Isar Aerospace raises $165 million as it gears up for first launch
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-28 09:53
German launch vehicle developer Isar Aerospace raises $165 million. The company says the funding will go towards final development of its Spectrum rocket. It will also support efforts to scale up production of the rocket. Spectrum is in final phases of development, with first launch scheduled for the second half of this year.
U.S. allies in the Middle East express interest in establishing space forces
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 21:19
U.S. Space Force runs a component that reports to U.S. Central Command. Col. Christopher Putman: "We have a lot of nations that see space as the critical combat enabler" Putman recently returned from Qatar, where U.S. Conducted its first "space forum"
NASA space operations head Lueders to retire
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 19:03
Kathy Lueders will retire from NASA at the end of April. Her deputy, Ken Bowersox, will take over that post effective May 1. Lueders had worked for more than two decades on the shuttle and ISS programs. She became manager of the commercial crew program in 2013.
OneWeb completes constellation deployment for global broadband
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 18:12
OneWeb is turning its attention to finalizing ground stations after launching a final batch of satellites. Executive chair Sunil Mittal said the British operator has rolled out “most of the critical ground stations” More ground stations are due to come online in the several months it will take OneWeb’s latest batch of satellites to enter service.
Inflation, high demand driving up launch prices
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 01:50
Industry officials say they saw evidence of growing prices in the last year. Growing demand along with a constrained near-term supply is a factor, they say. Prices of individual commercial launch orders have traditionally not been disclosed. SpaceX does publish list prices for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches.
Remote sensing companies try to capture bigger piece of satellite imaging market
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-26 19:59
Maxar, Planet and BlackSky are looking to capture a broader spectrum of data from space. They are expanding into novel sensor phenomenologies such as radar, radio frequency and hyperspectral. The demand for synthetic aperture radar imagery was accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
SBIRS GEO-6 Satellite control authority transferred to SpOC – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 00:00
SBIRS GEO-6, built by Lockheed Martin, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on August 4, 2022. The SBIRS GEO constellation works in concert with the Defense Support Program (DSP) constellation to provide missile warning capabilities.
Blue Origin’s report of NS-23 mishap – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 00:00
The direct cause of the NS-23 mishap was a thermo-structural failure of the engine nozzle. The resulting thrust misalignment properly triggered the Crew Capsule escape system. The Crew Capsule and all payloads onboard landed safely and will be flown again.
Ball Aerospace has new Chief Technologist, and changes in executive leadership – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 00:00
Jake Sauer is Ball Aerospace's new vice president and chief technologist. Paula Burns is vice president and general manager of its Tactical Solutions Strategic Business Unit. John Martin is vice president of its Operations Strategic Capabilities Unit. Ball Aerospace’s mission focuses on discoveries that enable its customers to perform beyond expectation.
ABS-2 contracted to provide additional satellite capacity to TAP Digital Media – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-27 00:00
TAP Digital Media Ventures Corporation (TAPDMV) has extended the company’s satellite broadcast partnership with ABS. The four SD Channels will be on the MCPC media platform on the ABS-2 C-band East Hemi beam offering the highest reliability for national TV networks and primary cable services.