Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch five times next year Teslarati · 3 Nov 2021 New US military confirmation of a third SpaceX Falcon Heavy contract means that the world’s most powerful operational rocket has five launches...
- NASA creates new technology and policy office in leadership reshuffle SpaceNews · 3 Nov 2021 NASA Headquarters has created a new office devoted to technology and policy issues, part of a restructuring that includes creating a new space security position at the civil space agency.
- China launches two classified military satellites Spaceflight Now · 3 Nov 2021 China launched two classified military satellites Wednesday on top of a Long March 2C rocket augmented by a restartable upper stage.
- NASA, Space Force see growing opportunities to use commercial space services SpaceNews · 2 Nov 2021 NASA’s chief economist Alexander MacDonald said aggressive competition for space agency contracts is “one of the most exciting things that we're seeing.”
- SpaceX wins Skynet launch contract Teslarati · 2 Nov 2021 SpaceX has won a contract to launch Skynet on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2025. Instead of a self-aware, apocalyptic AI, though,...
- Isotropic Systems announces successful multi-orbit antenna field tests SpaceNews · 2 Nov 2021 British startup Isotropic Systems announced successful field tests for its flat-panel antenna Nov. 2, after successfully connecting to SES satellites in multiple orbits simultaneously for the first time.
- NASA to Provide Coverage of Human Spaceflight Health Symposium NASA · 2 Nov 2021 NASA will provide live coverage of its Spaceflight for Everybody virtual symposium, an event aimed at communicating the current state of NASA spaceflight health knowledge.
- Teams evaluate Hubble safe mode event, history of telescope leads to JWST NASASpaceflight · 2 Nov 2021 Thirty-one years after its launch, and 12 years after its most-recent servicing mission, the NASA/ European Space Agency (ESA) Hubble Space Telescope remains in safe mode on orbit as operators work to determine why the i...
- NASA to Hold Double Asteroid Redirection Test Launch Preview Briefing NASA · 2 Nov 2021 NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT Thursday, Nov. 4, to preview the launch of the agency’s first planetary defense test mission, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).
- ASTRO CAMP Team at Stennis Reaches Out to Children of Migrant Workers NASA · 2 Nov 2021 This summer, the NASA ASTRO CAMP Collaborative Partners (ACCP) team seated at Stennis Space Center went beyond usual efforts to reach large nontraditional audiences, most specifically children of Hispanic migrant workers...
- SpaceX begins assembling Starbase’s biggest manufacturing building yet Teslarati · 2 Nov 2021 It might not look like much today but SpaceX has begun assembling what is set to become Starbase’s largest Starship manufacturing facility....
- Starlink exits its beta phase, but its production is affected by the global chip shortage Teslarati · 2 Nov 2021 SpaceX recently introduced some updates to its official Starlink website. And while the private space company formally dropped the “Beta” wording for...
- Medical issue delays Crew-3 launch SpaceNews · 2 Nov 2021 The launch of the next commercial crew mission to the International Space Station, already postponed by weather, has been further delayed by what NASA calls a “minor medical issue” with one of its four astronauts.
- Redwire acquires space biotech company Techshot SpaceNews · 2 Nov 2021 Redwire, a company built up by acquiring a series of space technology companies, has purchased space biotechnology company Techshot.
- Hubble remains in safe mode after latest glitch SpaceNews · 2 Nov 2021 NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, offline for more than a week because of an issue with its instruments, is likely to remain out of service for another week as engineers investigate the problem.
- Inside Artemis 1’s complex launch windows and constraints NASASpaceflight · 1 Nov 2021 When the flight hardware and ground systems are finally ready for the inaugural Artemis 1 launch to the Moon, NASA will also have to synchronize the timing of the flight with unique celestial mechanics. The Orion and Spa...
- SpaceX Starship prototype ready for record-breaking tests Teslarati · 1 Nov 2021 Over the weekend, SpaceX has installed the last of its first orbital-class Starship’s six Raptor engines, setting the prototype up for one...
- SpaceX astronaut launch slips into November Teslarati · 1 Nov 2021 Update: A “minor medical issue involving one of [the] crew members” has forced NASA to delay Crew-3 a bit less than four...
- Northrop Grumman selects Mynaric as ‘strategic supplier’ of space laser communications SpaceNews · 1 Nov 2021 Mynaric, a manufacturer of laser communications equipment, announced Nov. 1 it was selected by Northrop Grumman as a strategic supplier.
- Starlink in talks with two Philippine telcos over satellite internet SpaceNews · 1 Nov 2021 Elon Musk’s Starlink is in talks with two Philippine telcos to launch its satellite internet services next year in an archipelagic country with slow speeds and poor connectivity.
