An Intuitive Machines spacecraft embarked on its journey to the moon on February 15, marking a significant step in the company’s endeavor to become the first commercial entity to achieve a successful lunar landing.A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 1:05 a.m. Eastern from Launch Complex 39A, following a 24-hour delay. About 48 minutes later, the rocket’s upper stage deployed the Nova-C lander, named Odysseus, placing it on a trajectory towards the moon.Scheduled to reach the lunar vicinity on February 21, the lander will enter an orbit approximately 100 kilometers above the moon’s surface. Its targeted landing near the…
Author: Michael Hughes
Chinese launch company Orienspace has announced a successful Series B funding round worth nearly 600 million yuan ($83.5 million) shortly after its maiden launch, underscoring China’s efforts to bolster its burgeoning commercial space sector. The funding round, disclosed on January 24, attracted investment from notable entities including Liangxi Science and Technology Innovation Industry Fund of Funds, Hongtai Fund, Xin Ding Capital, CMBC International Holdings, Shanhang Capital, and Shenyin & Wanguo Investment. These funds are earmarked for the research and development of Orienspace’s debut liquid propellant rocket, dubbed the Gravity-2. The Gravity-2 rocket, standing at 60 meters tall with a diameter…
SpaceX successfully launched a classified mission for the U.S. military on February 14, deploying six missile-detection satellites into orbit. The mission, known as USSF-124, saw the Falcon 9 rocket carrying payloads for both the Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency.Taking off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, the rocket placed the six satellites into low Earth orbit. The payload comprised five satellites manufactured by L3Harris Technologies and one by Northrop Grumman.Following liftoff, the first stage of the Falcon 9 landed back at Landing Zone 2 at Cape…
Varda Space Industries has obtained a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the return of a capsule from its inaugural mission, marking a significant milestone after facing initial setbacks.On February 14, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation granted Varda a reentry license for its W-Series 1 spacecraft. This authorization enables the company to land the capsule at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) and the neighboring Dugway Proving Ground near Salt Lake City, with the reentry scheduled for February 21.In a statement, Varda expressed gratitude for the collaboration with government agencies and its satellite partner,…
NASA has announced a two-year delay in the launch of its Ultraviolet Explorer (UVEX) spacecraft due to budget challenges, despite selecting it as the next Medium-class Explorer mission for astrophysics development.On February 13, NASA revealed its decision to designate the UVEX spacecraft for an all-sky survey at ultraviolet wavelengths, aiming to identify sources of energetic events like neutron star mergers that produce bursts of gravitational waves.Nicola Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for science, highlighted the mission’s potential to enhance understanding of nearby and distant galaxies while monitoring dynamic events in the universe. The $300 million project will be overseen by Caltech…
Kuva Space, a Finnish startup, has announced its intention to establish Kuva Space US in Fairfax, Virginia, as of February 7th. This move marks the company’s strategic foray into the U.S. market. According to former Iceye US CEO Jerry Welsh, who serves on the board of Kuva Space US, the selection of Fairfax is a strategic decision. He stated, “Strategically positioning ourselves at the heart of the intelligence community and in close proximity to Washington D.C. and maritime security services customers based in Maryland” is crucial. He further added that these locations represent three key markets that Kuva Space aims…
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is advancing with a formal complaint against SpaceX, filed by eight former employees who allege they were wrongfully terminated for circulating an open letter within the company. The complaint, issued on January 3, consolidates eight individual cases brought forth by employees who claim their dismissal was in violation of the National Labor Relations Act. The genesis of the complaint traces back to June 2022 when an open letter circulated on SpaceX’s internal computer system. The letter urged SpaceX to distance itself from the social media activities of its CEO, Elon Musk, citing his behavior…
China has achieved a significant milestone in its space endeavors with the completion of the first launch pad at the Hainan Commercial Launch Site on December 29. The newly-completed launch pad is poised to enhance China’s access to space, providing crucial support for national constellation projects and commercial launch initiatives. This development addresses a key bottleneck by offering increased access to launch facilities for both national and commercial launch service providers. The completion of the launch pad is expected to accelerate Chinese entities’ plans to launch a variety of constellations, thereby strengthening the nation’s ability to deploy and maintain space…
Astra Space, the launch vehicle and spacecraft propulsion company, has received a four-day extension on a loan from investors as it continues negotiations for a longer-term funding arrangement. JMCM Holdings LLC and SherpaVentures Fund II, LLP provided a bridge loan worth $3.05 million earlier this month, part of a $13.4 million interim financing deal. The bridge loan, now valued at $5.5 million, was extended to November 21, allowing Astra additional time to secure liquidity through capital raising initiatives and cost-cutting measures. Astra, facing financial challenges, defaulted on a previous loan when its cash reserves fell below specified levels. The company…
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is making significant progress in preparing for the upcoming launch of its first Vulcan Centaur rocket, slated for late December. In a recent briefing with reporters on November 15, ULA Chief Executive Tory Bruno revealed that the Centaur upper stage for the mission, designated Cert-1, arrived at Cape Canaveral on November 13. Work is currently underway to integrate the stage with the Vulcan booster. Following the integration, ULA will conduct a wet dress rehearsal, involving the loading of propellants on both stages, as a practice countdown. Bruno highlighted the meticulous preparations, emphasizing that they are pacing…