Coronavirus
Trump to attend Demo-2 launch, but fewer other guests
While both the president and vice president plan to attend the Demo-2 commercial crew launch, there will be far fewer people attending the first American human orbital spaceflight in nearly a decade than once expected.
Ariane 6 maiden flight likely slipping to 2021
The inaugural launch of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket appears all but certain to slip into 2021 because of development delays the European Space Agency attributes to the coronavirus pandemic.
DIU to test Isotropic multi-beam terminals for naval vessels
Isotropic Systems won two defense contracts in two months, an important sign the satellite terminal developer is diversifying its customer base, said John Finney, Isotropic founder and CEO.
NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility to partially reopen
NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans will partially reopen May 18, allowing some mission-critical personnel to resume working there for the first time in two months.
Pentagon keeping an eye on space industry bankruptcies but no actions planned yet
Will Roper: “As we see the Chapter 11’s being filed we are tracking them."
HawkEye 360 detects uptick in Italian maritime activity
Maritime activity around Italy is beginning to pick up as the government begins easing restrictions imposed in early March to stem the spread of COVID-19.
First SLS launch now expected in late 2021
NASA now expects the first launch of the Space Launch System to take place in late 2021, with the coronavirus pandemic at least partially contributing to the latest delays.
Op-ed | What the government should or should not do to help space industry
One way to help the industry is for the government to communicate what problems it needs solved and commit funding for the right solutions.
Capella to supply U.S. Navy with airborne imagery
Capella Space announced a contract May 13 to provide airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and analytics services to the U.S. Navy.
Space Force vice commander: China can’t be allowed to buy bankrupt U.S. space companies
Lt. Gen. Thompson: DoD plans to work with Congress to help space companies that face bankruptcy.
Branson to sell part of Virgin Galactic stake
Richard Branson, the founder and largest shareholder of suborbital spaceflight company Virgin Galactic, will sell more than a fifth of Virgin Group’s majority stake in the company to raise funds to aid its other companies affected by the pandemic.
Shakeout in small launch industry is coming but nobody can predict when
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck: "The market needs to grow a lot to sustain more than two companies."
National security space conference to propose plan to boost industrial base
A group with more than 150 government and industry officials will recommend greater investments in space technology and education.
NASA outlines plans to gradually reopen centers
NASA is finalizing a plan to gradually reopen its field centers once the peak of the coronavirus pandemic passes, but agency leadership said that would be a slow process that would vary based on the conditions at each center.
Virgin Galactic says full effect of pandemic on its business still unknown
Virgin Galactic executives said May 5 that the suborbital spaceflight company has taken measures to resume regular operations during the coronavirus pandemic, but said they didn’t yet know its overall impact on the business.
Treasury unlikely to change rule that disqualifies space startups from relief loans
Treasury is said to be concerned that changing the rule for venture-owned startups would subvert the intent of the relief loan program.
