Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- SpaceX launches resupply mission to International Space Station Spaceflight Now · 29 Aug 2021 SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo capsule from Florida on a thundering predawn launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, kicking off the company’s 23rd commercial resupply flight to the International Space Station. The rocket’s reus...
- SpaceX Cargo Dragon CRS-23 arrived at the ISS NASASpaceflight · 29 Aug 2021 SpaceX and NASA conducted a Sunday’s launch of the CRS-23 (Commercial Resupply Services 23) mission to the International Space Station on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.
- Astra Rocket 3.3 launch fails SpaceNews · 28 Aug 2021 Astra’s third attempt to reach orbit failed Aug. 28 when its Rocket 3.3 vehicle struggled to get off the launch pad and eventually failed in flight.
- Space Force launch director on Vulcan and BE-4: ‘We have to be very focused from here on out’ SpaceNews · 28 Aug 2021 The head of the U.S. Space Force launch enterprise said it is “unfortunate” that Blue Origin is taking far longer than expected to complete the testing and production of BE-4 rocket engines for United Launch Alliance’s V...
- Astra’s third orbital launch attempt suffers engine failure and termination NASASpaceflight · 28 Aug 2021 Continuing the iterative path toward reaching orbit, Astra attempted its third orbital launch on August 28. The first Rocket 3.3 vehicle, designated LV0006, lifted off on Saturday, August 28 at 15:45 PDT (22:45 UTC). Les...
- NASA Mars smallsat mission passes review SpaceNews · 28 Aug 2021 A smallsat Mars mission that had to revise its plans after it lost its initial ride has won NASA approval to move into full-scale development.
- SpaceX continues forward progress with Starship on Starhopper anniversary NASASpaceflight · 28 Aug 2021 At ~5:02 pm CDT on August 27, 2019, SpaceX successfully launched its Starhopper test vehicle on a 150-meter flight test. After ascending to 150-meters, Starhopper successfully landed at a landing pad ~160-meters away.
- Storms force scrub of SpaceX launch to resupply space station Spaceflight Now · 28 Aug 2021 Thunderstorms moving onshore at Cape Canaveral prevented SpaceX from launching a Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday, forcing a one-day delay to the start of the company’s 23rd resupply mission to the International Space Stat...
- Media Invited to Virtual Briefing on Launch of NASA, USGS Landsat 9 NASA · 27 Aug 2021 Officials from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will discuss next month’s planned launch of the Landsat 9 satellite during a media briefing at 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 31.
- SpaceX wrapping up final cargo load for launch to space station Spaceflight Now · 27 Aug 2021 Forecasters on Friday predicted a 60% chance bad weather on Florida’s Space Coast could prevent the scheduled launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday to begin an automated resupply mission to the International...
- Dragonfly Aerospace’s journey from camera specialist to microsatellite builder SpaceNews · 27 Aug 2021 Currently more known for the high-resolution cameras it builds than for spacecraft, Dragonfly Aerospace’s plan to move into microsatellite manufacturing got a major boost in April when it was sold to serial entrepreneur...
- Rocket Report: Webb telescope ready for launch, LOX shortage slows SpaceX Ars Technica · 27 Aug 2021 "Large NASA taxpayer investments are being thrown away."
- China researching challenges of kilometer-scale ultra-large spacecraft SpaceNews · 27 Aug 2021 The National Natural Science Foundation of China has outlined a five-year project for researchers to study the assembly of ultra-large spacecraft.
- SpaceX’s odd Starbase propellant storage tank prototype passes first test Teslarati · 27 Aug 2021 Likely to the relief of many, SpaceX appears to have successfully tested a prototype of the custom-built Starbase propellant storage tanks that...
- Astra aborts launch attempt in Alaska Spaceflight Now · 27 Aug 2021 The commercial space company Astra aborted its third orbital launch attempt from Alaska just before liftoff Friday. The company did not immediately confirm when it will try again to launch its compact two-stage launcher...
- Global microelectronic shortages trickle down to military satellite programs SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 Defense Department satellite programs are feeling the effects of the widespread microchip shortage that has stymied carmakers and consumer electronic manufacturers.
- ESA pursuing European space summit to discuss new flagship space programs SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 The head of the European Space Agency says plans are moving forward to host a European space summit early next year to discuss proposals for new major space initiatives.
- SLS cubesats arrive for Artemis 1 launch SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 While most of the cubesats manifested to launch as secondary payloads on the first Space Launch System mission have arrived, at least one of them will miss its flight.
- White House to revise charter and membership of space council advisory group SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 The Biden administration plans to revise both the charter and the membership of the National Space Council’s advisory group to better reflect its priorities.
