Commercial Space

The U.S. Space Force’s next neighborhood watchdog spacecraft could be the first operational system capable of on-orbit refueling.

T-Mobile’s satellite-based cellular service, provided by SpaceX’s Starlink, now supports data for a variety of smartphone apps, including video chat software.

Intuitive Machines (IM), Inc., a space technology and services company, has announced the completion of its acquisition of KinetX Inc.

Blue Origin plans to launch a lunar resource mapping spacecraft to help identify opportunities to exploit materials available on the Moon.

A UAE-led medical study recently headed into space aboard Axiom Mission 4. The private mission, which launched on June 25, was led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, adding to her standing record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.

Axiom Space unveiled a pilot program to provide personalized training for prospective human spaceflight participants interested in doing microgravity research.

Famous automotive manufacturers bet on space, electric air taxis and hydrogen power.

The launch startup Beijing Galactic Energy Aerospace Technology Co. (Galactic Energy) has raised RMB 2.4 billion ($336 million) in a Series D funding round.

Arianespace says it is moving forward to demonstrate a space debris mitigation technology under a partnership with Japanese startup Bull.

NASA is delaying plans to issue a solicitation for the next phase of a public-private partnership program to spur development of one or more new space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) while it assesses feedback from industry.

Blue Origin is developing three new suborbital New Shepard launch systems and mulling expanding flight services beyond West Texas, the company said Sept. 28.

Ispace of Japan has signed a memorandum of understand with ElevationSpace to develop a private lunar sample return mission.

Blue Origin has delayed plans for its New Glenn rocket to return to the launchpad.

The UK Space Agency on Sept. 25 said it is setting up the Satellite Gateway Services program to foster local businesses by acting as an anchor customer.

NASA says it is “no longer obligated” to order International Space Station resupply missions from Sierra Space using the company’s Dream Chaser spaceplane.

Voyager Technologies has contracted Vivace Corp. to manufacture the primary structure of the Starlab commercial space station.

Firefly Aerospace has sold data it collected during its lunar land Blue Ghost Mission 1 to NASA for $10 million.

Space service providers are battling it out in the direct-to-device market.

Launch service providers are promising higher flight cadences—again.

As Virgin Galactic continues assembly of the first of its new Delta-class spaceplanes, the company has revealed an early research mission will be flown with an all-Purdue University payload crew.

Innospace says it has completed qualification testing for the Hanbit-Nano first-stage engine, clearing the way for the inaugural flight of the two-stage rocket.

NASA has awarded Blue Origin a task order worth up to $190 million to deliver its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover to the Moon's surface.

Voyager Technologies, which focuses on space tech and defense, has become the latest company to turn to an acquisition to bolster its optical comms credentials.

AFK Sistema subsidiary Sputnix will design the spacecraft and Roscosmos will provide launch services.

South Korean rocket provider Innospace says it has signed an agreement to conduct two satellite launches for Media Broadcast Satellite.