Analysis • Business • EO

BlackSky’s Gen-3 Sat Enters Orbit, Company Lands String of Contracts

BlackSky launched its first Gen-3 Earth observation satellites aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket yesterday, adding higher-resolution imaging to its data offerings. 

Business • Startups

True Anomaly Expands to Long Beach

The facility—a new product development center—will work on payload development and new spacecraft designs, streamlining hardware and software development and production as the firm looks to expand its classified operations.

Business

“Space to Grow” Provides a Curriculum on Space

Space, once the sole domain of militaries and civil space programs, is increasingly ruled by market forces.

Business • Deep Space • Policy

Space CEOs Pitch Tech For Trump’s Push to Mars

Space CEOs outlined how their tech would help the US explore Mars amid the Trump administration’s focus on the Red Planet during remarks at the Commercial Space Conference on Wednesday in DC. 

Broadband • Business

MDA Space Wins Mega Contract To Build Globalstar’s Network

Under the contract, the Canadian space company will build 50+ AURORA sats for the American satellite connectivity company, though the announcement did not lay out a time frame for delivery or launch.

Business • Startups

Observable Space Forms From Telescope Hardware, Software Merger

Observable Space wants to become the Tesla of telescopes.

Business • Equities

Boeing Starliner Losses Top $2B—And Counting

Years of technological and operational challenges have increased costs to develop Starliner, with Boeing reporting losses almost every year since it began developing the spacecraft in 2014.

Business • Debris • Technology

Kayhan Space Beefs Up its Space Traffic Coordination Tool

The company hopes the new tool will make it easier for satellite operators to run their missions and coordinate collision avoidance maneuvers with their neighbors. 

Business • Civil • Science

AVS Secures ESA Study for Dark Matter Probe Platform

Added Value Solutions (AVS) won an ESA contract to advance the design and development of its satellite platform for the ARRAKIHS dark matter astrophysics mission.

Business • Policy

Commerce Nominee: Space Data “Fundamental” to US Leadership

Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of commerce, committed to supporting the commercial space sector in his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

Business • Policy

What the Trump Administration Could Mean for Primes

“If I was at a large established prime that’s 20+ years or older, I would be in the war room thinking about how the hell we’re going to deal with this,” one space industry source told Payload. “They have a clear preference for the Andurils of the world.”

Business • Military

The Hottest Trend in Space Is A Defense Pivot

“If I had a nickel for every space company that pivoted to national security, well, I wouldn’t need to raise another round,” one spacetech founder mulling that exact strategy told Payload this week. 

Business • Science

Blue Abyss Partners with NASA on Astronaut Training Facility

“Expect a modern, commercial, exciting venue that offers all the ingredients necessary to take people off the street…and get them ready to go into space.”