Space news

Dish Network is seeking permission to use 12 GHz spectrum for fixed terrestrial broadband in the United States, three months after regulators rejected plans for mobile services in the band following interference concerns from Starlink and other satellite operators.

NASA's Lunar Flashlight mission aimed to place a cubesat into lunar orbit to search for water ice in the moon's shadowed craters, was hindered by the blockage of propellant lines for the spacecraft's thrusters.

DCubed, a German startup specializing in deployable satellite structures, plans to conduct an in-space manufacturing demonstration later this year.

Axiom Space and the European Space Agency (ESA), have signed an agreement to send an ESA astronaut from Poland into space through an upcoming Axiom Space mission. Specific details about the mission and the identity of the Polish astronaut will be formally disclosed at a later point, pending approval from NASA and its international partners.

Rocket Lab’s (NASDAQ: RKLB) Q2 results are out, and the company is looking good following a positive quarter. The company had 100%...

As the Cygnus S.S. Laurel Clark spends its first days berthed to the ISS, the successor to the Antares 230+ launch vehicle that launched it is taking shape in the facilities of Northrop Grumman (NG) and Firefly Aerospace. 

Each year, NASA scientists, engineers, and developers create software packages to manage space missions, test spacecraft, and analyze the petabytes of data produced by agency research satellites. As the agency innovates for the benefit of humanity, many of these programs are now downloadable and free of charge through NASA’s Software Catalog.

A NASA lunar cubesat mission failed to go into orbit around the moon earlier this year when debris blocked propellant lines for the spacecraft’s thrusters.

RS Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #60: Today, ISS CDR Sergey Prokopyev (EV1) and FE-2 Dmitry Petelin (EV2) performed RS EVA #60 with Andrey Fedyaev supporting as the Intravehicular (IV) operator. The trio performed a multitude of tasks concurrently with European Robotic Arm (ERA) Mission 8 in order to relocate the Portable Work Station (ПРМ) from MRM1 …

The derivative impact on the smallsat industrial base is also clear: smallsat space hardware and launch companies that have built a track record can capitalize on this shift, driving growth and expanded moats, while newer entrants may find it increasingly difficult to carve out a defensible niche.

Smallsats need standardizing now more than ever

BlackSky, one of Rocket Lab’s biggest launch customers, has bought an additional five Electron launches for its next-generation imaging satellites.

A new paper suggests the same conditions that created the cracks could have been favorable to the emergence of microscopic life.

German startup Vyoma has ordered two pilot satellites for its proposed space debris-monitoring constellation from EnduroSat, the eight-year-old Bulgarian cubesat specialist.

NASA has left the door open for changing the scope of Artemis 3, currently set to be the first crewed lunar landing of the program, if key elements suffer major delays.

The SpaceNews editorial team is producing a daily for the 2023 Small Satellite show, a nightly email newsletter and all-day web coverage during the 2023 Small Satellite show in Logan, Utah, the […]

Solar energy startup, Solestial, has unveiled its plans to provide solar arrays for space tugs developed by Denver-based startup Atomos Space.

The National Reconnaissance Office is looking for partners who are developing advanced technology for satellites and ground systems.

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) has announced an automated Ka-band ground network engineered to serve the evolving needs of small satellite constellations.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) has revealed intentions to establish a new satellite testing facility at the Grand Forks Air Force Base situated in North Dakota.

Starfish Space has secured a $1.8 million investment from the U.S. Air Force's AFWERX technology accelerator to advance its groundbreaking satellite guidance software.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the Space Development Agency (SDA) have accomplished a successful Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) program. This milestone paves the way for the production phase, bringing the global military data and connectivity project one step closer to reality.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced a significant regulatory change that is set to revolutionize the capabilities of commercial remote sensing satellite systems. On August 7, NOAA revealed the modification of "Tier 3" commercial remote sensing licenses for several companies, marking a significant step in the evolution of satellite imaging technology.

In a significant breakthrough for space exploration and safety, an asteroid discovery algorithm designed for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's has successfully identified its first "potentially hazardous" asteroid.

