Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- China launches Tianhe module, start of ambitious two-year station construction effort NASASpaceflight · 28 Apr 2021 China launched a Chang Zheng 5B rocket with the Tianhe station core module to low Earth orbit, marking the start of an ambitious two year construction effort of the nation’s new multi-module space station.
- Michael Collins, who piloted the Apollo 11 command module, has died Ars Technica · 28 Apr 2021 "The nation lost a true pioneer and lifelong advocate for exploration."
- Space and the new ESG business climate SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 The E in ESG is getting another boost as the United States rejoins the climate change fight, and space promises to play a central role.
- The ABCs of ESG: What is it and why does it matter? SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 ESG, which stands for environment, social and governance, is a set of nonfinancial criteria that community-minded and bottom-line investors alike are increasingly using to value businesses.
- Statements on Passing of Michael Collins NASA · 28 Apr 2021 The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk on the passing of Michael Collins:
- Space Symposium adopts hybrid live and virtual format SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 The 36th annual Space Symposium will follow a hybrid model, streaming keynote remarks, presentations, panel discussions from the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs Aug. 23-26 to virtual attendees around the world.
- Senate Commerce Committee advances Nelson nomination to lead NASA SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 Bill Nelson is one step closer to being NASA’s next administrator after his former colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance his nomination.
- Arianespace launches Vega’s return to flight with rideshare mission NASASpaceflight · 28 Apr 2021 After a five month grounding, Vega returned to flight following a launch failure in November 2020 — the rocket’s second in as many years. For its 18th mission, Vega launched the Pléiades-Neo 3 satellite along with severa...
- Max Polyakov buys Dragonfly Aerospace to fill out integrated space strategy SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 Serial entrepreneur Max Polyakov has made the next step in his vertically integrated space strategy, acquiring South African small satellite specialist Dragonfly Aerospace for an undisclosed sum.
- Intuitive Machines’ first lunar lander mission slips to 2022 SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 The first lunar lander mission by Intuitive Machines, which had been scheduled for launch late this year, has been delayed to early 2022 by its launch provider, SpaceX.
- First element of Chinese space station ready for liftoff Spaceflight Now · 28 Apr 2021 The core module of China’s space station is packaged inside the nose cone of a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket for liftoff late Wednesday (U.S. time), the first of 11 launches to deliver astronauts, supplies, experiments...
- SpaceX aces 25th Starlink launch and delivers 1500th Starlink satellite to orbit Teslarati · 28 Apr 2021 After a minor issue at sea triggered a ~23-hour delay, a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket lifted off without issue on April 28th,...
- SpaceX Starlink launch set to kick off two jam-packed months of Falcon 9 missions [webcast] Teslarati · 28 Apr 2021 After taking a roughly two-week break to focus on Crew Dragon’s third astronaut launch, SpaceX is ready to get back to its...
- SLS core stage arrives at KSC but faces “challenging” schedule SpaceNews · 28 Apr 2021 The final major element of the first Space Launch System rocket arrived at the Kennedy Space Center, but NASA’s acting administrator says it will be “challenging” to launch the rocket before the end of this year.
- Dynetics protests NASA HLS award SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 Dynetics has joined Blue Origin in filing a protest of NASA’s selection of SpaceX for a single Human Landing System award, a move that could force the agency to suspend work on the program.
- SpaceX to resume Starlink flights, stretching reused Falcon rockets to their limits Spaceflight Now · 27 Apr 2021 SpaceX aims to resume launching satellites for its Starlink internet network with the liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday night at Cape Canaveral, and company founder Elon Musk says SpaceX will use the sizeable backlo...
- York Space Systems building larger LX-CLASS satellite platform SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 Smallsat specialist York Space Systems is producing a larger satellite platform with double the payload volume of its current spacecraft bus in response to market demand.
- Germany’s launch startups race to grow their launch manifests SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 Rocket Factory Augsburg has added two more customers to its launch manifest a week after rival German startup Isar Aerospace secured its first.
- Air Force secretary nominee Kendall well versed in the challenges of space acquisitions SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 President Biden has picked former top Pentagon acquisition official Frank Kendall to be secretary of the Air Force.
- Eutelsat buys a quarter of OneWeb to get a LEO broadband growth engine SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 French satellite operator Eutelsat is paying $550 million to buy part of OneWeb, the startup deploying a broadband network in low Earth orbit.
