Innovation
AFRL Partners with Virgin Galactic to Gather Space Weather Data
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic announced a new partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s space warfare directorate to collect and share space weather data from the company’s suborbital spacecraft, due for its first commercial flight next year.
Can India’s Private Space Industry Compete Globally?
India’s private space industry has reached a significant milestone, with homegrown companies developing rockets, satellites, propulsion systems and space-based sensors. But converting these capabilities into globally competitive businesses remains the sector’s next major challenge.
The successful maiden flight of Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 orbital rocket on July 18 marked a breakthrough for private spaceflight in India. After a brief hold caused by a software glitch in the automatic launch sequence, the countdown resumed and the rocket lifted off from Sriharikota, reaching low-Earth orbit.
Space Technology Trends Shaping The Future
The pace of the space industry is accelerating faster than ever. Evolving civil, commercial and national security requirements are driving technologies that can be fielded quickly and scaled effectively. These priorities are guiding investment and innovation in capabilities that:
India's Rising Spacetech Revolution: A Leap Towards a Global Space Economy
Explore how India's spacetech industry is transforming with government reforms, increased funding, and a boom in startups, positioning the nation as a key player in the global space economy.
NASA Signs Space Nuclear Pact, Says Moon Base Is Ahead of Schedule
The biggest space news came from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who signed an agreement to accelerate cooperation between the two agencies on space nuclear power and propulsion. Nuclear power plays a central role in the agency’s plans for its Moon Base, on which Isaacman also provided an update.
Space Force
Space Force Moves Forward with New GPS Ground Plan
After scrapping a long-delayed program to build a next-generation GPS ground system earlier this year, the Space Force and prime contractor Lockheed Martin are pushing toward delivery of the capability in time to support the first launch of the newest GPS satellites, currently planned for 2028.
Space Force Activates Special Operations Command Component
The Space Force has officially established its component to U.S. Special Operations Command, creating a ninth component charged with presenting space expertise to commanders in the field.
Technology
The Perseverance Rover Reaches Another Milestone
After five-and-a-half years on Mars, NASA's Perseverance Rover has set a distance record for travel on another world. Since landing in Mars' Jezero Crater, an ancient paleolake, on February 18, 2021, Perseverance has travelled 45.22 km, or 28.10 miles.
That puts it slightly ahead of NASA's Opportunity rover, which travelled 45.16 kilometers (28.06 miles) during its mission. It must be noted, however, that Perseverance took only 5.5 years to travel this far, while Opportunity required almost 15 years.
Dragon Launches New Cargo as Crew Works Biomedicine, Advanced Space Tech
The seven-member Expedition 75 crew awaits the arrival of an uncrewed SpaceX Dragon that launched on Tuesday carrying new cargo for delivery on Thursday. When Dragon reached orbit the lab residents were midway through their day filled with biomedical research and advanced space innovations.
JAXA Taps ArkEdge for Two Lunar Navigation Demos
The space agency tapped Japanese space startup ArkEdge Space for two projects designed to improve navigation on the Moon. These awards build on work the startup is already doing with the Japanese space agency, including designing a constellation of small satellites around the Moon to enable navigation.
Europe
Poland launches first $129M space-tech venture fund
Priority sectors include satellite construction, optics, Earth observation, space communications, photonics, propulsion, data processing, and artificial intelligence. The fund targets companies that have validated their business model and generate early revenue but need capital to expand. It mainly backs Polish firms, though European companies qualify if their centre of interest sits in Poland.
SpaceX
SpaceX wants to launch Starship more than 450 times per year from South Texas
The company currently has permission for just 25 Starship flights from Starbase per year.
Military
Cape Canaveral is building up its counter-drone defenses, Space Force says
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station will get new defenses against small drones in coming weeks, part of a “whole-of-government” effort to better protect the nation’s spaceports as the White House pushes for hundreds more launches per year.
Investment
TD SYNNEX launches Space Tech Initiative
TD SYNNEX, a global information technology distributor and solutions aggregator with an office in Clearwater, has announced the Space Tech Initiative. According to a prepared statement, the effort was "designed to help reseller and vendor partners identify, pursue and scale opportunities across the rapidly expanding space economy."
Startups
Japanese space tech startup Letara expands beyond satellite thrusters with $16M
Letara, a Sapporo-based startup developing hybrid propulsion systems for spacecraft, is looking to capitalize on that push. After focusing on hybrid thrusters for small satellites, the company now plans to develop large rocket systems for the space, defense, and security markets, the company’s co-CEO Shota Hirai told TechCrunch.
Strategy
Q&A: Beyond launch: The new space economy takes shape in orbit
Getting into space was once the primary challenge. Increasingly, what happens after arrival is becoming just as important. As the space economy matures, customers are looking beyond transportation to a new generation of orbital services. These range from powering and positioning payloads to manoeuvring spacecraft, inspecting other objects, removing debris and supporting manufacturing and assembly in orbit.