News
Daily coverage of the global space industry with an emphasis on business and political news.
Capella unveils radar satellite design
Capella Space unveiled the new design Jan. 21 for its Whitney constellation of seven synthetic aperture radar satellites scheduled to launch in 2020.
Stratolaunch confirms interest in launch services and hypersonic vehicles
As Stratolaunch ramps up operations after being sold last year, it says it remains interested in providing launch services as well as supporting hypersonic vehicles.
Space Development Agency to start building its first constellation of surveillance satellites
The agency issued a broad area announcement on “National Defense Space Architecture Systems, Technologies and Emerging Capabilities.”
Satellite propulsion startup Dawn Aerospace developing small launch vehicle
A green propulsion startup with more than $1 million in sales says it is gaining traction in the smallsat market while funding its own small launch vehicle.
Made In Space expands facilities, moves headquarters to Florida
Made In Space announced plans Jan. 17 to move its corporate headquarters from Mountain View, California, to Jacksonville, Florida.
Startup Skylo seeks to connect millions of devices, vehicles, vessels via satellite
Startup Skylo emerged from stealth mode Jan. 21 with $116 million in the bank and plans to connect devices by transferring data over existing geostationary communications satellites.
Work advances on space sustainability rating
A consortium established last year to develop a rating to measure how well satellites comply with space sustainability guidelines expects to have an initial version of its rating system ready by late this year or early next year.
Rocket Lab to launch small satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office
Named “Birds of a Feather,” the mission is scheduled to lift off Jan. 31 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Iceye releases dark vessel detection product
Radar satellite operator Iceye released a product to detect dark vessels, ships at sea that are not identifying themselves with Automatic Identification System transponders.
U.S., China set for spring Civil Space Dialogue on exploration, science
U.S. and Chinese officials are working towards meeting for a bilateral Civil Space Dialogue around March in the first such discussion since 2017.
BAE Systems to acquire Collins’ military GPS and Raytheon’s airborne tactical radios businesses
BAE Systems officials called the acquisitions “unique opportunities” to grow its military radio and GPS businesses.
NASA considering extended Crew Dragon test flight to ISS
NASA will decide in the coming weeks whether to extend a crewed SpaceX test flight to the International Space Station, a move that could help alleviate a crew time crunch on the station.
SpaceX performs in-flight abort test of Crew Dragon spacecraft
SpaceX successfully tested the abort system of its Crew Dragon spacecraft Jan. 19, one of the final milestones before a crewed test flight that could take place as soon as this spring.
U.S. Space Force nameplates introduced for camouflage uniforms
The U.S. Space Force revealed the nameplates that airmen who are assigned to the Space Force will wear over their existing utility uniforms.
SpaceX to test Crew Dragon launch abort system
NASA and SpaceX are ready to perform a test of the launch abort system of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft that will also serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts for upcoming crewed flights of the vehicle.
Power loss halves Eutelsat 5 West B capacity, hosted payload spared
Eutelsat said an investigation into the Eutelsat 5 West B satellite, launched in October, concluded that one of its two solar arrays was unusable, reducing power to support communications services.
