Author: starpathwp-production
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L3Harris Confirms Successful Deployment for First Perimeter Truss Reflector on ViaSat-3
L3Harris Technologies confirmed a successful deployment for its first perimeter truss reflector onboard the ViaSat-3 Flight 3 satellite. SpaceX launched the satellite in late April, the third deployment in Viasat’s trio of high-capacity Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites. The satellite will be positioned over the Asia-Pacific region. L3Harris builds large, deployable mesh reflector apertures and antenna…
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Crew-13 pilot reflects on career, training, and upcoming science ahead of flight to ISS
After a previously targeted launch date in November, NASA has moved up the next International Space Station (ISS) crew launch, Crew-13, from November to no earlier than Sept. 12, 2026. Despite losing two months of training time, the Crew-13 astronauts remain ready for the mission. Crew-13’s pilot, Luke Delaney, discussed this and more with NSF’s…
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Endeavor Optical Networks Emerges From Stealth to Build Optical MEO Data Transfer
A new startup Endeavor Optical Networks emerged from stealth on Tuesday, with a plan to build an optical satellite network in Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) for space-based data transfer. The company was founded by CEO Charlie Horowitz, an early employee of Apex Space and CTO Tyler Presser, formerly of Advanced Space. They hired former Google network…
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Impulse Space Advances Electra Electric Propulsion System
Electra has complemented Impulse’s chemical propulsion lineup, enabling customers to choose the appropriate in-space mobility technologies for their mission. The first chapter of human space activity has largely been defined by launch. Rockets are launched, payloads have reached orbit, and missions have officially begun. The next chapter in space has been characterized by what happens…
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While SpaceX recovers Ship 40, Ship 41 prepares for testing ahead of Flight 14
Ship 40 performed a controlled flip and landing burn: it ignited its engines, flipped vertically, swung into position, down-selected to two engines, and soft-landed in the water. In previous flights, the toppling after splashdown destroyed the vehicle. This time Ship 40 remained intact, giving SpaceX drone cameras clear, close-up views of the thermal protection system…
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MDA Space to Supply Additional Satellites for Expanded Telesat Lightspeed Constellation
MDA Space, a space technology company, will be supplying Telesat LEO ULC, a division of Telesat Corporation, with additional MDA AURORA next-generation broadband satellites, coinciding with the operator’s announcement that it has been expanding the Telesat Lightspeed low Earth orbit constellation. Telesat has announced that it has been expanding its LEO constellation by 69 satellites,…
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Kreios Space to Demo Air-breathing Electric Propulsion in VLEO With NanoAvionics
Spanish satellite startup Kreios Space is set to demonstrate an air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), tapping Kongsberg NanoAvionics to provide the spacecraft bus. Kreios Space selected the 200 kg NanoAvionics’ MP42 microsatellite bus for the mission. The satellite will also have an optical payload from a vendor that has…
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SpaceX Reports Q2 Earnings
The numbers are in. After SpaceX’s record-breaking June IPO, the company released its first quarterly results on Tuesday, and the headline figures beat expectations: $7.8B in revenue—up 92% year-over-year—and a net loss of $541M. However, the stock fell ~7% after hours, as investors weighed the company’s heavy spending and a share lockup set to expire…
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SpaceX Sets IFT-14 for Late August With First Operational Starlinks and Ship Catch Attempt
The announcement came from CEO and CTO Elon Musk, President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, and CFO Bret Johnsen, who described a positive outlook across the company’s space, connectivity, and AI segments. Shotwell said SpaceX flew 78 Falcon launches in the first half of the year, mostly carrying its own Starlink satellites but also serving commercial…
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Kreios Space Selects Kongsberg NanoAvionics for VLEO Demonstration Mission
Kreios Space, the VLEO satellite specialist, will be the first company in history to launch a satellite with an air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) into orbit. To test its technology, the company is using a microsatellite bus by Kongsberg NanoAvionics, a leading small satellite manufacturer and mission integrator. Kreios Space’s ABEP aims to pave the way…