Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- Viasat sells tactical data communications business to L3Harris for $1.96 billion SpaceNews · 3 Oct 2022 L3Harris Technologies has agreed to acquire Viasat’s tactical data link business for $1.96 billion, the companies announced Oct. 3.
- SpaceX crew mission ‘top priority’ amid busy week of Falcon 9 launches Spaceflight Now · 3 Oct 2022 SpaceX’s next astronaut launch for NASA, set for Wednesday from Kennedy Space Center, is one of three missions on the company’s schedule this week from launch pads in Florida and California. The crew mission will get top...
- With orbital launch, Firefly takes an early lead in the 1-ton rocket race Ars Technica · 3 Oct 2022 "Firefly is at the point where the only thing holding them back is execution."
- SpaceX to upgrade Cape Canaveral pad for crew and cargo missions SpaceNews · 3 Oct 2022 As SpaceX prepares to launch a new crew to the International Space Station from one pad at the Kennedy Space Center, it is starting work to upgrade another pad at Cape Canaveral as a backup.
- Crew dress rehearsal, rocket test-firing complete at SpaceX launch pad Spaceflight Now · 2 Oct 2022 SpaceX teams and the four crew members set for blastoff this week to the International Space Station completed dress rehearsals Sunday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, familiarizing the astronauts with their la...
- Amid Starship milestones, Booster 7 set to return for pre-launch testing NASASpaceflight · 2 Oct 2022 SpaceX’s Starship program continues to march through a fluid set of milestones, ranging from a new record number of Raptor engines firing simultaneously, to the anticipated presence of a vehicle on the Starship pad at Fl...
- NASA pushes back Artemis 1 launch to November SpaceNews · 2 Oct 2022 NASA will wait until at least the middle of November before attempting another launch of the Space Launch System on the Artemis 1 mission, citing the impacts from Hurricane Ian.
- Space Development Agency is now officially part of the Space Force SpaceNews · 1 Oct 2022 The Space Development Agency was officially transferred to the U.S. Space Force, Oct. 1.
- NASA rules out launch of Artemis 1 moon rocket before mid-November Spaceflight Now · 1 Oct 2022 NASA said Friday that officials have ruled out launching the agency’s first giant Space Launch System moon rocket and Orion spacecraft before mid-November, following the rocket’s return to the hangar at Kennedy Space Cen...
- Preps resume for SpaceX crew launch after Hurricane Ian Spaceflight Now · 1 Oct 2022 The multinational crew scheduled to ride a SpaceX rocket into orbit Wednesday arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Saturday as ground teams rolled their Falcon 9 booster and Dragon Endurance spacecraft to the launch pa...
- Firefly reaches orbit in successful demonstration launch from California Spaceflight Now · 1 Oct 2022 Firefly Aerospace said its privately-developed Alpha small satellite launcher achieved “100% mission success” on a test flight from California early Saturday, adding another provider to the growing roster of commercial c...
- Firefly, Millennium Space selected for U.S. Space Force rapid-launch demonstration SpaceNews · 1 Oct 2022 The U.S. Space Systems Command announced Sept. 30 it selected Firefly Space Transport Services and Millennium Space Systems to conduct a demonstration of a rapid-response space mission to low Earth orbit in 2023.
- Firefly’s Alpha rocket reaches orbit on second launch SpaceNews · 1 Oct 2022 Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha launch vehicle reached orbit on its second launch Oct. 1, more than a year after the vehicle’s first launch failed.
- Firefly succeeds on second Alpha flight NASASpaceflight · 1 Oct 2022 With the goal of successfully reaching orbit, Firefly successfully launched FLTA002 – its second demonstration flight of the Alpha launch vehicle – on the mission dubbed “To The Black.” Launching from Space Launch Comple...
- Coverage Set for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Events, Broadcast, Launch NASA · 30 Sep 2022 NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission with astronauts to the International Space Station.
- Florida’s Space Coast on track after Ian, set for 3 launches in 3 days Ars Technica · 30 Sep 2022 Managers will assess the scope of work to perform while in the VAB.
- US candidate to be first woman to lead UN telecoms agency SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022 Doreen Bogdan-Martin will become the first woman to head the U.N.’s telecoms agency in its 157-year history from January, and the first American in the role since the 1960s after beating a Russian leadership challenge.
- Space surveillance telescope developed by the U.S. begins operations in Australia SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022 The Space Surveillance Telescope, declared operational Sept. 30, will join the network of sensors used by the United States, Australia and other allies to track objects in orbit
- National Space Council to seek industry input on future regulatory framework SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022 The National Space Council plans to hold “learning sessions” with industry in coming weeks on how to develop a new regulatory framework for novel commercial space activities.
