Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- SpaceX launches two Starlink missions in 24 hours Teslarati · 16 May 2022 Two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets have completed back-to-back Starlink launches less than 24 hours apart, successfully delivering 106 Starlink satellites to low...
- Launcher announces customers for first Orbiter space tug mission SpaceNews · 16 May 2022 Launch vehicle and in-space transportation services company Launcher has filled the manifest for the first flight of its space tug later this year with a mix of commercial and academic payloads.
- NASA lander detects biggest ‘marsquake’ yet Spaceflight Now · 16 May 2022 NASA’s InSight lander operating on the surface of Mars has detected the most powerful seismic tremor ever measured on another planet, a “marsquake” estimated at magnitude 5, strong enough to reveal new insights about the...
- Redwire warns of volatility in commercial space markets SpaceNews · 14 May 2022 Space technology company Redwire said that while it still sees the commercial sector as its biggest prospect for long-term growth, volatility among its customers may cause delays.
- SpaceX launches Starlink 4-15 mission, expands booster fleet NASASpaceflight · 14 May 2022 SpaceX is launched its twentieth Falcon 9 rocket of the year with a batch of Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on the Starlink Group 4-15 mission. Liftoff occurred on Saturday, May 14 at 4:40:50pm EDT (20:40:5...
- Air Force looking at next steps on Space Command basing decision SpaceNews · 14 May 2022 “We're all hoping to move forward with a final decision as quickly as we can," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said regarding the relocation of U.S. Space Command
- SpaceX’s first-gen Starlink fleet halfway complete after back-to-back launches Spaceflight Now · 14 May 2022 More than half of the spacecraft SpaceX needs to fill the company’s planned first-generation, 4,408-satellite Starlink network are now in orbit, following the addition of 106 new internet relay nodes launched on two Falc...
- Inmarsat agrees to move ground station out of the Netherlands SpaceNews · 13 May 2022 Inmarsat is seeking permission from Greece to move a ground station there from the Netherlands, which wants to sell the C-band spectrum the site uses for maritime safety services to 5G wireless operators.
- Pace of work put strain on private astronaut mission to ISS SpaceNews · 13 May 2022 The private astronauts who spent two weeks on the International Space Station in April said they tried to pack too much into their schedules while on the station, putting a strain on both themselves and the professional...
- SpaceX launches 2,500th Starlink satellite in third back-to-back mission NASASpaceflight · 13 May 2022 SpaceX launched its third back-to-back Starlink mission in barely a fortnight Friday. Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:07 PM PDT (22:07 UTC) to add another 53 satellites to SpaceX’s low Earth orb...
- Chinese startup suffers third consecutive launch failure Spaceflight Now · 13 May 2022 A small satellite launcher developed by the Chinese startup iSpace failed to place its Earth observing payload into orbit Friday, the third consecutive failure for the company’s Hyperbola 1 rocket.
- SpaceX planning two Starlink launches Friday and Saturday, weather permitting Spaceflight Now · 13 May 2022 Weather permitting, SpaceX teams in California and Florida plan to launch two Falcon 9 rockets Friday and Saturday, each hauling 53 more Starlink satellites to join the company’s global broadband network.
- Chinese rocket company suffers third consecutive launch failure SpaceNews · 13 May 2022 An orbital launch attempt by Chinese startup iSpace ended in failure early Friday, following on from two failures last year.
- SpaceX’s repaired Starship booster survives back-to-back cryoproof tests Teslarati · 13 May 2022 SpaceX’s upgraded Starship booster has completed a second and third cryogenic proof test in rapid succession after undergoing repairs to fix damage...
- ISS partnership feeling some effects of sanctions on Russia SpaceNews · 13 May 2022 While operations of the International Space Station continue without “serious interruptions,” sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine are starting to have an effect on some activities, NASA’s safety advisers said...
- Arctic connectivity competition is heating up SpaceNews · 13 May 2022 Satellite operators are venturing north to improve connectivity as the changing climate drives demand for more bandwidth in one of Earth’s last remaining frontiers.
- SpaceX passes 2,500 satellites launched for Starlink internet network Spaceflight Now · 13 May 2022 SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket Friday afternoon from California’s Central Coast with another batch 53 Starlink internet satellites, pushing the total number of spacecraft launched in the network above 2,500, including...
- NASA safety advisors voice concerns over Boeing’s Starliner, SpaceX’s Starship Spaceflight Now · 13 May 2022 Members of NASA’s independent safety advisory panel on Thursday cautioned the space agency not to rush toward a crew test flight of Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft. The safety advisors also said there are “obvious...
- Coverage Set for NASA’s Boeing OFT-2 Briefings, Events, Broadcast NASA · 12 May 2022 NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch, launch, and docking activities for the agency’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station.
- SES mulls direct-to-handheld 5G satellite business SpaceNews · 12 May 2022 SES is considering plans to provide 5G services directly to handheld devices after rescuing spectrum rights for 62 proposed satellites that were about to expire.
