Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy payload arrives in Florida for the first time in years Teslarati · 4 May 2022 For the first time in almost three years, a spacecraft meant to launch on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket has arrived in Cape...
- NaraSpace Technology closes $7.88 million Series A for nanosatellite project SpaceNews · 4 May 2022 South Korean startup NaraSpace Technology will use the $7.88 million to pursue the development of optical remote-sensing nanosatellites.
- ExoMars official says launch unlikely before 2028 SpaceNews · 3 May 2022 A key official for Europe’s ExoMars mission believes that the rover’s launch will be pushed back until at least 2028 to accommodate changes after ending cooperation with Russia.
- AST SpaceMobile licensed to connect test satellite to US cellular phones SpaceNews · 3 May 2022 AST SpaceMobile secured an experimental license May 2 to test services in the United States from BlueWalker 3, the prototype satellite slated to launch this summer for its planned cellphone-compatible broadband constella...
- Rocket Lab briefly catches booster in mid-air after successful launch Spaceflight Now · 3 May 2022 Rocket Lab used a helicopter to capture a spent Electron first stage booster and its parachute after launching satellites from New Zealand Monday, a significant step forward for the company’s rocket recovery and reuse pr...
- NASA Announces Winners of 2022 Human Exploration Rover Challenge NASA · 3 May 2022 NASA has recognized a new generation of potential space explorers who competed in the agency’s 28th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge.
- South Korea’s Innospace schedules December test launch carrying Brazilian military payload SpaceNews · 3 May 2022 South Korean rocket startup Innospace announced May 3 that it will conduct its first suborbital test launch of flight hardware in December from the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil, carrying a Brazilian military payload.
- NASA's Mars Helicopter Scouts Ridgeline for Perseverance Science Team NASA · 3 May 2022 The rotorcraft provided rover scientists an aerial perspective of an interesting rocky outcrop.
- NASA chief says cost-plus contracts are a “plague” on the space agency Ars Technica · 3 May 2022 "You get it done with that competitive spirit. You get it done cheaper."
- China launches two more space missions Spaceflight Now · 3 May 2022 Two Chinese rockets, including one launched from an ocean-going platform in the East China Sea, deployed seven optical Earth-imaging satellites in a pair of successful missions last week.
- Rocket Lab catches a 1-ton booster falling back from space Ars Technica · 3 May 2022 "It's kind of like Ghostbusters in some way."
- CAPSTONE up next for Rocket Lab SpaceNews · 3 May 2022 A NASA lunar cubesat mission is now scheduled to launch in late May on a Rocket Lab Electron after resolving issues with the rocket’s kick stage.
- Rocket Lab briefly catches Electron booster with a helicopter on first try Teslarati · 3 May 2022 In a significant achievement, public launch provider Rocket Lab has – with a few caveats – successfully used a helicopter to catch...
- Space Force leaders questioned on their plans to invest in technology and workforce SpaceNews · 3 May 2022 Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond on the Space Force’s plans to acquire next-generation technologies and develo...
- Space Force selects 125 industry proposals for on-orbit servicing technologies SpaceNews · 2 May 2022 SpaceWERX selected 125 industry teams for the initial phase of the Orbital Prime program, an effort to develop technologies for orbital debris removal and other space services.
- ‘Mounting evidence’ shows need for Starlink Gen 2 environmental review, says Viasat SpaceNews · 2 May 2022 Evidence is mounting of a need to perform an environmental review before approving SpaceX’s plans to add nearly 30,000 satellites to its Starlink constellation, satellite broadband competitor Viasat told the FCC May 2.
- Russian military satellite launched on orbital debut of Angara 1.2 rocket Spaceflight Now · 2 May 2022 Russia fired a rocket into orbit Friday from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the first use of an Angara launcher for a satellite mission, 30 years after starting work on the program just after the collapse of the Soviet Union...
- Mystery Russian military satellite launched on orbital debut of Angara 1.2 rocket Spaceflight Now · 2 May 2022 Russia successfully fired a rocket into orbit Friday from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the first use of an Angara launcher for an operational satellite mission, 30 years after work started on the program just after the col...
- SpaceX still on track to launch one Falcon rocket per week in 2022 Teslarati · 2 May 2022 Now more than a third of the way through 2022, SpaceX remains firmly on track to hit CEO Elon Musk’s target of...
