Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- SpaceX launches Badr-8 to bolster Arabsat’s satellite fleet SpaceNews · 27 May 2023 SpaceX launched the Badr-8 TV broadcast and telecoms satellite May 27 for Saudi Arabia-based fleet operator Arabsat, equipped with a jamming-resistant optical communications payload demonstrator.
- NASA Sets Coverage for Axiom Mission 2 Departure from Space Station NASA · 26 May 2023 NASA will provide live coverage of the undocking and departure of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) private astronaut mission from the International Space Station before crew returns to Earth.
- Space Development Agency to launch 13 satellites in late June SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 The Space Development Agency is preparing to launch at least 13 satellites in late June, the agency’s director Derek Tournear said May 26.
- Falcon 9 launches Arabsat 7B following weather delays NASASpaceflight · 26 May 2023 SpaceX finally launched the Arabsat 7B satellite to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) for Arabsat atop its Falcon 9 rocket.
- Rocket Lab’s Electron delivers TROPICS constellation to orbit Teslarati · 26 May 2023 Electron, Rocket Lab’s small satellite launch vehicle, launched twice, just ~2 weeks apart from the companies Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New...
- NASA Pursues Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services for Artemis Missions NASA · 26 May 2023 NASA is seeking industry proposals for a next-generation LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) that will allow astronauts to go farther and conduct more science than ever before as they explore the south polar region of the Moon d...
- DARPA seeks AI tools to automate tracking of satellite sensor data SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 BAE Systems won a $7 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop AI tools to automate the tracking of data collected by military satellites.
- Software problem blamed for ispace lunar lander crash SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 A software glitch kept a lunar lander from properly determining its altitude, leading to a crash on its landing attempt last month, Japanese company ispace announced May 26.
- L3Harris wins $80 million Air Force contract for satcom experiments SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded L3Harris Technologies a contract worth $80.8 million to conduct communications experiments using multiple commercial space internet services.
- NASA to Provide Briefing, Coverage of Spacewalks for Station Upgrades NASA · 26 May 2023 Two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station will conduct a pair of spacewalks Friday, June 9, and Thursday, June 15, to install two new solar arrays.
- New Mexico Students to Hear from NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station NASA · 26 May 2023 Students from southern New Mexico schools will have an opportunity to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
- NASA, Rocket Lab Complete Launch of TROPICS CubeSat Constellation NASA · 26 May 2023 The final pair of NASA’s TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) are in orbit after successfully launching at 11:46 p.m. EDT, May 25, (3:46 p....
- SpaceX investment in Starship approaches $5 billion SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 SpaceX will have spent $5 billion or more on its Starship vehicle and launch infrastructure by the end of this year, according to court filings and comments by the company’s chief executive.
- Rocket Report: Europe has a rocket problem, FAA testing safety of methane Ars Technica · 26 May 2023 "SpaceX continues to totally redefine the world’s access to space."
- Electron launches second pair of NASA TROPICS cubesats SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched a second pair of NASA storm-tracking cubesats late May 25, six years and three dozen flights after the company’s first orbital launch attempt.
- NASA safety panel skeptical of Starliner readiness for crewed flight SpaceNews · 26 May 2023 The chair of a NASA safety panel urged the agency not to rush into a crewed test flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner vehicle, calling for an independent “deep look” at technical issues with the spacecraft.
- Orbit Fab selects Impulse Space’s orbital vehicle for in-space refueling demo SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 Orbit Fab announced May 25 it selected an orbital vehicle made by startup Impulse Space to host a fuel depot for an in-orbit refueling demonstration funded by the U.S. military.
- A new report finds NASA has spent an obscene amount of money on SLS propulsion Ars Technica · 25 May 2023 "NASA and its contracts will continue to exceed planned cost and schedule."
- Kleos enters partnership with General Atomics SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 Kleos Space announced a partnership with General Atomics Commonwealth Computer Research aimed at making it easier for analysts around the world to derive insights from Kleos’ radio frequency data.
- Northrop Grumman wins $45 million Space Force contract to launch small weather satellite SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 Northrop Grumman won a $45.5 million contract to launch a small weather satellite in 2025, the U.S. Space Force announced May 25.
