SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 China’s human spaceflight agency has chosen four proposals to advance to the next stage of low-cost cargo transportation system development for the country’s space station.
- Space Force selects university partner to evaluate classified ground systems software SpaceNews · 27 Sep 2023 The Space Force awarded a $10 million contract to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab to evaluate the software and cybersecurity of ground systems being developed for a new classified satellite network.
- NASA offers choice of contract type for ISS deorbit vehicle SpaceNews · 26 Sep 2023 NASA has issued a call for proposals for an International Space Station deorbit module, giving bidders an opportunity to choose the type of contract for its development.
- After setting new record for responsive launch, Space Force eyes next challenge SpaceNews · 26 Sep 2023 The U.S. Space Force Victus Nox mission that Firefly Aerospace launched Sept. 14 set a new record for how quickly a national security payload can be put on orbit
- NASA Awards Aerospace Model Systems Fabrication Follow-On Contract NASA · 26 Sep 2023 NASA has awarded the Reliance Consolidated Models VI (RECOM VI) contract to Advanced Technologies Inc. and Eagle Aviation Technologies, LLC, both of Newport News, Virginia, to support the fabrication of aerospace model s...
- Portugal Adopts New Space Law European Spaceflight · 26 Sep 2023 Portugal has adopted a suite of new legislation aimed at regulating the licensing process for space objects, whether launching and returning vehicles to and from space or placing satellites into orbit. The country’s Spac...
- Lack of SLS rockets limit NASA Artemis manifest NASASpaceflight · 26 Sep 2023 NASA and its advisory bodies remain concerned about the low flight rate planned for its crewed Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, but the space agency doesn’t have enough vehicles to fly more often th...