Op-ed | IoT smallsats: Ready for launch?

In recent years, there has been a boom of announcements for satellite constellations comprising satellites weighing as little as 3 kilograms to address a growing market of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) via satellite.

Axelspace raises $22.8 million for remote-sensing constellation

In an interview, Axelspace Chief Business Development Officer Yasunori Yamazaki, said the funding will enable the company of 65 people to continue building a constellation called AxelGlobe, though the company hasn’t decided on a final size for the constellation.

Small Satellites and Disruptive Space Technologies Focus Day

Exploring How Innovation is Revolutionising Access to Space

As space-based satellite systems continue to act as a key enabler for terrestrial operations, the need to access and exploit constellations effectively remains critical for intern…

UP Aerospace targets government customers with $1 million dedicated smallsat launches

Suborbital launch company UP Aerospace is halfway through funding an all-solid propellant rocket called Spyder that it hopes will meet government demand for missions that need to launch on short notice.

Australian startup raises $14 million for smallsat launchers

The company’s namesake says he now has sufficient capital to see his Queensland, Australia-based venture through to a first launch of an orbital rocket in 2020 but acknowledges he’s still looking for a domestic launch site.

Former OneWeb Satellites CEO joins Akash Systems

Former OneWeb executive Brian Holz, has joined Akash Systems as chief architect to help the San Francisco startup create communications systems for small satellites.

Former Stratolaunch executive to lead smallsat industry group

A former vice president of Stratolaunch who previously worked in Congress and the intelligence community has been named to run a smallsat industry group.

GapSat places GEO smallsat order with Terran Orbital

GapSat, a company that resells underused satellite capacity, is entering the market with a satellite of its own through the Lockheed Martin-backed Terran Orbital.

Trident Space’s challenge: Standing out from the crowd of SAR satellite startups

More companies and investors are moving to capitalize on the potential of small satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar, creating what looks likely to become a highly competitive market.

Foust Forward | Balancing big and small in space science

Big missions, in terms of size and cost, will remain a part of NASA’s science portfolio for the indefinite future, but there’s more room at the other end for small but increasingly capable missions.

Proposed standard seeks to offer more launch flexibility for smallsats

A proposed standard announced at a conference last week seeks to provide the same launch flexibility for larger smallsats currently enjoyed by cubesats.

Op-ed | SmallSat Alliance is on a path toward a new space horizon

The early returns of this economic revolution are already on our doorstep: space data capabilities are exponentially growing elements of the 21st century world economy.

Ursa Major aims to disrupt launcher vertical integration trend

Colorado startup Ursa Major Technologies is building a line of rocket engines that it hopes smallsat launch companies will choose over building their own engines in-house.

Small Satellite Conference

Delivering Mission Success: During the 32nd AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, we will explore the new technologies, design methods, processes, operational constructs, and activities that inform and secure the success of small satellite miss…

Telesat selects Thales-Maxar team for LEO constellation design work

Canadian fleet operator Telesat on July 30 selected Thales Alenia Space and Maxar Technologies’ Space Systems Loral division to collaborate on the design of its low Earth orbit broadband satellite constellation.