Tag: commercial-space
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SpaceX Launches Starship V3 in Major Test Flight Ahead of Planned IPO
SpaceX has launched its new Starship V3 rocket in a high-profile test flight from Texas after an earlier launch attempt was postponed because of a launch-tower malfunction. The uncrewed rocket lifted off shortly after 17:30 local time on Friday, marking the first flight of the latest Starship configuration, which stands approximately 124 meters tall. According…
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Astrolab to Send Scientific Payloads to Lunar South Pole on FLIP Rover Mission
Astrolab is preparing to send a series of scientific payloads to the Moon later this year aboard its FLIP rover mission aimed at supporting future lunar exploration near the Moon’s south pole. The company said its FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform rover, known as FLIP, will carry multiple research instruments designed to study lunar surface conditions,…
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Star Catcher Raises $65 Million to Advance Space-Based Power Beaming Technology
Star Catcher has raised $65 million in Series A funding to support development of its orbital power-beaming technology and finance its first in-space demonstration mission later this year. The funding round was led by B Capital and co-led by Shield Capital and Cerberus Ventures. Additional investors included GreatPoint Ventures, Helena, Oceans Ventures and MVP Ventures.…
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Potomac Database Systems Targets Lunar Data Market With New Moon Missions
Potomac Database Systems has unveiled plans to develop a series of lunar missions aimed at collecting and selling scientific and operational data from the Moon. The Washington-based company said it intends to focus on supplying commercial and government customers with lunar surface data through three different mission concepts designed to support future exploration and development…
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NRO Director Scolese Exits After Expanding Commercial Intel Partnerships
What did Chris Scolese accomplish as NRO director? Chris Scolese’s departure as National Reconnaissance Office director marks the end of a transformative four-year tenure that fundamentally reshaped America’s intelligence satellite strategy. Under his leadership, the NRO expanded commercial partnerships to counter growing threats from China and Russia while opening unprecedented public engagement channels for the…
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NASA EAGLE and FALCON Missions Target Commercial Earth Science
How Will NASA’s New Earth Science Missions Use Commercial Partners? NASA announced two Earth science mission concepts—EAGLE and FALCON—that will rely on commercial satellite platforms and Artemis Program exploration infrastructure to advance climate research while reducing development costs. The missions, unveiled during NASA’s March 24 “Ignition” event, represent a strategic shift toward leveraging existing commercial…
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Space Systems Command Expands COMSO Working Capital Fund
How is Space Systems Command streamlining commercial space acquisitions? Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO) is expanding its Working Capital Fund and finalizing Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) funding structures to accelerate commercial space acquisitions for national security missions. The initiative aims to reduce procurement timelines from traditional multi-year defense contracting cycles to months,…
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A unique NASA satellite is falling out of orbit—this team is trying to rescue it
BROOMFIELD, Colorado—One of NASA’s oldest astronomy missions, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, has been out of action for more than a month as scientists await the arrival of a pioneering robotic rescue mission. The 21-year-old spacecraft is falling out of orbit, and NASA officials believe it’s worth saving—for the right price. Swift is not a…
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LandSpace’s Lanyan Methane Rocket Engine Completes Long-Duration Test
China’s commercial space company LandSpace has successfully conducted a long-duration full-system test of its Lanyan liquid oxygen–methane rocket engine, according to a report by China Media Group. The 220-tonne-class engine uses a full-flow staged-combustion cycle, a highly efficient but technically complex engine design, and is intended to support next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicles for China’s expanding…
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Sierra Space Raises $550 Million Series C at $8 Billion Valuation
U.S. aerospace company Sierra Space said it has raised $550 million in a Series C funding round led by LuminArx Capital, valuing the company at $8 billion. The company said the new funding will help increase production capacity and support expansion beyond its current satellite and spacecraft mission programs. “Sierra Space has sharpened its focus…