Space
America’s space-based spy agency awards six contracts to hyperspectral imagery providers
The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has awarded five-year study contracts to six space companies that provide hyperspectral satellite imagery — BlackSky, Orbital Sidekick, Pixxel, Plan
Max Q: Maybe next time
In this issue of Max Q: An "operational pause" at Virgin Orbit; Behold: New moon suits!; News from Project Kuiper; and more
At Virgin Orbit, it never should’ve come to a staff furlough
Last night, CNBC broke the bombshell news that Virgin Orbit was pausing operations for at least a week while it looked for funding to support the business. As part of that pause, company executives re
FCC proposes satellite-to-phone rules to eliminate ‘no signal’ once and for all
The FCC has officially proposed, and voted unanimously to move forward with, a framework under which satellites can communicate directly with smartphones in a structured and useful way. The Notice of
Virgin Orbit pauses operations for a week to conduct a search for cash
Virgin Orbit is halting all operations for a week to save money while it “conducts discussions with potential funding sources and explores strategic opportunities,” the company announced i
Behold the new moon suit
NASA and Axiom Space just showed off the latest iteration of the spacesuit astronauts will wear on the surface of the moon when the Artemis III mission takes the first Americans to visit it since 1972
Amazon reveals terminal designs for Project Kuiper satellite internet
Amazon’s Project Kuiper has been working on building a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink low-Earth orbit-based satellite internet for years, but it’s on the verge of launching its firs
Starlink and T-Mobile’s sat-to-cell service will start testing this year
SpaceX and T-Mobile will begin testing a new service to bring satellite connectivity to cell phones this year, a SpaceX executive said. The news, first reported by CNBC, suggests that we may be close
Max Q: Have luck and good fun
In this issue: Relativity scrubs first Terran 1 launch attempt; claims of age discrimination in hiring at Blue Origin; news from Starfish Space and more
Watch Relativity attempt to launch Terran 1…again
Relativity Space is gearing up for its second launch attempt of the Terran 1 rocket, wasting no time after scrubbing the first attempt earlier this week. The company returns to the launch pad at Cape
Relativity scrubs first Terran 1 launch attempt
Relativity Space called off the first launch attempt of the Terran 1 rocket a little over a half hour before the close of the launch window, joining every other space company in history in not launchi
Starfish Space captures new funding ahead of orbital servicing demo mission
In the present moment, if a critical component on a satellite malfunctions or it runs out of fuel, satellite operators have no choice but to consider that asset caput. Starfish Space is one of a handf
Two separate lawsuits allege ageist hiring practices at Blue Origin
Two separate lawsuits have been filed against Blue Origin alleging discriminatory hiring practices based on age, TechCrunch has learned. The first suit was filed last summer by a former Blue Origin en
Relativity Space has had a wild ride to launch
Relativity Space will be attempting to make history with the first launch of the 110-foot-tall Terran 1 rocket tomorrow afternoon. The company, which was founded in 2016 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone,
Max Q: About that ‘for sale’ sign on a ULA Atlas V
In this issue of Max Q: The Chinese subsidiaries of U.S. VC firms investing in space tech; ispace eyes April lunar landing; news from Rocket Lab, United Launch Alliance and more.
SpaceX’s acquisition of Swarm is paying off with new Starlink thrusters
Earlier this week, SpaceX released more information about the new argon Hall thrusters that will power the Starlink V2 mini satellites, an innovation that likely has much to do with the company’s ac
As tensions build, Silicon Valley’s Chinese affiliates invest in sensitive space tech
Chinese subsidiaries of U.S. venture capital firms invest in technology that could be sensitive to national security.
Eyeing a new lunar economy, ispace plans to land on the moon at the end of April
Tokyo-based ispace said Monday that its Hakuto-R lunar lander is on track to reach the moon at the end of April. Ispace launched the lander on board a Falcon 9 in December; since then, the spacecraft
Max Q: It’s the final countdown
Today we're thinking of the four astronauts heading to the International Space Station. See you guys soon!
Astroscale closes new funding to grow in-orbit servicing and orbital debris cleanup tech
Astroscale, a company that’s developing technology to service satellites and clean up orbital debris, has closed another round of funding and widened its investor pool to include a space enthusiast