Tag: satellite manufacturing
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Rocket Lab Releases Germanium-Free IMM Apex Space Solar Cell With 31.5% Efficiency
Rocket Lab released its IMM Apex space solar cell for production on September 8, offering a Beginning of Life conversion efficiency of 31.5% while eliminating the germanium substrate used in conventional multi-junction cells. The company said the product is 40% lighter than comparable cells and is intended to reduce satellite manufacturers’ exposure to rising germanium…
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SpaceX Expands Starbase as Flight 14 Vehicles Complete Testing
SpaceX is expanding assembly, testing and launch infrastructure across Starbase, Texas, as Ship 41 and Booster 21 move through final checkout for Starship Flight 14. Recent aerial imagery shows simultaneous work at Massey’s test site, the Gigabay assembly building and both orbital launch pads, while hardware for Flight 15 and later vehicles is already entering…
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China Commercial Space Industry Monthly Report — August 2026
In August 2026, China and the United States continued to dominate the global launch market. The United States maintained its lead through the high-cadence reuse and launch operations of Falcon 9, while China saw parallel advances by both its state-owned space sector and commercial space companies. A total of 26 orbital launches were conducted worldwide…
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Cowboy Space Takes 291,035-Square-Foot Seattle-Area Site for Orbital Data Center and Rocket Production
Cowboy Space has leased a 291,035-square-foot industrial facility in Kent, Washington, to manufacture rockets and spacecraft for its proposed Stampede orbital AI data center constellation, giving the California-based startup a large production base near Seattle’s established aerospace workforce. Newmark, which arranged the transaction for landlord CenterPoint Properties, said the agreement is the largest industrial lease…
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Pentagon Plans 50 Secure Facilities to Help Space Startups Become National Security Suppliers
The Pentagon announced on September 3 a plan to deploy approximately 50 mobile Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities across the United States, lowering a barrier that prevents smaller companies—including commercial space startups—from competing for classified defense work. The Secure Space Network will provide accredited workspaces and related information systems where authorized companies can collaborate with government…
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Space Computing Interview Series: GalaxySpace’s Zhang Shijie on the Problems Space Computing Is Meant to Solve
In 2026, space computing has emerged as a major new direction for the commercial space industry. But what problems is it actually intended to solve, and where is the industry heading? Hello Space has launched its Space Computing Interview Series, speaking with leading Chinese companies to examine the real progress being made in this emerging…
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Blue Origin Wins $700 Million NASA Contract for Mars Telecommunications Network (Video)
The Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) “will provide NASA with a high-speed, low cost” communications relay network, according to Blue Origin. Credit: Blue Origin NASA has selected Blue Origin to develop, launch and operate a dedicated communications orbiter for Mars, awarding the company a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum potential value of approximately $700 million. Announced…
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From Blueprint to Delivery: The Work Behind a Satellite That Never Appears in Product Photos
On the day of delivery, the people most likely to appear in photos are usually the product, the customer, and the technical leaders. Once testing is completed, the shipping container is sealed, and the handover documents are signed, a product finally moves from the development site to the customer. But outside the camera frame, many…
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NASA Awards Blue Origin $700 Million Contract to Build First Commercial Mars Telecommunications Network
NASA has selected Blue Origin to develop and operate a next-generation Mars communications infrastructure under a contract worth up to $700 million, marking one of the agency’s most significant steps toward commercializing deep-space communications services beyond Earth orbit. The firm-fixed-price contract, announced Sept. 1, calls for Blue Origin to design, build, integrate, launch, and operate…
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Intuitive Machines Expands Satellite Manufacturing Business with Order for Two IM-300 Spacecraft
Intuitive Machines has secured a contract to build two IM-300 satellite platforms for an undisclosed customer, marking another step in the company’s effort to expand beyond lunar exploration and establish itself as a broader spacecraft manufacturer and space infrastructure provider. The Houston-based company announced Sept. 1 that the order covers two satellites based on its…