Tag: satellites
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Portal Space Systems brings its solar thermal propulsion system up to full power during test
Portal’s heat exchanger thruster, known as Flare, fires up during a test in a vacuum chamber. (Portal Space Systems Photo) Bothell, Wash.-based Portal Space Systems says it has successfully tested its solar thermal propulsion system at operational temperatures inside a vacuum chamber, marking a first for the commercial space industry. The test marks a key…
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Hubble Network attracts $70M in fresh funding to scale up satellite Bluetooth network
An artist’s conception shows one of Hubble Network’s satellites in orbit. (Hubble Network Illustration) Seattle-based Hubble Network says it has raised $70 million in additional investment to accelerate the growth of its satellite-powered Bluetooth network. “Our vision has always been to connect billions of devices seamlessly and cost-effectively, without requiring hardware or infrastructure,” Alex Haro,…
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Xplore shows off a hyperspectral view of North Korea, captured by XCUBE-1 imaging satellite
Xplore’s satellite captured this color-coded image in visible and near-infrared wavelengths over North Korea. ©2025 Xplore Inc. Nine months after the launch of its first satellite, Bellevue, Wash.-based Xplore is sharing a hyperspectral view of North Korean territory as seen from orbit. The image, captured in visible and near-infrared wavelengths by Xplore’s XCUBE-1 satellite, was…
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SpaceX launches Starfish Space’s second spacecraft for orbital satellite docking test
An artist’s conception shows Otter Pup 2 (at left) approaching its target satellite. (Starfish Space Illustration) Starfish Space’s second Otter Pup spacecraft went into Earth orbit today, marking the first step in what the Seattle-area startup hopes will be a successful demonstration of the vehicle’s ability to dock with other satellites. Otter Pup, which is…
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Xplore reveals colorful hyperspectral views captured by its planet-watching satellite
An image from the XCUBE-1 satellite shows the Salt River in Arizona. ©2025 Xplore Inc. All rights reserved. Bellevue, Wash.-based Xplore has released the first hyperspectral images from its XCUBE-1 satellite, six months after the shoebox-sized spacecraft was sent into orbit. The pictures, captured with a resolution of 5 meters (16 feet) per pixel, show…
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Otter Pup rides again: Starfish Space gears up for its second satellite docking attempt
An artist’s conception shows Otter Pup 2 (at left) approaching its target satellite. (Starfish Space Illustration) Two years after its first space mission literally took a turn for the worse, Tukwila, Wash.-based Starfish Space is getting ready for a second test mission aimed at having its Otter Pup spacecraft dock with another satellite in orbit.…
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Amazon exec shares views of Project Kuiper satellites getting off to an ‘entirely nominal’ start
A video shows Project Kuiper satellites being deployed in orbit. (Amazon / ULA / Rajeev Badyal via LinkedIn) Several days after the launch of the first full-scale satellites in Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation, the mission team is still on an adrenaline high, according to the team’s leader. “It’s early in the mission and we still…
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Amazon and ULA count down to second launch attempt for Project Kuiper satellites
An Atlas V rocket stands ready to launch Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites. (United Launch Alliance Photo) After a nearly three-week delay, Amazon and United Launch Alliance prepared once again to launch the first batch of full-scale satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband internet network. Liftoff is set to take place today at Space Launch Complex…
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Portal Space Systems raises $17.5M for orbital spacecraft powered by solar heating
An artist’s conception shows the Supernova spacecraft in orbit. (Portal Space Systems Illustration) Bothell, Wash.-based Portal Space Systems says it has raised $17.5 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its Supernova space vehicle, which aims to harness the heat of the sun to power rapid-response maneuvers in orbit. The oversubscribed investment round…
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Gravitics wins support from Space Force to create an orbital carrier for space vehicles
An artist’s conception shows Gravitics’ Orbital Carrier with payloads ready for deployment. (Gravitics Illustration) The U.S. Space Force has chosen Marysville, Wash.-based Gravitics to build and fly an orbital carrier that could deliver maneuverable space vehicles to the final frontier — and have them ready to respond to future threats. The project will be supported…