Author: starpathwp-production
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Firefly Aerospace Announces the Acquisition of Spaceflight Inc. to Strengthen On-Orbit Services
Firefly Aerospace announced the acquisition of Spaceflight Inc. to strengthen Firefly’s on-orbit solutions and service the entire lifecycle of customers’ satellites and spacecraft. The acquisition further supports Firefly’s robust portfolio of low-cost space transportation services, including responsive launch and in-space mobility, on-orbit hosting and servicing, and lunar delivery operations. Terms of the transaction were not…
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This Week In Spaceflight: Vulcan fires up, Canadian fires from space, and JWST deep field data
A variety of methalox rockets are approaching launch, with the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket completing its flight readiness firing. What’s more, the wildfires currently raging in Canada have been studied from space using a plethora of weather observation satellites, and the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) advanced extragalactic survey data was officially released.…
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HawkEye 360’s Cluster 7 Satellites Begins Operation in Record Time
HawkEye 360, one of the world’s leading defense technology companies for space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced that its Cluster 7 satellites have begun operation. This latest satellite trio achieved initial operating capability in record time after successfully launching into orbit on April 15, 2023. A new 300MHz whip antenna provides better coverage…
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Testing antibacterial surfaces on the International Space Station
On June 5, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off to the International Space Station with new supplies, including equipment for scientific research. Among the new scientific gear that has arrived at the ISS are four tablets covered with extremely thin films that could play a crucial role in the development of materials for future…
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Firefly Aerospace acquires Spaceflight Inc. to boost capabilities for on-orbit services
Spaceflight Inc.’s engineers work on a Sherpa-LTE orbital transfer vehicle. (Spaceflight Inc. Photo) Texas-based Firefly Aerospace says it has acquired Bellevue, Wash.-based Spaceflight Inc. and will shift the operation’s focus from satellite rideshare logistics to its line of orbital transfer vehicles. Firefly says the strategic acquisition will add to its portfolio of low-cost space transportation…
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Boeing hit with a lawsuit over alleged “theft” of SLS rocket tools
A Colorado-based company, Wilson Aerospace, is suing Boeing for what it claims to be “theft” of its intellectual property. At issue is a specific tool, known as a Fluid Fitting Torque Device-3, that Wilson developed and Boeing said it needed to attach four main engines to the Space Launch System rocket. The lawsuit was filed…
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Thales Announces Partnership with NanoXplore to Develop Key Electronic Components for the Space Industry
Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has sealed a partnership with NanoXplore, a rising star in the French electronics scene, to develop a key electronic component for the space industry. NanoXplore developed the NG-ULTRA component family with support from Thales Alenia Space and in conjunction with the R&D programs…
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Virgin Orbit ceases operations
File photo of Virgin Orbit’s carrier aircraft and a LauncherOne rocket under its wing. Credit: Virgin Orbit Virgin Orbit, the satellite launch company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, has permanently ceased operations, just a few months after a major mission failure in January and at a time when it was already facing financial headwinds.…
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MDA Awarded a Contract by L3Harris for Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Layer LEO Constellation
MDA, one of the leading providers of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry, announced it has been awarded a contract from L3Harris Technologies as part of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program. MDA will design and build 14 flight sets of Ka-Band steerable antennas and control…
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China outlines ambitious plans for Moon landing; ZhuQue-2 prepares to launch again
Over the last few weeks, China has remained busy with both launching rockets and announcing news, as the country outlined its ambitious plans for its upcoming Lunar program, in which they hope to land a taikonaut on the surface of the Moon by 2030. What’s more, China launched a rideshare mission on an all-solid rocket…