n a night-time spectacle at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the NROL-186 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on June 28. The mission, conducted from Space Launch Complex 4 East, involved the deployment of a new batch of satellites for a classified imaging satellite constellation jointly developed by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. The exact number of satellites launched was not disclosed by officials. Following liftoff at 11:14 p.m. Eastern Time, the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster executed a flawless landing on a drone ship just over eight minutes later. This achievement marked SpaceX’s…
Author: Benjamin Anderson
Chinese commercial space company Space Pioneer suffered a major setback on Sunday when a test firing of its Tianlong-3 launch vehicle’s first stage ended in a dramatic explosion at a facility in Gongyi county, Henan province. The intended static-fire test, designed to assess the first stage’s readiness for orbital flight, went awry as amateur footage from local residents captured the nine-engine stage unexpectedly igniting and taking off without proper hold-down clamps to secure it in place. The stage ascended briefly before abruptly halting and descending back to the ground, where it exploded upon impact, scattering leftover kerosene-liquid oxygen propellant. https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1807339807640518690…
In a groundbreaking move aimed at accelerating critical space technologies, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) has awarded a $1 billion Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract to 20 small businesses for the development of ground-systems software. The contract, part of the Rapid Resilient Command and Control (R2C2) program, marks a significant shift towards next-generation ground systems built on commercial cloud architecture. “The Space Force is seeking an end-to-end satellite operations ground system with the capability to fly dynamic space operations missions,” stated the Space RCO in a recent announcement. This system envisions military space assets being able to…
The European Space Agency (ESA) has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with Vast, a commercial space venture, aimed at studying potential collaborations regarding Vast’s upcoming commercial space stations. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was formalized on June 6 at the ILA Berlin air show. The partnership entails a comprehensive analysis of how ESA and its member states could utilize Vast’s space stations. This includes evaluating the feasibility of European industry contributions to Vast’s stations, as well as assessing the potential use of European crew and cargo spacecraft. Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General, expressed ESA’s commitment to advancing the low Earth…
Sierra Space, renowned for its development of the Dream Chaser spaceplane and collaboration with Blue Origin on a commercial space station, is expanding its presence in the national security sector. Following a recent contract win to construct military satellites, the company is targeting new areas such as in-orbit services and transportation to bolster its position in the market. Erik Daehler, Vice President of Orbital Systems and Services at Sierra Space, highlighted the company’s transition of orbital vehicle technologies from civil and commercial origins to militarized configurations. Daehler, with previous experience at Lockheed Martin and Boeing, is overseeing this strategic shift…
In a significant stride toward enhancing broadband internet access across Indonesia, the country’s latest communications satellite, Telkomsat HTS 113BT, also known as Merah Putih 2, was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:11 p.m. EST. The launch, conducted amidst challenging windy conditions, saw the Falcon 9 rocket commence its ascent precisely at the opening of a two-hour launch window, demonstrating SpaceX’s capability to operate under less-than-ideal weather circumstances. The mission’s first stage booster, designated B1067, embarked on its 17th journey to space, contributing to a diverse portfolio of missions including Crew-3,…
The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) has greenlit a pioneering move to scrutinize the looming risks that satellite constellations pose to astronomy, a year subsequent to a thwarted similar endeavor. Marking a pivotal stride in diplomatic avenues concerning celestial research, COPUOS, in a recent session of its scientific and technical subcommittee, consented to introduce an agenda item titled “Dark and quiet skies, astronomy and large constellations: addressing emerging issues and challenges” for deliberation in its forthcoming meetings spanning 2025 through 2029. Nonetheless, the proposal awaits final ratification by the entire COPUOS assembly in June.…
The UK Space Agency has launched a significant funding opportunity, in collaboration with Axiom Space, offering up to £15 million to drive British technology into space. Two new funding calls have been initiated, inviting UK-based researchers and technology innovators to participate in a space journey alongside home-grown astronauts. Minister for space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Andrew Griffith, highlighted the immense potential for UK businesses to contribute to space exploration and technological advancement. “There is huge potential for UK businesses to play an increasingly important role in space exploration and the development of new technologies,” Griffith stated.…
Italy’s state-owned aerospace and defense company, Leonardo, has been tasked by the Ministry of Defence to spearhead the development of Europe’s first military space cloud architecture project. Known as MILSCA, this initiative aims to revolutionize Italy’s governmental and armed forces’ capabilities by providing them with a cutting-edge system incorporating high-performance computing, cloud services, and artificial intelligence (AI) directly from space. Over the next two years, Leonardo will collaborate with Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, two joint ventures involving the Italian defense and aerospace group and France’s Thales, to bring MILSCA to fruition. This project aligns with Leonardo’s strategic objectives, which…
Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with U.S. satellite designer AST SpaceMobile, has unveiled its ambitious plan to introduce a commercial satellite-to-mobile service in Japan by 2026. This innovative broadband service will enable video and voice calls directly accessible by regular smartphones, eliminating the need for a terminal connection. The rollout timeline remains uncertain, but the coverage plan includes reaching mountainous and remote areas across Japan. This extensive coverage will be particularly advantageous during natural disasters, which often disrupt infrastructure and connectivity, as highlighted by Hiroshi Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group and chairman of Rakuten Mobile, during a recent media…