Satellite observation data provider ICEYE US has received its first synthetic-aperture radar data task order under a blanket purchase agreement with NASA announced in April. The data will be provided to the scientific and academic communities to evaluate if the information is suitable for pursuing NASA’s Earth Science research objectives. The ICEYE-NASA agreement is the first […]
NASA has extended its contract with Spire Global, allowing the company to continue providing the agency and all U.S. government-funded research and federal agencies with Earth observation data, associated metadata and ancillary information from Spire’s constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites. The 12-month contract renewal, valued at $6.5 million, was awarded under the Commercial Smallsat Data […]
Northrop Grumman has completed two key components for the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission and has advanced to the next phase of preparations. ASBM is a planned two-satellite constellation aimed at facilitating secure communications in the North Pole region. It is a joint effort with Space Norway and the U.S. Space Force built on the GEOStar-3 […]
Lockheed Martin has concluded the critical design review for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer program. During the CDR, Lockheed and SDA performed various validation activities, including a system optical communications terminal interoperability test, to ensure that T1TL works as intended. Lockheed also 3D-printed a full-size replica of the satellite vehicle testbed for […]
The U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX has awarded Starfish Space a $1.8 million contract to mature the company’s Cephalopod autonomous trajectory planning software designed to enable in-orbit satellite servicing, proximity operations and spacecraft deorbiting missions. Cephalopod is currently being tested on board the Otter Pup docking spacecraft launched in June on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter […]
U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, head of the U.S. Southern Command, participated in a Center for Strategic and International Studies event on Friday, where she said partnerships with Latin American countries in space could help push back against the threat China poses. Richardson, who had accompanied NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during his recent tour of […]
LeoStella has introduced the LS300, a satellite bus for companies looking to work with the Space Development Agency. Tim Kienberger, CEO of LeoStella, noted in an interview that the new offering has 250 kilograms of available payload space. He explained that LS300 can carry optical inter-satellite links and radio frequency downlink and uplink technology, which […]
NASA is using a manikin in Artemis-related tests to ensure the safety of astronauts selected to take on a journey to the moon. The manikin, called Commander Moonikin Campos, previously launched to the moon wearing the Orion Crew Survival System spacesuit as part of the Artemis I flight test that began in November. Moonikin Campos […]
The thermal vacuum test of the Enhanced Polar System-Recapitalization program’s Flight One payload has been completed and demonstrated the satellite’s ability to survive the harsh conditions of a polar orbit. The first EPS-R payload was delivered in June 2022, followed by a second delivery in November 2022. Both payloads are scheduled to fly aboard Space […]
NASA will send three mini rovers to the moon to see how they can work with each other to create a 3D map of the lunar surface. The mini rovers will demonstrate the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration project, designed to improve future mission efficiency by using robots operated by humans on Earth. Human operators […]
