Space Industry News: Headlines from Across the Industry

36,853 headlines. We show the headline and the publisher's own teaser; the full story is at the source.

Kleos Space raises funds for additional RF mapping clusters SpaceNews · 11 Nov 2020 Luxembourg-based Kleos Space raised $13.8 million following the Nov. 7 launch of its first cluster of radio frequency mapping satellites.
Jim Bridenstine is leaving NASA. How should we assess his 30-month tenure? Ars Technica · 11 Nov 2020 "I think he’s exceeded anyone’s expectations in the position."
Telesat remains optimistic about prospects for LEO constellation SpaceNews · 11 Nov 2020 As SpaceX prepares to extend its Starlink beta test program to Canada, Telesat remains optimistic its broadband low Earth orbit constellation will find enough business to be successful.
“Revolutionary change” expected from new Indian space policy SpaceNews · 11 Nov 2020 A draft policy on opening up India’s space sector will bring transformational change, the chairman of the commercial arm of the Indian space agency said Nov. 10.
Photos: Falcon 9 rocket rolled out to pad 39A for Crew-1 launch Spaceflight Now · 11 Nov 2020 SpaceX raised a 215-foot-tall Falcon 9 rocket on pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week, shortly after the launcher rolled out of the company’s hangar with a Crew Dragon spaceship to ferry four astro...
NASA certifies SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft ahead of Crew-1 launch SpaceNews · 11 Nov 2020 NASA formally certified SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft for transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, clearing the way for a Nov. 14 launch.
Senate bill offers NASA only a fraction of requested lunar lander funding SpaceNews · 11 Nov 2020 A Senate appropriations bill would provide NASA with only a small fraction of the funding it requested for lunar lander development, putting any chance of returning humans to the moon by 2024 in jeopardy.
SpaceX Starship wraps up nosecone ‘cryo proof’ and first of several Raptor static fires Teslarati · 11 Nov 2020
Falcon 9 rocket fires up in crucial test before weekend crew launch Spaceflight Now · 11 Nov 2020 SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday afternoon at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, clearing a major hurdle before it launches Saturday night — weather permitting — with a four-person crew heading for the...
NASA chief warns of gap after retirement of International Space Station Spaceflight Now · 11 Nov 2020 The International Space Station may continue operating for another decade or more, but without more government support, a privately-owned outpost is unlikely to be ready in time to replace it, the agency’s administrator...
Senate defense appropriators take issue with agencies that buy launch services directly from providers SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Senate defense appropriators criticized the practice by some agencies of procuring launch services directly from commercial providers.
SpaceX, NASA, JAXA clear Crew-1 for launch; static fire delayed to Wednesday NASASpaceflight · 10 Nov 2020 For the first time since 1982, NASA has certified a spaceship to operationally carry humans into low Earth orbit.
Raytheon to acquire small satellite manufacturer Blue Canyon Technologies SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Raytheon announced Nov. 10 it intends to acquire Blue Canyon Technologies, a manufacturer of small satellites and spacecraft components.
SpaceX’s first operational NASA astronaut mission (almost) ready for launch Teslarati · 10 Nov 2020
Euroconsult: Record number of smallsats launched in 2020 SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Despite the coronavirus and the challenges that the pandemic has presented to the space industry, the number of satellites launched in 2020 will hit an all-time record.
Governments continue to dominate radar satellite data market SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Radar satellite operators continue to see the long-term promise of commercial markets and near-term demand from government customers, according to panelists speaking Nov. 10 at the virtual World Satellite Business Week c...
Virgin Orbit CEO Hart: Smallsat launchers need governments as anchor customers SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Small satellite launch providers need governments to invest in a diversity of companies and to avoid creating monopolies, Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart said.
Space insurers hoping to break even after recent losses SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 After two consecutive years of losses, the space insurance industry is hoping to break even this year while seeking continued increases in premiums.
U.S. Air Force taps Brig. Gen. Purdy to command 45th Space Wing SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy has been named commander of the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Space Wing and and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
NASA Science to Host Community Town Hall Meeting NASA · 10 Nov 2020 NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will hold a community town hall meeting with Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen and his leadership team at 3 p.m. EST Tuesday, Nov. 17, to discuss updates to NASA’s sc...
