Industry News
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
Industry / News
- House passes two space bills SpaceNews · 17 Dec 2020 The House of Representatives passed legislation Dec. 16 to protect Apollo-era artifacts on the moon and to rename another NASA facility after the first man to walk on the moon.
- India launches CMS-01 communications satellite SpaceNews · 17 Dec 2020 India successfully sent the CMS-01 extended C-band communications satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit Thursday with the country’s second launch of 2020.
- India launches PSLV rocket with CMS-01 communications satellite NASASpaceflight · 17 Dec 2020 The Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, has launched their second mission of 2020 using their workhorse rocket: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, or PSLV.
- SpaceX scrubs Falcon 9 launch to assess second stage issue Spaceflight Now · 17 Dec 2020 SpaceX scrubbed a Falcon 9 launch attempt Thursday to evaluate a “slightly high” pressure reading in the rocket’s upper stage liquid oxygen tank, and officials tentatively rescheduled the company’s final mission of the y...
- Blue Origin’s New Glenn added to NASA launch contract SpaceNews · 17 Dec 2020 NASA has added New Glenn, the large launch vehicle under development by Blue Origin, to the list of vehicles eligible to compete for future agency missions.
- Space Force trying to change negative perceptions about military procurement SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 The U.S. military wants to shake its reputation as an unfriendly customer to space startups and commercial tech companies, said Lt. Gen. John Thompson.
- Canadian astronaut to fly on first crewed Artemis mission SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have finalized an agreement regarding Canada’s participation in the Artemis program, which includes flying a Canadian astronaut on a mission around the moon in 2023.
- NASA Supports America's National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion NASA · 16 Dec 2020 President Donald Trump has issued a new Space Policy Directive that will help propel NASA and humanity’s next giant leap – creating a sustainable presence on the Moon and sending astronauts to Mars.
- Space Force official: Russian missile tests expose vulnerability of low-orbiting satellites SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 Russia on Dec. 15 conducted a ballistic missile test that U.S. Space Command condemned as a threat to satellites in orbit.
- NASA Awards Launch Services Contract to Blue Origin for New Glenn Launch Services NASA · 16 Dec 2020 NASA has awarded a NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to Blue Origin and their New Glenn launch service in accordance with the contract’s on-ramp provision.
- NASA Awards Contract for Research and Education Support Services NASA · 16 Dec 2020 NASA has awarded the NASA Research and Education Support Services-II (NRESS-II) contract to Agile Decision Sciences LLC of Huntsville, Alabama.
- NASA, USDA Sign Agreement to Improve Agricultural, Earth Science Research NASA · 16 Dec 2020 NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening their longstanding partnership on space-based assets benefitting life on Earth.
- Comspoc embraces startup mentality after AGI spinoff SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 ow that it’s spun out of Analytical Graphics Inc., Comspoc operates more like a startup focused on space situational awareness, space domain awareness and space traffic coordination and management than a corporate busine...
- Italy orders second pair of Cosmo-SkyMed radar satellites SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 The Italian government has ordered two additional Cosmo-SkyMed radar imaging satellites from Thales Alenia Space and tapped Telespazio to upgrade the constellation’s ground segment under a contract announced Dec. 15.
- Chinese sample return capsule lands on Earth after round-trip flight to moon Spaceflight Now · 16 Dec 2020 A capsule containing moon rocks landed in a remote, snow-covered corner of China Wednesday, bringing home the first samples from the lunar surface in 44 years and completing the Chinese space program’s most challenging r...
- 3 Things We've Learned From NASA's Mars InSight NASA · 16 Dec 2020 Scientists are finding new mysteries since the geophysics mission landed two years ago.
- China recovers Chang’e-5 moon samples after complex 23-day mission SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 China has recovered precious lunar samples after a successful reentry and landing of the Chang’e-5 return capsule.
- White House releases space nuclear power strategy SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 The White House released a new space policy directive Dec. 16 intended to serve as a strategic roadmap for the development of space nuclear power and propulsion technologies.
- Canada to become second nation ever to send people to the Moon NASASpaceflight · 16 Dec 2020 To date, only Americans have travelled to the Moon. On Artemis 2, that will change when the Canadian Space Agency sends one of its four astronauts on the first-ever crewed flight of NASA’s Orion capsule and the Space Lau...
- Astra’s smallsat launcher reaches space on second test flight Spaceflight Now · 16 Dec 2020 On its second test flight Tuesday, Astra’s privately-developed small satellite launcher ran out of fuel seconds before reaching the velocity needed to enter orbit but exceeded the company’s expectations with an otherwise...
