India targets a surge in civil and commercial launches
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-16 09:32
India is planning up to 30 launches over a 15-month period. The launches are a mix of scientific, commercial, user-funded and technology demonstration missions. The moves follow a new national space policy introduced in 2023, with reforms targeting making India a global space hub.
Varda gets reentry license for space manufacturing capsule
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-14 23:32
Varda Space Industries says it has received a license to return a capsule from its first mission. Varda launched W-Series 1, its first spacecraft, in June on the SpaceX Transporter-8 mission. The company had hoped to return the capsule as early as mid-July.
SpaceX launches U.S. missile-defense satellites
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-14 23:09
SpaceX launches six missile-detection satellites Feb. 14. The mission, named USSF-124, flew to low Earth orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket. The payload included five satellites made by L3Harris Technologies and one by Northrop Grumman. The upper stage separated from the booster just over two minutes after liftoff.
Startup pitches AI tool to prevent Pentagon procurement blunders
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-14 22:55
U.S. Military exploring range of artificial intelligence capabilities, from predictive maintenance to analyzing satellite data. Virtualitics has won Air Force and Space Force research contracts. AI can flag risks in procurements by analyzing historical data and uncovering patterns in past contracts. Most of the AI tools used by the military rely on structured sets of data so the result of the analysis is not made up.
Chinese launch startup Orienspace secures $83.5 million
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-14 16:15
Chinese launch firm Orienspace announced a series B funding round. The funds will be used for research and development of its first liquid propellant rocket. China has been fostering a commercial space sector since late 2014. China’s central government identified the commercial space industry as one of several strategic emerging industries.
US Department of Defense launches L3Harris missile tracking satellites that exceed current ballistic missile detection capabilities – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-15 00:00
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) successfully launched five missile tracking satellites. The satellites are part of the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) program. L3Harris’ HBTSS satellite is an on-orbit prototype demonstration that can track maneuvering hypersonic missiles.
Videosoft Global and Viasat use AI-powered video streaming to provide real-time industrial monitoring – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-15 00:00
Videosoft Global, a Viasat ELEVATE partner, and Viasat, Inc. Agree to integrate Videosoft’s video streaming technology into INTELIE. INTELIE is Viasat’s advanced operational AI platform for industrial applications such as energy and mining.
Lockheed Martin’s Pony Express 2 tech demo satellites are ready for launch – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-15 00:00
Pony Express 2 is a self-funded technology demonstration that uses a pair of small satellites. Pony Express 2 will launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 rideshare mission no earlier than March of 2024. After a series of on-orbit demonstrations by Lockheed Martin, Pony Express 2 is expected to be available to participate in government exercises later this year.
SpaceX is busy with another successful launch of 22 Starlink small satellites – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-15 00:00
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 successfully launched 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff was 1:34 p.m. PT, on February 15. This is the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched one Starlink mission.
SpaceX launches missile tracking satellites for MDA and SDA
Original Publication Date: 2024-02-14 19:08
SpaceX launched the USSF-124 mission carrying six prototype missile tracking satellites. The mission took off from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida. The forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron showed very good weather at the scheduled liftoff time with a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable conditions.