Space news

"I'm deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX's launch failure destroyed our satellite."

Recent University of Pittsburgh graduate Ariel Barreiro is joining The Planetary Society for a summer fellowship through the Zed Factor Fellowship program. She shares her thoughts about space, careers, and working with The Planetary Society in this interview.

RS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #59: Today, ISS CDR Sergey Prokopyev (EV1) and FE-2 Dmitry Petelin (EV2) performed RS EVA #59 with Andrey Fedyaev supporting as the Intravehicular (IV) operator. The trio performed a multitude of tasks in order to perform various external payload and system configuration updates, as well as take photos. The MRM2 hatch …

Cybersecurity specialist SpiderOak reported successful on-orbit testing June 22 of its OrbitSecure software running on a Ball Aerospace payload.

Strategic communications and missile warning satellites “represent a fundamental departure from how DoD has historically carried out these critical missions,” says a new report by the Aerospace Corp. published June 22.

NASA inaugurated a public center designed to highlight the information provided by its fleet of Earth science spacecraft, although future missions face budgetary challenges.

United Launch Alliance launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite on a Delta 4 Heavy rocket June 22 at 5:18 a.m. Eastern from Space Launch Complex-37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

WASHINGTON — The House Armed Services Committee in a late-night vote June 21 approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 by a vote […]

French space agency CNES has awarded a contract to space debris removal startup Dark to conduct an emergency space debris interception simulation. The study will focus on assessing Dark’s Interceptor system, which is designed to be rapidly deployed to capture large space debris objects like rocket bodies. The Dark Interceptor is an air-launched rocket that […] The post CNES Awards Contract to Dark for Space Debris Interceptor Simulation appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Intelsat has terminated discussions regarding a potential merger with rival company SES, as confirmed by statement from SES.

Canada's NorthStar Earth and Space has signed a multi-launch deal with Rocket Lab, with the first four satellites set to be launched on an Electron rocket in the coming fall, following the collapse of there original launch partner, Virgin Orbit.

Canada’s NorthStar Earth and Space has signed a multi-launch deal with Rocket Lab after Virgin Orbit’s bankruptcy shattered plans to start deploying its space situational awareness (SSA) satellites this summer.

SpaceLogistics have secured three orders for there Mission Extension Pods (MEPs); a cutting-edge pod spacecraft providing boosts to geostationary satellites, set to launch on its first mission in 2025.

Finland's Kuva Space, previously known as Reaktor Space Lab, has secured a lucrative hyperspectral data contract worth 5 million euros ($5.47 million) from the European Commission.

United Launch Alliance’s penultimate Delta IV Heavy rocket took flight on the NROL-68 mission Thursday, lofting a secretive payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff, from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral, is expected at 05:18 AM EDT (10:18 UTC). The mission was set to launch on Wednesday before ULA scrubbed the attempt due to an issue with a ground system pneumatic valve.

Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, told an advisory committee today how she will prioritize activities if budget cuts stemming from the recent debt limit deal materialize. She […]

Ecuador joined the growing roster of countries backing the Artemis Accords for safe and sustainable space exploration June 21.

Two months after Starship’s first integrated test flight, engine testing is already underway for Ship 25, the ship that will fly on the second launch of Starship. At the same time, SpaceX is approaching the final stretch of completing the foundation work needed at the orbital launch mount (OLM) from where Super Heavy and Starship are set to lift off again no earlier than August. Ship 25 conducted a Spin Prime test on Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Bret has formed, and Cindy may not be far behind. It's June.

U.S. satellite communications giant Intelsat walked away from merger discussions with Luxembourg-based competitor SES on Wednesday, CNBC confirmed.

NASA and the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday strengthening the collaboration between the two agencies, including efforts to improve agricultural and Earth science research, technology, agricultural management, and the application of science data and models to agricultural decision making.

Mynaric will supply laser communications terminals for seven military satellites made by Raytheon Technologies, the company announced June 21.

Intelsat has ended talks about merging with rival satellite operator SES, a source close to the discussions confirmed.

Media accreditation is open for launch of the next commercial resupply services mission to deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.