- Astra set up a rocket launch with five people and came within seconds of orbit Ars Technica · 16 Dec 2020 "It's a really nice Christmas present for the team."
- Satellite sensors could supply data for emissions trading systems SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 Satellite data could play a role in monitoring, reporting and verifying compliance with emissions trading systems also known as cap and trade.
- NASA, Canadian Space Agency Formalize Gateway Partnership for Artemis Program NASA · 16 Dec 2020 NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) finalized an agreement between the United States and Canada to collaborate on the Gateway, an outpost orbiting the Moon that will provide vital support for a sustainable, long-ter...
- NGA evaluates Hawkeye 360 data through pilot program SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 Hawkeye 360 is delivering radio frequency data and analytics to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as part of a pilot program to evaluate the value of the information for intelligence activities.
- Capella Space releases high-resolution Spotlight imagery SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 Capella Space released radar satellite images with a resolution of 50 centimeters by 50 centimeters, which the San Francisco startup says is the highest resolution available from a commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar sat...
- NASA postpones review of near Earth asteroid detection mission SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 NASA has delayed moving a proposed mission to search for near Earth objects into its next phase of development because of uncertainty about the budget that will be available for it.
- (Update: nope) SpaceX looks to double its valuation on Starlink, Starship promise Teslarati · 16 Dec 2020 SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has responded, stating that it is “incorrect” to say that the company is seeking to double its valuation...
- NRO using SpaceX’s commercial launch service for spy satellite payload Spaceflight Now · 16 Dec 2020 A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to take off Thursday from Florida’s Space Coast with a classified cargo for the National Reconnaissance Office, which broke with standard practice to procure the payload’s launch com...
- Amazon unveils flat-panel customer terminal for Kuiper constellation SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 Amazon has tested what it describes as a low-cost flat-panel antenna for use with its Project Kuiper constellation, an innovation that could be essential to the long-term success of satellite broadband.
- Watch SpaceX’s last launch and landing of 2020 live [webcast] Teslarati · 16 Dec 2020 Update: Despite no plans for a preflight static fire, SpaceX remains on track to attempt its last launch and landing of 2020...
- AST & Science to go public via special purpose acquisition SpaceNews · 16 Dec 2020 AST & Science LLC announced plans Dec. 16 to become a publicly traded company through a special purpose acquisition company.
- Chinese spacecraft heading back to Earth with lunar samples Spaceflight Now · 15 Dec 2020 A Chinese spacecraft ferrying rocks drilled from the moon’s surface is on course to land back on Earth Wednesday and deliver the first fresh lunar samples to scientists since the 1970s.
- NASA Awards Contract for Global Hawk Skyrange Program NASA · 15 Dec 2020 NASA has selected Northrup Grumman Systems Corp. (NGSC) of San Diego to provide demonstration engineering, manufacturing, and technical support for the Global Hawk Skyrange program at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Resear...
- The Orion spacecraft is now 15 years old and has flown into space just once Ars Technica · 15 Dec 2020 It was supposed to be the beginning of the Mars era.
- NASA Names W. Russ DeLoach as Chief of Safety and Mission Assurance NASA · 15 Dec 2020 NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has selected W. Russ DeLoach to be the agency’s next chief of safety and mission assurance (SMA).
- Astra succeeds in reaching space with Rocket 3.2 NASASpaceflight · 15 Dec 2020 Just three months after their first try at reaching orbit fell short, Astra returned to the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska. The improved Rocket 3.2 launch vehicle lifted off on Tuesday, December 15 at 15:55...
- News Analysis | For SpaceX, Starlink’s big broadband subsidy more symbolic than material SpaceNews · 15 Dec 2020 SpaceX’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase 1 award is big, but the impact on its overall Starlink broadband business will be modest.
- Photos: Delta 4-Heavy rocket lights up Cape Canaveral Spaceflight Now · 15 Dec 2020 These photos show the fiery liftoff of a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral on Dec. 10, riding three pillars of flame from its hydrogen-fueled RS-68A main engines.
- NASA Releases Best Practices Handbook to Help Improve Space Safety NASA · 15 Dec 2020 NASA has released the first iteration of its Spacecraft Conjunction Assessment and Collision Avoidance Best Practices Handbook to share information on best practices for coordinating in-orbit activity in a safe and respo...
- Spinoff Highlights NASA Technology Paying Dividends in US Economy NASA · 15 Dec 2020 Whether upgrading air traffic control software or honing the food safety practices that keep our dinner tables safe, NASA has worked for more than six decades to ensure its innovations benefit people on Earth.