Commercial
Capella unveils radar satellite design
Capella Space unveiled the new design Jan. 21 for its Whitney constellation of seven synthetic aperture radar satellites scheduled to launch in 2020.
Stratolaunch confirms interest in launch services and hypersonic vehicles
As Stratolaunch ramps up operations after being sold last year, it says it remains interested in providing launch services as well as supporting hypersonic vehicles.
Made In Space expands facilities, moves headquarters to Florida
Made In Space announced plans Jan. 17 to move its corporate headquarters from Mountain View, California, to Jacksonville, Florida.
Startup Skylo seeks to connect millions of devices, vehicles, vessels via satellite
Startup Skylo emerged from stealth mode Jan. 21 with $116 million in the bank and plans to connect devices by transferring data over existing geostationary communications satellites.
Work advances on space sustainability rating
A consortium established last year to develop a rating to measure how well satellites comply with space sustainability guidelines expects to have an initial version of its rating system ready by late this year or early next year.
Iceye releases dark vessel detection product
Radar satellite operator Iceye released a product to detect dark vessels, ships at sea that are not identifying themselves with Automatic Identification System transponders.
BAE Systems to acquire Collins’ military GPS and Raytheon’s airborne tactical radios businesses
BAE Systems officials called the acquisitions “unique opportunities” to grow its military radio and GPS businesses.
NASA considering extended Crew Dragon test flight to ISS
NASA will decide in the coming weeks whether to extend a crewed SpaceX test flight to the International Space Station, a move that could help alleviate a crew time crunch on the station.
SpaceX performs in-flight abort test of Crew Dragon spacecraft
SpaceX successfully tested the abort system of its Crew Dragon spacecraft Jan. 19, one of the final milestones before a crewed test flight that could take place as soon as this spring.
SpaceX to test Crew Dragon launch abort system
NASA and SpaceX are ready to perform a test of the launch abort system of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft that will also serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts for upcoming crewed flights of the vehicle.
Power loss halves Eutelsat 5 West B capacity, hosted payload spared
Eutelsat said an investigation into the Eutelsat 5 West B satellite, launched in October, concluded that one of its two solar arrays was unusable, reducing power to support communications services.
SpinLaunch raises $35 million
SpinLaunch, a startup pursuing an alternative approach for placing payloads into orbit, has raised $35 million in a new funding round disclosed Jan. 16.
Arianespace launches Eutelsat, ISRO satellites on first 2020 mission
WASHINGTON — European launch provider Arianespace completed its first launch of the year Jan. 16, sending two communications satellites into geostationary transfer orbits.
Luxembourg establishes space industry venture fund
The government of Luxembourg has invested in a new fund intended to support space startups, a move that will be one of the last for the country’s most prominent backer of the industry.
Space startups warming to U.S. government as investor, customer
Space startups are becoming more acquainted with the U.S. government as a customer and an investor, though the pathways to both remain difficult, a panel of experts said Jan. 14.
China launches Yinhe-1 commercial low Earth orbit 5G satellite
HELSINKI — China carried out its second orbital launch in just over 24 hours late Wednesday, sending the Yinhe-1 commercial 5G satellite into low Earth orbit.
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