Author: starpathwp-production
-
A Guide to the Latest Trends in Policy and Innovation in Space Defense
For some, the renewed focus on defense in the space sector is a concerning trend. But for others, it’s a big opportunity. There is no shortage of new space companies entering the sphere with commercial and defense offerings, each seeking to keep up with historical players who have long played the dual game. In turn,…
-
Buy Versus Build: Will New Commercial Space Strategies Shift DoD Decisions?
“Exploit what we have, buy what we can, build what we must.” While this has been the message of U.S. Space Force leadership over the past few years, many agree that it hasn’t necessarily been the practice. Two new strategies released this spring — the Department of Defense Commercial Space Integration Strategy and the Space…
-
Hughes Unveils Aviation Terminal, Moves to Join Airbus HBCplus Program
Hughes Network Systems shared two updates on its in-flight connectivity business on Tuesday, announcing a new Hughes-built electronically steerable antenna (ESA) and an agreement to join the Airbus HBCplus program. Hughes debuted its own ESA terminal designed for aviation at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany. The company said it is optimized for the…
-
What Does Selling Your Ground Stations Mean for Cybersecurity?
On May 3, Bloomberg reported that Eutelsat Group is exploring options to sell its ground station network, which is said to be valued at over $850 million. Eutelsat is said to be working with consultants to find a buyer for the ground network. This may stem from the fact that infrastructure investment groups may have…
-
SpaceX has launched the EarthCARE climate research satellite for ESA and JAXA
The joint European-Japanese EarthCARE satellite has begun its mission to improve our understanding of Earth’s climate Tuesday, with a launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California happened at 3:20 PM Pacific Time (22:20 UTC). The Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer…
-
Rocket Lab Successfully Launches NASA’s Climate Science Mission Satellite
Rocket Lab USA, one of the global leaders in launch services and space systems, launched the first of two back-to-back launches for NASA’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) climate change-focused mission. The satellite was the first of two that will launch on Electron for NASA’s PREFIRE mission to detect heat loss over…
-
SpaceX launches ESA’s EarthCARE on a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base
The European Space Agency’s EarthCARE satellites is deployed from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket following its launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 28, 2024. Image: SpaceX The European Space Agency launched its latest Earth observing satellite, designed to better understand the climate. The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) has four instruments…
-
Amazon’s Project Kuiper Begins Deorbiting its Prototype Mission Satellites
Amazon is preparing to wrap up the prototype mission of Project Kuiper. Project Kuiper is actively deorbiting its two prototype satellites ahead of a full-scale deployment of its production satellite system. Amazon is committed to building a sustainable business for its customers, communities, and the world, and that focus extends to Project Kuiper, its low…
-
Launch Roundup: North Korean launch failure, Starliner CFT, EarthCARE
As May transitions into June, a European Space Agency (ESA) mission to study the Earth’s clouds and aerosols as well as a Russian cargo ship to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) were both on this week’s docket of launches. Two Starlink and three Chinese satellite launch missions were also scheduled, as well as the…
-
Northrop Grumman Completes Static Fire Test of First Digitally Designed Solid Rocket Motor
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Common 50 High Performance (C50HP) solid rocket motor successfully completed a static fire test at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The C50HP is a high-performance upper stage rocket motor that can be adapted to support various missions including flight in the region outside the Earth’s atmosphere or other final…