Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- US House Members Introduce Bill To Make NOAA A Independent Agency The Launch Pad · 17 Jun 2023 A group of US House members have introduced a bill seeking to transform the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) into an independent agency while retaining its commercial space responsibilities within t...
- Firefly Aerospace Purchases Remaining Virgin Orbit Assets The Launch Pad · 17 Jun 2023 Firefly Aerospace has reached an agreement to acquire the remaining assets of Virgin Orbit as part of Virgin Orbit's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
- Space Force Assigns SpaceX & ULA New Security Missions The Launch Pad · 17 Jun 2023 The US Space Force launch procurement office has announced that an additional 12 missions have been assigned to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract.
- Space Force extends Palantir’s data-as-a-service contracts SpaceNews · 17 Jun 2023 The Space Force awarded data analytics company Palantir $110.3 million in contract extensions for the company’s cloud-based data services.
- Virgin Galactic To Begin Commercial Operations This Month The Launch Pad · 17 Jun 2023 Virgin Galactic has announced their are preparing for the first commercial flight of the SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle in later this month.
- Final Ariane 5 Launch Delayed Due To Technical Problems The Launch Pad · 17 Jun 2023 The final launch of Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket has been postponded due to a potential problem with the pyrotechnical systems onboard.
- UK Space Agency prioritizes sustainability SpaceNews · 16 Jun 2023 The UK Space Agency is taking steps to encourage and prioritize space sustainability, both domestically and internationally.
- Despite growing interest in commercial satellite data, industry faces uncertainty SpaceNews · 16 Jun 2023 Remote-sensing space companies worry that U.S. defense and intelligence agencies are not adopting commercial products and services at the pace and scale they hoped.
- NASA Awards Institutional, Maintenance, Operations, and Repair Contract NASA · 16 Jun 2023 NASA Awards Institutional, Maintenance, Operations, and Repair Contract
- NASA Awards Transformational Shared Services Support Contract NASA · 16 Jun 2023 NASA has selected COLSA Corporation of Huntsville, Alabama to provide a broad range of support to the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC). The contract includes support for financial management, human resources, procureme...
- Weirdly, a NASA official says fixed-price contracts do the agency “no good” Ars Technica · 16 Jun 2023 "What really makes me worried is that I think it shows where the heart of the agency is."
- Firefly to buy remaining Virgin Orbit assets SpaceNews · 16 Jun 2023 Firefly Aerospace has agreed to buy Virgin Orbit’s remaining assets — inventory at two company production facilities — as part of Virgin Orbit’s bankruptcy proceedings.
- SpaceX, Blue Origin, others highlighted in new NASA low-Earth orbit partnerships NASASpaceflight · 16 Jun 2023 On June 15, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced its intention to partner with seven U.S. aerospace companies in order to advance human spaceflight and the commercial low-Earth orbit economy...
- NASA Invites Media to View Orion Spacecraft for Next Artemis Missions NASA · 16 Jun 2023 Media are invited to view NASA’s Orion spacecraft for upcoming Artemis missions at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida later this summer.
- Intelligence analysts confront the reality of deepfakes SpaceNews · 16 Jun 2023 As artificial intelligence takes center stage in the technology landscape, U.S. national security agencies see huge opportunities but also frightening risks. The rise of AI — and what it means
- NASA agreements to support work on commercial spacecraft and space stations SpaceNews · 16 Jun 2023 NASA partnerships announced June 15 would support development of new commercial capabilities that include a Blue Origin crewed spacecraft and a Starship-derived space station from SpaceX.
- CesiumAstro to develop satcom terminal for U.S. Air Force drone SpaceNews · 16 Jun 2023 CesiumAstro won a U.S. Air Force contract to develop a phased array antenna for military drones.
- Rocket Report: China addresses falling rocket debris, Vulcan launch slipping Ars Technica · 16 Jun 2023 FAA is "taking a finer pencil to the way operations are run and managed."
- Technical problem postpones final Ariane 5 launch SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 Arianespace has postponed the final launch of the Ariane 5, potentially for several weeks, after discovering a potential problem with pyrotechnical systems on the rocket.
- Eutelsat reversing course with European retail broadband business sale SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 Eutelsat told the Paris stock exchange June 15 it is selling its European retail broadband activities to “an experienced private operator” to return focus to wholesale services.