- NASA, USGS Map Minerals to Understand Earth Makeup, Climate Change NASA · 30 Sep 2022 NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will map portions of the southwest United States for critical minerals using advanced airborne imaging.
- Space Force studying requirements for cislunar space domain awareness SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022 The Space Force expects to know by next spring what capabilities it will need to carry out space domain awareness activities in cislunar space.
- NASA Updates Crew Assignments for First Starliner Crew Rotation Flight NASA · 30 Sep 2022 NASA has added two astronauts to the agency’s Boeing Starliner-1 launch to the International Space Station, the spacecraft’s first mission following completion of its flight tests and certification.
- South Korea seeks $32.9 million to launch satellites grounded by Russia sanctions SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022
- NASA and SpaceX to study possible private Hubble servicing mission SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022 NASA and SpaceX announced Sept. 29 they will study a concept to send a Crew Dragon spacecraft to reboost, and possibly service, the Hubble Space Telescope to extend its life.
- Rocket Report: BE-4 engine breathes fire; Delta IV Heavy puts on a show Ars Technica · 30 Sep 2022 "Getting back out there might be a challenge."
- Firefly success with second Alpha flight NASASpaceflight · 30 Sep 2022 With the goal of successfully reaching orbit, Firefly successfully launched FLTA002 – its second demonstration flight of the Alpha launch vehicle – on the mission dubbed “To The Black.” Launching from Space Launch Comple...
- Office of Space Commerce: FCC “aggressively” pushing limits of authority with orbital debris rule SpaceNews · 30 Sep 2022 The FCC’s adoption of a new rule for disposal of low Earth orbit satellites is well-intentioned but pushing the limits of its authority, says the director of the Office of Space Commerce.
- SpaceX wants to boost Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit with Dragon spacecraft Teslarati · 29 Sep 2022 NASA and SpaceX have signed a Space Act Agreement to study the feasibility of boosting the orbit of the iconic Hubble Space...
- NASA and SpaceX are studying a Hubble telescope boost, adding 15 to 20 years of life Ars Technica · 29 Sep 2022 "It's doing great science as we speak."
- First ViaSat-3 enters environmental testing SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2022 Viasat said Sept. 29 its inaugural ViaSat-3 satellite has started environmental tests after being put into flight configuration for the first time.
- NASA Awards Contract for Acquisition of Gaseous, Liquid Helium NASA · 29 Sep 2022 NASA has selected three companies to supply 1.4 million liters of liquid helium and 87.7 million standard cubic feet of gaseous helium for use at facilities across the agency.
- Hungary’s 4iG to buy a majority of Spacecom in stages SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2022 4iG, a Hungarian provider of terrestrial communications, plans to buy a majority stake in Israeli satellite operator Spacecom in stages following resistance from Israel’s government.
- Kendall: Power competition in space becoming more destabilizing SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2022 Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said China and Russia "have been working on offensive capability to counter our space systems."
- Majority of tracked Russian ASAT debris has deorbited SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2022 Nearly two-thirds of the debris tracked from last year’s Russian anti-satellite (ASAT) test has since deorbited, but it could take more than a decade for the rest to reenter.
- Russian Soyuz brings three cosmonauts home from space station Spaceflight Now · 29 Sep 2022 Three cosmonauts undocked from the International Space Station Thursday and returned to Earth aboard their Soyuz spacecraft, safely landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan to wrap up a 195-day mission.
- SpaceX, NASA studying commercial crew mission to Hubble Space Telescope Spaceflight Now · 29 Sep 2022 NASA and SpaceX will study the potential use of a commercial Dragon crew spacecraft to reboost and service the Hubble Space Telescope, a 32-year-old observatory last upgraded by a space shuttle in 2009, officials announc...
- Juno swoops past Europa, revealing the mysterious, icy world [Updated] Ars Technica · 29 Sep 2022 "We are screaming by pretty fast."
- NASA Awards Contracts in Support of Entry, Descent, Landing Technology NASA · 29 Sep 2022 NASA has awarded a total of seven contracts to six companies including Airborne Systems North America of Santa, Ana California, CFD Research Corporation of Huntsville, Alabama, Jackson Bond Enterprises LLC of Dover, New...
- NASA Invites Media to Discuss New Science, Commercial Study Today NASA · 29 Sep 2022 NASA will hold a media teleconference today at 4:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Sept. 29, to discuss a new study exploring potential commercial space opportunities for NASA science missions. The agency will livestream audio of t...
- FCC approves new orbital debris rule SpaceNews · 29 Sep 2022 The FCC adopted a new rule Sept. 29 that will shorten the time for satellite operators to deorbit low Earth orbit satellites from 25 to 5 years.