In a move underscoring heightened concerns over China's advancements in remote sensing technologies, the United States–China Economic and Security Review Commission has issued a request for proposals from companies capable of producing an unclassified report on China's remote sensing capabilities.

The Shanghai Municipal People’s Government has thrown its support behind an ambitious broadband megaconstellation project, known as "G60 Starlink," which aims to deploy a vast network of satellites to provide global internet coverage. Officials unveiled plans for the initiative during press conference on July 25.

Sierra Space has announced the establishment of a cutting-edge engineering and test organization aimed at driving unprecedented advancements in space technology and products for both commercial and government clients.

True Anomaly has announced a deal with Redwire to equip their Jackal spacecraft with Redwires state-of-the-art navigation and sensing cameras which are slated to launch in early 2024.

GHGSat has ordered another four 16U cubesats from Spire Global for a launch no earlier than 2024 to expand its greenhouse gas-monitoring constellation, the Canadian satellite operator announced Aug. 8.

NASA said today the next two missions in NASA’s program to return astronauts the Moon, Artemis II and Artemis III, remain on track for launch in late 2024 and late […]

DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) and EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) have officially entered into a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction, combining their strengths to create a dynamic force in the world of wireless connectivity and satellite communications.

Eutelsat, the French satellite fleet operator has announced a collaboration with a regional satellite operator in Thailand to commission a high throughput geostationary telecom spacecraft intended to serve Asia's growing connectivity demands.

Rocket Lab on Tuesday reported second-quarter results that largely met Wall Street’s expectations, and the company said it added contracts for 10 more launches in 2023 and 2024.

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) have announced the signing of a launch agreement for BlackSky's next generations satellites.

Following the static fire test of Booster 9, which saw the Raptor engines ignite on the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM) for the...

True Anomaly, a startup based in Denver, will install Redwire’s navigation and sensing cameras on two inspector satellites it plans to launch next year.

Exotrail, a French space mobility company, has established two U.S. subsidiaries as part of its strategy to cater to the growing number of American clients.

Starfish Space has secured $1.8 million from the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX technology accelerator to develop its satellite guidance software, the in-orbit servicing startup announced Aug. 8.

An influential U.S. commission that advises Congress and the White House is soliciting proposals from companies that can produce an unclassified report on China’s remote sensing capabilities.

The National Reconnaissance Office announced a contract Aug. 8 with Firefly Aerospace and Xtenti, a Texas-based space logistics startup, to demonstrate responsive space activities.

The agency that regulates commercial remote sensing satellite systems has loosened restrictions imposed on many companies’ licenses, enabling them to provide higher-resolution imagery or other services.

The thick fog didn’t stop the Falcon 9 from launching 15 V2 mini Starlink satellites last night from California. The Falcon 9...

Firefly Aerospace and Xtenti Corporation have announced their collaboration on a cutting-edge "Responsive Space Demonstration." The joint project aims to showcase the capabilities of Elytra, an advanced satellite and propulsion system.

The Shanghai government has expressed backing for a "G60 Starlink" broadband megaconstellation consisting of an initial 1,296 satellites.

When designing satellites, ReOrbit puts software in the spotlight. What is the rationale behind that approach? Typically, following the initial evolution of technology, you can see a prevailing pattern of […]

NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter conducted its 54th flight on August 3, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing exploration of the Red Planet. This 54th flight comes shortly after the helicopter encountered a glitch during its 53rd flight on July 22, which prompted an unscheduled landing.

The SpaceNews editorial team is producing a daily for the 2023 Small Satellite show, a nightly email newsletter and all-day web coverage during the 2023 Small Satellite show in Logan, Utah, the […]

This morning, ESA provided an update on the Ariane 6 test campaign which is ongoing at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. Please note that any future dates are valid at the time of wiring and are subject change.

French space mobility company Exotrail has created two U.S. subsidiaries as part of efforts to serve a growing number of American customers.

"The helicopter worked as planned and executed an immediate landing."