Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- My Favorite Martian Image: Helicopter Sees Potential Rover Road Ahead NASA · 25 Aug 2021 Perseverance scientist impressed with aerial images of location considered for rover exploration.
- In leaked email, ULA official calls NASA leadership “incompetent” Ars Technica · 25 Aug 2021 "Let me know if there’s anything else you need—we are here to serve!"
- Phase Four Maxwell to test green propellant SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 Phase Four plans to fuel its Maxwell engine with a green propellant develop by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory under a contract the Southern California startup won Aug. 18 at the U.S. Space Force’s first SpaceWERX...
- Space Development Agency’s policy chief: ‘Our focus is maintaining our rapid schedule’ SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 Paula Trimble joined SDA in January as policy chief and legislative affairs director. A longtime Washington policy insider and former space journalist, Trimble spoke with SpaceNews about the agency’s disruptive approach...
- OneWeb’s antenna supplier in South Korea expanding production to meet growing demand for LEO broadband terminals SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 OneWeb supplier Intellian Technologies says it will begin building a second manufacturing plant in October to keep up with growing demand for LEO broadband user terminals. The new plant is expected to open in May.
- SpaceX reinstalling 29 Raptor engines on first orbital-class Starship booster Teslarati · 25 Aug 2021 For the second time this month, SpaceX has begun installing 29 Raptor engines on Starship’s first orbital-class Super Heavy booster, potentially paving...
- The Pentagon’s hyperfocus on hypersonic missile threat SpaceNews · 25 Aug 2021 The deployment of sensor satellites in low Earth orbit to fill blind spots in the U.S. missile defense system is finally moving from the drawing board to actual space hardware.
- China launches another geostationary military satellite Spaceflight Now · 25 Aug 2021 China launched another military satellite Tuesday aboard a Long March 3B rocket, just four hours after liftoff of a different Chinese launcher with multiple prototype spacecraft for a planned constellation of orbiting in...
- SpaceX test-fires rocket before space station cargo mission Spaceflight Now · 25 Aug 2021 On the cusp of ending a two-month SpaceX launch drought, ground crews raised a Falcon 9 rocket vertical Wednesday on its launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for an engine test-firing and final cargo loading before...
- Accelerated digital transformations on Earth are a boost for deep space missions SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Efforts to digitize spacecraft manufacturing processes to support remote workers during the pandemic are also creating operational advantages for deep space missions, according to a Lockheed Martin executive.
- After negotiations, Space Development Agency was able to get reduced pricing for national security launch SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 SDA Director Derek Tournear said initially he did not want to use NSSL because it’s significantly more expensive than commercial launches but worked out an agreement with the Space Force to get the cost reduced
- China launches demo satellites for internet constellation Spaceflight Now · 24 Aug 2021 China launched two test payloads Tuesday for a planned constellation of internet satellites, a step that could lead to launches of thousands more Chinese spacecraft to match similar commercial networks already being depl...
- Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket ready for first launch SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Firefly Aerospace is ready to make its first orbital launch attempt next week as the company balances a transition to operations with plans to develop new rockets and spacecraft.
- Orbion wins contract to demonstrate high-thrust propulsion SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Orbion Space Technology announced a U.S. Air Force contract to develop and demonstrate high-thrust propulsion to help small satellites quickly dodge satellites or space debris.
- Kendall reorganizes Space Force acquisition office, wants faster merger with Space Development Agency SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced Aug. 24 he is reorganizing the office that oversees Space Force acquisition programs.
- NRO Director highlights cooperation and innovation SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 The National Reconnaissance Office is working closely with the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command after signing a document that clearly defines each organization's roles and responsibilities, NRO Director Christophe...
- Moran: two shots to increase NASA funding this year SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 A key senator said he will work to fund NASA priorities like its Artemis lunar exploration program through both the conventional appropriations process as well as a multi trillion-dollar budget reconciliation package.
- SpaceX’s newest drone heads to sea for first Falcon 9 booster landing Teslarati · 24 Aug 2021 Update: Fresh from the drydock where it was built, SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas has departed Port Canaveral and is...
- China launches Chang Zheng 3B for seventh TJSW mission NASASpaceflight · 24 Aug 2021 At 15:41 UTC on August 24, a Chang Zheng 3B (internationally known as Long March 3B) successfully lifted off from LC-3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.
