Tag: United States
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Atomic-6 Hopes for Debris Strike to Prove New Satellite Protection Technology
Space technology start-up Atomic-6 is preparing for an unusual milestone: hoping one of its protective tiles is struck by space debris during its first flight, a test the company says is essential to proving a new approach to shielding satellites in orbit. The company’s Space Armor tile system is scheduled to fly for the first…
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TrustPoint Demonstrates GPS-Independent Time Transfer for LEO Navigation System
TrustPoint said it has completed a key ground-to-space time-transfer and tracking demonstration for its Low Earth Orbit Navigation System (LEONS), a milestone the company described as advancing its goal of offering a commercial, GPS-independent positioning, navigation and timing service. The work was carried out under the SpaceWERX Alternative PNT (AltPNT) Challenge, according to a Jan.…
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Firefly Aerospace Unveils Block II Upgrade for Alpha Rocket Ahead of Flight 7
Firefly Aerospace said it has introduced a Block II configuration upgrade for its Alpha launch vehicle, aiming to improve reliability, streamline production and enhance launch operations as demand grows across commercial, civil and national security missions. The U.S.-based space and defense company said Alpha Flight 7, targeted for launch in the coming weeks, will be…
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U.S. FCC Approves Expansion of SpaceX’s Second-Generation Starlink Network
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX’s request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, a move that expands regulatory clearance for the company’s low-Earth-orbit broadband network as it seeks to enhance global internet coverage. The decision brings the total number of authorized Gen2 Starlink satellites to 15,000, roughly half of the…
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Portugal Joins Artemis Accords as Global Support Grows for Lunar Exploration Rules
Portugal has signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the latest country to endorse a set of principles aimed at guiding the peaceful and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and other destinations beyond Earth, as international interest in lunar missions accelerates. The agreement was signed on Jan. 11 by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Science and…
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Startup GRU Space Opens Applications for Planned Lunar Hotel, Targets 2032 Opening
Galactic Resources Utilization (GRU) Space said on Monday it has begun accepting applications from prospective lunar tourists, asking for a $1 million deposit to reserve a place at a planned Moon-based hotel that the startup says could open as early as 2032. The California-based company, founded in 2025, said the deposit would secure a future…
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ESA Revises ISS Barter Plan With NASA After Cancelling Cargo Transport Call
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined a revised barter arrangement with the United States that would allow it to meet its International Space Station (ISS) cost-sharing obligations without commissioning a dedicated commercial cargo delivery mission, senior officials said this month. The move follows ESA’s decision in December to cancel a call for proposals for…
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Eric Schmidt-Backed Group Plans New Telescope Network Spanning Space and Earth
Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is moving into space science, announcing plans to fund and build a new global network of telescopes designed to operate faster and at lower cost than traditional government-led observatories. Schmidt said on Wednesday that Schmidt Sciences, one of his philanthropic organisations, will develop the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory…
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TransDigm to Acquire Stellant Systems for $960 Million in Cash
U.S. aerospace components maker TransDigm Group said it has agreed to acquire Stellant Systems, a manufacturer of radio frequency and microwave amplification products, in an all-cash transaction valued at $960 million, expanding its exposure to space and defence electronics. TransDigm announced the definitive agreement on Dec. 31, saying the acquisition remains subject to customary regulatory…
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U.S. Space Force Awards Rhea Space Contract to Advance Autonomous Satellite Navigation
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Rhea Space Activity Inc. (RSA) a contract to further develop its autonomous navigation software, AutoNav, as part of a project aimed at improving satellite maneuverability and resilience in contested space environments. The project, known as VANGUARD—short for Vision-based Autonomous Navigation and Guidance for Unassisted Approach, Rendezvous, and Deployment—was selected…