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Science

Rocket Lab Preps Double Launch for NASA

Rocket Lab is planning the first of two Electron flights to launch a pair of NASA weather satellites, in the latest use of NASA’s venture-class launch missions. The launch, which was expected early tomorrow morning, has been delayed to Saturday because of severe weather. The details: Two 6U cubesats will spend ten months measuring thermal…

Military

DoD Partners with Starfish Space to Buy Its Own Otter 

The Defense Department is looking for more maneuverability in orbit and tapped none otter than Starfish Space to take on the task. 

StartupsVC/PE

Software Startup Rollup Emerges From Stealth

A new startup, Rollup, is emerging from stealth today with $5.6M in funding and a plan to streamline the development of complex hardware. 

Civil

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Flies Crew After 21 Month Hiatus

The only apparent hiccup during the New Shepard’s 25th mission came when one of the capsule’s three parachutes failed to deploy completely.

Civil

NASA Worried About Risk In Polaris Hubble Scheme

NASA officials were concerned about the risks of a complex EVA with unproven spacesuits and astronauts.

Business

AST SpaceMobile Secures AT&T Direct-to-Cell Agreement

AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) clinched a deal with AT&T to provide satellite-to-cell connectivity through 2030, the two companies announced Wednesday.  Public markets cheered the definitive commercial agreement signed with the country’s largest cellular provider, propelling AST’s stock up nearly 70% yesterday and pushing its market cap to $1B+.  Customers will be able to opt in to…

Startups

SatVu Plans Two New ‘Thermometer’ Sats After Failure

London-based SatVu is preparing to launch two temperature-taking satellites next year after losing its pathfinder mission in December.

Military

A Controversial Pilot Program is Expanding the Military’s Use of Commercial Space

A Defense Department pilot program hired private satellite operators last month to provide intelligence directly to battlefield commanders.

BusinessResearch

Tracking EchoStar’s Subscriber Declines: Payload Research 

EchoStar reported another quarter of declining revenue last week as its Hughes Network satellite broadband, TV (Dish + Sling), and retail wireless (Boost Mobile) subscriber base continues to shrink. 

LEO

Why Redwire Has Multiple Low-Flying Satellite Systems

Redwire unveiled its third new VLEO spacecraft, Phantom.

ScienceTechnology

How To Survive a Solar Storm

The geomagnetic storm that painted skies purple and green across vast swaths of the Northern Hemisphere over the weekend also created a dangerous environment for satellites in Earth’s orbit. 

PolarisQ&A

An Exit Interview with DoD Space Policy Chief John Plumb

As the Pentagon’s space policy chief John Plumb prepares to leave office, his departing message is simple: don’t destroy space.