UK Space Agency prioritizes sustainability
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 22:38
UK Space Agency encourages space sustainability, both domestically and internationally. UK plans to send a satellite to repair, replenish or refuel a UK spacecraft in 2028. By the end of the decade, the UK intends to have developed orbital assembly or manufacturing. For the first time, the UK is establishing a space surveillance and tracking service.
Despite growing interest in commercial satellite data, industry faces uncertainty
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 20:38
House committee expresses support for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's use of commercial satellite data. Committee asks NGA for details on its plans to integrate commercial data and services into “base programs of record” Companies are concerned about the “lagging adoption” of commercial imagery and analytics.
Firefly to buy remaining Virgin Orbit assets
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 16:39
Firefly Aerospace agrees to buy Virgin Orbit's remaining assets for $3.8 million. The assets are inventory at Virgin Orbit's two facilities in Long Beach, California. That includes engines and other components built or in production for the LauncherOne vehicles. It also includes two engines in storage at a Virgin Orbit test site in Mojave, California.
NASA agreements to support work on commercial spacecraft and space stations
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 11:34
NASA announces partnerships with seven companies for commercial space capabilities. Blue Origin and SpaceX among companies receiving unfunded Space Act Agreements. NASA will provide technical expertise, assessments and data to assist the companies. NASA is not providing any funding to the companies under the agreements..
CesiumAstro to develop satcom terminal for U.S. Air Force drone
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 11:22
CesiumAstro has won a U.S. Air Force contract to develop a phased array antenna. The terminal will connect the aircraft with Ka-band commercial broadband satellites. CesiumAstro plans to use SES’ mPower MEO satellite communications for the demonstration.
Terran Orbital names a new COO – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 00:00
Tony Gingiss brings more than 30 years of aerospace and defense experience in design, production, operations, and leadership to Terran Orbital. He spent more than two decades with Boeing Satellites Systems in roles spanning space, ground, engineering, operations and leadership. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Orbit where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations.
PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private rocket into space
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-16 15:21
PLD Space will attempt to launch Spain’s first privately developed rocket into space, the Miura 1, on June 17. The launch window opened at 2:00AM CEST (00:00 UTC) running for eight hours until 10:00 AM CEST (08:00 UTC) The first stage engines ignited, before the vehicle detected an off-nominal condition, shutting down the engines and aborting. It is currently unclear when PLD Space will attempt launch again.
ISS finishes initial iROSA upgrade with two EVAs this month
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-15 18:43
IROSA (ISS Roll-Out Solar Array) solar panel upgrade, started in 2021, has finished its initial upgrade plan with the successful installation of the last two arrays this month. The arrays for the 1A and 1B power channels were brought to ISS aboard the CRS-28 Cargo Dragon flight and then installed in a pair of EVAs. The iROSA project was started due to the ongoing degradation of the Station’s existing solar panels after years in low-Earth orbit. The original solar array complement, finished in March 2009 with the installation of the S6 truss, was capable of 240 kilowatts when new. However, the radiation environment in orbit has degraded the arrays to the point where they can now only generate 160 kilowatts.