- Updated intelligence report calls for improved monitoring of cislunar space SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 An upcoming report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) discusses international activities beyond Earth’s orbit and helps to explain the U.S. Space Force’s effort to improve observation capabilities for cislunar sp...
- Dickinson: U.S. Space Command is now a ‘warfighting force,’ needs permanent home SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 The head of U.S. Space Command Army announced Aug. 24 that the command has reached “initial operational capability."
- First images of Blue Origin’s “Project Jarvis” test tank Ars Technica · 24 Aug 2021 "The reason I like vertical landing is because it scales so well."
- OneWeb unveils its smallest user terminal for LEO broadband SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 OneWeb has unveiled a briefcase-sized electronically steered user terminal called OW1, which it says is the smallest yet that is capable of connecting to its low Earth orbit constellation.
- Raymond unveils new Space Force ad: ‘Space is hard’ SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond unveiled a new Space Force recruiting ad Aug. 24 aimed at attracting technically skilled candidates.
- Chang Zheng 2C lofts experimental Chinese internet satellites into orbit NASASpaceflight · 24 Aug 2021 Just over a month after its most recent launch, a Chinese Chang Zheng 2C rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia, successfully carrying three new Chinese satellites into polar orbits...
- NorthStar SSA and Earth intelligence constellation gets key government approval SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Canada’s government has conditionally approved startup NorthStar Earth & Space’s plan to deploy 52 commercial imaging satellites to keep tabs on what’s happening in orbit and down below.
- Space station spacewalk postponed by astronaut medical issue Spaceflight Now · 24 Aug 2021 A planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station Tuesday was postponed after NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei was diagnosed with a pinched nerve, which NASA described as a “minor medical issue.”
- SpaceX may dig a tunnel to enable frequent South Texas launches Ars Technica · 24 Aug 2021 County officials would not be willing to pay for the project.
- Numerica upgrades telescope network to track objects in LEO SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Space data provider Numerica is upgrading its network of ground-based telescopes so they can track objects both in low Earth orbit and beyond.
- Virgin Orbit to expand launch business, move into satellite services SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Virgin Orbit will use the proceeds of a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company to expand its launch business and develop a satellite constellation for internet-of-things and Earth observation services.
- Raymond’s progress report on Space Force: ‘All the pieces are coming together’ SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 The military bureaucracy is not known for speed, but moving fast is critical in today’s environment, said the chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force Gen. John “Jay” Raymond.
- SpaceX to put custom Starship propellant storage tanks through first trial Teslarati · 24 Aug 2021 In the latest twist in the saga of SpaceX’s custom-built Starship launch pad propellant storage tanks, the company appears to have retroactively...
- Britain charts a new course for satellite navigation SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 When it comes to satellite navigation, the British government has struggled to find its way over the last five years.
- NASA Administrator highlights contributions of Colorado industry and academia SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Advanced Space was one of three Colorado organizations NASA Administrator Bill Nelson introduced during a press briefing at the 36th Space Symposium with genuine enthusiasm.
- After meeting with ULA and Blue Origin, Air Force secretary cautiously optimistic about Vulcan SpaceNews · 24 Aug 2021 Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Aug. 24 met with the chiefs executives of United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin and was briefed on the Vulcan Centaur.
- ispace unveils new larger lunar lander SpaceNews · 23 Aug 2021 The Tokyo-based ispace unveiled the design of the lander at the 36th Space Symposium Aug. 23. The lander, being developed by the company’s U.S. office in Denver, will fly as soon as 2024 on the company’s third mission to...
- Thinking outside the box: Aerospace Corp.’s thin DiskSats SpaceNews · 23 Aug 2021 The Aerospace Corp., an early adopter of the cubesat standard, is proposing a new shape for small satellites: a thin, round plate.
- Collins Aerospace to provide life support for privately run LEO outpost SpaceNews · 23 Aug 2021 Collins Aerospace said Aug. 23 it had been awarded a $2.6 million contract by an undisclosed customer to provide life support systems for a planned “privately owned and operated low Earth orbit outpost.
- Global space economy swells in spite of the pandemic SpaceNews · 23 Aug 2021 The overall space economy expanded 4.4 percent to $447 billion in 2020 with more nations participating than ever before, according to the Space Foundation’s updated Space Report.
- Lamborn: The fight to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado is not over SpaceNews · 23 Aug 2021 Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Republican who represents Colorado Springs, told SpaceNews he expects the fight to continue into next year pending ongoing reviews by the Defense Department’s inspector general and the Government Acc...