Author: starpathwp-production
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Skyrora Eyes Orbex Assets Including Scottish Spaceport After Rival’s Financial Troubles
British rocket developer Skyrora said on Thursday it is considering acquiring selected assets from rival Orbex, including a planned spaceport in northern Scotland, after the smaller launch company disclosed financial difficulties. Skyrora, headquartered in Glasgow, said it intends to explore purchasing parts of Orbex’s business, notably the Sutherland Spaceport project on Scotland’s north coast, in…
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ESA Advances Aeolus-2 Weather Satellite with €70 Million Development Award
The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved the selection of a prime contractor for its Aeolus-2 weather satellite program and is preparing to issue an initial €70 million contract to begin the next phase of development, according to project officials. Aeolus-2 is intended as the operational successor to the original Aeolus mission, which was built…
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Muon Space Shifts Strategy Toward Satellite Constellations Amid Rising Demand
Satellite manufacturer Muon Space said it is refocusing its business strategy on building constellations rather than one-off spacecraft, as analysts forecast rapid growth in the number of satellites in orbit over the coming decade. Chief Executive Jonny Dyer said the company already has about 20 satellites scheduled for launch within the next 20 months and…
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Hypersonica Raises €23.3 Million and Tests Hypersonic Missile Prototype
Munich-based defence startup Hypersonica has emerged from stealth mode with a €23.3 million Series A funding round and confirmation that it successfully test-launched a hypersonic missile prototype earlier this month. Founded in December 2023, the company says it is developing Europe’s first privately funded hypersonic strike capability, with operations across Germany and the United Kingdom.…
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Axiom Space Secures $350 Million to Advance Commercial Space Station and Lunar Spacesuits
Axiom Space said on Thursday it had raised $350 million in new financing to support construction of a commercial space station intended to succeed the International Space Station (ISS) and to advance development of next-generation spacesuits for future U.S. lunar missions. The funding round was co-led by Type One Ventures and the Qatar Investment Authority,…
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Latvian Startup Develops Nuclear Power System to Survive Lunar Night
Latvian nuclear power startup Deep Space Energy has secured €930,000 ($1.1 million) in funding to develop a compact radioisotope power generation system designed to keep spacecraft operating through the Moon’s two-week-long lunar night, the company said. The funding package includes a €350,000 pre-seed investment round led by Outlast Fund and NanoAvionics co-founder Linas Sargautis, as…
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UK Space Agency Awards Contracts to Advance In-Orbit Manufacturing
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has awarded contracts worth more than $1.1 million to three British companies to develop technologies for manufacturing products in microgravity, the agency said. The funding aims to accelerate research into producing advanced materials and medicines in space, where conditions such as microgravity and vacuum can yield higher-quality results than on…
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Exploration Company Tests Nyx Capsule Splashdown Ahead of ISS Cargo Plans
European space logistics startup The Exploration Company has completed a controlled splashdown test of a scaled prototype of its Nyx reusable spacecraft, marking a key step toward its planned cargo missions to low Earth orbit. Founded in 2021, the company is developing Nyx as a reusable capsule designed initially to transport cargo to and from…
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Replacement crew docks at space station, boosts crew back to seven
The Crew 12 fliers cavort aboard the International Space Station shortly after floating inside Saturday. They joined station commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, back left in black shirt, NASA astronaut Chis Williams and cosmonaut Sergey Mikaev, both wearing black shirts. The Crew 12 astronauts, from left to right, are cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (upside down), Jack Hathaway, Jessica…
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Isar Aerospace Expands Engine Test Facilities Ahead of Second Spectrum Launch
German launch company Isar Aerospace said it will expand its testing infrastructure at Sweden’s Esrange Space Center as it prepares for the second flight of its Spectrum rocket, currently expected no earlier than March 19. Founded in 2018, Isar Aerospace is developing the 28-meter-tall Spectrum launcher, designed to deliver up to 1,000 kilograms to low…