News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
Blue Origin opens rocket engine factory
Blue Origin formally opened a factory Feb. 17 that the company plans to use to produce engines both for its vehicles and for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
Intelsat revises IS-29e replacement plan, preps second-gen Epic order
Intelsat has abandoned plans to order a one-for-one replacement for the Intelsat-29e satellite that failed last year and will rely instead on leased capacity, a borrowed satellite, and the newly ordered Intelsat-40e spacecraft to fill a coverage gap over North and South America.
SpaceX launches fifth batch of Starlink satellites, misses booster landing
SpaceX completed its fifth dedicated Starlink launch Feb. 17, successfully sending 60 satellites into low Earth orbit while missing what would have been the company’s 50th booster recovery.
China quietly rolls out new rocket to launch mystery satellite
China has quietly rolled out a new Long March 7A rocket at a coastal launch site in preparation for launch of a ‘technology verification satellite’.
Commerce Department seeks big funding boost for Office of Space Commerce
The Commerce Department is once again requesting a large budget increase for its Office of Space Commerce in order to work on space traffic management activities after Congress rejected a similar request last year.
Cygnus launches to space station
A Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched Feb. 15 carrying more than three tons of supplies and experiments for the International Space Station.
Rocket Lab wins contract to launch NASA lunar cubesat mission
NASA awarded a contract to Rocket Lab Feb. 14 for the launch of a cubesat mission that will serve as a precursor for the agency’s planned lunar Gateway.
Astra emphasizes rapid iteration in its quest for low-cost, rapid launch
As Astra prepares for its first orbital launch attempt, the company is setting expectations accordingly and taking the long view towards its goal of frequent, low-cost access to space.
DirecTV’s defunct Spaceway-1 reaches high graveyard orbit in one piece
DirecTV’s Spaceway-1 satellite has been retired to a graveyard orbit 500 kilometers above the geostationary arc, eliminating the risk of the malfunctioning satellite exploding in an orbit populated by active satellites.
NASA selects four finalists for next Discovery mission
NASA is considering missions to Venus and two outer solar system moons as the next in its Discovery line of planetary science missions.
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo arrives in New Mexico
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane arrived at the company’s spaceport in New Mexico Feb. 13, ready for a final series of test flights before the company starts commercial operations.
National Space Council expands membership
The White House has added the Secretary of Energy and two other officials to the roster of members of the National Space Council.
Astranis raises $90 million in debt and equity ahead of first launch
Astranis said it would use the new money to finish its first satellite, a broadband “MicroGEO” satellite that will deliver internet to Alaska.
U.S. Space Force names its first senior enlisted advisor
Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman will serve as the first senior enlisted advisor of the U.S. Space Force.
NASA’s SOFIA airborne observatory faces termination again
NASA’s fiscal year 2021 budget request proposes cancelling an airborne observatory, a move that has surprised many astronomers but is also not the first time the project has faced termination.
F-35 program official named No. 2 at Space and Missile Systems Center
Brig. Gen. D. Jason Cothern will replace Brig. Gen. Donna Shipton, as vice commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center
