News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
UK, South Korea join ASAT test ban, raising like-minded countries to seven
The United Kingdom and South Korea have pledged not to conduct direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile testing, throwing their weight behind the U.S.-driven initiative launched in April to promote peaceful and safe use of outer space.
SES closer to $4 billion payout after ULA launch to near-geostationary orbit
United Launch Alliance launched a pair of satellites for SES Oct. 4 that are vital to the operator’s bid to claim nearly $4 billion in C-band clearing proceeds.
Sherpa tug yet to start raising orbit a month after launch
A Sherpa tug launched a month ago is still undergoing commissioning and has yet to start maneuvers as its orbit gradually decays.
Space Force in discussions with industry on future market for space surveillance data
Companies in the space domain awareness market are eager to work with the Space Force but need a clearer picture of future demand
Ball Aerospace wins $176 million contract to build and operate 10 satellites for Space Development Agency
The Space Development Agency announced Oct. 4 it awarded Ball Aerospace a $176 million contract to build, operate and secure launch services for 10 experimental satellites.
AEI claims majority stake in York Space Systems
AE Industrial Partners announced plans Oct. 4 to acquire a majority stake in York Space Systems, a small satellite manufacturer and turnkey mission operator based in Denver.
SpaceX to upgrade Cape Canaveral pad for crew and cargo missions
As SpaceX prepares to launch a new crew to the International Space Station from one pad at the Kennedy Space Center, it is starting work to upgrade another pad at Cape Canaveral as a backup.
Redwire back on acquisition trail with deal for QinetiQ Space
British defense firm Qinetiq is selling its Belgian commercial satellite systems division to Redwire, a U.S.-based consolidator of space infrastructure.
EnerStar Solutions announces third Starlink enterprise reseller deal
Canada-based EnerStar Solutions, a rental company for the energy sector, said Oct. 3 it has reached a deal to add SpaceX’s Starlink broadband to the services it provides industrial workers.
Viasat sells tactical data communications business to L3Harris for $1.96 billion
L3Harris Technologies has agreed to acquire Viasat’s tactical data link business for $1.96 billion, the companies announced Oct. 3.
NASA pushes back Artemis 1 launch to November
NASA will wait until at least the middle of November before attempting another launch of the Space Launch System on the Artemis 1 mission, citing the impacts from Hurricane Ian.
Space Development Agency is now officially part of the Space Force
The Space Development Agency was officially transferred to the U.S. Space Force, Oct. 1.
Firefly, Millennium Space selected for U.S. Space Force rapid-launch demonstration
The U.S. Space Systems Command announced Sept. 30 it selected Firefly Space Transport Services and Millennium Space Systems to conduct a demonstration of a rapid-response space mission to low Earth orbit in 2023.
Firefly’s Alpha rocket reaches orbit on second launch
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha launch vehicle reached orbit on its second launch Oct. 1, more than a year after the vehicle’s first launch failed.
Office of Space Commerce: FCC “aggressively” pushing limits of authority with orbital debris rule
The FCC’s adoption of a new rule for disposal of low Earth orbit satellites is well-intentioned but pushing the limits of its authority, says the director of the Office of Space Commerce.
US candidate to be first woman to lead UN telecoms agency
Doreen Bogdan-Martin will become the first woman to head the U.N.’s telecoms agency in its 157-year history from January, and the first American in the role since the 1960s after beating a Russian leadership challenge.
