Smallsat
Smallsat’s supply chain woes
How pandemic and war dealt a double whammy to a supply chain already struggling to keep up.
Increased solar activity creates new challenges for smallsats
A new solar activity cycle that may be stronger than forecast poses challenges for smallsat operators keeping their spacecraft in orbit and functioning.
NASA selects a dozen companies for smallsat launch services
NASA awarded contracts Jan. 26 to a dozen companies, ranging from industry stalwarts to startups yet to launch their first rocket, to provide low-cost launches of agency smallsats.
Connecting the Dots | Crowded orbits pose new security threats
Cybersecurity threats are a growing concern for day-to-day life on Earth. As thousands of satellites are launched to orbit, are there new risks to consider in the skies above?
Smallsat specialist OrbAstro busy building downstream dreams
OrbAstro, a space-as-a-service startup with visions of flying “tiny satellites in large flocks,” is gearing up to launch its first half-dozen smallsats in 2022 — including its just-announced first micro satellite.
NASA selects four small astrophysics missions for study
NASA has selected four small astrophysics missions for further study, although the agency cautions that not all may ultimately be flown.
Euroconsult: Record number of smallsats launched in 2020
Despite the coronavirus and the challenges that the pandemic has presented to the space industry, the number of satellites launched in 2020 will hit an all-time record.
Small satellites’ growing role in Earth science
How NASA’s InVEST program is yielding big dividends for future Earth-observing missions
Manufacturers worry about smallsats getting too hot, literally
As small satellites become more powerful, manufacturers say they need better ways to manage excess heat generated by their electronics systems.
New NASA office coordinates rideshare launches of smallsat science missions
NASA has established an office to coordinate rideshare launch opportunities for its growing number of smallsat science missions, taking advantage of excess capacity on launches of larger spacecraft.
Scolese: NRO sees growing opportunities to use small satellites
Scolese said the NRO "will be able to do more with smaller satellites.”
With regulatory legwork complete, Swarm shifts focus to tackling launch delays
In an interview, Swarm chief executive Sara Spangelo said a trifecta of setbacks prevented the company from getting its constellation in orbit in the timeframe envisioned.
Smallsat launch delays prompt push for greater standardization
A study that found that every small satellite launched commercially in the last five years suffered delays is evidence of the need of greater standardization in payload accommodations so that smallsats can easily switch vehicles, one company argues.
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.
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.
Kepler books SpaceX rideshare for LEO satellites
Kepler Communications on Dec. 11 said it booked 400 kilograms of rideshare capacity with SpaceX in order to launch an unspecified number of its Internet of Things cubesat next year.
SpaceX says rideshare missions will launch on time, even if partly empty
SpaceX plans to launch regular Falcon 9 rideshare missions starting in March and won’t delay launches for tardy customers, a company executive said Oct. 8.
SpaceX revamps smallsat rideshare program
Less than a month after announcing a new effort to provide low-cost launch services for small satellites, SpaceX says it will increase the number of flight opportunities and reduce the prices it offers.
Big rockets cutting in as little launchers vie for smallsat business
As SpaceX turned its attention to the larger Falcon 9 and programs like commercial cargo and crew, its presence at the annual Conference on Small Satellites, and the overall smallsat industry, faded. At this year’s conference, SpaceX retained its low profile but also announced its return to the smallsat market.
Analysis | Are smallsats entering the maturity stage?
The smallsat market, still rife with uncertainty, is at the beginning of an explosive growth cycle as large scale, expensive constellations face their initial launch.