- Calvelli to assume duties as U.S. Air Force’s space acquisition executive SpaceNews · 2 May 2022 After being confirmed by the Senate, Frank Calvelli will be sworn in as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration
- Rocket Lab makes first booster catch attempt during successful There And Back Again mission NASASpaceflight · 2 May 2022 After announcing plans to recover and reuse the first stage of the company’s Electron rocket back in 2019, the California-based rocket company has attempted a mid-air recovery for the very first time. After a successful...
- SpaceX engineer says NASA should plan for Starship’s “significant” capability Ars Technica · 2 May 2022 "We all need to be thinking bigger and better and really inspirationally about what we can do."
- Vyoma agrees data management partnership for SSA constellation SpaceNews · 2 May 2022 German startup Vyoma said April 28 it has partnered with European IT giant Atos to build a database of tiny space objects that it plans to track with its own satellites from next year.
- The Western space community should put Dmitry Rogozin on “ignore” Ars Technica · 2 May 2022 "He has spent his time at Roscosmos trying to get back into Putin’s good graces."
- Kelly plays down Russian ASAT threat SpaceNews · 2 May 2022 A senator and former astronaut said he did not expect Russia to perform another test of an antisatellite weapon because of the debris that posed a risk to that country’s own satellites as well as others.
- Rocket Lab launches smallsats, catches but drops booster SpaceNews · 2 May 2022 Rocket Lab declared success in its effort to catch an Electron booster in midair after launch May 2, even though the helicopter had to release the booster moments later.
- U.S. to ramp up spending on classified communications satellites SpaceNews · 1 May 2022 The U.S. Space Force plans to request nearly $8 billion over the next five years to scale up development of classified communications satellite networks
- Falcon 9 busier than ever as Starship reviews delayed again SpaceNews · 1 May 2022 SpaceX had its busiest month yet in April in terms of launches as the company emphasizes the value of a high flight rate.
- Emirati astronaut to fly long-duration space station mission SpaceNews · 30 Apr 2022 The United Arab Emirates will fly an astronaut on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station through an agreement with Axiom Space.
- First Dream Chaser vehicle takes shape SpaceNews · 29 Apr 2022 Sierra Space says it is making good progress on its first Dream Chaser spaceplane as the company looks ahead to versions of the vehicle that can carry crews and perform national security missions.
- SpaceX smashes Falcon 9 booster turnaround record Teslarati · 29 Apr 2022 SpaceX has successfully launched and landed the same Falcon 9 booster twice in three weeks, smashing the current record for orbital-class rocket...
- Rocket Lab waiting for ‘ideal’ weather before launch and recovery attempt Spaceflight Now · 29 Apr 2022 Rocket Lab called off the planned launch and recovery of an Electron booster Friday, preferring to wait for better wind and cloud cover conditions a few days from now. The next opportunity to launch the mission from New...
- Starlink Group 4-16 launches, breaks SpaceX turnaround records NASASpaceflight · 29 Apr 2022 SpaceX made its seventeenth launch of the year on Friday to put another batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. A Falcon 9 rocket carried out the Starlink Group 4-16 mission, lifting off at 5:27:10 pm EDT (21:...
- Arabsat orders first fully software-defined satellite SpaceNews · 29 Apr 2022 Saudi Arabian fleet operator Arabsat has ordered its first fully software-defined geostationary satellite to provide flexible coverage across the Middle East, Africa and parts of Europe.
- NASA Invites Comment on Initial Plans for Mars Sample Return Program NASA · 29 Apr 2022 NASA is requesting public comment on the scope of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the agency’s proposed Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign.
- After flying 150th Falcon 9, SpaceX continues to make efficiency gains Ars Technica · 29 Apr 2022 “For those that know rockets, this is a ridiculously hard thing."
- First Ariane 5 of 2022 slated for June launch of Measat-3d and GSAT-24 SpaceNews · 29 Apr 2022 A pair of satellites from Malaysia and India are slated to launch in late June on the Ariane 5 rocket’s first flight of the year.
- Rocket Report: FAA decision day, or another delay? Using a balloon first stage Ars Technica · 29 Apr 2022 "They’re going to scatter my bones or ashes on this property."
- China launches pair of commercial remote sensing satellites, sea launch scrubbed SpaceNews · 29 Apr 2022
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 booster for second time in three weeks Spaceflight Now · 29 Apr 2022 SpaceX continued throttling up its launch rate with another Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Friday, completing a rapid recycle with a Falcon 9 first stage booster flying for the second time in 21 days.