Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
Space Network has secured a total of $150 million in pre-orders for its planned network of broadband satellites, with a $50 million binding pre-order from a renewable energy infrastructure developer in the Philippines. This development marks a significant milestone in the company's efforts to establish a decentralized satellite network.
NASA is providing support to Boeing as the company completes revisions to its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, ensuring its availability for future crewed missions. This collaboration is expected to play a significant role in the development of NASA"s crew transportation capabilities, particularly after the eventual retirement of SpaceX"s Crew Dragon.
SpaceComputer, a startup developing innovative distributed computing infrastructure, is set to launch its first mission in 2027, which will travel from low-Earth to geostationary orbit, marking a significant milestone for the company. This mission aims to demonstrate the capabilities of SpaceComputer's technology in space, with potential implications for the broader aerospace industry.
Meridian Space has separated from SpinLaunch to focus on creating flat satellites for a global broadband constellation, with plans to launch up to 250 satellites on a single Falcon 9 vehicle. This development marks a significant shift in the company's strategy, aiming to provide worldwide broadband coverage through its unique satellite design.
Northrop Grumman has delivered 21 satellites to the US Space Force as part of a larger proliferated low Earth orbit constellation, marking a significant milestone in the development of a space-based data network. This delivery is a key step towards enhancing the military"s communication and data transmission capabilities.
SpaceX"s Starship has launched on its first orbital flight attempt, marking a significant milestone for the company and the aerospace industry. The successful launch of the Starship on an orbital trajectory is a crucial step towards developing a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations in the solar system.
Deep Blue Aerospace, a Chinese launch startup, has successfully raised nearly $300 million to support the development of its reusable Nebula rockets, while also conducting tests on an upgraded rocket engine. This significant investment is expected to propel the company's ambitions in the reusable launch market.
Three countries have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles aimed at promoting cooperation and responsible behavior in space exploration, ahead of a meeting at the International Astronautical Congress. This development marks a significant step towards establishing a unified framework for space-faring nations.
SpaceX has achieved a major milestone with the first orbital launch of its Starship-Super Heavy rocket, carrying 26 Starlink Version 3 satellites to orbit. This launch marks a significant step forward for the company's ambitious Starship program.
Aerospacelab has been awarded a contract to provide two spacecraft platforms to Lockheed Martin, marking a significant expansion of its customer base to include a major U.S. defense contractor. This partnership underscores the growing demand for specialized spacecraft solutions in the aerospace industry.
KBR is spinning off its government technology business, valued at over $5 billion, into an independent public company that will operate in national security, NASA, and military space sectors, to be led by a veteran defense executive. This move is expected to have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry.
The European Union commissioner responsible for space has taken a more active role in promoting launch activities, aiming to increase European launch rates and strengthen the region's presence in the global aerospace industry. This move is expected to have significant implications for the broader aerospace sector, with potential benefits for European companies and the continent's space program.
The four-member crew of NASA"s SpaceX Crew-13 mission has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant step towards their launch to the International Space Station on October 1. The crew will join the Expedition 75 crew on board the ISS, following a year of rigorous training and overcoming a brief delay due to an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft.
On September 25, Rocket Lab launched its 13th satellite for the Japanese radar-imaging company Synspective, marking another successful mission for the private aerospace manufacturer. This launch highlights the ongoing partnership between Rocket Lab and Synspective, with the Electron rocket playing a crucial role in deploying Synspective's satellite constellation.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking the sixth and final Falcon 9 launch of the month from the site. The mission is believed to be part of a series of flights deploying satellites based on SpaceX's Starshield platform.
The US Space Force is seeking industry proposals for a new generation of ground antennas to enhance its satellite command and control capabilities, marking a restart of a previous effort. This procurement aims to acquire advanced antennas that can support the evolving needs of the military's satellite constellation.
Rocket Lab has filed a protest against a NASA contract for a Mars mission, while also downplaying the significance of NASA business to its overall operations. The company's move highlights the competitive nature of the space industry and the importance of securing major contracts.
The UK has unveiled its Space Strategy 2026, which recognizes space as a contested military domain and prioritizes defense and national security, aiming to protect and defend its interests in, from, and through space. This strategic shift underscores the growing importance of space security in the modern era.
NASA has announced the development of a new space telescope, the Probe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA), which is set to launch in 2033 with a maximum project cost of $1.2 billion. The PRIMA telescope will feature a cryogenically cooled 1.8-meter telescope and three primary instruments for observations, aiming to reveal fundamental cosmic processes.
The US Space Force has successfully cleared key design reviews for three missile-tracking satellite programs, marking a significant step forward in its efforts to improve missile detection and tracking capabilities in low and medium Earth orbit. This development is part of the Space Force"s broader strategy to enhance its space-based sensor systems.
HawkEye 360, a leading provider of radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, has secured multiple contracts with a combined value of approximately $18 million for customers in the Middle East. These contracts underscore the growing demand for RF data and analytics in the region.
Starfish Space is set to launch its first Otter satellite-servicing spacecraft next month, aiming to test and validate inspection and docking technologies crucial for the satellite servicing industry. This launch marks a significant step in the development of on-orbit satellite maintenance capabilities.
NASA has selected a far-infrared space telescope as the first mission in its new line of billion-dollar astrophysics probe missions, marking a significant step in the agency"s effort to balance large and small spacecraft. This selection paves the way for unprecedented exploration of the universe in the far-infrared spectrum.
The US Space Force is planning to launch two commercial satellite servicing missions in 2027 to test the ability to give military spacecraft more maneuverability after launch. These missions aim to demonstrate the feasibility of commercial satellite servicing technologies for military applications.