News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
Benchmark to provide propulsion for Spaceflight’s Sherpa-NG
Satellite propulsion startup Benchmark Space Systems announced an agreement Aug. 4 to provide non-toxic chemical propulsion for rideshare provider Spaceflight Inc.’s next-generation orbital transfer vehicle, Sherpa-NG.
Lockheed Martin teams with USC and Momentus on cubesat program
USC students will build the satellites and integrate them with Lockheed Martin’s SmartSat mission payload.
NOAA issues solicitation for commercial radio occultation data
For the first time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is soliciting proposals for commercial radio occultation satellite data to feed operational weather forecast models.
DoD space agency’s programs don’t have to be perfect but have to be fast
Tournear says the Space Development Agency wants to create a market so the industry can plan investments.
Rocket Lab increases Electron payload capacity
Rocket Lab announced Aug. 4 it has increased the payload capacity of its Electron launch vehicle thanks to improvements in the batteries used in the rocket.
General Atomics to design Space Force weather satellite prototype
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems announced an agreement Aug. 4 to design a prototype for the U.S. Space Force Electro-Optical Infrared Weather System.
DARPA’s Stephen Forbes named Blackjack program manager
Forbes has been Blackjack’s deputy program manager since 2018.
PredaSAR may launch 48 satellites with SpaceX, exec says
Synthetic aperture radar startup PredaSAR has signed a contract to launch a small satellite with SpaceX, and is in discussions to launch its entire first constellation with the company, PredaSAR co-founder Marc Bell, said Aug 4.
AWS completes six ground stations, changes rollout strategy
Amazon Web Services has slowed the rollout of its ground station network to accommodate customer feedback about the best locations to place its antennas.
New NASA office coordinates rideshare launches of smallsat science missions
NASA has established an office to coordinate rideshare launch opportunities for its growing number of smallsat science missions, taking advantage of excess capacity on launches of larger spacecraft.
Small launch industry sees pandemic, government affecting market
Executives with several major small launch vehicle companies say both the economic repercussions of the pandemic and the growing interest by the U.S. government in such vehicles could reshape the industry.
Loft Orbital to fly Canadian quantum communications satellite
Loft Orbital on Aug. 4 announced a contract to provide the spacecraft platform and arrange a launch for a Canadian quantum communications experiment.
Virgin Galactic delays SpaceShipTwo commercial flights to 2021
Virgin Galactic has pushed the beginning of commercial flights of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle to no earlier than the first quarter of 2021 while announcing plans to sell additional stock to raise money.
White House withdraws nomination of FCC commissioner O’Rielly
Michael O’Rielly had been nominated in March for a new five-year term as member of the Federal Communications Commission.
U.S. Army expanding space education programs at West Point
Army cadets at West Point learn how to build small satellites and rockets. Some also are considering competing to be a NASA astronaut.
Scolese: NRO sees growing opportunities to use small satellites
Scolese said the NRO "will be able to do more with smaller satellites.”
