Tag: United States
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NASA Delivers First Braking Engines for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars Mission
NASA has delivered the first braking engines for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosalind Franklin Mars mission, marking an important milestone in the agencies’ collaboration to return the rover mission to flight. The braking engines are one of three major contributions NASA is providing to the mission, alongside launch services and Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs)…
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Botswana to Join Artemis Accords as 68th Signatory
Botswana is set to become the 68th country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining the U.S.-led international framework that promotes peaceful and responsible civil space exploration. The signing ceremony will take place at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., with Botswana’s Minister of Communications and Innovation, David Tshere, joining NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and U.S.…
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Industry Consortium Launches America’s Quantum Space Initiative
A coalition of companies, academic institutions and organizations has launched America’s Quantum Space Initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at advancing quantum technologies for space applications and strengthening U.S. leadership in the sector. The founding members include Infleqtion, Voyager Technologies, Monarch Quantum, Armada and the University of Colorado Boulder. Accelerating Quantum Technologies for Space The initiative…
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SpaceX Unveils AI1 Orbital Computing Satellite Ahead of Planned IPO
SpaceX has revealed plans for a new satellite designed to function as a data center in orbit, marking a significant expansion beyond the company’s traditional focus on communications and launch services. The spacecraft, called AI1, is intended to serve as the first generation of a future constellation of computing satellites capable of processing artificial intelligence…
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NASA Names Four-Astronaut Crew for Artemis III Docking Mission with SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers
NASA has selected three American astronauts and one European astronaut to fly on Artemis III, a landmark mission scheduled for late 2027 that will conduct the first in-space docking demonstrations between NASA’s Orion spacecraft and lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced the crew during a ceremony in Houston…
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Planet Labs Secures Expanded NGA Contract for AI-Enabled Maritime Intelligence Services
Planet Labs has received a $22 million contract option from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to continue providing artificial intelligence-enabled geospatial analytics for military and government users. The award expands work that began under a $13 million contract issued last year through the NGA’s Luno B program, which uses unclassified commercial imagery and analytics…
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Blue Origin to Expand Florida Rocket Campus With $600 Million Investment
Blue Origin will invest $600 million to expand its Rocket Park campus at Cape Canaveral Spaceport, a project expected to create 500 aerospace jobs on Florida’s Space Coast, according to an announcement by Ron DeSantis. The expansion includes plans for an approximately 830,000-square-foot upper-stage manufacturing facility intended to increase the company’s rocket production and orbital…
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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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U.S. Space Force Awards Viasat and Intelsat $437.7 Million for Protected Satellite Communications Program
The United States Space Force has awarded a combined $437.7 million contract to Viasat and Intelsat for the procurement of satellites under the Protected Tactical Satellite Communications-Global (PTS-G) program, according to a government contract notice released on Friday. The Space Force said it obligated $150 million in fiscal year 2026 research, development, test and evaluation…
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York Space Systems to Acquire Solar Cell Maker Solestial
York Space Systems has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Solestial as the company continues a broader strategy to strengthen control over key spacecraft technologies and supply chains. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition marks York’s third announced deal this year following its planned $355 million acquisition of satellite terminal manufacturer…