Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- Debut Astranis satellite beams first signals to Alaska SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 The first Astranis-built satellite has reached geostationary orbit over Alaska and completed a key end-to-end payload test following its Falcon Heavy launch at the end of April, the Californian manufacturer announced May...
- Astranis says its first internet satellite is working ‘perfectly’ as it readies coverage for Alaska CNBC · 24 May 2023 Astranis, a San Francisco-based company with an alternative approach to providing internet access from satellites, has its first spacecraft in orbit and the company on Wednesday said it’s working “perfectly.”
- Homeland security an untapped market for satellite imagery and analytics SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 Commercial imaging satellites and change detection analysis have emerged as powerful tools increasingly employed by national security agencies. But the potential of this technology has yet to be exploited for U.S. homela...
- Satellite Vu raised $15.8 million for thermal satellite constellation SpaceNews · 24 May 2023 British Earth observation startup Satellite Vu raised 12.7 million British pounds ($15.8 million) for its thermal satellite constellation.
- NGA plans new procurement of commercial Earth monitoring services SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is planning a new procurement of commercial services to monitor activities from space.
- Three companies to buy most Virgin Orbit assets SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 Three aerospace companies submitted winning bids at a bankruptcy auction for most of the assets of launch company Virgin Orbit, ending any chance that company could return to flight under new ownership.
- Virgin Orbit Sells Assets To RocketLab, Stratolaunch and Vast Launcher The Launch Pad · 23 May 2023 Virgin Orbit has sold its assets and equipment to a trio of aerospace companies through an auction, as confirmed by a court filing released on Tuesday.
- Virgin Orbit shuts down after bankruptcy sales CNBC · 23 May 2023 Bankrupt rocket company Virgin Orbit is shutting down after selling its facility leases and equipment to a trio of aerospace companies in an auction, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
- NRO seeks closer ties with industry SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 U.S. defense and intelligence agencies need to forge even closer ties with the commercial sector to address global security threats, said Chris Scolese, National Reconnaissance Office director.
- Air Force Research Lab to fund development of Ursa Major’s rocket engines SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 Rocket propulsion startup Ursa Major won a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to support the development of two of the company’s rocket engines.
- The Spaceport Company Performs First Demo of Offshore Launch Ops The Launch Pad · 23 May 2023 The Spaceport Company has successfully demonstrated their capability to conduct launches from a floating platform in US territorial waters for the first time.
- Astrobotic To Provide Blue Moon Lander Cargo Systems The Launch Pad · 23 May 2023 Astrobotic to provide cargo systems as part of the Blue Origin National Team's, who won NASA's Sustainable Human Landing System Contract for the Artemis program last week.
- The Spaceport Company demonstrates offshore launch operations SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 Two companies have demonstrated the ability to conduct launches from a floating platform in U.S. territorial waters, a concept that could help address congestion at terrestrial launch sites.
- Orbital Sidekick acquires first light imagery SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 Hyperspectral startup Orbital Sidekick is acquiring imagery from its first two satellites launched in April on the SpaceX Transporter-7 rideshare flight.
- SpaceX to launch 33rd Falcon 9 launch of the year Teslarati · 23 May 2023 SpaceX is targeting 11:25 PM ET (03:25 UTC) tonight to launch Arabsat BADR-8 to a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch window...
- L3Harris wins IARPA HAYSTAC contract SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 L3Harris Technologies announced a contract May 22 from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity to provide technology to help characterize and predict human mobility.
- NGA to map lunar geography to enable GPS on the moon SpaceNews · 23 May 2023 The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is working with NASA to develop a positioning and navigation system to guide visitors around the surface of the moon “as accurately and as safely as GPS does on Earth."
- NATO faces hurdles in acquiring commercial satellite imagery SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 Commercial satellite imagery is helping NATO address its need for persistent monitoring in spite of cost, technical and licensing issues.
- SpaceX set to join FAA to fight environmental lawsuit that could delay Starship work CNBC · 22 May 2023 Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to join the Federal Aviation Administration as a co-defendant to fight a lawsuit brought by environmental groups following the company’s first test flight of Starship, the world’s largest rocket...
- SpaceX making progress toward next Starship test flights NASASpaceflight · 22 May 2023 Repairs following the maiden Starship flight and preparations ahead of the second launch are ongoing at Starbase, all while SpaceX is at an all-time high in terms of Starship vehicle production with a new ship and booste...
