Author: starpathwp-production
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ESPI Report Tracks Record European Space Investment, Driven by Defense
A new report from the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) shows that Europe’s space sector attracted a record 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in investment in 2024, a 54% year increase over the previous year. According to the “Space Venture 2024: Global Investment Dynamics” report released June 20, European companies targeting security accounted for a…
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SpaceX launches Starfish Space’s second spacecraft for orbital satellite docking test
An artist’s conception shows Otter Pup 2 (at left) approaching its target satellite. (Starfish Space Illustration) Starfish Space’s second Otter Pup spacecraft went into Earth orbit today, marking the first step in what the Seattle-area startup hopes will be a successful demonstration of the vehicle’s ability to dock with other satellites. Otter Pup, which is…
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The Rubin Observatory makes its debut — and the discoveries have already begun
After more than 20 years of planning and construction, astronomers celebrated the release of the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory today — and also registered hundreds of the first discoveries from the world’s newest eye on the sky. University of Washington astronomer Mario Juric, a member of the Rubin team and director…
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Iceye to Supply 4 SAR Satellites to Royal Netherlands Air Force
Iceye has won another deal aimed at Europe’s defense market. It has won a contract with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) as it looks to establish a sovereign, space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. This agreement marks an advancement in the Netherlands’ space-based defense capabilities and its commitment to strengthening national security through…
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New Frontier Aerospace tests 3D-printed rocket engine for future flight applications
Flames stream from New Frontier Aerospace’s Mjölnir rocket engine during a hot-fire test. (NFA Photo) Kent, Wash.-based New Frontier Aerospace says it has put its 3D-printed Mjölnir rocket engine through a series of successful hot-fire tests, in preparation for an initial flight test of a hypersonic drone that could take place as early as next year.…
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Firefly Aerospace Announces Latest Lunar Imaging Service on its Elytra Spacecraft
Firefly Aerospace, the leader in end-to-end responsive space services, announced a new lunar imaging service, named Ocula, offered through Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicles as early as 2026. Ocula is enabled by high-resolution telescopes from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) that operate onboard Elytra in lunar orbit and provide ultraviolet and visible spectrum imaging –…
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Second ULA Launch Brings Amazon Kuiper Constellation to 54 Satellites
Amazon and United Launch Alliance are ramping up the campaign to deploy Project Kuiper satellites, launching the second full-scale mission early Monday morning with 27 satellites. ULA launched the Kuiper 2 mission on an Atlas V rocket that took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:54 a.m. EDT on June 23. The satellites…
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ION-X Completes First In-Orbit Firing of European Ionic Liquid Thruster
ION-X has successfully performed the first-ever in-orbit firing of a European developed ionic liquid electrospray thruster. This milestone marks only the second global demonstration of this advanced propulsion technology in space, nearly a decade after the inaugural mission by BUSEK for the LISA-PATHFINDER mission in 2015. On May 6th, 2025, onboard a spacecraft built by…
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STMicroelectronics Introduces Radiation-Hardened Point-of-Load Converters for LEO Applications
STMicroelectronics’ LEOPOL1 point-of-load step-down converter for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) deployments meets the needs of equipment developers targeting the New Space market, now expanding throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. The emerging New Space industry, driven by private-sector companies, is enabling new services such as communication and earth observation, delivered from satellites built and launched…
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Tongyu Inroduces Advances in Wireless and Satellite Technology at MWC Shanghai 2025
At MWC Shanghai 2025, Tongyu Communication debuted MacroWiFi, a large area WiFi coverage solution, along with five key product category: satellite communication for ground-satellite connectivity, high efficiency base station antennas, Integration of Massive MIMO antennas and sheet metal filter, low-altitude coverage antenna. The product show highlighted Tongyu’s advancements in field of satcom, 5G-A, 6G evolution,…