House bill would fully fund Mars Sample Return, block cooperation on ExoMars Original Publication Date: 2023-11-03 23:04 House appropriators would fully fund NASA’s Mars Sample Return program. The Senate bill provided only $300 million for the program, less than a third of NASA’s request. The ...

Starlink and SES join forces for multi-orbit cruise connectivity Original Publication Date: 2023-09-13 06:50 SES and SpaceX are pooling their broadband satellites to offer cruise operators an integrated service. The SES Cruise mPowered + Starlink service would mostly use SpaceX’s low Earth ...

Xenesis to send optical terminal to ISS platform Original Publication Date: 2023-08-07 10:00 Xenesis is preparing to install an optical communications hub for customers of Bartolomeo. Illinois-based Xenesis plans to ship the Xen-Hub optical flight terminal to Airbus in November. Xenesis will ...

O3b mPower faces delays as SES investigates electrical issue Original Publication Date: 2023-08-03 21:35 SES needs to conduct extra tests before launching its next pair of O3b mPower satellites. Glitch is sporadically tripping off power modules on its first four in medium Earth orbit. CEO Ruy ...

House rejects satellite spectrum licensing bill because of space safety provisions Original Publication Date: 2023-07-26 00:15 The bill was intended to improve the licensing process for satellite systems at the FCC. It would have set time limits on the FCC’s review of satellite licenses and ...

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 ...

China’s Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket Original Publication Date: 2023-07-12 07:24 Chinese private rocket firm Landspace achieved a global first late Tuesday by reaching orbit with a methane-fueled rocket. The 49.5-meter-long Zhuque-2 lifted off from Jiuquan ...

SpaceShipTwo to demonstrate research capabilities on first commercial flight Original Publication Date: 2023-06-29 00:52 Virgin Galactic set to conduct its first commercial SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceflight. The Galactic 01 mission will carry three Italian payload specialists to perform a set ...

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 ...

More countries encouraged to commit to halt destructive ASAT tests Original Publication Date: 2023-06-15 10:00 U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution in December 2022 encouraging countries not to conduct destructive direct-ascent (DA) ASAT tests. A total of 155 nations voted in favor of ...