From the Magazine
U.S. government aims for better coordination in space weather campaign
After decades of fighting to be taken seriously, meteorologists say space weather is beginning to get the attention it deserves.
NASA to hand off spacecraft communications to industry
NASA is preparing to hand off to the private sector much of the work of communicating with spacecraft in Earth and lunar orbit.
Starliner flight raises profile of Space Network
The Space Network continues to offer reliable global coverage 24-hours a day for missions led by NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other government agencies, said Ted Sobchak, NASA Space Network project manager.
ULA pushing forward with Vulcan amid concerns about engine delays
For ULA’s president and CEO Tory Bruno, job No. 1 is to get Vulcan ready for its maiden launch, which he says will happen in early 2021. This will be a critical first step toward the certification of Vulcan for national security missions.
Op-ed | DoD needs to demystify hypersonic weapons technology
Hypersonic capabilities have the potential to rewrite the balance of power across land, sea, air and space. We need to demystify the technology to ensure the nation makes the necessary investments to secure U.S. leadership in hypersonics over the next decade.
Space in the time of the coronavirus
Satellite 2020 was forced to end early but at least the conference took place. By the end of the week, the industry’s biggest event, the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs scheduled for the end of March, bowed to the inevitable and announced it would be postponed to a date yet to be determined.
Kepler’s decision to build its own cubesats surprises manufacturers
It came as a surprise to many cubesat manufacturers when Kepler Communications announced plans in January to manufacture its constellation of 140 Internet of Things satellites in-house.
Space Force’s 2021 budget plan is heavy on satellites and launch
Here’s an analysis of the proposed U.S. Space Force budget’s high points.
Acquisition in state of confusion: Questions loom on the role of the Space Development Agency
The U.S. Space Force is just beginning to organize as a new branch of the armed forces and its leaders face a daunting to-do list. High on that list is figuring out the management of space acquisitions.
Why the smallsat bubble may deflate, but not burst
For the last few years, investors, analysts and other observers of the entrepreneurial space industry have been forecasting end times for the industry’s current boom. So far, they've been proven wrong.
Foust Forward | The sound and fury over a NASA authorization bill
When the bipartisan leadership of the House Science Committee introduced a NASA authorization bill Jan. 24, it surprised many people in the civil space community.
Op-ed | Proliferated LEO is risky but necessary
The world is moving inexorably to proliferated constellations. This is a logical progression and generally a good thing. But like many good things, it is not without risks.
Op-ed | Streamlined FCC licensing a big deal for smallsats
Beyond the reduced administrative fees, the FCC’s new satellite rule fixes major problems for smaller satellite constellations staying in the United States.
‘Gravity is a shockingly strong force’: Astronauts Nick Hague and Anne McClain talk about life after their space station missions
Astronauts Nick Hague and Anne McClain spoke with SpaceNews during a trip to Washington in mid-January, just before SpaceX’s in-flight abort test, that included both outreach events and meetings with members of Congress.
Op-ed | Is NASA ready to find life beyond Earth?
The quest to find and investigate life beyond the Earth has reached a tipping point. We stand on the brink of changing the perspective of humanity’s place in the universe and finally answering the question “Are we alone?”
20 space industry predictions for 2020
This year shows no signs of a let up in space-sector momentum. Here are 20 predictions for 2020 as seen by SpaceNews reporters and correspondents.
