Tag: Commercial
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Commercial industry gears up for ISS replacement around 2030 amid concerns
NASA and the commercial space industry are planning for the eventual replacement of the International Space Station (ISS), which is currently set for 2030. Companies like Axiom and VAST have already started construction on the first modules of their planned commercial stations, while others are also planning to offer commercial station capability in the future.…
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Polaris Dawn crew conduct first commercial spacewalk
Two days into their mission, the Polaris Dawn crew conducted the highlight of their mission on Thursday, with Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis stepping outside Dragon Resilience for the first EVA by commercial astronauts. The spacewalk marks another milestone in the development of the commercial space industry. Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned…
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Russia launches multi-satellite rideshare mission on commercial Soyuz flight
Russia’s federal space agency Roscosmos launched its first dedicated commercial launch through its GK Launch Services subsidiary, using a Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat vehicle to deliver a cluster of satellites to orbit, including South Korea’s CAS500-1. Soyuz – sporting a new blue and white livery – lifted off from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on…
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NASA selects Axiom Space to build commercial space station segment
NASA has announced that they have selected Axiom Space, an American company headquartered in Houston, Texas, to design, build and launch three large pressurized modules and a large Earth observation window to the International Space Station (ISS). This partnership between NASA and Axiom is issued under Appendix I of NASA Next Space Technologies for Exploration…
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Rocket Lab launches Electron Flight 9 as work on new U.S. pad continues
On Thursday, Rocket Lab launched its workhorse Electron rocket on its ninth total mission since its debut in 2017, and its fifth mission in 2019 – the most for the company to date. The payload consisted of a single satellite provided by California’s Astro Digital as part of a dedicated flight. The 14-day launch window…
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Frustration grows as lawmakers continue to penny pinch commercial crew
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program – one of the Agency’s key near-term priorities – is once again battling against proposed funding cuts, following the House Appropriations Committee approval of their Commerce, Justice, Science FY 2014 Appropriations Bill. The report that accompanies the bill proposes a funding reduction and a change to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracts.…
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Qualification testing begins on Dream Chaser’s rocket motor
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have begun qualification testing on the hybrid rocket motor that will provide propulsion to their Dream Chaser vehicle in space. The initiation of testing is part of the company’s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) milestones, as they continue to set their sights on transporting NASA astronauts to the ISS. Dream Chaser…
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From Space Station to Moon Base – Bigelow expands on inflatable ambitions
Two months after signing a non-funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA, Bigelow Aerospace has made great progress toward identifying new ideas for private-public partnerships for human space exploration of the solar system, with discussions complementing NASA’s near- and long-term exploration goals with the private sector’s burgeoning development of exploration facilities for Earth orbit and…
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Dream Chaser ETA heads to Dryden for drop tests
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have shipped their Dream Chaser ETA (Engineering Test Article) to the Dryden Flight Research Center in California. The vehicle will be prepared for a series of drop tests, a key Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) milestone. Dream Chaser’s road trip to California: SNC are one of the three companies who won…
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MSFC Director: Commercial Space should be serious about Huntsville
Recently appointed Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Director Patrick Scheuermann believes there is a buoyant future for the Alabama facility, citing the Center’s role with the Space Launch System, whilst noting commercial companies who are “serious” about space, should consider partnering with Huntsville’s engineering base. MSFC Boss Buoyant: Replacing the popular Robert Lightfoot – who…