- NASA's Perseverance Plans Next Sample Attempt NASA · 26 Aug 2021 The rover will abrade a rock this week, allowing scientists and engineers to decide whether that target would withstand its powerful drill.
- Chinese commercial sector investment lagging in 2021 SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 China’s commercial space sector has been expanding rapidly ever since the central government opened space to private capital, but activity appears to be slowing.
- All future Starlink satellites will have laser crosslinks SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 SpaceX is adding laser terminals on all future Starlink satellites and is the reason behind a break in launches for the broadband megaconstellation, president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell said.
- Blue Origin flies payloads on latest New Shepard flight SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 Blue Origin launched a New Shepard suborbital vehicle Aug. 25 on a mission carrying research and educational payloads as the company prepares for its next crewed flight.
- A month after Bezos’s flight, Blue Origin launches NASA moon tech demo Spaceflight Now · 26 Aug 2021 Blue Origin is set to launch its reusable New Shepard booster from West Texas on a suborbital flight to the edge of space Thursday on the company’s first launch since founder Jeff Bezos and three crewmates rocketed to an...
- Mynaric debuts space laser terminal with sights on U.S. expansion SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 German antenna maker Mynaric unveiled a new optical satellite terminal Aug. 25 amid its push into the U.S laser communications market.
- Geospatial intelligence giving supply chain clarity in uncertain times SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 From hiking the price of cars to impacting the readiness of militaries, the havoc that COVID-19 wreaks across supply chains is far-ranging and sometimes surprising.
- Watch live: A month after Bezos’s flight, Blue Origin to launch NASA moon tech Spaceflight Now · 26 Aug 2021 Blue Origin is set to launch its reusable New Shepard booster from West Texas on a suborbital flight to the edge of space Thursday on the company’s first launch since founder Jeff Bezos and three crewmates rocketed to al...
- Blue Origin launches NS-17 suborbital science mission NASASpaceflight · 26 Aug 2021 A month after New Shepard’s first flight carrying people into space, a science flight without crew onboard has launched from Blue Origin’s facility near Van Horn, Texas. The flight, the fourth of the year for the New She...
- Amazon calls on FCC to reject SpaceX’s amended second-gen Starlink plan SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 Amazon is urging the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss SpaceX’s amended plans for its second-generation Starlink constellation, saying they are too broad and speculative.
- Rocket Lab closes lower in first day on Nasdaq SpaceNews · 26 Aug 2021 Shares in small launch vehicle and spacecraft developer Rocket Lab dropped in their first day of trading Aug. 25, but the company’s chief executive says it remains focused on its long-term plans enabled by going public.
- SpaceX sets Dragon reuse record, debuts drone ship on first launch in two months Teslarati · 26 Aug 2021 Update #2: After a 24-hour weather delay, conditions were far more favorable on August 29th, allowing a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to...
- Majority of Intelsat debt holders approve plan to exit bankruptcy SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 Intelsat has amended its restructuring plan to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection later this year, securing the support of holders of nearly 75% of its debt.
- ULA readies Vulcan booster for cryogenic tanking tests Spaceflight Now · 25 Aug 2021 United Launch Alliance rolled a test article for its new Vulcan rocket to a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Wednesday, moving the booster into position for a series of cryogenic tanking tests set to begin in the coming days...
- United Launch Alliance rolls out Vulcan pathfinder for fueling tests NASASpaceflight · 25 Aug 2021 United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan pathfinder has rolled out to SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral for tank testing as part of a continuing campaign towards the rocket’s maiden flight. While this booster will not be the first to fly,...
- Liquid oxygen shortage squeezes SpaceX launch plans SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 A widespread shortage of liquid oxygen linked to the latest wave of the pandemic could affect SpaceX’s launch schedule, a company executive said Aug. 24.
- Space agencies support ISS extension as NASA warns of space race with China SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said he remains confident that Russia will remain a part of the International Space Station through the end of the decade but warned of an emerging space race with China.
- NASA Awards Information Technology Support Services Contract NASA · 25 Aug 2021 NASA has selected New Directions Technologies Inc. of Ridgecrest, California, for management systems engineering, software development, project management, information technology security, and enterprise architecture sup...
- Astroscale complete first test of satellite capture technology SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 Astroscale has completed the first major test of technology to capture and remove objects in orbit by releasing and then recapturing a small satellite.
- More work needed on space stability and security SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 In the last year, the Defense Department has made progress in responding to the current era of strategic competition, John Hill, who is performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, said A...
- Georgia, California Students to Hear from Astronauts on Space Station NASA · 25 Aug 2021 Students in Georgia and California will each have an opportunity this week to hear from astronauts aboard the International Space Station.