- NASA Mission to Study Ice Clouds, Help Observe Our Dynamic Atmosphere NASA · 22 May 2023 NASA has selected a new mission to help humanity better understand Earth’s dynamic atmosphere – specifically, ice clouds that form at high altitudes throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions. The PolSIR instrument – s...
- OneWeb announces Innovation Challenge Winners SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 OneWeb announced six finalists May 22 for its annual Innovation Challenge.
- Exploration Upper Stage Unveiled: Revolutionary Leap in Crew Safety, Cargo Capacity, and Deep Space Power SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 After Artemis I launched in November 2022 atop the only super heavy-lift rocket capable of carrying crew and large cargo to deep space in a single lift, James Savage went
- DARPA selects Umbra to demonstrate radar imaging techniques SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 Umbra won a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to demonstrate novel collection techniques using synthetic aperture radar satellites, the company announced May 22.
- SpaceX delivers private Axiom crew to the space station, carrying Saudi astronauts CNBC · 22 May 2023 SpaceX delivered another quartet of astronauts to the International Space Station on Monday morning, on a private flight that included government astronauts from Saudi Arabia as the Arab kingdom leverages U.S. companies...
- Former NGA director Robert Cardillo joins Synthetaic’s board of directors SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 Synthetaic, a startup that uses artificial intelligence to analyze data from space and air sensors, announced May 22 that former director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Robert Cardillo has joined its boar...
- SpaceX launches 10th crewed mission, third fully commercial flight Ars Technica · 22 May 2023 SpaceX has rapidly become the world's most prolific human spaceflight provider.
- Impact Observatory unveils IO Monitor SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 Impact Observatory unveiled an early access program May 22 for IO Monitor, the Washington-based company’s global mapping and monitoring product.
- Defending Taiwan by countering China’s biggest threat SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 China’s anti-satellite capabilities are not the biggest threat to GPS. What should be much more of a concern to U.S. policymakers is that China relies far less on space for critical GPS-like services than we do.
- China launches new science probes, SAR sat and replacement Beidou satellite SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 China conducted a pair of launches last week to replenish its Beidou navigation system and send science and radar tech test satellites into orbit.
- Space Force turns to metaverse to predict effects of spaceport congestion SpaceNews · 22 May 2023 Space launch operations at Cape Canaveral, the nation’s busiest spaceport, were recently replicated in a digital 3D “metaverse” that merged virtual and physical worlds.
- Axiom Space Private Astronauts Headed to International Space Station NASA · 21 May 2023 Four private astronauts are in orbit following the successful launch of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the second all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Axiom Space astronauts lifted off at 5:37 p.m....
- SpaceX launches second Axiom Space private astronaut mission to ISS SpaceNews · 21 May 2023 Axiom Space’s second private astronaut mission is on its way to the International Space Station after a launch May 21.
- NASA seeks to shore up congressional support for Artemis SpaceNews · 21 May 2023 As NASA faces both short-term and long-term uncertainty about its funding, the agency is turning to its most powerful advocates: its astronauts.
- EarthDaily Analytics offers VENµS imagery access SpaceNews · 21 May 2023 Vancouver-based EarthDaily Analytics is offering access to the French-Israeli Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (VENµS) mission through Amazon Web Services.
- Iceye to supply UAE SAR satellites SpaceNews · 21 May 2023 Iceye plans to develop a five-satellite constellation for Bayanat, a United Arab Emirates geospatial analysis firm, and Emirati fleet operator Yahsat.
- Planet seeks partners that can extract more value from data SpaceNews · 21 May 2023 Planet is working with partners to “get value out of our data,” said Kevin Weil, Planet’s president of product and business.
- Umbra and Ursa to collaborate on radar imaging data products SpaceNews · 21 May 2023 Satellite operator Umbra and satellite data analytics specialist Ursa Space announced a strategic partnership to pursue more advanced applications of synthetic aperture radar imagery.
- SpaceX launches Axiom-2, before arriving with four astronauts to the ISS NASASpaceflight · 21 May 2023 Axiom Space launched the second-ever all-private crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The international crew of Axiom-2 (Ax-2) flew onboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff was on...
- The Axiom-2 mission heads to the International Space Station courtesy of SpaceX Teslarati · 21 May 2023 The Axiom-2 mission is heading to the International Space System after a launch earlier this evening, courtesy of SpaceX. As it launched...