Author: David Bullock

Once deployed from the rocket, the chemical propulsion OTV will ignite and transport a customer payload from 310km circular orbit to a 1,000km orbit

SEATTLE/Logan, UT. (Spaceflight Inc. PR) – Spaceflight Inc., the leading global launch services provider, today announced it shipped the fully integrated Sherpa-LTC orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) and customer payload to Cape Canaveral to launch aboard an upcoming Starlink mission scheduled for next month. The high-thrust propulsive Sherpa will deploy from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 targeting a 310-kilometer circular orbit, before igniting and transporting an undisclosed customer payload, booked through Astro Digital, to a 1,000-kilometer circular orbit.

Sherpa-LTC features a bi-propellant, green propulsion subsystem utilizing Benchmark Space Systems’ new Polaris propulsion technology. The revolutionary OTV provides a low-cost, rapid orbital transfer for many sizes of small spacecraft. 

Agreement expands availability of last-mile smallsat delivery via European missions

SEATTLE / Logan UT  (Spaceflight Inc. PR) – Spaceflight Inc., the leading global launch services provider, today announced it signed an agreement with SAB Launch Services S.r.l. (SAB LS) to fly its Sherpa® orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) on Arianespace Vega missions. The agreement extends Spaceflight launch capacity on European missions managed by Arianespace for Spaceflight’s OTV-based services on launches starting as soon as next year. The companies are also partnering to offer customers access to shared integration and storage facilities across the U.S. and Europe.

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (Maxar Technologies PR) — Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), provider of comprehensive space solutions and secure, precise, geospatial intelligence, announced it received a Phase A study contract from NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) Spacecraft mission. During the ten-month contract, Maxar will develop the spacecraft concept, mature necessary technologies, conduct analysis on robotic servicing and payload accommodations, help define the potential performance, risks, costs and development schedule for a three-satellite, next-generation constellation of weather monitoring satellites.

The business mogul and founder of the Virgin Group teaches members how to transform 
their wild ideas into sound business ventures—and have fun doing it 

SAN FRANCISCO (MasterClass PR) — MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects, today announced that Richard Branson will teach a class on disruptive entrepreneurship. As one of the most prominent business leaders in the world, Branson will provide members with invaluable insight into harnessing the adventurer’s mindset and how leading with purpose, taking care of your people and an emphasis on entertaining both customers and the world at large can guide them to success. Branson’s class is now available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers get unlimited access to all 150+ instructors with an annual membership.

SAN MATEO, Calif. (Xona Space Systems PR) — Xona Space Systems, a pioneer in navigation technologies from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), is excited to announce that they have raised an oversubscribed financing round to accelerate the development of their high-performance commercial satellite navigation network, bringing their total funding to over $25M.

Following the successful launch of Hancom’s payload on a Spire satellite in May 2022, Spire will launch another payload for the company

VIENNA, Va. (Spire Global, Inc. PR) — Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) (“Spire” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, announced an agreement with HANCOM inSPACE (“Hancom”), initially a spin-off by Korea Aerospace Research Institute and now a part of HANCOM Group, for a second mission with Spire Space Services. Hancom will host an optical payload on a second Spire 6U satellite, named HANCOM-2, and Spire will manage the payload integration, satellite launch and mission operations.

HANCOM-1, a Spire 6U satellite carrying an optical payload for Hancom, launched in May 2022 on the SpaceX Transporter-5 Mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It was the first commercial satellite deployed for a private South Korean company.

• Today’s launch of the NROL-199 national security mission marks Rocket Lab’s third successful launch in just over five weeks.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Rocket Lab USA, Inc. PR) — Rocket Lab USA, Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a leading launch and space systems company, has successfully launched its second of two back-to-back national security missions for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

The NROL-199 “Antipodean Adventure” mission launched on the Electron rocket from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 at 05:00 UTC, August 4, 2022 carrying a payload designed, built, and operated by the NRO in partnership with the Australian Department of Defence. This mission follows the successful delivery to orbit of its predecessor NROL-162 three weeks earlier, launched on the “Wise One Looks Ahead” mission on July 13, 2022. These national security missions, combined with the successful launch of the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA on June 28, 2022, make up a record launch cadence for the Company of three successful Electron launches in just over five weeks.

Beek’s plans include building on the company’s success in the integration of space and blockchain technologies, expanding product lines and establishing a global headquarters in the U.S. 

