News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
Northrop Grumman wins competition to build future ICBM, by default
The Air Force will begin a sole-source negotiation with Northrop Grumman in anticipation of a GBSD contract.
Vector files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Small launch vehicle company Vector filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Dec. 13 as part of an agreement that could see some of its satellite technology assets sold to Lockheed Martin.
NASA looks for ways to keep Artemis on track regardless of budget outcome
As the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process approaches its endgame, NASA leadership says it will find ways to keep efforts to return humans to the moon by 2024 on track even if the agency doesn’t get all the funding it’s requested.
Energy Department emphasizing roles in supporting space industry
The Department of Energy, whose interaction with the space industry has largely been in nuclear power systems, is working to broaden its role by emphasizing its overall research capabilities.
Download a free copy of the SpaceNews Awards issue
SpaceNews announced the winners of its third annual SpaceNews Awards for Excellence & Innovation at a Dec. 10 awards luncheon in Washington. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and U.S. Air Force Gen. John "Jay" Raymond, commanders of U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command, were in attendance to accept government leader of the year awards.
NASA selects OSIRIS-REx asteroid sampling site
NASA announced Dec. 12 that it has selected the site on a near Earth asteroid where a spacecraft will touch down and collect samples, a task that has become more difficult than mission planners originally expected.
Air Force seeking commercial technologies for cislunar space operations
On the wish list for the next round of SBIR bids are technologies for operations far beyond geosynchronous Earth orbit, near the moon's orbit.
NASA approves Dec. 20 Starliner test flight
NASA gave its approval Dec. 12 to proceed with the launch later this month of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station.
German launch startup raises $17 million with help from Airbus Ventures and an ex-SpaceX employee
Isar Aerospace, a German startup developing a small launch vehicle, has raised $17 million in a Series A round led by Airbus Ventures and Earlybird Venture Capital.
Rocket Lab inaugurates U.S. launch site
The U.S. Air Force will be the first customer for a Rocket Lab Electron launching in 2020 from a new launch site in Virginia, the company announced Dec. 12.
Kepler books SpaceX rideshare for LEO satellites
Kepler Communications on Dec. 11 said it booked 400 kilograms of rideshare capacity with SpaceX in order to launch an unspecified number of its Internet of Things cubesat next year.
Saturn Satellite Networks to be first customer of Northrop Grumman’s OmegA
Northrop Grumman announced Dec. 12 that Saturn Satellite Networks, a startup satellite manufacturer, will be the customer for the first OmegA launch in 2021.
House preparing to introduce new NASA authorization bill
A House committee is finalizing its version of a NASA authorization bill that will cover many of the same topics as a Senate bill, but do so in different ways.
NASA to buy more commercial Earth observation data
NASA will seek continued access to Earth observation data gathered by commercial satellite constellations after a pilot program proved the value of those observations.
Space Force proponents in Congress warn Air Force: ‘We will watch you like a hawk’
Reps. Jim Cooper and Mike Rogers were the original proponents of a space service. It was not Trump's idea.
National Reconnaissance Office awards imagery contracts to Capella Space, HawkEye 360
Pete Muend said the NRO wants to understand the capabilities of a variety of commercial vendors.
