Space Development Agency shaking up how the military buys satellites
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-11 10:00
The Pentagon has spent the bulk of its massive space budget on traditional geostationary satellites. SDA is working to break the mold with an ambitious plan to build a low-Earth orbit constellation. SDA calls its layered network of satellites the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Viasat studying L-band from Inmarsat for direct-to-device services
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 18:23
Viasat is exploring how to use L-band spectrum from newly acquired Inmarsat. Inmarsat gave Viasat the largest global swathe of coordinated L-band spectrum. Most of the phones Inmarsat currently connects via L-band are specialized devices.
SpaceX to offer mid-inclination smallsat rideshare launches
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 17:49
SpaceX is offering a second class of rideshare missions on its Falcon 9 rocket. The missions will serve customers seeking to go to mid-inclination orbits. The Bandwagon missions will deliver payloads at altitudes of 550 to 605 kilometers. Four Bandwagon missions are currently scheduled.
Virgin Galactic conducts first space tourist suborbital flight
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 16:15
Virgin Galactic took its first private astronaut customers on a suborbital spaceflight Aug. 10. Virgin’s VSS Unity spaceplane took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The vehicle reached a peak altitude of about 88.5 kilometers before gliding back to the spaceport.
Op-ed | SPACs are a double-edged sword for newspace
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 15:36
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) have emerged as a prominent way to raise funds. Jaumea is the founder and CEO of Sliot, a Spanish startup developing a satellite constellation for connecting Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smartphones. SPACs have emerged as a catalyst for growth and innovation in the newspace industry.
Space Force tries to hedge risk with new launch strategy
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 13:59
The U.S. Air Force four years ago insisted it only wanted to work with two launch providers. The Space Force now finds itself in the unfamiliar position of having to compete for access to commercial rockets. A launch supply crunch is being forecasted in the latter part of this decade.
Planet Labs and MAXAR images provide updates of Maui fires’ devastation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
Hawaii Governor Josh Green says the death toll from a wildfire is expected to rise "very significantly" On Thursday. Official reports indicate that 36 people have died after the fires broke out late on Tuesday, and more have suffered burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries. Thousands of people have fled the area, into emergency shelters and off the island.
Europe’s HyPrSpace and Precious Payload team up as a sort of SpaceX service – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
French rocket startup, HyPrSpace, and Precious Payload, a satellite launch provider, have teamed up to simplify the process for payload developers to reserve launches using HyPrSpace’s Orbital Baguette-1 (OB-1) rockets. HyPrSpace caters to the needs of smallsats and satellite constellations with dedicated launches and rideshare opportunities. The OB-1 promises launches at half the cost of traditional micro-launchers.
Benchmark raises million$$ + moves to new HQ with world-class test + mfg. capabilities – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
Benchmark Space Systems has raised $33 million in Series B funding. The firm has moved the firm’s headquarters to facilities that feature state-of-the-art testing systems plus 4x manufacturing capacity. The company estimates the new facility will improve lead times more than 30%. The company is laser focused on providing non-toxic chemical, electric and hybrid propulsion systems.
DISH Network Corporation + EchoStar Corporation merge forces – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
DISH Network Corporation and EchoStar Corporation have entered into a definitive agreement for DISH Network to combine with EchoStar Corporation. The transaction combines DISH Network’s satellite technology, streaming services and nationwide 5G network with EchoStar’s SATCOM solutions. Hamid Akhavan will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company. Charles Ergen will serve as Executive Chairman.
RTX Trilogy: Contract to develop platform agnostic BLOS SATCOM solution
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
Collins Aerospace awarded $36 million contract from U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop and demonstrate a platform-agnostic, Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS), SATCOM pod. Blue Canyon Technologies introduces the XB16 CubeSat, now the largest form factor in the company’s CubeSat product line. Raytheon BBN division received a contract award to support DARPA’s “In The Moment’s ‘In The Moment” program — ITM aims to develop the foundations needed for algorithms that are trusted to independently make decisions.
Eutelsat and Thaicom to provide new software-defined satellite over Asia for 16 years lifetime – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces that its subsidiary Eutelsat Asia PTE. LTD. Has signed a partnership agreement with Space Tech Innovation Limited (STI), a subsidiary of Thaicom. Under this partnership, Eutelsat will expand its service over the continent.
Kratos + Hypersonix team to bring DART AE hypersonic system to the U.S. Market – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-10 00:00
Kratos and Hypersonix have announced an Exclusive Teaming Agreement to provide the Hypersonix DART AE Hypersonic System within the U.S. Market. The DART AE is a three-meter-long, single-use, high temperature alloy, hydrogen-fueled, scramjet technology driven, autonomous, multi-mission, air-breathing hypersonic platform. Kratos has agreed to initially procure up to 20 DART AE systems from Hypersonix.
Watch NASA Engineers Put a Mars Lander’s Legs to the Test
Testing of the lander’s full-size foot pads has been taking place in a box filled with powdery, Mars-like soil. About 16 inches (41 centimeters) in diameter, the flat, round footpad attaches to an assembly with nearly a half-ton of iron weight plates.
Northrop Grumman and Firefly’s Antares 330 and MLV plans take shape
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-09 17:35
The Antares 330/Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) is scheduled for its first flight in mid-2025. It is being developed to conduct ISS cargo flights from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia. The Antares 330 is based on a brand new first stage with seven Firefly Miranda engines using kerosene and liquid oxygen. The MLV is also set to be offered with an optional third stage based on one Firefly Lightning-based engine.