Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- SpaceX launches first pair of O3b mPower satellites SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2022 SpaceX launched the first O3b mPower satellites for SES’ next-generation broadband constellation Dec. 16, each promising 10 times more throughput than their predecessors in medium Earth orbit.
- EOI Space forges equity and sales pact with Japan’s NTT Data SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2022 EOI Space, the Earth-observation startup formerly known as Earth Observant, attracted its first major customer for ultra-high-resolution imagery drawn from a constellation of satellites destined for very low Earth orbit.
- Arqit drops plan to operate quantum encryption satellites SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2022 British cybersecurity software developer Arqit is looking to sell a partly built satellite after scrapping plans for a space-based quantum encryption network.
- Space acquisition chief: DoD will buy small satellites, at fixed prices SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2022 Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisitions and integration, wants acquisition officers to avoid cost-plus contracts and buy satellites at fixed prices
- NASA Awards Contract to Maintain Webb Telescope Operations NASA · 15 Dec 2022 NASA has selected Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of Redondo Beach, California, to support the James Webb Space Telescope Phase E – Operations and Sustainment contract.
- NASA, AST & Science Sign Joint Spaceflight Safety Agreement NASA · 15 Dec 2022 NASA and AST & Science, a subsidiary of AST SpaceMobile, Inc., have signed a joint agreement to formalize both parties’ strong interest in the sharing of information to maintain and improve space safety.
- Soyuz MS-22 suffers coolant leak, canceling Russian spacewalk NASASpaceflight · 15 Dec 2022 A planned spacewalk aboard the International Space Station on the evening of Dec. 14 involving cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin was canceled due to a coolant leak aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft.
- Investing in Space: Coopetition CNBC · 15 Dec 2022 This year has seen two remarkable examples of competitors cooperating, with OneWeb and then Northrop Grumman buying launches from SpaceX – deals which would have seemed far-fetched before 2022. Left without rides to spac...
- First O3b mPOWER broadband satellites set for liftoff after quick launch campaign Spaceflight Now · 15 Dec 2022 The first two spacecraft in an 11-satellite refresh of SES’s Medium Earth Orbit O3b internet constellation are poised to rocket into space from Cape Canaveral on Friday, less than two weeks after shipment to the Florida...
- Soyuz leak cancels space station spacewalk SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2022 A coolant leak in a Soyuz spacecraft docked to the International Space Station Dec. 14 forced flight controllers to cancel a Russian spacewalk there and raised questions about the spacecraft’s ability to return to Earth...
- Satellite to take pulse of Earth’s water cycle ready for launch on SpaceX rocket Spaceflight Now · 15 Dec 2022 A French-built satellite equipped with an innovative U.S.-made radar instrument is buttoned up for blastoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday from California, kicking off a mission to investigate the link between Ea...
- Russian engineers assessing leak from Soyuz crew spacecraft Spaceflight Now · 15 Dec 2022 A Russian Soyuz crew ferry ship docked to the International Space Station spewed particles of an unknown substance, presumably coolant fluid, into space Wednesday night, forcing two Russian cosmonauts to call off a plann...
- A Russian spacecraft started leaking uncontrollably on Wednesday night Ars Technica · 15 Dec 2022 After three hours Monday night the leak remained ongoing.
- Wallops officials look for growth in launch activity with Rocket Lab SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2022 The first Electron launch from Wallops will mark what spaceport officials hope is the start of a new era of increased launch activity there.
- Microsoft and Viasat partner to expand global connectivity access SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 Microsoft said Dec. 14 it is partnering with satellite operator Viasat to find solutions for bringing internet access to 10 million unserved and underserved people within three years.
- U.S. space internet companies fear competitive threat from China SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 U.S. government should “enact policies and incentives to keep U.S. LEO broadband companies competitive internationally," says a new CSIS report.
- NASA and Rocket Lab ready for first Electron launch from Wallops SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 After more than two years of delays, NASA and Rocket Lab are finally ready to conduct the first Electron launch from Wallops Island in Virginia on Dec. 16.
- U.S. national security space strategy emphasizes resilient systems, responsible behavior SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 A recently completed U.S. space strategy stresses the need to deploy resilient constellations that can operate under attack, and supports norms for responsible behavior in space
- Satellite imagery venture Planet delivers record quarter, sees annual revenue nearing $200 million CNBC · 14 Dec 2022 Satellite imagery and data company Planet reported record third-quarter revenue on Wednesday, forecasting nearly $200 million in annual revenue.
- Eutelsat ordered to stop broadcasting three Russian channels SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 France’s TV regulator ordered Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat to stop broadcasting three Russian propaganda channels, reversing an earlier decision not to interfere.
