Startup AST SpaceMobile, announced it has received an experimental license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting its US-based testing of the BlueWalker 3 satellite. The company is building the first space-based cellular broadband network designed to be accessible directly by standard mobile phones, SpaceMobile said.
Read More »Webb’s NIRSpec and MIRI to unveil history of Universe
The Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), a key instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has successfully passed all its functional tests including subsystems and mechanisms, Airbus said. The NIRSpec commissioning team, including experts from Airbus, performed the required tests as Webb continues cooling down to cryogenic temperatures.
Read More »UK Defence contracts UK-Australian collaboration to enhance capabilities
UK-based space situational awareness specialists Northern Space and Security Limited (NORSS), and Australian Nominal Systems, have been awarded a contract to develop ARTSIM a spacecraft and missions simulator solution to support the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) future satellite operational plans, NORSS said. to provide a modular, data representative satellite simulation architecture.
Read More »Lockheed Martin successfully flies second DARPA hypersonic missile
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and Aerojet Rocketdyne completed a free flight test of Lockheed Martin’s Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). The vehicle accelerated to and maintained a speed faster than five times the speed of sound after release from the carrier aircraft.
Read More »Gilmour Space to build and launch prototype defence satellite
Australian space company, Gilmour Space Technologies, announced that is has been selected to develop and launch a new sovereign surveillance satellite for the Department of Defence, as part of the government’s AU $7 billion investment in new space capabilities. The AU $15 million partnership is in line with Australia’s recently released Defence Space Strategy.
Read More »LinkSpace carries out static fire test and plans reusable rocket launch this year
Chinese space startup LinkSpace, carried out a static fire test of its Reusable Launch Vehicle T6 (RLV-T6) equipped with new Fengbao-1 methane-fueled engines, the company said. The 14.5-meter tall rocket will be launched to the Kármán line (100 km) and then landed with the help of landing legs and grid fins.
Read More »Space Café Canada by Dr. Jessica West Recap: Countdown to liftoff: The first Canadian spaceport under development
During the sixth Space Café Canada event on April 29, 2022, host Jessica West sat down with Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services and Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada’s first commercial space launch complex. In contrast to most other spaceports around the world, Spaceport Nova Scotia is intended to be fully commercial.
Read More »Satellogic contracts SpaceX to launch 68 Earth observation satellites
Vertically integrated geospatial company, Satellogic announced that it has signed a multiple launch agreement with SpaceX to deploy 68 satellites. Satellogic builds and manages its own spacecraft, as well as markets the collected Earth observation data. This vertical integration reduces costs and enables the company to offer actionable data at a more affordable price.
Read More »Unseenlabs expands satellite constellation dedicated to maritime surveillance
Geolocation data service provider Unseenlabs, successfully launched its sixth and seventh satellites dedicated to locating vessels at sea. The first satellite was launched with SpaceX, while the second one was launched with Rocket Lab on their “There and Back Again” helicopter catch mission. Unseenlabs now has seven satellites in orbit.
Read More »GMV to provides core software for German Armed Forces
The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has recently contracted Atos and OHB Digital Connect to supply the "Space Situational Awareness Center Expansion Stage 1” to the German Federal Armed Forces. The system will enable the monitoring of space and the protection of critical German infrastructure in orbit.
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