Astrobotic
Astrobotic wins NASA contract to deliver VIPER lunar rover
NASA has selected Astrobotic to deliver a rover to the surface of the moon in late 2023 to prospect for water ice that could support future human missions.
Pandemic prompts Spacebit to revise strategy, expand staff
The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting Spacebit to rethink some elements of its strategy for building and testing robotic vehicles like the miniature rover scheduled to reach the moon next year.
CLPS companies worry about increased competition for limited contracts
As NASA adds new companies to a commercial lunar landing services program, some existing participants worry its value to them may now be diminished.
Spacebit forms partnership, prepares to send tiny rover to the moon
London-based Spacebit plans to send a rover small enough to explore lava tubes to the moon in 2021 on Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander.
Blue Origin and SpaceX among winners of NASA exploration technology contracts
NASA announced Sept. 27 the award of more than $40 million in contracts to 14 companies, including Blue Origin and SpaceX, to develop technologies that can support NASA’s long-term exploration plans.
Lunar lander failures offer a warning to commercial missions
The apparent failure of an Indian spacecraft to land on the moon this month is providing a reminder to NASA and its commercial partners of the challenges of not only the missions themselves but sharing data on problems they experience.
Commercial lunar lander companies update mission plans
Days after Astrobotic announced its selection of United Launch Alliance to launch its first lunar lander, Japanese lunar lander company ispace says it is modifying its schedule for commercial lunar lander missions.
Apollo’s progeny: Today’s space entrepreneurs still standing on the moonshot’s shoulders
The Apollo program and 1969 moon landing inspired many of the entrepreneurs working to send people and robotic vehicles back to the moon or to pave the way for further space exploration and commerce.
NASA awards contracts to three companies to land payloads on the moon
NASA announced May 31 the award of more than $250 million in contracts to three companies to deliver NASA payloads to the lunar surface by 2021.
Companies skeptical commercial lunar landers can fly NASA payloads this year
As NASA selects payloads it plans to fly on commercial lunar landers, companies developing those spacecraft are skeptical any landers will be ready to fly this year, as the agency desires.
NASA selects nine companies for commercial lunar lander program
NASA has picked nine companies, ranging from startups to aerospace giants, to be eligible for future contracts to deliver payloads to the surface of the moon, but with no guarantee of business for any of them.
Three American space startups to establish offices in Luxembourg
Three U.S. companies will set up offices in Luxembourg, the latest sign of an ongoing effort by the small European country to diversify its space economy.
Astrobotic selects Dynetics for lunar lander propulsion system
As Astrobotic prepares to compete for NASA lunar payload delivery contracts, the company has signed an agreement with Dynetics for the last major component of its lunar lander.
Former NASA Astronaut Greg “Box” Johnson becomes Space Nation’s chief space officer
Former NASA Astronaut Greg “Box” Johnson is joining Space Nation, the startup offering space training experiences for people around the world, as its new Chief Space Officer.
Former Google Lunar X Prize teams focused on new commercial and government opportunities
Companies that one competed for the Google Lunar X Prize now expect to fly their first lunar landers in the next two years to serve the needs of commercial and government customers, including NASA.
Billionaire invests in British company planning deep space communications network
A British billionaire has invested in a company operating a ground station that has aspirations to support commercial missions beyond Earth orbit.