- NASA Partners With SpaceX, Blue Origin, Sierra Space + 4 Others For Future Commercial Space Capabilities The Launch Pad · 15 Jun 2023 In a significant move to foster innovation and advance the future of human spaceflight and the U.S. commercial low Earth orbit economy, NASA has announced the second Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 ini...
- Seven US Companies Collaborate with NASA to Advance Space Capabilities NASA · 15 Jun 2023 NASA will partner with seven U.S. companies to meet future business and government needs, ultimately benefitting human spaceflight and the U.S. commercial low Earth orbit economy.
- Virgin Galactic sets late June date for first commercial SpaceShipTwo flight SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 Virgin Galactic announced June 15 that it plans to conduct the first commercial flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle in late June on a mission for the Italian Air Force.
- Virgin Galactic sets first commercial space tourism flight for this month; shares spike more than 40% CNBC · 15 Jun 2023 Virgin Galactic aims to launch its commercial space tourism service in late June.
- ISS finishes initial iROSA upgrade with two EVAs this month NASASpaceflight · 15 Jun 2023 The International Space Station’s iROSA (ISS Roll-Out Solar Array) solar panel upgrade, started in 2021, has finished its initial upgrade plan with the successful installation of the last two arrays this month. The array...
- ESA Reserve Astronaut Secures Seat Aboard Axiom Flight European Spaceflight · 15 Jun 2023 The European Space Agency has announced that astronaut reserve Marcus Wandt will fly aboard an Axiom Space flight to the International Space Station. With the announcement, Wandt has become the first of the newest ESA as...
- Project Kuiper urges regulators to focus on satellite maneuverability rules SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 Governments should consider requiring satellites over a certain altitude to be maneuverable to improve space sustainability, according to an executive for Amazon’s proposed Project Kuiper constellation.
- Investing in Space: Bankers and insiders say M&A action is heating up CNBC · 15 Jun 2023 The space sector has seen a variety of mergers and acquisitions since the start of the year, but the deal-making is only heating up.
- Former top SpaceX lawyer joins Surf Air Mobility as it prepares to go public CNBC · 15 Jun 2023 David Anderman, who recently served as SpaceX general counsel, is joining soon-to-be-public company Surf Air Mobility, CNBC has learned.
- Former Spaceflight CEO joins law firm to support commercial space clients SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 The former chief executive of Spaceflight has joined a major law firm to lead its efforts in supporting the commercial space industry.
- Luxembourg approves program to give NATO O3b mPower access SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 SES said June 15 that Luxembourg has approved a program to carve out capacity from its O3b mPower medium Earth orbit broadband network for the country and NATO allies.
- More countries encouraged to commit to halt destructive ASAT tests SpaceNews · 15 Jun 2023 Despite an overwhelming vote of support by the United Nations General Assembly six months ago, advocates of a moratorium on one type of anti-satellite tests say they are still working to get more countries to adopt it.
- For the first time in decades, Congress seems interested in space-based solar power Ars Technica · 14 Jun 2023 "We already know from early research that it is possible."
- Space Force working to define what it means to be a guardian SpaceNews · 14 Jun 2023 Amid the growing pains that come with being a new military branch, the U.S. Space Force is trying to establish its brand and build an identity.
- New Orbital Debris Mitigation Guidelines Released By World Economic Forum The Launch Pad · 14 Jun 2023 The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released The Space Industry Debris Mitigation Recommendations, new set of guidelines aimed at reducing its creation.
- Scientists Discover Phosphorus on Enceladus The Launch Pad · 14 Jun 2023 A international team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery, finding phosphorus, an essential chemical element for life, locked inside salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from Saturn's moon Enceladus.
- Tomorrow.io raises $87 million for weather satellite constellation SpaceNews · 14 Jun 2023 “This is the world’s first commercially built weather radar satellite,” said Rei Goffer, Tomorrow.io co-founder and chief strategy officer.
- Vulcan aces engine test, but upper stage anomaly will delay launch for a while Ars Technica · 14 Jun 2023 "Working corrective action and retest."
- Muon celebrates launch of first satellite in Climate Constellation SpaceNews · 14 Jun 2023 Muon Space, a Silicon Valley startup building a climate-monitoring constellation, sent its first satellite into orbit June 12 on the SpaceX Transporter-8 rideshare flight.
- China begins constructing commercial launch pad for solid rockets SpaceNews · 14 Jun 2023 China has broken ground on a new launch pad dedicated to commercial solid rockets to help boost access to launch facilities.