- NOAA reveals first images from new weather satellite Spaceflight Now · 12 May 2022 NOAA released the first imagery from the new GOES-18 weather satellite that launched March 1 from Cape Canaveral, and confirmed the spacecraft’s main camera doesn’t suffer the same cooling system problem that caused degr...
- Manchin introduces bipartisan bill to establish Space National Guard SpaceNews · 12 May 2022 Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) on May 12 introduced legislation to create a National Guard for the U.S. Space Force.
- Astronomers unveil first image of the Milky Way’s central black hole Spaceflight Now · 12 May 2022 Three years after capturing the first image of a supermassive black hole in a galaxy 55 million light years away, astronomers have managed to “photograph” the gaping maw of the smaller but much closer black hole quietly...
- Colorado Students to Hear from Astronauts Aboard Space Station NASA · 12 May 2022 Students from Boulder, Colorado, will have an opportunity next week to hear from American and European astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
- Boeing considering redesign of Starliner valves SpaceNews · 12 May 2022 Boeing says it is considering redesigning the propellant valves on future CST-100 Starliner commercial crew spacecraft as a long-term solution to the corrosion problem those valves suffered last year.
- Melting Arctic ice opens new front in strategic power competition SpaceNews · 12 May 2022 Warming seas and thinning polar ice caps promise to turn the Arctic into a hub of greater economic activity — and a new hotspot for military competition.
- SpaceX ready to begin training astronauts for first private spacewalk Teslarati · 12 May 2022 Two members of the “Polaris Program” say that SpaceX could begin training private astronauts for the first private spacewalk in spaceflight history...
- Astra reveals details of next, larger rocket SpaceNews · 12 May 2022 Astra disclosed details about its new launch vehicle that will be capable of carrying heavier payloads and flying more frequently.
- Space Force to select small rocket for ‘responsive space’ mission SpaceNews · 12 May 2022 The U.S. Space Force plans to select a small satellite launcher to fly a payload to low Earth orbit on short notice, a capability known as tactically responsive space.
- Boeing, NASA teams give Starliner final go for OFT-2 mission NASASpaceflight · 11 May 2022 NASA, Boeing, and ULA teams, along with international partners, have finished the agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) ahead of the Orbital Flight Test 2 (OFT-2) for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Following the valve iss...
- Vega C prepped for maiden flight in June Spaceflight Now · 11 May 2022 Europe’s new Vega C launcher is on track for its inaugural launch from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, during the second half of June, according to officials managing final phases of integration.
- Orbex unveils prototype of rocket preparing for UK’s first vertical launch SpaceNews · 11 May 2022 British microlauncher startup Orbex unveiled a full-scale prototype May 11 of what it hopes will be the first-ever vertical rocket launched to orbit from British soil.
- NASA managers clear Boeing’s Starliner for second try to reach space station Spaceflight Now · 11 May 2022 NASA officials cleared Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule for launch in a flight readiness review Wednesday, moving a step closer toward a critical unpiloted demonstration flight to attempt docking at the International Spac...
- As U.S. blames Russia for KA-SAT hack, Starlink sees growing threat SpaceNews · 11 May 2022 Elon Musk says Russian hackers are increasing efforts to take down SpaceX’s Starlink broadband service amid the war in Ukraine.
- Colombia signs Artemis Accords SpaceNews · 11 May 2022 Colombia signed the Artemis Accords for responsible space exploration May 10, continuing a steady stream of countries that have acceded to the agreement.
- Eyes on the Arctic: Satellites reveal changing conditions at northern latitudes SpaceNews · 11 May 2022 As Arctic sea ice dips to new lows, economic activity in the region is picking up. To track the changes, companies and academic researchers often turn to satellite-based data products.
- SpaceX President updates schedule for Starship’s orbital launch debut Teslarati · 11 May 2022 SpaceX COO and President Gwynne Shotwell says that the company now expects Starbase to be ready for Starship’s first orbital launch attempt...
- Electric vehicle company with NASA contract issues financial warning SpaceNews · 11 May 2022 The electric vehicle company that recently won a NASA contract to provide a modern version of the “Astrovan” to transport Artemis astronauts to the launch pad warned May 10 it may soon run out of money.
- Boeing clashes with key supplier ahead of Starliner spacecraft launch Reuters · 11 May 2022 Boeing Co (BA.N) is feuding with Aerojet Rocketdyne (AJRD.N), a key supplier for its Starliner spacecraft, as the U.S. aerospace giant races to test launch the uncrewed astronaut capsule and mend its reputation in the sp...
- Northrop Grumman says it has backup plan for ISS resupply, but silent on details Spaceflight Now · 11 May 2022 Northrop Grumman says it has a backup plan to fulfill the company’s contract to resupply to the International Space Station if the war in Ukraine continues to disrupt the supply of Russian engines and Ukrainian booster c...