Independent Review Indicates NASA Prepared for Mars Sample Return Campaign NASA · 10 Nov 2020
RUAG Space: New powerful computer for satellites SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020
APT Satellite orders new small HTS satellite from China’s CGWIC SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Fleet operator APT Satellite has contracted China Great Wall Industry Corp. to build its Apstar-6E satellite based on a new, small high-throughput platform.
Large launch companies cast doubt on viability of small launch vehicle market SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 Executives of major launch companies said they doubted there was sufficient demand for more than a few small launch vehicle developers, citing their own efforts to provide rideshare launch services for smallsats.
SpaceX Starlink internet approved in Canada, beta invites imminent Teslarati · 10 Nov 2020
Japanese lunar lander company ispace opens U.S. office SpaceNews · 10 Nov 2020 A Japanese company developing commercial lunar landers has opened an office in the United States in a bid to win more business from NASA’s Artemis program.
NASA's Perseverance Rover 100 Days Out NASA · 10 Nov 2020
NASA formally certifies SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for “operational” astronaut flights Spaceflight Now · 10 Nov 2020 NASA officials gave approval Tuesday for SpaceX to begin regular crew rotation flights to the International Space Station with the launch of four astronauts set for Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sign...
SpaceX gets $29 million Space Force contract for surveillance of non-military launches SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 SpaceX was awarded a $29.6 million contract that allows the U.S. Space Force to monitor and study data from the company’s commercial and civil space missions.
Relativity’s 3D-printed engine has completed a mission duty cycle test-firing Ars Technica · 9 Nov 2020 "Despite coronavirus, we actually hit that target on track."
Raymond’s Space Force vision calls for lean organization, emphasizes civil-military ties SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, on Nov. 9 released a vision document that lays out long-term priorities and goals.
Trump ousts defense secretary Mark Esper SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 In a tweet Nov. 9 President Donald Trump announced he fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and appointed Christopher Miller as acting secretary.
SpaceX explains why the U.S. Space Force is paying $316 million for a single launch SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 Gwynne Shotwell explained the contract pays for launch services but also covers expenses for infrastructure required for national security launches.
Satellite operators boast of resilient businesses during pandemic SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 Commercial communications satellite operators say their businesses have been doing well this year despite, or even because of, the pandemic, but those companies may face longer-term threats that could lead to consolidati...
Firefly closes in on debut flight with rocket delivery to Vandenberg launch site NASASpaceflight · 9 Nov 2020 Across the world, several startup launch providers such as Relativity Space, Astra, Virgin Orbit, and others are currently in fierce competition with one another to bring their in-development rockets into operation and o...
Meet Launcher, the rocket engine builder with just eight employees Ars Technica · 9 Nov 2020 The company is making progress, completing a series of component tests in October.
NASA Invites Media to Briefing on Mars Sample Return Independent Review Board Report NASA · 9 Nov 2020 NASA will host a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EST Tuesday, Nov. 10, to discuss the findings and recommendations of the report by an agency-commissioned independent board about NASA’s plans with ESA (European Space Age...
New NASA Partnerships to Mature Commercial Space Technologies, Capabilities NASA · 9 Nov 2020 NASA has selected 17 U.S. companies for 20 partnerships to mature industry-developed space technologies for the Moon and beyond. The NASA and industry teams will design a 3D printing system for NASA’s Artemis lunar explo...
After testing, Hughes is ready to produce HeloSat communications system SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 After conducting extensive testing, Hughes is ready to produce the beyond-line-of-sight satellite communication system to speed up satellite communications for government and commercial helicopters.
L3Harris wins contract to apply artificial intelligence to remotely sensed data SpaceNews · 9 Nov 2020 L3Harris Technologies will help the U.S. Defense Defense extract information and insight from satellite and airborne imagery under a three-year U.S. Army Research Laboratory contract.

Launch and satellite data: Jonathan McDowell's GCAT (CC BY 4.0) and CelesTrak. Rockets, spacecraft and agencies: Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs and Wikidata. News headlines link to their publishers via the Spaceflight News API and RSS feeds. Records come from several sources and are matched automatically, so treat the directory as a research aid, not an authority. How the data is built and checked.