ESA preparing for “assisted reentry” of Aeolus spacecraft
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-20 00:13
A series of maneuvers will lower the perigee of the Aeolus spacecraft. The reentry, projected over the Atlantic Ocean, will take place on July 28. The maneuvers are intended to minimize any chance that debris from the spacecraft would land in populated areas. The reentry will mark the end of Aeolus, launched in 2018 on a three-year mission.
Space Force changed launch procurement plan due to concerns about capacity
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 21:46
The U.S. Space Force plans to increase the number of providers in the national security launch program. Officials said July 19 the decision was driven by a projected growth in demand for satellite launches. The plan is to select multiple medium-lift rockets to launch lower-orbit missions, and three heavy-lift launch providers.
PlanetiQ wins $60 million NOAA contract
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 16:54
PlanetiQ has won a $60 million contract to deliver daily weather data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was PlanetiQ’s first sale of operational radio occultation data for numerical weather models. Two PlanetiQ satellites are in orbit and a third is scheduled to launch later this year.
Op-ed | Britain has all the attributes to create a world-leading space economy
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 15:16
The global space sector is now worth over $469 billion, with 77% accounted for by the commercial market. Analysts project future growth of up to 11% per annum. Britain already holds a sizeable proportion of the market, accounting for almost 15% of global investment, second only to the U.S.
Space RCO backs Hyperspace Challenge 2023 accelerator
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 15:00
Hyperspace Challenge, a U.S. Space Force accelerator, is joining forces for the first time. Space Force is exploring ways to help spacecraft fend off threats. Traditional aerospace and defense companies as well as firms from the automotive, manufacturing, cybersecurity and other sectors are invited to apply.
Fleet Space Technologies acquires European frequency assets and continues the company’s global expansion – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 00:00
Fleet Space Technologies has expanded its global footprint with its acquisition of rights to new, long-term, frequency filings in Europe. A filing provides a claim over spectrum and orbital resources for satellite networks with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Fleet’s newly acquired filing rights have seniority and that means means they will take priority over those that have been submitted more recently.
Sidus Space awarded subcontract by Parsons for USSF launch manifest systems – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 00:00
Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU) has been awarded a new subcontract to produce hardware in support of Parsons Corporation’s (NYSE: PSN) Launch Manifest Systems Integration (LMSI) contract. Under the terms of the agreement, Sidus Space will fabricate a master harness assembly and test cables for Parsons.
LightRidge Solutions’ third acquisition is Trident Systems – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 00:00
LightRidge Solutions, a portfolio company of ATL Partners, announced it has acquired Trident Systems. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Trident represents the third acquisition for the LightRidge platform. LightRidge’s existing portfolio includes GEOST, a leading provider of high-end space payloads.
AERKOMM expands Taiwanese ops and explores a merger – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 00:00
AERKOMM Inc. Is expanding its presence in Taiwan to capitalize on the development of LEO, MEO and GEO satellite operations. AERKOMM Taiwan is the only authorized Taiwanese service provider to offer satellite communication services via NGSO. This move comes as EJECTT Inc. Expanded into the solar photovoltaic energy storage field in 2016 and the MEO / LEO satellite industry in 2021.
Blue Canyon Technologies provides defense-critical smallsats on Transporter-8 Launch – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-07-19 00:00
Blue Canyon Technologies, a subsidiary of RTX (NYSE: RTX), announced the firm’s contributions to the recent SpaceX Transporter-8 launch on June 12th. Blue Canyon’s products on the launch included four, Saturn-class smallsats for DARPA’s Blackjack mission, two 6U CubeSats for the Department of Defense (DoD) Modular ISR program (MISR) and one 12U CubeSat for a government customer. All seven spacecraft are in good working order and performing as expected following the launch.
Ancient River Is Helping NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Do Its Work
Perseverance is exploring the top of a fan-shaped pile of sedimentary rock that stands 130 feet (40 meters) tall. Scientists will be able to look at each pebble and fragment in this core, dubbed “Otis Peak,” to determine details such as its age.