Author: starpathwp-production
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NASA officially greenlights $3.35 billion mission to Saturn’s moon Titan
NASA has formally approved the robotic Dragonfly mission for full development, committing to a revolutionary project to explore Saturn’s largest moon with a quadcopter drone. Agency officials announced the outcome of Dragonfly’s confirmation review last week. This review is a checkpoint in the lifetime of most NASA projects and marks the moment when the agency…
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Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship ready for launch
The Shenzhou-18 crewed space mission completed its last joint practice before launch and the system-wide airtightness check on Tuesday. The rocket and spacecraft have completed the electrical performance test, and the astronauts and all systems at the launch site have carried out the launch drill, with everything reported to be in good condition. April is…
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China publishes world’s first high-definition lunar geologic atlas
China Sunday released a set of geologic atlas of the global moon with a scale of 1:2.5 million, which is the first complete high-definition lunar geologic atlas in the world, providing basic map data for future lunar research and exploration. This set of geologic atlas, available in Chinese and English, includes the Geologic Atlas of…
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How TrustPoint Aims at the Commercial Future of GPS, with CEO Patrick Shannon
In this week’s On Orbit episode, we’re joined by Patrick Shannon, CEO of TrustPoint. Shannon won the 2024 Startup Space pitch contest at SATELLITE in March, competing against nine other startups. TrustPoint is building a commercial GPS system, and working toward its own constellation of around 300 spacecraft in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) to offer GPS…
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mu Space Extends Ground Station Collaboration with RBC Signals
mu Space is teaming up with RBC Signals International (RBC Signals) as it looks enhance ground station facilities in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. The two companies believe this will mark a step forward in the development of these facilities in the region. The two companies announced the collaboration, April 22. mu Space is…
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New Frontier Aerospace and HyBird get in on innovation research grants from NASA
Artwork shows two views of the Bifröst orbital transfer spacecraft. (New Frontier Aerospace Illustration) Two Washington state aerospace companies — Tukwila-based New Frontier Aerospace and Spanaway-based HyBird Space Systems — are among 95 ventures that have won project development funding from NASA through its Small Business Innovation Research program. The Phase II SBIR grants are…
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Orbex Secures £16.7 Million in Funding to Ramp Up the Development of its Prime Rocket
The UK spaceflight company Orbex has received £16.7m from six backers in an update to its Series C funding round. With pre-launch testing underway, the funding will help Orbex ramp up the development of Prime, its 19-metre-long, two-stage rocket designed to transport small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. The aim is to ensure full readiness…
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Dhruva Space Closes Series A Funding of $15M
Dhruva Space, a space engineering solutions provider based in Hyderabad, India, marked the final close of its Series A funding at 123 Indian crores ($15 million). The funding will go toward the company’s new spacecraft manufacturing facility, business acquisition plans, and product offerings. Dhruva Space announced the end of the funding round on April 22. …
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Satellogic Partners With O.N.E. Amazon to Build the ‘Internet of Forests’
Satellogic, a Earth observation data collection company, signed a letter of intent with O.N.E. Amazon to support the creation of an initiative called the ‘Internet of Forests.’ O.N.E. Amazon is a technology company focused on creating sustainable impact for the environment and investors. Satellogic signed the letter on Earth Day, April 22. Satellogic will look…
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Seraphim Space Closes New Fund With Eutelsat, NEC, and JSAT Backing
Seraphim Space closed a new venture fund, Seraphim Space Ventures II LP, with backing from satellite operator Eutelsat Communications, Japanese telco NEC and Japanese satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT. Seraphim announced the first close of the SSV II fund on Monday. The fund will be focused on investing in Seed and Series A-stage companies. Seraphim…