The White House confirmed on Tuesday reports of Russia’s development of an anti-satellite weapon capability, describing it as a serious concern but insisting that the weapon is not yet operational and does not pose an immediate danger. “The administration did not give a green light for this information to get public yesterday,” said President’s national security communications adviser John Kirby at a White House news conference. “We were eventually going to get to a point where we were going to be able to share it with the American people. But this is not an imminent threat. It’s not an…
Author: Michael Hughes
Executives representing two companies involved in the development of commercial space stations have urged NASA and Congress to take fiscal and policy measures to prevent a potential gap in human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO), expressing concerns that such a gap could result in a loss of leadership to China. During a hearing held by the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee on February 14th, representatives from Axiom Space and Voyager Space emphasized the need for increased funding and policy support to facilitate a smooth transition from the International Space Station (ISS) to commercial stations. Dylan Taylor, CEO…
Iridium Communications, a major player in satellite-based connectivity services, has announced an extension of the operational lifespan for its second-generation Iridium Next low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. The decision comes following a recent engineering assessment, indicating that the current satellites are expected to perform reliably until at least 2035, providing the company with additional flexibility in its strategic planning. CEO Matt Desch stated during Iridium’s quarterly earnings call that the extended lifespan of the satellites offers opportunities for maximizing returns on investments and exploring potential upgrades in hardware at opportune moments. The decision also postpones the necessity for launching…
Technology giant Google and environmental organization Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced a collaboration on Wednesday aimed at uncovering sources of climate-warming emissions from oil and gas operations using data from a new satellite. The MethaneSAT satellite, set to launch next month, is part of a larger initiative involving the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University, and other partners to monitor methane emissions globally. The satellite will help identify major sources of the potent greenhouse gas, which is invisible but significant in contributing to climate change. Google Cloud will provide the computing capabilities necessary to process the data collected…
On Thursday, Russia initiated the launch of a supply rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS), showcasing one of the few remaining collaborative efforts between Russia and the United States despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly following Russia’s offensive against Ukraine. The Soyuz-2 rocket, carrying the Progress MS-26 cargo ship, lifted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, as confirmed by Russia’s space agency on its Telegram channel, which also provided video footage of the launch. The scheduled arrival of the rocket at the ISS is set for Saturday, as announced by the agency. The primary objective…
SpaceX, the rocket company led by CEO Elon Musk, has relocated its state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas, Musk revealed in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In his announcement, Musk urged other companies still incorporated in Delaware to consider moving to a different state swiftly. This move follows Musk’s recent declaration that electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, of which he is also CEO, will seek shareholder approval to shift its state of incorporation to Texas, where its headquarters are located. This decision came after a Delaware judge nullified Musk’s $56-billion pay package. After…
Japan is gearing up for another launch attempt of its flagship rocket, the H3, this weekend, aiming to rejuvenate its space program following a setback during the booster’s maiden flight last year, which disrupted satellite and planetary exploration plans. Scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Saturday, the second flight of the H3 is anticipated to demonstrate Japan’s space capabilities to its ally, the United States, in response to China’s advancements in military and technology sectors. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has delayed the launch by two days to avoid adverse weather conditions. Developed…
Airbus confirmed on Thursday that its OneSat family of commercial telecom satellites has been affected by financial charges within its Space business. In November, Airbus disclosed charges amounting to 400 million euros related to unidentified satellite programs during the first nine months of the year, primarily incurred in the third quarter. Sources within the industry indicated at the time that these charges notably encompassed the OneSat family. On Thursday, Airbus announced an additional 200 million euros in charges, bringing the total for the year to 600 million euros. “OneSat is a program that is ongoing. We have recorded charges in…
The chief of the U.S. Space Force announced on February 13 that the service’s eagerly awaited strategy for collaborating with private space companies is in its concluding stages and currently undergoing coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Anticipation has been high within the space industry as companies seek clearer insights into how they can vie for future contracts amidst the evolving landscape of the Space Force. Last year, Gen. Chance Saltzman, head of the Space Force, disclosed efforts to formulate a blueprint guiding the integration of commercial satellite services into military operations, with the objective…
The U.S. military is venturing into various artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, ranging from predictive maintenance of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to analyzing extensive satellite data for enhanced space situational awareness.This exploration opens avenues for AI startups like Virtualitics, which has secured research contracts from the Air Force and Space Force. The company offers an AI tool aimed at identifying vulnerabilities in procurement programs by leveraging historical data analysis and predicting potential issues before they arise.Kyle Rice, Chief Technology Officer of Virtualitics’ federal business, underscored AI’s significance in addressing the Space Force’s procurement needs, particularly in satellite acquisition processes.Rice emphasized AI’s…