The U.S. Space Force has awarded Jacobs Technology a contract worth up to $4 billion over 10 years to provide engineering and technical services across the nation’s primary space launch ranges, the military said. The “Space Force Range Contract,” awarded by the Space Systems Command on May 31, will support operations at the Eastern Range, based at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, and the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The deal covers maintenance, sustainment, systems engineering and integration services through 2035. Tullahoma, Tennessee-based Jacobs Technology was selected from four competing bidders for the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity…
Author: Ethan Fisher
Voyager Technologies, a U.S.-based space and defense company, launched its initial public offering (IPO) on June 2, aiming for a valuation of up to $1.6 billion, the company said. The six-year-old firm is offering 11 million shares of its Class A common stock, priced between $26 and $29 apiece. Underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.65 million shares. If priced at the top of the range and fully subscribed, the IPO could raise up to $367 million in gross proceeds. The shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol…
South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has placed an order for the first of five cubesats aimed at studying Venus from low Earth orbit (LEO), marking a growing role for small satellites in planetary research as flagship missions face uncertain funding. Lithuania-based NanoAvionics announced it secured a contract to build an 8U cubesat for the CLOVE mission—Chasing the Long-term Variability of Our Nearest Neighbor Planet Venus. The satellite will carry ultraviolet and near-infrared sensors developed by IBS to monitor the atmosphere of Venus. IBS plans to deploy a new CLOVE satellite every three years over 15 years, spanning at…
China launched its second planetary exploration mission last week, sending the Tianwen-2 spacecraft to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and later study a main belt comet, as Beijing expands its role in international deep-space science and planetary defense efforts. The mission lifted off on a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 1:31 p.m. Eastern time (1731 GMT) on May 29, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Tianwen-2 is now in a transfer orbit en route to near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), where it is expected to arrive in mid-2026.…
U.S. satellite manufacturer Apex has introduced its largest spacecraft to date, a new satellite bus aimed at both commercial and government constellation operators. The company said on May 28 it is now accepting orders for Comet, a large satellite platform designed to support payloads exceeding 500 kilograms and generating more than five kilowatts of power. The bus features a flat form factor built to fit within a five-meter payload fairing, making it compatible with commonly used launch vehicles. The Comet platform complements Apex’s smaller Aries and Nova buses, and had been part of the company’s roadmap since its founding. However,…
Colorado-based ExoTerra Resources has delivered 21 electric propulsion modules to York Space Systems to support the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer, the company said, as part of efforts to boost U.S. defense satellite capabilities. The Iris250 propulsion systems are designed for small satellites and support low-latency communications in SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. ExoTerra reached a production milestone last month, delivering 15 propulsion units in a single month following a rapid scale-up of its workforce and facilities. “We understand the importance of scaling propulsion production for SDA and we’re glad we could come in and meet…
The U.S. Senate is poised to vote in early June on the confirmation of Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, following a procedural move by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to advance the nomination. Thune filed for cloture on May 22, paving the way for a full Senate vote after the chamber returns from the Memorial Day recess. The nomination was previously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee on April 30 in a 19–9 vote, with support from both Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Most Democrats on the panel, however, opposed the nomination.…
As the commercial space industry rapidly expands, experts at the SpaceCom conference are urging the sector to develop standardized career paths to attract the talent needed to support its growth. Joseph Horvath, CEO of training provider Nova Space, highlighted the current challenges for professionals transitioning into the space industry. “One of the challenges right now is that space is kind of a scary place to transition to from working in another industry,” Horvath said during a panel discussion. He emphasized that many entering the field lack a clear roadmap for career progression and are unsure of the necessary education and…
Planet announced its largest contract to date on Jan. 29, securing a $230 million multiyear deal with an undisclosed commercial customer based in the Asia-Pacific region. Under the agreement, Planet will design, launch, and operate its Pelican high-resolution Earth-observation satellites, allocating a portion of the satellite capacity to the unnamed customer, which collaborates closely with a government agency. The new contract is a significant step in Planet’s growth. CEO and co-founder Will Marshall commented, “This is a major step forward in what we see as a very large market opportunity. These types of partnerships are a win-win: our partners gain…
China’s space launch capabilities are set to expand significantly in 2025, with new Long March rockets and commercially-developed launch vehicles scheduled for their first flights. These new systems are expected to enhance the country’s overall access to space, with a focus on cost-effective, reusable, or regularly flown launchers. The new rockets will compete for a range of contracts, including those related to China’s ambitious megaconstellation projects—Thousand Sails and Guowang—and space station cargo missions. One of the key developments is the Long March 8A, a more powerful variant of the Long March 8. The rocket will feature a larger second stage,…