Satellite News
UK pushing to combine OneWeb Gen 2 and European sovereign constellation efforts
The U.K.’s space minister hopes to convince Europe to use OneWeb’s proposed second-generation satellites instead of pursuing a standalone constellation now that the British operator has merged with Eutelsat of France.
Space Development Agency awards Northrop Grumman $732 million contract for 38 satellites and support services
The Space Development Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a $732 million contract for 38 communications satellites that will be part of the U.S. military’s low Earth orbit space architecture.
Revealing the Startup of the Year finalists for the SpaceNews 2023 Icon Awards
Impulse Space / Isar Aerospace / Kepler Communications / The Exploration Company
Launcher News
China’s iSpace launches and lands rocket test stage
The iSpace Hyperbola-2Y test stage during its Nov. 2, 2023 hop test at Jiuquan spaceport.
Second flight of Starship closing in on potential November launch
The flight of Booster 9 and Ship 25 is now in the final stage of preparations, focused on regulatory approval that will allow SpaceX to set a launch date. That target is currently tracking mid-November as the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) works on the final element of the FAA’s launch license via an updated Biological Assessment under the Endangered Species Act.
Astra, low on cash, defaults on loan
Dwindling cash reserves caused launch vehicle and spacecraft propulsion company Astra Space to default on a loan at the end of October, adding to doubts about the company’s future.
Norway opens Andøya spaceport
The fully constructed spaceport is planned to host several launch pads. German rocket developer Isar Aerospace has exclusive access to the first launch site, which has been built to Isar’s specifications. This infrastructure includes a launch pad, payload integration facilities and a mission control center
Exploration News
NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Discovers 2nd Asteroid During Dinkinesh Flyby
On Nov. 1, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft flew by not just its first asteroid, but its first two. The first images returned by Lucy reveal that the small main belt asteroid Dinkinesh is actually a binary pa .
NASA welcomes Netherlands as newest Artemis Accords signatory
During a ceremony at the Dutch Ambassador’s Residence in Washington on Wednesday, the Netherlands became the 31st country to sign the Artemis Accords.
UK and Axiom sign agreement on plans for historic human spaceflight mission
The agreement between the UK Space Agency and Axiom Space sets out plans for the 2 organisations to work together to pursue a commercially sponsored, UK astronaut mission. On this future flight, the UK astronauts would launch to space, spending up to two weeks on orbit to carry out scientific research, demonstrate new technologies, and participate in education and outreach activities.
NASA open to extending ISS beyond 2030
NewSpace News
ThrustMe surpasses 200 orders + doubles propulsion system orders in four months
ThrustMe has recently 200 orders, doubling the company’s order book within a four month period of time — this milestone mirrors the exponential …
tesat-successfully-completes-optical-terminal-interoperability-tests
TESAT’s Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) successfully passed interoperability testing for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites that are to be built by Lockheed Martin.
TESAT was selected to deliver OCTs terminals) to Lockheed Martin for integration for the company’s 42 SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites. TESAT’s OCTs will also be applied for commercial constellations, such as Kepler’s ÆTHER LEO constellation network.
Five-Year Deal for Sidus Space in Support of Lunar Operations
Sidus Space, a company that operates within the sphere of Space and Data-as-a-Service, has recently secured a significant contract, marking a stride in its business trajectory.
Kuva Space raises 16.6 million euros
Finnish hyperspectral satellite imagery startup Kuva Space raised 16.6 million euros ($17.6 million) in a Series A funding round.
Space Safety News
NASA safety panel warns about ISS transition risks
A NASA safety panel expressed concerns about NASA’s plans to shift from the International Space Station to commercial successors, including funding for an ISS deorbit vehicle.
Science & Technology News
ESA hones 3D Printed electromagnetic coils for spaceflight
The European Space Agency (ESA) has once again pushed the envelope of technological innovation by 3D printing electromagnetic coils in pure copper, a leap forward in the design of versatile tools
2023 Ozone Hole Ranks 16th Largest, NASA and NOAA Researchers Find
The 2023 Antarctic ozone hole reached its maximum size on Sept. 21, according to annual satellite and balloon-based measurements made by NASA and NOAA.
Apollo astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly dies aged 87
A NASA astronaut who was removed from the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission but helped bring its crew back home safely thanks to his problem-solving efforts from ground control has died at the age of 87.
