ICYMI: Verizon is looking to low-Earth orbit (LEO). The US telecom announced a partnership yesterday with Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Verizon will use Amazon satellites to extend connectivity to customers who can’t access the latest and greatest service (or anything) from its existing infrastructure. Amazon shares closed up 1.86% yesterday; Verizon was up 0.95%. Kuiper 101: It’s a planned LEO…
If Your Futuristic City Doesn’t Have High-Speed Satellite Connectivity…Is it Really a Futuristic City? NEOM and OneWeb have formed a $200M joint venture (JV) to bring satellite-based connectivity to the Middle East and nearby East African nations. OneWeb will partner with NEOM Tech & Digital Holdings Company, a newly formed subsidiary. …NEOM? The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)…
ICYMI: Poland signed the Artemis Accords Tuesday, joining 12 other countries in a US-led agreement to pursue cooperative and sustainable space exploration. NASA announced the founding group of eight member countries at last year’s International Astronautical Congress (IAC). It’s incrementally added more since. The agreement establishes principles for peaceful space exploration, and directs member states to register space…
Terran Orbital is the latest space company that will take its talents to the public markets (via SPAC, of course). SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies, have become quite a popular vehicle for space companies looking to raise capital. The California-based satellite manufacturer said today that it would merge with Tailwind Two, a blank-check company…
The UN’s 26th UN Climate Change Conference—or COP26—has started in Glasgow, Scotland. On the docket: decarbonization negotiations. Over 120 world leaders will gather in Glasgow over the next week. FYI: In its latest climate science report, published in August, the UN calls for the world to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. What’s space got to do…
Yesterday, Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems asked the US for approval to launch two demonstration satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2. See the FCC filing here. Amazon says the prototypes will include “much of the technology and subsystems” that will be in Kuiper production satellites. Over the course of two years, Kuiper will validate the satellites’ tech stack on-orbit…and test links…
Redwire has acquired Techshot, a space biotech company that got its start in 1988. The companies did not disclose terms of the space M&A deal, which was announced yesterday. The acquisition comes almost exactly two months after Redwire completed its SPAC merger. Techshot 101: The Indiana company develops space bioprinters and other biotech devices for microgravity. Techshot products, such…
The UN General Assembly’s First Committee, a security and disarmament panel, has voted to create a working group focused on space conduct. Resolution title: “Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours” Tally: 163 nations voted Yes, eight voted No, and nine abstained. Notable nays: Russia opposed the measure, saying the resolution should focus on “preventing an arms race in outer…
This morning, iRocket and Turion Space announced a multi-mission launch services agreement. The startups are focused on getting to space and providing in-space services, respectively. Getting to space: iRocket is developing Shockwave, a reusable and fully autonomous small launch vehicle. The three-year old company is backed by the US Space Force, the M&J Engineering Group, and…
ICYMI: Blue Origin has lost its federal lawsuit over NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) contract. Yesterday, Court of Federal Claims Judge Richard Hertling ruled against Blue Origin in its lawsuit against NASA. Hertling did not share many details in his 192-word statement. What happened? NASA initially intended to award two separate HLS moon lander contracts. Then, citing budgetary constraints, the agency…
Astra, Hughes, Inmarsat, and Telesat filed plans yesterday with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to build satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The FCC parcels out and regulates radio frequency (RF) usage in the US. Why all at once? A coincidence? But of course not. Yesterday was the deadline for the FCC’s new processing round for satellite V-band…
Six months ago, President Joe Biden tapped VP Kamala Harris to head up the US National Space Council. The White House stayed largely mum on that front until Friday, when Harris gave her first speech fully focused on space at NASA’s Goddard facility in Maryland. Mark your calendars…On Dec. 1, Harris will preside over the White House’s…
At long last, SpaceX and NASA are nearly ready to launch the Crew-3 mission. *knocks on wood* Where? Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A → the International Space Station (ISS) Who? NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer When? The launch window opens at 9:03 pm…
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