Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- China, with Tianwen-1, begins tenure at Mars with successful orbital arrival NASASpaceflight · 10 Feb 2021 The Tianwen-1 orbiter, lander, and rover mission to Mars from the People’s Republic of China has successfully arrived at the Red Planet following an approximately 15 minute Mars Orbit Insertion burn that placed the craft...
- NASA to use commercial launch vehicle for Europa Clipper SpaceNews · 10 Feb 2021 NASA is no longer considering launching the Europa Clipper mission on the Space Launch System, deciding instead to launch the spacecraft on a commercial rocket it will procure in the next year.
- NASA Offers Opportunities for Media to Engage with Mars Perseverance Rover Landing NASA · 10 Feb 2021 NASA will host virtual news briefings, live shows, and activities the week of Feb. 15 to discuss events surrounding the landing of its Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.
- Investors see multiple avenues for space sector exits SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 Money will continue flowing into the space industry from government agencies, private equity firms and public markets, according to panelists at the 2021 SmallSat Symposium.
- SpaceX’s most rapidly-reusable rocket booster speeds towards next launch Teslarati · 9 Feb 2021 SpaceX’s most rapidly-reusable Falcon 9 booster has sped through its post-landing recovery process after becoming the first rocket in history to launch...
- Amazon Web Services sees role as technology enabler for space industry SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 Amazon Web Services is looking to attract new customers by offering customized services such as cloud-based satellite operations and mission control.
- NASA Awards Contract to Launch Initial Elements for Lunar Outpost NASA · 9 Feb 2021 NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the agency’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), the foundati...
- Arab world’s first interplanetary spacecraft safely arrives at Mars Spaceflight Now · 9 Feb 2021 The United Arab Emirates became the fifth nation or space agency to put a spacecraft into orbit around Mars on Tuesday with the arrival of Hope, a probe built in partnership with U.S. scientists to obtain a unique global...
- Eutelsat awarded €100m contract for next-gen European navigation overlay service SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 The EGNOS GEO-4 payload, which improves the performance and accuracy of GPS and Galileo satellite navigation signals, will be hosted aboard a Eutelsat satellite slated to launch in 2022.
- UAE “Hope” probe successfully reaches Mars, two more following shortly Ars Technica · 9 Feb 2021 2021 marks both the 50th anniversary of the Emirates and the first landing on Mars.
- Hope enters orbit around Mars SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 The United Arab Emirates’ first Mars mission, Hope, successfully entered orbit around the planet Feb. 9.
- Elon Musk talks Starlink IPO Teslarati · 9 Feb 2021 Just months after pledging to prioritize retail investors in Starlink’s future IPO, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has noted that the satellite constellation...
- NASA Celebrates Black History Month with Lessons from African American Leaders NASA · 9 Feb 2021 As part of its celebration of Black History Month, NASA will host a virtual discussion at 12 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 10, featuring a panel of current and past agency leaders.
- So long Senator Shelby: Key architect of SLS rocket won’t seek reelection Ars Technica · 9 Feb 2021 Shelby said NASA's exploration of space will "always" go through Alabama.
- Crew Dragon breaks record for longest flight by human-rated U.S. spacecraft Spaceflight Now · 9 Feb 2021 The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that carried four astronauts to the International Space Station in November broke the record Sunday for the longest spaceflight by a U.S. crew vehicle, surpassing the 84-day mark set by...
- Swarm begins offering commercial satellite data service SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 With 81 miniature satellites in orbit, internet-of-things startup Swarm announced the start of its commercial data service.
- Thales Alenia selected to build Telesat’s broadband constellation SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 Canadian satellite operator Telesat announced Feb. 9 it has selected Thales Alenia Space to manufacture 298 satellites for a broadband network in low-Earth orbit.
- UAE makes history as Al-Amal arrives at Mars for two-year mission NASASpaceflight · 9 Feb 2021 The United Arab Emirates made history Tuesday, 9 February as they became the first Arab nation and only the second nation in history to succeed in placing a spacecraft into Martian orbit on their very first attempt.
- Industry still sees strong demand for smallsat launch services SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 While some see a surge of launch vehicle development efforts as a sign of an “overheated” market, others see those efforts as a sign of shifting demand.
- Richard Shelby, senator with major influence over NASA, to retire SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), an influential senator who has long been an advocate for some NASA programs and critic of others, announced Feb. 8 he will not run for reelection next year.