- Space launch supply chokepoint puts U.S. in vulnerable spot, expert warns SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 The U.S. government has to face the prospect of having to rely on a single launch provider
- Historic first launch of Chinese private methane-fueled rocket ends in failure SpaceNews · 14 Dec 2022 Chinese launch company Landspace suffered failure Wednesday in what was the world's first attempt to achieve orbit with a methane-fueled rocket.
- Space debris expert: Orbits will be lost—and people will die—later this decade Ars Technica · 14 Dec 2022 "Flexing geopolitical muscles in space to harm others has already happened."
- SpaceX launch from California delayed to review engine data Spaceflight Now · 14 Dec 2022 SpaceX has delayed the launch from California of a Falcon 9 rocket with a U.S.-French environmental monitoring satellite from Thursday to Friday, allowing more time to review the source of moisture in two of the launcher...
- Ariane 5 rocket launches new European Meteosat satellite, two Intelsat comsats Spaceflight Now · 13 Dec 2022 A European Ariane 5 rocket fired off a launching stand Tuesday in tropical South America with the vanguard of a modernized series of weather satellites to improve storm forecasts for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East,...
- First African nations sign Artemis Accords SpaceNews · 13 Dec 2022 Two African countries became the first from the continent to join the Artemis Accords as the United States works to bring more emerging space nations into the agreement.
- Ariane 5 launches triple satellite mission to geostationary transfer orbit SpaceNews · 13 Dec 2022 Arianespace launched Europe’s most advanced weather-tracking spacecraft Dec. 13 along with a pair of satellites Intelsat needs to clear C-band spectrum in the United States.
- NASA’s Big 2022: Historic Moon Mission, Webb Telescope Images, More NASA · 13 Dec 2022 2022 is one for the history books as NASA caps off another astronomical year.
- Bill Nelson came to NASA to do two things, and he’s all out of bubblegum Ars Technica · 13 Dec 2022 Working with Congress? "It's easy as pie."
- Arianespace launches three spacecraft, Intelsat talks satellite refresh efforts NASASpaceflight · 13 Dec 2022 Arianespace has successfully lifted three satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on Tuesday from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana using the veteran Ariane 5 launcher.
- Quantum Space raises $15 million for cislunar spacecraft SpaceNews · 13 Dec 2022 Quantum Space has raised $15 million to further development of the first in a constellation of satellites intended to provide services in cislunar space.
- After Russia’s exit from the Lunar Gateway, NASA has found a new partner in UAE Ars Technica · 13 Dec 2022 The United Arab Emirates is a founding member of the Artemis Accords.
- United Nations General Assembly approves ASAT test ban resolution SpaceNews · 13 Dec 2022 The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution calling for a halt to one type of anti-satellite (ASAT) testing, a largely symbolic move intended to support broader space sustainability initiatives.
- SpaceX targeting salvo of three Falcon 9 launches this week Teslarati · 13 Dec 2022 SpaceX is in the final stages of preparing a trio of Falcon 9 rockets for a set of launches scheduled less than...
- Elon’s Twitter dilemma SpaceNews · 12 Dec 2022 Elon Musk used Twitter to communicate SpaceX's ascent to the top of the space industry. What happens to Musk's space ambitions now that he owns Twitter?
- ThinkOrbital designing platform for in-space manufacturing, debris removal SpaceNews · 12 Dec 2022 ThinkOrbital, a space infrastructure startup, is designing an orbital platform aimed at commercial businesses, military and government agencies that want to manufacture products in orbit or recycle debris.
- Technical issue likely to blame for Iranian news channel outage, says Eutelsat SpaceNews · 12 Dec 2022 A technical issue likely knocked Iran’s Press TV temporarily off the air last week, Eutelsat said as the French satellite operator calls on partners to stop broadcasting the news channel to comply with European sanctions...
- First in new generation of European weather satellites ready for launch Spaceflight Now · 12 Dec 2022 The first in a new generation of European weather satellites is set for launch Tuesday on a mission that promises to improve the timeliness and precision of weather forecasts for Europe and Africa, sharing a ride to spac...
- Artemis I review shows perfect ICPS performance, ULA looks to next Artemis launches NASASpaceflight · 12 Dec 2022 United Launch Alliance (ULA), the prime contractor for the Space Launch System’s (SLS’s) Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), has declared the stage’s overall performance on the Artemis I mission as “perfect.”
- NASA official “very confident” Artemis spacesuits will be ready on time Ars Technica · 12 Dec 2022 "They have invested a lot of their own money into the suits."