Smallsats
Pandemic delays launch of NASA astrophysics smallsat mission
The launch of a NASA astronomy smallsat mission next year will be postponed by several months after the pandemic delayed assembly of key elements of the spacecraft.
Smallsat reliability increasing
The percentage of small satellites that successfully complete their missions has improved in recent years even as the number of such satellites has dramatically increased.
GomSpace shuts down constellation spinoff
European smallsat builder GomSpace has entered a settlement agreement with Aerial & Maritime, a company Gomspace helped start and for which it had already built eight satellites.
Blue Canyon Technologies opens smallsat constellation factory
Smallsat builder Blue Canyon Technologies is moving employees into a recently opened factory designed to build 100 satellites a year, and more in the future.
NRO to increase investments in commercial space technology
Small satellites and responsive launch are areas of particular interest to the NRO.
General Atomics opens satellite factory in Colorado
The new 33,514 square foot facility in Colorado triples the company’s capacity for satellite production.
Rocket Lab to acquire smallsat component manufacturer
Rocket Lab announced March 16 that it is acquiring a Canadian smallsat component company as it seeks to build up its satellite division.
Smallsat industry faces challenges to growth
While the smallsat industry continues to grow, experts warn that several blind spots could slow its growth in the near future.
Accion Systems raises $11 million Series B for space propulsion
Space propulsion startup Accion Systems has raised $11 million in a new round of funding designed to allow the company to increase production of its electric thrusters for smallsats.
2010-2019: The decade in space
It was a decade of enormous change. When it began, SpaceX was on the ropes, cubesats were teaching tools, NASA’s lunar ambitions were back on hold and no one in Washington was calling for a Space Force.
EchoStar, fresh off Helios Wire acquisition, orders S-band smallsats from Tyvak
EchoStar has ordered two tiny S-band satellites from Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems to jumpstart a low-Earth-orbit constellation using spectrum gained through its October acquisition of IoT startup Helios Wire.
Electric-propulsion startup Orbion raises $9.2 million Series A
Orbion aims to eventually build and ship thrusters in six to eight days from receiving an order.
Lacuna Space aims to ride IoT wave with a 32-cubesat constellation
Whether Lacuna Space will rise to the front is still to be determined. But Spurrett believes the company’s emphasis on offering the lowest price service will make it a winner.
Mecano ID, with help from CNES, making its first smallsat deployer
The deployer, still under development, is Mecano ID’s first smallsat product, Didier Zely, manager of Mecano ID’s deployment systems product line, said by email.
Exolaunch qualifies, begins selling microsatellite separation system
German launch services provider Exolaunch sees strong demand for the microsatellite separation system, CarboNIX, it qualified on the July 5 Soyuz rideshare mission
FCC’s streamlined licensing rules seen as boon for smallsat industry
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s streamlined licensing rules for small satellites sailed through a vote Aug. 1, establishing a path for companies to secure spectrum rights much faster and cheaper than current regulations allow.
