News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
NASA announces Orion achievement on Apollo 11 anniversary
NASA and the White House used the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing to mark the latest achievement in the development of the Orion spacecraft and reaffirm plans to use it to return humans to the moon by 2024.
Space Development Agency looking to recover from tough start
The SDA is preparing to host its first public meeting with space industry contractors as it tries to reassure skeptics.
Ruag to supply Firefly Aerospace payload adapters
Satellite and rocket hardware provider Ruag Space signed a contract with Firefly Aerospace to provide payload adapters for its small launch vehicles.
Rocket Lab hits engine production milestone as next Electron launch approaches
Rocket Lab passed a milestone in the production of its Electron rocket as the company gears up for its next launch and continues work on a new launch facility.
Inmarsat buyer Bidco vows to stay local amid regulatory scrutiny
The Connect Bidco consortium told the British government that for at least three years it would keep Inmarsat’s core network operations center and skilled engineering resources in the country once the merger, expected to close late this year, is complete.
China’s Tiangong-2 space lab reenters over South Pacific
China carried out the controlled deorbiting of its Tiangong-2 space lab into the South Pacific, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced Friday.
U.S. Air Force to begin transferring space situational awareness data to Commerce Department
Kevin O’Connell, director of the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce, said the repository, called the Unified Data Library, is the first step in the transfer of some space situational awareness responsibilities as requested by the White House last year.
Astronomy missions pass senior review
NASA has decided to extend the lifetimes of all eight astrophysics missions up for review, from large space telescopes to an instrument on the International Space Station.
U.K. deepens space ties with U.S., announces investments in small satellites, responsive launch
The U.K. will invest $34 million in small satellites, will increase support for the Combined Space Operations Center.
Investors don’t see Virgin Galactic deal as model for space industry
Virgin Galactic’s merger with a publicly-traded investment company is likely a one-off event based on the company and people involved, and not a sign of more fundamental changes in the industry, investors argue.
Draper developing technologies for lunar landings
A half-century after developing the computers that guided the Apollo missions to the moon, Draper is working on technologies that it says can enable new human and robotic missions to the moon in the near future.
Artemis cost estimate won’t be ready until 2020
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told a Senate committee July 17 that a cost estimate for landing humans on the moon by 2024 likely won’t be ready until the administration submits a budget request next February.
Viasat wins $49 million lawsuit against supplier to Cisco
A company Cisco is poised to buy for $2.6 billion is required to pay damages to Viasat for failing to pay royalties on a decade-old technology it used from the satellite operator.
Spacecom’s Amos-17 launching in August • OneWeb hits satellite testing milestones • Telebras cleared to issue new stock
OneWeb says its first six satellites are all healthy and have each demonstrated live video streaming in 1080 resolution from low Earth orbit.
Momentus raises $25.5 million for in-space shuttle
Momentus, an in-space transportation startup, has raised nearly $34 million in funding to date for its Vigoride and Vigoride Extended vehicles to move small satellites from one orbit to another.