WASHINGTON (SpaceChain PR) — SpaceChain today announced the appointment of Cliff Beek to the role of chief executive officer (CEO) to spearhead global expansion efforts for the space-as-a-service solutions provider. Beek will be responsible for charting the company’s long-term growth and extending its global footprint through leveraging its first-mover leadership position in the integration of space and blockchain technologies, and proven capabilities in its decentralized infrastructure and in-orbit platform. Co-founders Zee Zheng will assume the role and responsibilities of executive chairman upon transition while Jeff Garzik remains as the company’s chief technology officer (CTO).

ALAMEDA, Calif. (Astra Space, Inc. PR) — Astra Space, Inc. (“Astra”) (NASDAQ: ASTR) today announced that it has entered into a common stock purchase agreement with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“B. Riley Principal Capital II”).

Addition of the Airbus constellation, including all-weather, day and night imagery, expands product offerings to meet customers’ global 24/7 needs

HERNDON, Va. (BlackSky Technology Inc. PR) — BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) and Airbus (EPA: AIR) have signed a reseller agreement enabling BlackSky to expand its dynamic monitoring platform’s all-weather, day and night, and very high-resolution satellite imagery offerings for BlackSky customers.

• Australians more likely to associate space with aliens than satellite communications
• Space industry needs “to create a new narrative about space and show Australians how space already touches their lives everyday”
• 49% of Australians are concerned about space junk and collisions, with 44% worried about polluting space

SYDNEY (Inmarsat PR) — Australia was at the forefront of the first space race and played a vital role in Apollo 11’s iconic Moon landing in 1969. Half a century later, Australians are more likely to see space as a threat than a frontier full of positive possibilities, and just one in ten say they would like to work in the space industry.

According to a new global report from Inmarsat – ‘What on Earth is the value of space?’, based on a survey of 20,000 people in 11 countries – 49% of Australians are concerned about space junk and collisions and 44% are worried about polluting space, while just over one third (36%) say they feel hopeful about the possibilities of space, one fifth (21%) say they don’t understand much about space and 10% say they don’t care about space at all.

• Slingshot’s dual acquisitions transform spaceflight safety and sustainability for satellite operators at a time of unprecedented and growing risk on-orbit.
• The acquisition of Numerica Corporation’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) division includes the world’s first and only commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous orbit (GEO) daytime and nighttime optical sensor network for satellite tracking.
• The acquisition of Seradata brings the company’s industry-leading SpaceTrak satellite and launch database into Slingshot’s portfolio and establishes Slingshot’s footprint in the UK/European market.

AUSTIN, Texas & EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. PR) — Slingshot Aerospace, Inc., a company building space simulation and analytics products to accelerate space sustainability, today announced that the company has acquired Numerica’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) division and UK-based Seradata. Numerica’s SDA division includes the world’s first and only commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous orbit (GEO) daytime and nighttime optical sensor network for satellite tracking. Seradata brings the company’s industry-leading SpaceTrak satellite and launch database into Slingshot’s portfolio and establishes the company’s footprint in the UK/European market.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Sinus Space, Inc. PR) — Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU), a Space-as-a-Service satellite company focused on commercial satellite design, manufacture, launch, and data collection is pleased to announce its selection of Amazon Web Services, Inc (AWS) to provide cloud storage of mission critical Satellite-as-a-Service operation and customer data for the upcoming LizzieSat™ Constellation.

• Three times as many Canadians associate space with aliens (23%) than communications & connectivity (7%)
• Less than a third (28%) of Canadians want to know more about space
• Space industry needs “to create a new narrative about space and show Canadians how it benefits their lives everyday”

OTTAWA, Canada (Inmarsat PR) — Despite being engaged in the space industry since the 1950s, launching its first research rocket in 1959 and retaining a vibrant space industry, a new report reveals that Canadians today are more likely to associate space with aliens (23%) and Star Wars (12%) than they are with communications and connectivity (7%) or weather (6%).

ATLANTA (SpaceWorks PR) – SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Bradford as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective today.

Previously serving as the company’s Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Dr. Bradford now succeeds company Founder and outgoing CEO, Dr. John R. Olds. With over 25 years of experience in the aerospace sector, Bradford is a recognized thought leader in the space industry and brings a wealth of technical expertise and business acumen.