2020-06-29

 

Satellite News

NGC to Build Two C-band Satellites for Intelsat

Northrop Grumman Corporation (has been selected by Intelsat to build two C-band satellites that will operate in the upper portion of the C-band spectrum, a range of wireless radio frequencies that is used for critical telecommunications and data connectivity around the world.  This award supports the Federal Communication Commission’s order to make the lower portion of the C-band spectrum available to mobile network operators to further the rollout of critical 5G services

Maxar buying 3D geospatial company Vricon for $140 million

Vricon, a specialist in 3D geospatial products and analytics, will generate enough revenue to aid Maxar in deleveraging in 2021, Maxar said. The company expects the sale to close in July. 

 

Exploration News

Airbus Wins Next ESA Study Contract for Martian Sample Fetch Rover

Mars Sample Return is a joint NASA and ESA campaign to return samples from the Red Planet. NASA’s 2020 Mars rover mission NASA Rover Perseverance will collect Martian soils and rock samples and leave them on the surface in small metal tubes. In 2026 NASA will launch an ESA Sample Fetch rover to collect those samples and deliver to a Mars Ascent vehicle.

NASA launches Lunar Loo challenge

Now the US space agency is calling on the world’s inventors to develop a toilet that works not just in microgravity, but also lunar gravity on a future lunar lander spacecraft. The winning design will receive $20,000, with $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third.

Ocean in Jupiter’s moon Europa “could be habitable”

A new model from NASA scientists supports the theory that the interior ocean in Jupiter’s moon Europa would be able to sustain life.

Launcher News

Relativity wins Iridium contract, selects West Coast launch site

Small launch vehicle developer Relativity Space has won a contract to launch six Iridium replacement satellites, which it plans to carry out from a new launch site it proposes to develop at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

 

NewSpace  News

Russia plans to take first tourist on space walk in 2023

Roscosmos and Space Adventures have been cooperating in space tourism since 2001, when the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, went into orbit. Since then, a total of seven people have been in space

Virgin Galactic Signs Space Act Agreement with NASA for Private Orbital Spaceflight to the ISS

Virgin Galactic announced today the signing of a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s JSC to encourage commercial participation in orbital human spaceflight to the International Space Station (“ISS”) while enabling the development of a robust economy in Low Earth Orbit. Under the agreement, Virgin Galactic will develop a new private orbital astronaut readiness program.

ASTRA wins NOAA contract to study weather cubesat constellation

Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates LLC won a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contract for a design study of a constellation of cubesats to provide weather data.

Space Safety News

Technology News

In-space additive manufacturing startup Made In Space acquired by Redwire

Made In Space has celebrated 10 years of space innovations as one of the early innovators in space-based manufacturing and 3D printing for use in in-space applications. Made In Space has some high-profile projects in flight, including playing a fundamental role in Archinaut One, a NASA mission that will on-orbit assembly of solar arrays for a satellite already in space to generate more electrical power.

World View founders launch new stratospheric ballooning venture

Two entrepreneurs who founded a high-altitude ballooning company nearly a decade ago have started a second such venture, hoping to realize their original vision of giving the public a taste of spaceflight.

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