From the Magazine
Vector’s lost contract gives wings to new startup Aevum
Aevum hoped the $50,000 Small Business Innovation Research study contract it received in early August would serve as a springboard to larger awards. Turns out it didn’t have to wait long.
Military enthusiastic about commercial LEO satcom but wants proof that vendors can deliver
The Army is not ready to sign contracts with any LEO broadband providers quite yet, but it’s scoping the market.
Foust Forward | Curb your enthusiasm: Star-struck SpaceX fans are in a league of their own
The company and its founder have attracted people, many of whom are outside the space industry, who are zealous supporters and staunch defenders of whatever SpaceX does, a following unlike that of any other company or organization in the industry.
Five things to know about U.S. Space Command
Because much of what the military does in space is classified, many of the details of how U.S. Space Command will operate will be kept secret. Based on what we have learned so far, here are five important things to know about the new command.
Former SDA boss Fred Kennedy answers the questions we’ve waited months to ask
Fred Kennedy spoke with SpaceNews about leaving the Space Development Agency, his public clash with Air Force leaders at the 2019 Space Symposium and his future plans.
Op-ed | How to increase the intelligence community’s geospatial innovation
Until the intelligence community defines cost and value by measuring geospatial information, it has to rely on one measurement—six inches. The length of an American dollar.
Op-ed | The space industry: A closer look at the new ecosystem
Since Sputnik first launched and man set foot on the moon, the changes, evolution and expansion of human activities in space has been rapid and momentous. It is important to understand the trajectory we are on as we tackle the challenges in front of us and create our future.
Astroscale, ClearSpace aim to make a bundle removing debris
Within a year, Astroscale plans to begin a complex series of demonstrations to show the startup’s spacecraft can grab a piece of space debris and dispose of it in the atmosphere.
Foust Forward | Zero gravity requires a lot of patience
For decades, the space community has sought the “killer app” for microgravity research: the project that, once and for all, will demonstrate work that can only be done in space and has tremendous value on Earth that is enough to sustain investment in the field. So far, that search has come up empty.
EU space envoy calls for satellites to leave orbit soon after mission ends
Increasingly, space industry and government officials suggest the guidelines, adopted in 2002, no longer make sense in light of plans for constellations comprised of hundreds or thousands of satellites.
Is there a commercial market for Keyhole-class imagery like Trump tweeted?
What if a company could sell the type of high-resolution imagery President Trump tweeted showing a heavily damaged Iranian launchpad? The answer was an unequivocal yes from Earth observation experts attending the World Satellite Business Week conference in Paris.
In wake of merger, L3Harris Technologies seeks expanded role in an evolving SATCOM market
Don Claussen recently spoke with SpaceNews about the merger and the evolution of military satellite constellations.
Swarm of tiny satellites could relay messages by year’s end
Since 2017, Swarm Technologies has built, launched and operated nine miniature satellites, raised more than $28 million for a 150-spacecraft constellation and forged agreements with some 200 potential customers. The company’s most impressive accomplishment, though, isn’t on that list.
Maxar weaving components into new business ventures
Since Jan. 1, Maxar Technologies has revamped operations, installed new leadership and incorporated in the United States. Now, the company is exploring the intersections of its legacy business units as it looks for ways to expand its government and commercial product lines.
Air Force paints a digital future where data from satellites play central role
In a few months the Air Force will start a series of experiments to try to connect fighter aircraft and other weapon systems into a single network so they can all share critical data and intelligence, much of which is collected by satellites in space.
Top secret Twitter: How trolling Iran with classified satellite imagery could backfire on the U.S.
Trump’s tweet provoked an intense — if short-lived — media uproar, with many questioning the legality and advisability of the president sharing an smartphone snap of a presumably classified briefing chart.