- ULA To Roll Back Vulcan Rocket, Flight Readiness Firing Delayed The Launch Pad · 25 May 2023 ULA has announced a last-minute delay in the engine flight readiness testing for its highly anticipated Vulcan rocket. The test fire, originally scheduled for today, was halted approximately three hours before the planne...
- NASA to Discuss Science on Next SpaceX Cargo Launch to Space Station NASA · 25 May 2023 NASA will host a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 30, to discuss the next science investigations, technology demonstrations, crew supplies, and hardware bound for the International Space Station aboard Spa...
- Virgin Galactic makes first suborbital spaceflight in nearly two years SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle flew to space for the first time in nearly two years May 25 on what the company projected to be the vehicle’s final test flight before commencing commercial operations.
- Investing in Space: Who wins in the Elon Musk versus Jeff Bezos moon race CNBC · 25 May 2023 The billionaire race to the moon is on, but it doesn’t matter whether Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos gets there first – either way, NASA wins.
- Viasat’s Inmarsat acquisition clears all regulatory hurdles SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 Viasat has secured all regulatory clearances needed to buy British satellite operator Inmarsat after getting unconditional approval from the European Commission May 25.
- South Korea’s KSLV-2 rocket launches seven satellites, one unaccounted for SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 South Korea’s KSLV-2 rocket put seven satellites, including one equipped with synthetic aperture radar, into sun-synchronous orbit May 25, although an eighth cubesat is believed to have not deployed properly.
- VSS Unity conducts first powered flight since Branson’s trip in 2021 NASASpaceflight · 25 May 2023 After a nearly two-year pause in flights, starting after a deviation from controlled airspace during Sir Richard Branson’s flight in July 2021, the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity made its first powered flight sin...
- Virgin Galactic completes Unity 25 spaceflight in key final test before commercial service CNBC · 25 May 2023 Virgin Galactic launched its first spaceflight in nearly two years on Thursday, a key final test for the space tourism company before it begins flying commercial passengers.
- At long last, the glorious future we were promised in space is on the way Ars Technica · 25 May 2023 "It is gratifying to see folks coming around."
- First components of Mobile Launcher 2 arrive at KSC SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 The first components for a new mobile launch platform for NASA’s Space Launch System, which has suffered extensive cost and schedule overruns, have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center.
- Iceye introduces Dwell imaging mode SpaceNews · 25 May 2023 Iceye unveiled an imaging mode at the GEOINT Symposium that distinguishes human-made from natural objects and highlights moving vehicles.
- Rocket Lab launches final TROPICS mission NASASpaceflight · 24 May 2023 Just under three weeks after Rocket Lab launched the “Rocket Like a Hurricane” mission placing two time-resolved observations of precipitation structure and storm intensity with a constellation of smallsats (TROPICS) sat...
- Impulse and Relativity target 2026 for launch of first Mars lander mission SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 Two companies are preparing for a 2026 launch of what they believe will be the first commercial robotic Mars lander mission, the start of what the companies plan to be a regular series of such missions.
- Fleet Space secures $33 million for mineral exploration constellation SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 Fleet Space Technologies has raised around $33 million in a Series C round to expand its satellite-based mineral exploration services.
- NASA, Department of Education Partnership Strengthens STEM Education NASA · 24 May 2023 NASA and the U.S. Department of Education signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, strengthening the collaboration between the two agencies, including efforts to increase access to high-quality STEM and space e...
- BlackSky, Spire roll out space-based maritime tracking service SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 BlackSky and Spire Global announced May 24 they are offering a new monitoring service that tracks ships via satellites.
- No one should be surprised Virgin Orbit failed—it had a terrible business plan Ars Technica · 24 May 2023 The business case simply did not close.
- Japan’s GITAI raises $29 million for space robotics business SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 Japanese space robotics venture GITAI has raised around $29 million to accelerate technology development and its U.S. expansion plans.
- Missile-warning satellite passes preliminary design review SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 A U.S. missile-warning satellite completed a major review, keeping the spacecraft on track for launch in 2028.
- Internet from a small satellite in geostationary orbit? Sure, why not Ars Technica · 24 May 2023 "We now have a new way of connecting very remote places."