- NASA chooses SpaceX to launch a self-propelled space station to the Moon Teslarati · 9 Feb 2021 Days after SpaceX won a NASA contract to launch a galaxy-mapping space telescope, the space agency has selected Falcon Heavy to launch...
- SpaceX wins contract to launch first pieces of NASA’s Gateway lunar outpost Spaceflight Now · 9 Feb 2021 NASA announced Tuesday it has awarded SpaceX a $331 million contract to launch the first two pieces of the Gateway lunar outpost in 2024 using a modified version of the Falcon Heavy rocket to hurl the massive core of the...
- Strong interest for SpaceX smallsat rideshare launch services SpaceNews · 9 Feb 2021 SpaceX is seeing strong demand for its dedicated smallsat rideshare missions, a program that is putting pricing pressure on small launch vehicle developers.
- Cloud computing services changing the calculus for space startups SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2021 The cloud computing industry is developing products and services aimed at space companies that want to monetize data without having to invest in infrastructure.
- SpaceX Starship prototype gets frosty for a launch attempt as early as this week Teslarati · 8 Feb 2021 Update: It appears that SpaceX has completed Starship SN10’s first cryogenic proof test campaign and the company lifted its road closure around...
- Satellite imagery is not yet flowing like water from a tap SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2021 SAN FRANCISCO – Companies are collecting more Earth imagery from satellites than ever before, but for some customers the data remains too expensive and too difficult to consume.
- Space industry investment continues to grow SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2021 Nearly a year after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic raised fears of a slowdown in commercial space investment, experts say the industry is, in fact, doing better than ever.
- MAVEN reveals Martian atmospheric time capsule on Phobos as Mars fleet prepares for arrival NASASpaceflight · 8 Feb 2021 Data from NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft has revealed the unsurprising — yet previously not searched for — presence of Martian atmospheric ions preserved in the top layer of regolith on...
- NASA Introduces New Flight Directors in Class of 2021 NASA · 8 Feb 2021 NASA has selected four new additions to its cadre of flight directors to oversee operations of the International Space Station.
- Tricky Terrain: Helping to Assure a Safe Rover Landing NASA · 8 Feb 2021 How two new technologies will help Perseverance, NASA’s most sophisticated rover yet, touch down onto the surface of Mars this month.
- Where Should Future Astronauts Land on Mars? Follow the Water NASA · 8 Feb 2021 A new NASA paper provides the most detailed map to date of near-surface water ice on the Red Planet.
- Xenesis adopts revenue-sharing model for optical communications SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2021 Optical communications startup Xenesis is establishing revenue-sharing agreements with key suppliers.
- Isotropic Systems raises $42 million SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2021 Isotropic Systems raised $42 million to continue development of broadband terminals for use by a wide range of satellite systems in a round led by satellite operator SES.
- SpaceX wants to launch its next Starship ASAP Teslarati · 8 Feb 2021 Contrary to recent comments from CEO Elon Musk, SpaceX appears to be forging ahead at full speed in a bid to launch...
- Photos: Sixty more Starlinks rocket through moonlit sky over Cape Canaveral Spaceflight Now · 8 Feb 2021 With another SpaceX rocket poised for launch just a few miles away, a Falcon 9 launcher soared through a moonlit sky over Cape Canaveral on Feb. 4 carrying 60 more Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
- SpaceX opens up Starlink internet preorders around the world Teslarati · 8 Feb 2021 SpaceX has quietly opened up preorders around the world for its Starlink internet service, with confirmations already rolling in from across the...
- UAE’s Hope orbiter on course for arrival at Mars Spaceflight Now · 8 Feb 2021 The first interplanetary probe from the United Arab Emirates is set to enter orbit around Mars on Tuesday, the first of three robotic missions taking aim on the Red Planet this month.
- Former Tomnod CEO joins Spire Global to lead aviation unit SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2021 Shay Har-Noy, former Tomnod CEO, has joined Spire Global as the company’s general manager of the aviation systems business unit.
- ABL Space tapped to launch the first orbital rocket from Britain Ars Technica · 8 Feb 2021 “The ABL system is relatively easy, quick, and cost-effective to deploy."
- Starship SN10’s Raptors installed as testing begins NASASpaceflight · 7 Feb 2021 The three Raptor engines tasked with Starship’s third high altitude test flight have been installed into the aft of SN10. Pending acceptable results from an upcoming Static Fire test, SN10 will be tasked with repeating t...