Boeing

Retired Boeing satellite exec to head EO startup Hera Systems
Roger Roberts ended an eight-year stint as the head of Boeing space and intelligence systems in 2005 as his unit’s marquee classified contract, the Future Imagery Architecture constellation of optical and radar reconnaissance satellites, was facing cancellation.

Spiwak stepping down as head of Boeing Satellite Systems
Spiwak, who took over Boeing’s satellite division in mid-2014, is going out on a high note. On Monday, satellite fleet operator announced that it had selected Boeing over incumbent Thales Alenia Space to build seven satellites for a new constellation called O3b mPower.

SES building a 10-terabit O3b ‘mPower’ constellation
Fleet operator SES placed a seven-satellite order with Boeing Satellite Systems International to build a second generation of O3b satellites that will have more than triple the capacity of ViaSat’s future ViaSat-3 constellation.

Intelsat-33e propulsion problems to cut service life by 3.5 years
Two separate propulsion problems will shorten the expected lifespan of Intelsat’s second high-throughput satellite by an estimated 3.5 years, the company told SpaceNews Aug. 31.

Lockheed won’t protest now two-way race to refresh U.S. nuclear arsenal
Lockheed Martin Strategic and Missile Defense Systems will not protest the U.S. Air Force’s decision to move ahead with teams led by Boeing and Northrop Grumman for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program to replace Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Boeing warns aviation safety program could interfere with Globalstar satellites
An aeronautical communications service meant to improve aircraft safety while on the ground at airports could cause unacceptable interference to Globalstar’s satellite system, according to Boeing.

All-electric satellites halfway to becoming half of all satellites
Satellite manufacturers are trying to figure out how to maximize their share of the electric propulsion market while not abandoning more conservative customers.

NASA reschedules TDRS-M launch for Aug. 20
NASA announced July 26 that the launch of a communications satellite damaged during payload processing activities earlier this month has been rescheduled for Aug. 20.

NASA and companies express growing confidence in commercial crew schedules
Both NASA and the two companies developing commercial crew vehicles say those efforts remain on schedule for test flights that are in some cases less than a year away.


Boeing reshuffled defense with eye towards increased aerospace presence, CEO says
The CEO of Boeing Defense, Space, and Security said that the goal of reshuffling the company’s upper management is to streamline operations.

Boeing, DARPA will base XS-1 experimental spaceplane at Cape Canaveral when it begins testing in a few years
The XS-1 vehicle, known as Phantom Express, will launch vertically from an unspecified pad at Cape Canaveral and make a landing at one of two runways there.

Inmarsat orders fifth Global Xpress satellite from Thales Alenia Space
British satellite operator Inmarsat announced June 2 that it is ordering a fifth Global Xpress satellite, switching manufacturers from Boeing, which built the original four, to Thales Alenia Space.

DARPA selects Boeing for spaceplane project
DARPA announced May 24 that it has picked Boeing to develop an experimental reusable first stage with the promise of lowering launch costs for medium-sized payloads.

Commercial crew flight assignments could come this summer
One of the NASA astronauts training for commercial crew test flights said he expects the agency to make crew assignments for them as soon as this summer.

Global-IP picks SpaceX to launch its Boeing-built satellite
Global-IP Cayman, a Cayman Islands-based startup, has picked SpaceX to launch a high-throughput satellite it has under contract to Boeing.