Tag: North America
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NRO Awards First Contracts to Commercial Space Firms Under New Procurement Program
The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has awarded its first three contracts under a new procurement program aimed at expanding access to commercial satellite intelligence capabilities, Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak said on Thursday. Speaking at the National Security Space Association’s Defense and Intelligence Space Conference, Povak said the contracts were issued through the…
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Galaxia and Apolink Partner to Demonstrate Inter-Satellite Links in 2027 Mission
Canada’s Galaxia Mission Systems has signed a strategic partnership with U.S.-based Apolink Communications to demonstrate hybrid optical and radio-frequency inter-satellite link (ISL) technology on a future spacecraft scheduled for launch in 2027. Under the agreement, Apolink’s communications system will be tested aboard a Galaxia satellite operating in sun-synchronous orbit, a configuration commonly used for Earth…
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Musk Says SpaceX Prioritizing Lunar City Over Mars Settlement Plans
Elon Musk said SpaceX is prioritizing plans to establish a self-sustaining city on the Moon over its long-standing ambition to send humans to Mars, marking a potential shift in the company’s space exploration strategy. In a post on the social media platform X, Musk said a lunar city could be built within the next decade.…
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Viridian Space Signs U.S. Air Force Deal to Develop VLEO Propulsion Technology
California-based Viridian Space has signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the US Air Force to advance air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) technology designed for satellites operating in very low Earth orbit (VLEO). Under the five-year agreement, the partners will jointly develop the propulsion system and study operational concepts for satellites flying at extremely low…
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SpaceX Crew-12 Launches Four Astronauts To International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched NASA’s Crew-12 mission early Friday, sending four astronauts from the United States, Europe and Russia toward the International Space Station for a long-duration scientific expedition. The rocket lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying a Crew Dragon spacecraft…
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Stoke Space Raises Additional $350 Million Ahead of Nova Rocket Debut
U.S. launch startup Stoke Space has secured an additional $350 million in funding, extending the $510 million Series D round announced in October and bringing its total capital raised to $1.34 billion. The Washington-based company said it had sufficient funding at the end of last year to support the first few flights of its reusable…
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NASA Awards Vast Contract for Private Astronaut Mission to ISS in 2027
NASA has selected Los Angeles–based Vast to carry out a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in summer 2027, marking the company’s first flight to the orbital laboratory. The mission, designated as NASA’s sixth private astronaut mission to the ISS, will transport a crew for an approximately two-week stay aboard the station.…
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Tomorrow.io Raises $175 Million to Expand AI Weather Satellite Network
Israeli-founded weather technology company Tomorrow.io has raised $175 million in new funding at a valuation exceeding $1 billion to accelerate deployment of its AI-driven DeepSky satellite network. The round was led by Stonecourt Capital and HarbourVest, bringing the company’s total funding to about $500 million. Headquartered in Boston, Tomorrow.io employs roughly 150 staff in Israel…
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House Panel Advances NASA Authorization Bill Backing Moon-to-Mars Program
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee unanimously approved a new NASA authorization bill on Thursday, reaffirming congressional backing for U.S. leadership in space and the agency’s Moon-to-Mars exploration program. The legislation, introduced as H.R. 7273, emphasizes continued investment in human exploration, science, aeronautics and technology while endorsing an expanded role for commercial partnerships. Authorization…
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Quindar to Provide Automated Mission Control for Starfish Space’s Otter Servicing Missions
Quindar will supply secure, automated mission control infrastructure to Starfish Space for the first three missions of its Otter satellite servicing vehicle, the companies announced. Starfish Space is developing the Otter spacecraft to provide on-orbit life-extension and end-of-life services for satellites, including docking, maneuvering and disposal support. Quindar said its automation-focused platform will enable Starfish…