News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
Virgin Orbit selects Japanese airport as launch site
Virgin Orbit announced April 2 it has identified an airport in Japan as a potential site for launch operations, joining airports in the United States and Great Britain as hosts for the air-launch company.
Limited work continues on JWST
While NASA has resumed some work on the James Webb Space Telescope, project officials say even that limited level of activity will soon come to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic.
NASA planning reorganization of human spaceflight directorate
NASA is planning to implement changes in the structure of its human spaceflight directorate in the coming weeks, including moving a scientific research program to another part of the agency.
Space Micro wins $3 million for laser communications terminal
The U.S. Space and Missile Systems Center awarded satellite component supplier Space Micro a $3 million contract for a laser communications terminal designed to transmit data at a rate of 100 gigabits per second.
Momentus signs up Taiwanese customer for Vigoride flight
Momentus, a Silicon Valley in-space transportation startup, announced a launch service agreement April 1 with Odysseus Space, a satellite applications startup based in Taiwan.
Rocket Lab executive says company is well positioned to weather crisis
The pause in launch operations is giving Rocket Lab time to focus on its satellite business.
NASA and ESA to fund coronavirus projects
NASA and ESA are separately soliciting proposals to either do research related to the coronavirus pandemic or to help provide relief services.
Air Force small business program seeks technologies to help counter COVID-19
A space startup is developing a geospatial intelligence-based tool that can help governments identify infected areas.
NASA selects astronauts for Crew Dragon mission
NASA has completed the crew for the first operational SpaceX commercial crew mission to the International Space Station, one that will not include any Russian cosmonauts after Roscosmos officials said they would not fly on what they consider an unproven vehicle.
Space Force report on acquisition reforms awaiting final reviews
Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett is expected to sign off on the report this week.
Raytheon to replace OCX hardware by 2022 for $378 million
Raytheon will remove the system’s IBM computers and install new Hewlett Packard Enterprise hardware.
U.S. Air Force to transfer 23 units to the Space Force
The plan is to transfer 23 units and 1,840 Air Force billets within the next three to six months
Orbit Fab gets award to test satellite refueling technology
A startup that seeks to create refueling facilities in orbit for satellites has received a government grant to develop one essential technology for that system.
NASA selects space science cubesat mission
NASA announced March 30 it will fund the development of a cluster of six cubesats that will fly in formation above geostationary orbit to study solar storms.
L3Harris, Raytheon each win $500 million contracts for military satcom modems
The contracts are to develop and produce Protected Tactical Waveform-capable modems
New studies show growing proliferation of anti-satellite weapons
CSIS and SWF released their annual assessments of global counterspace weapons.