- China launches Long March 6 with nine satellites NASASpaceflight · 27 Apr 2021 China’s lightweight Long March (Chang Zheng) 6 rocket has successfully launched nine small satellites in a rideshare mission Tuesday. The launch took place at 11:20 China Standard Time (03:20 UTC) from the Taiyuan Satell...
- FCC approves Starlink license modification SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 The FCC approved a modification of SpaceX’s license for its Starlink constellation, allowing the company to operate more than 2,800 additional satellites in lower orbits.
- NASA barge delivers first SLS core stage to Kennedy Space Center Spaceflight Now · 27 Apr 2021 The core stage of NASA’s first Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday evening aboard a specially-built barge, completing a voyage by sea from a test site in Mississippi to be...
- Crew-1 splashdown delayed by weather SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 NASA and SpaceX are postponing the return of a Crew Dragon spacecraft by three days because of poor weather forecast in the splashdown location off the Florida coast.
- SpaceX closes in on West Coast Starlink launches with lease for drone ship dock space Teslarati · 27 Apr 2021 Amid a major hiring push and calls for monthly launches, SpaceX has taken its latest step towards launching Starlink satellites from the...
- China launches space mining test spacecraft on commercial rideshare mission SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 China launched a small space mining test spacecraft and eight other commercial satellites into orbit on a Long March 6 rocket late Monday.
- Russia to select actress for Soyuz mission in May SpaceNews · 27 Apr 2021 The Russian actress who will be sent to the International Space Station on the upcoming Soyuz MS-19 spaceflight will be announced from among four finalists on May 15, according to the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin.
- Blue Origin protests NASA Human Landing System award SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 Blue Origin filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office April 26 over NASA’s decision to select only SpaceX for its Human Landing System (HLS) program, arguing the agency “moved the goalposts” of the compet...
- Startup and established IoT satellite operators exchange blows in regulatory battle SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 U.S.-based startup Swarm Technologies and 28-year old Orbcomm, both pursuing the fast-growing market for connecting Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to satellites, are locked in a regulatory tussle over plans to expand o...
- Delta 4 Heavy sends spy satellite to orbit in ULA’s first launch of 2021 SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 United Launch Alliance launched NROL-82 on a Delta 4 Heavy rocket April 26 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
- German startup Isar Aerospace signs first launch contract SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 Isar Aerospace, one of three German startups vying for ESA funding for smallsat launchers they each aim to debut next year, has won its first launch contract.
- NASA, NSF Join Forces to Bolster Student Diversity in Engineering NASA · 26 Apr 2021 NASA and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on an initiative to open new avenues to engineering careers for communities underserved and underrepresented in...
- Photos: Delta 4-Heavy rocket awaits liftoff from historic SLC-6 launch pad Spaceflight Now · 26 Apr 2021 A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket is awaiting liftoff with a classified U.S. government spy satellite at Vandenberg Air Force Base’s historic Space Launch Complex-6, a picturesque rocket facility that was onc...
- ULA Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-82 national security mission NASASpaceflight · 26 Apr 2021 A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base Monday, carrying to orbit the classified NROL-82 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The launch occurred at...
- China’s state rocket company unveils rendering of a Starship look-alike Ars Technica · 26 Apr 2021 The Asian country has tracked SpaceX from the beginning.
- Space Force sees need for civilian agency to manage congestion SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 The Space Force supports commercial growth but would like to see a civilian agency in charge of managing traffic and regulating activities.
- Ingenuity performs third Mars flight as final, most challenging tests await SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter performed its third flight on Mars April 25, setting it up for its final, and most challenging, tests.
- A 2021 SpaceX Odyssey: Dragon aces third astronaut launch, docks with space station Teslarati · 26 Apr 2021 Early on Saturday morning, SpaceX Crew Dragon ‘Endeavour’ (capsule C206) – carrying four international astronauts – flawlessly docked with the International Space...
- China, Russia open moon base project to international partners, early details emerge SpaceNews · 26 Apr 2021 Russia and China have formally invited countries and international organizations to join the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project.
- Return of SpaceX crew capsule delayed by high winds Spaceflight Now · 26 Apr 2021 High winds predicted off the coast of Florida this week will keep SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft and its four-person crew in orbit until Saturday, three days after their previously scheduled return to Earth f...