Space Tech Expo
To trim rocket costs, Virgin Orbit leans on manufacturing software
Virgin Orbit’s campaign to design, build and fly LauncherOne, its air-launched rocket for small satellites, relies heavily on manufacturing software.
NASA to begin buying rides on commercial lunar landers by year’s end
PASADENA — NASA intends to begin buying rides on small commercial lunar landers by the end of the year and start looking …
ICEYE raises another $34 million for radar satellites
ICEYE raised $34 million in a Series B investment round, bringing the Finnish company’s total funding to $53 million, ICEYE announced May 24.
How long should a satellite last: five years, ten years, 15, 30?
PASADENA, California — Satellite manufacturers and operators attending the Space Tech Expo here offered contrasting views on how long satellites should continue to work in orbit.
For years, government and commercial operators sought t…
DARPA working group begins addressing concerns related to proximity operations and satellite servicing
A major challenge facing companies planning to perform on-orbit servicing will be ensuring satellite operators do not view their activities as potential threats.
Air Force focus on resilience means big changes for spacecraft manufacturing and testing
The U.S. Air Force's plans to respond to emerging threats by launching constellations of satellites. That strategy has important implications for spacecraft manufacturing and testing.
European space officials outline desired contribution to Deep Space Gateway
Europe’s aerospace industry is getting ready for NASA’s proposed Deep Space Gateway, hoping Europe will have its own module at the lunar-orbit space station resupplied by a European transportation system.
Ice Cubes is Europe’s cool idea for commercializing its part of ISS
Billed as “the first commercial European opportunity to conduct research in space,” Ice Cubes offers researchers room to conduct experiments inside Europe’s Columbus module aboard the ISS.
Humble origins drives OHB support for Europe’s space startup scene
Today’s OHB might be Europe’s third-largest space sector corporation, harvesting prestigious government contracts, but the Bremen-headquartered firm still remembers its modest beginnings.
How close are high-altitude platforms to competing with satellites?
Balloons, airships, unmanned planes and other so-called pseudo satellites loitering in the stratosphere are likely to enrich the global communications and Earth-observation ecosystem in the not-so-distant future.
ESOC boss: Europe need to band together for better space surveillance
If Europe wants to take a lead role in this necessarily global endeavor, it needs to step up its game, Rolf Densing, head of the European Space Agency’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) said Oct. 25 at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen, Germany.
Hydrazine ban could cost Europe’s space industry billions
The European Union might ban the use of the toxic satellite propellant hydrazine as early as 2021, which would present a major setback for the block’s space industry.
ArianeGroup CFO Pierre Godart on Ariane 6 cost savings, micro launchers and reusability
Ariane 5 is one of the world’s most reliable launcher but its makers aren’t resting on their laurels. Following the 2015 creation of Airbus Safran Launchers, a joint venture between the two main contributors to the European rocket program, the company renamed itself to ArianeGroup and embarked on a journey through the quickly changing space industry landscape.
Spain’s launch startups make a case for hosting a European spaceport
With three companies developing dedicated small-satellite launchers, Spain is establishing itself as Europe’s NewSpace rocket hub. Although none of the three have launched their first rocket, that's not stopping them from making the case that Spain should build a spaceport.
Woerner: Cooperation should reign as spacefaring nations clean up Earth orbit and venture beyond ISS
European Space Agency Director-General Jan Woerner on Oct. 24 said cooperation should trump competition as the world’s spacefaring nations set out to clean up Earth’s orbit while establishing an international human presence at the moon and beyond.
Q&A | Airbus’ Oliver Juckenhöfel gung-ho on Deep Space Gateway
Airbus, as Juckenhöfel sees it, would be an indispensable contributor to the Deep Space Gateway, assuming it moves from concept to a bona fide program with European Space Agency involvement.