- ABL Space Systems to launch Project Kuiper’s first satellites in 2022 SpaceNews · 1 Nov 2021 Amazon has signed a multi-launch deal with rocket developer ABL Space Systems, which plans to loft two prototype satellites for its Project Kuiper broadband megaconstellation next year.
- Crew Dragon launch delayed by “minor medical issue” with an astronaut Spaceflight Now · 1 Nov 2021 The planned launch of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Wednesday carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station has been delayed to at least Saturday because of a “minor medical issue” with one of the crew membe...
- New Roles, Combined Offices for NASA Administrator Leadership Team NASA · 1 Nov 2021 NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is announcing new leadership roles, as well as the merging of two offices into the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS), in support of Biden-Harris Administration priorities an...
- Tom Marshburn brings extensive spaceflight experience to Crew-3 mission Spaceflight Now · 1 Nov 2021 NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn, a medical doctor and veteran of launches on the space shuttle and Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, joins three rookie space fliers on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon “Endurance” poised for liftoff on mission...
- New Chinese launch firm signs deal for reusable rocket engines SpaceNews · 31 Oct 2021 Rocket Pi of China has signed a deal with a liquid rocket engine maker for supply of engines to power its Darwin-1 reusable launch vehicle.
- Major elements of Starship Orbital Launch Pad in place as launch readiness draws nearer NASASpaceflight · 31 Oct 2021 With the maiden orbital flight of Starship approaching, Orbital Launch Pad A in Starbase, Texas, is being built up to launch readiness. Over a year of construction has brought the complex’s various elements to the verge...
- Falcon Heavy could launch three U.S. Space Force missions in 2022 SpaceNews · 31 Oct 2021 USSF-67 is the third U.S. national security launch to be added to the Falcon Heavy’s crowded 2022 manifest.
- Beresheet 2 to include two landers and an orbiter SpaceNews · 31 Oct 2021 The company that built the first Israeli spacecraft to attempt to land on the moon is starting work on the second mission with a significantly different design.
- Weather delays Crew-3 launch SpaceNews · 30 Oct 2021 Poor weather at locations in the Atlantic that could be used for Crew Dragon aborts will delay the launch of the next commercial crew mission to the International Space Station by three days.
- Coverage Update for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Briefings, Events, Broadcasts NASA · 30 Oct 2021 NASA is updating its coverage of the upcoming launch and docking activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission with astronauts to the International Space Station.
- SpaceX crew launch delayed due to high winds and waves offshore Spaceflight Now · 30 Oct 2021 NASA and SpaceX managers in Florida decided early Saturday to delay the launch of the next crew to the International Space Station from Sunday to Wednesday, when high winds and rough seas are expected to subside along th...
- Russian cargo freighter docks with International Space Station Spaceflight Now · 30 Oct 2021 Two days after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a Russian Progress cargo freighter autonomously docked with the International Space Station Friday to deliver nearly three tons of fuel, food, and othe...
- Space Development Agency’s request for bids challenged for ‘risk’ imposed on contractors SpaceNews · 29 Oct 2021 Maxar Technologies decided to challenge a Defense Department procurement of 126 satellites because of the financial burden the program imposed on contractors, the company said.
- Exodus Orbitals pivots to satellite leasing model after launch delay SpaceNews · 29 Oct 2021 Exodus Orbitals, a startup developing software enabling customers to upload and run applications from orbit, is in talks about leasing satellites as plans to launch its own are delayed seven months to October 2022.
- NASA, National Geographic Partner to Show Inside Artemis Moon Mission NASA · 29 Oct 2021 NASA has selected National Geographic to help tell the story of Artemis II, the first Artemis flight that will carry astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth aboard the agency’s Orion spacecraft.
- Ariane 6 undergoing preparations for its 2022 debut NASASpaceflight · 29 Oct 2021 ArianeGroup and the European Space Agency are carrying out preparations for the maiden launch of the Ariane 6 rocket next year. Ariane 6 represents the next generation of the Ariane family of rockets, intended to allow i...
- Honda has already developed a prototype engine for a rocket Ars Technica · 29 Oct 2021 "We believe that we have made huge progress in this development."
- Rocket Report: Russia finally agrees to fly SpaceX, Firefly targets early 2022 Ars Technica · 29 Oct 2021 "From our viewpoint, SpaceX has gained sufficient experience."
- SpaceX preparing Super Heavy, Starbase for booster’s next steps Teslarati · 29 Oct 2021 Amid a flurry of deliveries and work on several new Starship boosters, SpaceX is preparing the first truly finished Super Heavy for...
- Revised budget reconciliation package reduces NASA infrastructure funds SpaceNews · 29 Oct 2021 A new, scaled-back version of a spending package released Oct. 28 sharply reduced the money allocated to NASA infrastructure and climate change projects, while continuing to exclude funding for a second Artemis lunar lan...