During a ceremony at the Ecuador embassy in Washington on Wednesday, Ecuador became the 26th country to sign the Artemis Accords. Karen Feldstein, NASA associate administrator for International and Interagency Relations, participated in the signing ceremony for the agency, and Gustavo Manrique Miranda, Ecuador’s foreign affairs minister, signed on

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson led a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to showcase a new Earth Information Center at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The center is part physical space and part virtual experience, which shows how NASA data can improve lives in the face of disasters, environmental challenges, and our changing world.

Scout Space, a startup developing technologies for space situational awareness, announced June 20 it has secured undisclosed funding from the venture capital firm Decisive Point and from government contractor Noblis.

Payloads: Cardiobreath: The Bio-Monitor wearables were used prior to, after, and during a CEVIS exercise to record data for the Cardiobreath experiment. Astronauts experience changes in their cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems during spaceflight, which can affect their capacity to exercise and to maintain blood pressure when standing after return to Earth. Causal Analysis of …

A new startup, Danti, came out of stealth June 21 with a search engine designed for users of geospatial data.

Justin Fauntleroy is a government contractor responsible for writing future concepts and doctrine for the U.S. military, specifically the Joint Staff and Naval Warfare Development Center. He earned a bachelor’s […]

Space Forge will flesh out its U.S. strategy with the help of Andrew Parlock, the U.K.-based startup’s new managing director for U.S. manufacturing operations.

The FAA has started to reduce the amount of airspace it closes for launches from Cape Canaveral as part of efforts to limit the impact of growing launch activity on commercial aviation.

An Indian startup has raised $10 million to start development of commercial space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities that will include data from spacecraft.

German startup Vyoma said June 20 it has raised 8.5 million euros ($9.3 million) to develop space debris-monitoring satellites from investors that include French aerospace giant Safran, which will help develop the constellation.

German launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has signed a binding term sheet with French space agency CNES to access a new commercial launch facility being built on the grounds of the old Diamant launch complex at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. The company will utilize the facility to launch its RFA ONE vehicle […] The post RFA Sign Binding Term Sheet for Access to Guiana Space Center appeared first on European Spaceflight.

Payloads: General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator (GLACIER): The Glacier trays (two), tray support structures, and desiccants were removed and stowed. The GLACIER refrigerators are ultra-cold freezers that will store samples at temperatures as low as -160°C (-301°F). ISS Ham Radio: An ISS Ham pass contact was made with Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, …

United Launch Alliance is targeting the launch of the penultimate Delta IV Heavy with the secretive NROL-68 mission at 3:29 AM ET...

"These launches place critical capabilities into orbit for our nation."

NASA will provide live coverage as two Roscosmos cosmonauts conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Thursday, June 22, for station upgrades and retrieval of equipment.

SpaceLogistics announced June 20 it has three confirmed orders for its refueling pods that will fly to orbit on a servicing mission in early 2025.

"State corporation Roscosmos calls on you to join the Uran volunteer battalion."

True Anomaly announced plans to provide digital and live training ranges as a service.

Ramon.Space announced a strategic partnership June 20 with Foxconn subsidiary Ingrasys aimed at high-volume production of satellite computing technology.

Orbital Composites is gaining traction in the emerging in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing sector thanks to government contracts and partnerships.

The chief executive of Boeing says his company is still committed to the CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle despite the latest problems that have further delayed the program.

Here are links to all the articles published on SpacePolicyOnline.com during the week of June 12-19, 2023, including our “What’s Happening in Space Policy” for this coming week. Click on […]

Payloads: Fluid Dynamics in Space (FLUIDICS): FLUIDICS hardware was installed and recording system troubleshooting was performed. The troubleshooting efforts were unsuccessful, but will be re-attempted. The measurement of liquid displacement within a sphere in microgravity relates to a given kinematic representation of a spacecraft’s fuel tank. The FLUIDICS investigation evaluates the Center of Mass (CoM) …

Indonesia’s Satria-1 broadband satellite deployed its solar panels after launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 to geosynchronous transfer orbit over the weekend, manufacturer Thales Alenia Space said June 19.

Launching at 9:24 PM ET on June 17th (01:24 UTC June 18th), the first Rocket Lab HASTE launch vehicle successfully lifted off...

Skyrora, a UK-based space company, is conducting a series of full-duration tests to qualify the updated design of its 70kN engine for its inaugural commercial orbital launch.