Commercial Space

Consulting giant Accenture’s venture capital arm has signed a strategic deal with space-based Earth data upstart Planet Labs.

Unprecedented high-altitude weather triggered a series of events which led to the loss of Airbus’ Zephyr high-altitude pseudo satellite.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1 lunar lander into space on Dec. 11 from Cape Canaveral.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The Defense Innovation Unit is looking for ways to quickly deliver spacecraft beyond geosynchronous orbit.

Virgin Orbit had been eyeing a launch window starting Dec. 14 for its first UK flight of LauncherOne.

Astroscale Japan and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have launched a joint feasibility study of satellite refueling services.

SpaceX and Rocket Lab have unveiled departments and services for national security clients.

Slingshot Aerospace has raised $41.85 million to build out its Earth-based network of orbit-watching telescopes.

The U.S. Commerce Department has awarded seven contracts to companies providing space situational awareness services.

Sierra Space will provide its new-generation, low-cost solar power arrays for a constellation of low Earth orbit satellite buses.

The cloud computing subsidiary of Amazon conducted the demonstration over the past 10 months.

The Vega-C light launcher is set to perform its first mission for Arianespace, which will see Avio’s upgraded rocket place two Airbus Pleiades satellites into orbit.

Europe’s three leading countries in space launchers have issued a joint statement that sets the stage for further cooperation on Ariane, Vega and micro-/mini-launcher programs within the framework of the European Space Agency.

Startup Rosotics has raised $750,000 in “pre-seed funding” to develop a rapid induction metal 3D printer for making large aerospace parts.

Turkey’s new UCAV; U.S.-Japan missile defense test; Defense exec foresees supply chain price hikes; Space Force-Blue Origin agreement.

Startup STELLS Space Corp. plans to launch a mobile recharging station to the Moon by 2025.

On the eve of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ministerial council, 21 startup companies are requesting that member states approve a resolution for an open competition every time an institutional payload has to be placed into orbit.

German space startup Polaris Spaceplanes has performed the first flight of its spaceplane demonstrator built under a contract from the German defense ministry.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The new 16U satellite bus is tailored for Earth observation and space domain awareness missions.

The approvals help pave the way for the first planned orbital launch from the UK mainland for Virgin Orbit’s “Start Me Up” mission using its air-launched LauncherOne space vehicle that will be carried by its modified Boeing 747.

A slew of new-space companies are unveiling strategic changes or acknowledging setbacks. Is it the end or the beginning?

In a joint technology demonstration, United Launch Alliance and NASA tested a 20-ft.-dia. inflatable heat shield that is intended to pave the way for a future rocket engine recovery system for ULA and a system for NASA to land heavy, human-class missions on Mars, among other uses.

HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Latitude, Maia Space, Orbex, PLD Space, RFA and Skyrora are forming a new ecosystem in space launchers.