SpaceX
SpaceX rolls out new business line focused on military satellite services
SpaceX on Dec. 2 revealed a new business segment called Starshield aimed at U.S. national security government agencies.
OneWeb aims to deploy a record 40 satellites in SpaceX mission
OneWeb said SpaceX is slated to launch 40 of its satellites as early as Dec. 6 to complete almost 80% of its low Earth orbit broadband constellation.
FCC grants partial approval for Starlink second-generation constellation
The FCC has partially approved SpaceX’s application for the second generation of its Starlink constellation, allowing the company to launch up to a quarter of the proposed 30,000 satellites while deferring action on the rest.
SpaceX to launch last new cargo Dragon spacecraft
A SpaceX Dragon launching soon to the International Space Station is the last cargo version of the spacecraft the company expects to build, with one more crewed spacecraft under construction.
NASA awards SpaceX $1.15 billion contract for second Artemis lander mission
NASA has awarded SpaceX a $1.15 billion contract to develop an upgraded version of its Starship lunar lander and fly a second crewed mission.
SpaceX launches a pair of Intelsat satellites on expendable Falcon 9
SpaceX successfully launched a second pair of C-band replacement satellites for Intelsat over the weekend on the final flight of a frequently used Falcon 9 booster.
UK grants Starlink and Telesat NGSO licenses
The United Kingdom gave SpaceX permission Nov. 10 to expand its Starlink satellite broadband network in the country, while also granting a license to Telesat for a competing constellation bound for non-geostationary orbit.
ViaSat-3’s Falcon Heavy launch slips into early 2023
Viasat said Nov. 8 its first ViaSat-3 broadband satellite will not be ready to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket this year.
SpaceX launches Hotbird 13G to extend Eutelsat’s broadcast coverage
SpaceX launched the second of two satellites for Eutelsat Nov. 3 to replenish one of the largest broadcast systems in Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa.
NASA predicts first Starship orbital launch as soon as December
NASA expects SpaceX to be ready to attempt a first orbital flight of its Starship vehicle, an essential element in the agency’s Artemis lunar exploration plans, as soon as early December, pending tests and regulatory approvals.
Lunar landing restored for Artemis 4 mission
NASA has restored plans to include a lunar landing on its Artemis 4 mission to the moon later this decade, months after saying that the mission would instead be devoted to assembly of the lunar Gateway.
Polaris Dawn crewed mission could suffer additional delays
A billionaire-backed private astronaut mission on a SpaceX Crew Dragon has slipped from late this year to March 2023 and could be further delayed, in part for issues beyond its control.
Eutelsat fortifying jamming defenses over Middle East
Eutelsat is preparing to deploy the first of two new jamming-resistant broadcast satellites over the Middle East following signal interference in Iran.
U.S. military waiting for industry to demonstrate space transportation concepts
U.S. Transportation Command is keeping an eye on space launch companies as they develop technology and mature concepts for point-to-point cargo delivery.
Crew-4 returns to Earth
SpaceX completed its fourth operational commercial crew mission to the International Space Station Oct. 14 with the safe return of a Crew Dragon spacecraft with four American and European astronauts on board.
Dennis Tito and wife to be on second Starship flight around the moon
The first private astronaut to fly to the International Space Station plans to return to space on a trip around the moon on SpaceX’s Starship with his wife and up to 10 other people.
SpaceX deploys two of six C-band satellites Intelsat is launching this year
SpaceX Oct. 8 successfully deployed the first two of seven satellites Intelsat needs to clear C-band spectrum in the United States, keeping the operator on course to launch all but one of them before the end of this year.
SpaceX says 5G plan could disrupt Starlink more than previously thought
Plans to use a part of Ku-band for 5G networks in the United States could disrupt Starlink broadband services even more than SpaceX previously estimated, the company said Oct. 4 as it released interference analysis from a third party.
SpaceX launches Crew-5 mission to the space station
A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with four people on board is on its way to the International Space Station after a successful launch Oct. 5.
