Commercial
Chinese space firms present big ambitions at commercial space forum
Players in China’s emerging commercial space sector have outlined big plans for rockets, spaceplanes and more for the coming years at a space forum hosted in Wuhan, central China.
Astroscale raises $109 million Series F round
Astroscale announced Nov. 25 that it raised $109 million from European and Japanese investors in a round it says will allow it to accelerate plans for active debris removal and satellite servicing.
Intelsat and SES meet C-band clearing deadline ahead of schedule
Intelsat and SES have beaten a key regulatory deadline for clearing C-band spectrum across the United States, unlocking more than $2 billion in combined proceeds from the Federal Communications Commission.
OneWeb mulls debris-removal service for failed satellite
OneWeb is considering options to remove one of its broadband satellites from low Earth orbit after it failed following a software issue last year.
Extending cryptocurrency networks via satellite
As cryptocurrencies gain adherents on Earth, companies and universities are conducting tests to figure out how to perform cryptocurrency transactions in space and share data via satellite.
Spanish startup PLD Space gears up for 2022 suborbital launch
Spanish launch startup PLD Space has debuted a fully assembled Miura 1 reusable suborbital rocket as a step towards its inaugural flight in 2022.
Rocket Lab ready to attempt midair recovery of Electron booster
Rocket Lab says it’s ready to move to the next step in its efforts to recover and reuse Electron first stages by attempting to catch a booster in midair on an upcoming launch.
Saber Astronautics to work with Axiom to bring Australian astronauts to space station
Saber Astronautics has signed an agreement with Axiom Space to facilitate Australian astronauts’ participation in future missions to the International Space Station.
Connecting the Dots | Rising tide lifts all satellites
The satellite industry is being called to sea as maritime freight volumes swell to new highs, creating more urgency for space-based solutions that can improve the sustainability of oceangoing commerce.
Analysis: DoD ‘pivot to LEO’ a win for commercial satellite industry
The U.S. Defense Department’s interest in low Earth orbit space services is a positive for satellite manufacturers and for commercial operators of broadband constellations, says a new report by the market research firm Quilty Analytics.
Voyager Space acquires majority stake in Space Micro
Voyager Space Inc. is acquiring a majority stake in Space Micro Inc. as part of an agreement designed to help the San Diego-based supplier of space electronics and satellite components expand operations to meet demand.
Startup Cognitive Space using artificial intelligence to manage satellite operations
Cognitive Space raised $4 million in seed funding for its artificial intelligence-based software designed to manage constellations of imaging satellites.
Astra ready for commercial operations after first successful launch
After reaching orbit for the first time, Astra Space executives said they are ready to begin commercial operations of their small launch vehicle and scale up production, while also preparing to test a new vehicle next year.
Axiom Space outlines research plans for first ISS mission
The three private astronauts on Axiom Space’s first mission to the International Space Station next February will perform more than 100 hours of research on their flight as the company works to advance plans for its own space station.
Pangea Aerospace tests aerospike engine
A European small launch vehicle startup has successfully tested a small version of an aerospike engine powered by methane and liquid oxygen it plans to scale up for use in an orbital vehicle.
NASA considers innovative business model for $500 million Earth Science campaign
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is soliciting information on how private sector innovation could help researchers make the most of a $500 million budget to obtain data on Earth’s changing surface.
