Airbus Gears Up For OneSat Production

By Thierry Dubois Apr 21, 2021
Airbus’ OneSat new-generation satellite program is ready to enter the production phase, says Francois Gaullier, head of Airbus Telecom Systems.
Commercial Space

Europe’s Launcher Reusability Drive Weakens Ariane 6 Program

By Thierry Dubois Apr 21, 2021
While Ariane 6 is overcoming the last technical hurdles, reusability demonstration programs are making progress.
Space

Human Return To Moon In 2024 ‘Highly Unlikely,’ NASA IG Audit Says

By Mark Carreau Apr 20, 2021
It is “highly unlikely” that NASA will return to the Moon’s surface with human explorers in 2024 due to technical, budget and workplace constraints linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency’s inspector general says.
Space

Amazon Buys Nine Launches From ULA For Kuiper Project

By Irene Klotz Apr 19, 2021
CAPE CANAVERAL—Amazon has contracted with United Launch Alliance to deliver nine batches of its Kuiper broadband satellites into low Earth orbit aboard Atlas V rockets, the companies said on April 19.
Commercial Space

Nonprofit Partnership Forges Carbon Mapping Initiative

By Mark Carreau Apr 19, 2021
Startup nonprofit Carbon Mapper, Inc. is leading a coalition of commercial, state and federal government agencies and academic partners in an effort to identify and expand a global awareness of major point source emissions of carbon dioxide and methane in order to lessen their contribution to climate change.
Space
Opinion: Three Reforms Essential To Continuing U.S. Space Leadership
The nation needs to declassify technology, rely on private industry and compete for routine space missions.
audra.avizieni… Mon, 04/19/2021 - 08:00
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Charles Beames
Content summary

Three Reforms For Space Leaders

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Inmarsat Wins Inflight Connectivity Case In European Court

By Thierry Dubois Apr 16, 2021
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has cleared the way for Inmarsat to continue operating its European Aviation Network (EAN) inflight connectivity system.
Interiors & Connectivity
Sierra Space To Absorb Sierra Nevada’s Space Business
The owners of aerospace and defense group Sierra Nevada are creating an independent company to take over the former’s space business, to be called Sierra Space, which will sell to the burgeoning low-Earth-orbit and Moon commercial space markets.
guy.ferneyhoug… Thu, 04/15/2021 - 10:08
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Lockheed Shows Some New Space Mojo With Block Buy From Startup ABL
Startup ABL’s launcher is well-sized for Lockheed’s new satellite bus.
jack.freifelde… Thu, 04/15/2021 - 08:00
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New Space Mojo

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Geosat Broadband Startup Astranis Lands $250 Million, Awaits Launch
Astranis, a startup aiming to provide lower-cost broadband service from geostationary orbit, has announced $250 million in new financing.
michael.stearn… Wed, 04/14/2021 - 18:20
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Orbital Sidekick Completes $16M Series A Round

By Michael Bruno Apr 14, 2021
Orbital Sidekick, a San Francisco-based startup aiming to offer satellite-based hyperspectral imaging and data analytics for the energy sector and others, has wrapped up a $16 million series A investment round, as expected.
Commercial Space

Northrop’s MEV Docks With Active Intelsat Satellite To Extend Its Life

By Graham Warwick Apr 13, 2021
The second Mission Extension Vehicle, MEV-2, autonomously docked with the Intelsat 10-02 satellite on April 12 in its operational GEO location at 1 deg. West longitude.
Space

Space SPACs: It Is Different This Time—For Real

By Michael Bruno Apr 12, 2021
Do SPACs herald a brave new world for space dreamers or a repeat of the dot-bomb era of the early 2000s and the space flops of the 1990s?
Commercial Space

Former NASA Astronaut Jack Fischer Fires Up TexSpace

By Mark Carreau Apr 09, 2021
Former NASA astronaut and U S. Air Force test pilot Jack Fischer has joined with the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) to provide the emerging Houston Spaceport with TexSpace, a future nonprofit focused on facilitating innovation within the space enterprise.
Commercial Space

Industrial IoT Forerunner OrbComm To Be Taken Private For $1.1B

By Michael Bruno Apr 09, 2021
OrbComm, the low Earth orbit constellation provider of industrial connectivity services whose roots date to 1990s commercial space efforts, will be acquired by GI Partners, a U.S.-based investor in data infrastructure businesses, in an all-cash deal worth around $1.1 billion, including net debt.
Commercial Space

Rocket Lab Schedules Next Flight Test Of Electron Reuse

By Irene Klotz Apr 08, 2021
Rocket Lab plans to conduct its second parachute-assisted booster splashdown next month, as it works to evolve the Electron small satellite launch vehicle into a reusable rocket, the company said on April 8.
Commercial Space

Airbus Takes Lead On Aircraft-Based Laser Communication Terminal

By Tony Osborne Apr 08, 2021
Airbus and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) are to develop a terminal for aircraft to receive laser-based communications. 
Connected Aerospace

Next CNES President To Put Emphasis On Space Data Use

By Thierry Dubois Apr 08, 2021
Philippe Baptiste, an engineer by training with experience in science, industry and politics, is to succeed Jean-Yves Le Gall at the helm of French space agency CNES after the country’s parliament approved the nomination.
Space

SpaceX Delivers Another 60 Starlinks Into Orbit

By Irene Klotz Apr 07, 2021
SpaceX on April 7 completed its eighth mission of the year to deploy its Starlink broadband network, boosting the constellation to about 1,400 spacecraft.
Commercial Space

AAC Clyde Space to Buy Space Sensor Maker Omnisys

By Michael Bruno Apr 07, 2021
Swedish-British small satellite manufacturer AAC Clyde Space this month entered a conditional agreement to buy privately owned Omnisys Instruments, a Swedish developer and manufacturer of sensors for space projects, in a deal worth about $8.7 million.
Commercial Space

Former NASA Head Bridenstine Joins Voyager Space

By Michael Bruno Apr 07, 2021
Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will chair the advisory board at Voyager Space Holdings, the market’s first vertically integrated new-space holding company that recently acquired the Launch Co, Nanoracks and others.
Space

No Date For SpaceX Starlink Commercial Rollout, Shotwell Says

By Irene Klotz Apr 06, 2021
As SpaceX prepared to deliver its 24th batch of Starlink satellites into orbit this week, President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said beta trials will continue until the network, designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet, is more reliable.
Commercial Space

Lockheed Makes 58-Flight Block Buy With Small Satellite Launcher ABL

By Irene Klotz Apr 05, 2021
Lockheed Martin is doubling down on investments in small satellite launch service companies, signing a block buy with startup ABL Space Systems for up to 58 missions through 2029.
Commercial Space

Rocket Crafters, Now Vaya Space, Starts Marketing Small Sat Launches

By Michael Bruno Apr 02, 2021
Vaya Space, a Cocoa, Florida, space startup formerly known as Rocket Crafters, on March 31 announced its entrance into the small satellite launching marketplace for launches of up to 1 ton to low Earth orbit starting in 2023.
Commercial Space

Space Startup ClimaCell Reveals New Name, New Funds For New Plan

By Michael Bruno Apr 01, 2021
Fresh off its declaration that it was becoming a space-based weather service provider, ClimaCell has revealed its financing for getting there.
Commercial Space