BusinessResearch

Starliner by the Numbers: Payload Research

With Starliner slated to transport crew to the ISS for the first time next week, we’re digging into all the money spent to get here—from NASA’s contributions and seat pricing to the total development expenditures.

Business

Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance Introduce a New Wildfire Detection Satellite Constellation

Muon Space unveiled plans today for its LEO FireSat Constellation, a wildfire management network the company is building with Earth Fire Alliance. 

Civil

NASA Audit Identifies Significant Issues with Orion Heat Shield

The Orion spacecraft heat shield suffered extensive damage during its first flight that could “pose significant risks to the safety of the crew” of Artemis II, NASA’s watchdog revealed in a report on Wednesday. 

Research

Payload Research: China’s 2024 Space Day Updates

China held its annual Space Day conference last week, unveiling new insights into the space program’s hardware development.

Business

Millennium Nabs $414M SDA FOO Fighter Contract

Millennium Space Systems secured a $414M contract on Tuesday to build eight fire control-enabled satellites for the SDA that can detect and track advanced missile systems. 

Business

Maxar Closes in on the Launch of its WorldView Legion Satellites

Maxar is preparing to launch its first two WorldView Legion EO satellites in the coming days aboard Falcon 9, following years of delays for the new constellation.

Research

Payload Research: Detailing Launch Startup Funding Part 2 (Firefly Aerospace)

Last week, we covered ABL, Relativity, and Stoke funding, three launch startups that have yet to reach orbit. This week, we are focusing on a business that has hit its orbital proof point, Firefly Aerospace. 

Science

Voyager 1 Speaks Again After Five Months of Silence

NASA JPL engineers worked their magic once again, re-establishing comms with the 46-year-old Voyager 1 spacecraft after five months of radio silence. 

Lunar

SpaceX and Blue Origin Cargo Advance Work on Cargo Lunar Landers 

NASA released new renderings and details of the SpaceX and Blue Origin lander intended to deliver cargo to the Moon as it progresses toward a preliminary design review.

Business

BryceTech Highlights Continued Smallsat Strength in a New Report 

Smallsats rule the world. 

Civil

The FAA Says No Reentry License, No Launch

What goes up must have a pre-launch reentry license to come down. 

Research

Payload Research: Detailing Launch Startup Funding

The next few years are make or break for launch startups—either achieve orbit and scale or go the way of Astra and Virgin Orbit. 

Business

Astroscale Sees its Debris

Astroscale has hunted down its targeted space debris and is now within paparazzi distance.