BAE Systems plc announces the proposed acquisition of Ball Aerospace – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
BAE Systems plc has entered into a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement to acquire the Ball Aerospace business from Ball Corporation for c.$5.55 billion in cash. The proposed stock transaction will be treated as an asset purchase for federal tax purposes, with an expected net present value tax benefit of c.$750 million. The business is headquartered in Colorado, with more than 5,200 employees, of whom more than 60% hold U.S. Security clearances.
UPDATE: Thursday, Hurricane Hilary causes a SpaceX launch scrub of 21 smallsat Starlinks – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
Tropical Storm Hilary could potentially bring devastating rainfall and high winds to Southern California this weekend. The last tropical storm to impact the state was 84 years ago, according to official records. The National Hurricane Center said Hilary was about 475 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Rocket Lab inks dedicated launch deal with iQPS – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has signed a deal to launch an Earth Observation (EO) satellite on Electron for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) The launch is scheduled for lift-off in September 2023 and will carry iQPS’s QPS-SAR-5 satellite into orbit on a dedicated Electron mission from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission has been named “The Moon God Awakens” in acknowledgement of Tsukuyomi, the Japanese God of the Moon.
SkyWatch announces availability of Umbra SAR data and also launches InSARance – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
SkyWatch has partnered with Umbra to allow customers to purchase the latter’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data via SkyWatch’s EarthCache platform. Each smallsat in Umbra’s commercial constellation is equipped with a powerful SAR payload, capable of seeing at night and through dense clouds.
Astrobotic collaborates with NASA for TechRise Student Challenge – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
Astrobotic’s Propulsion and Test division (P&T), formerly Masten Space Systems, is collaborating with NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program to bring the 2023 TechRise Challenge to students in grades six through 12. Xodiac, Astrobotic P&T’s fifth generation rocket-powered lander, will fly 30 student payloads as part of the challenge.
New Zealand’s Zenno Astronautics to “give the space industry what it needs to progress” with the first superconducting electromagnet for space – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
Zenno Astronautics has completed the integration of the world’s first superconducting magnetic torquer for fuel-free spacecraft attitude control. The Z01™ was integrated inside D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier in preparation for its first in-orbit validation mission. The orbital transfer vehicle with Z01 integrated is slated for launch via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in Q4 2023.
True Anomaly announces opening of GravityWorks spacecraft manufacturing facility + federal OK to demo non-Earth imaging + rendezvous + proximity Ops – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-08-17 00:00
True Anomaly, Inc. Hosted the grand opening of the company’s state-of-the-art spacecraft manufacturing facility, GravityWorks, in Centennial, Colorado. GravityWorks will be able to produce a fully-tested, mission-ready satellite every five days. The company also announced it recently received authorizations from NOAA and the FCC to perform non-Earth imaging (NEI) and demo rendezvous and proximity operations.