Montreal-based company’s virtual reality experiences promise to engage the public as never before

LONGUEUIL, Quebec (CSA PR) — Immersive virtual reality (VR) technology has transformed the entertainment industry and now has the potential to become a game-changer on how we experience space exploration. Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced that Montreal’s Felix & Paul Studios is receiving a contribution worth $482,607 from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to further develop  VR camera technology that could capture and transmit high-quality footage from future international missions to the Moon and other deep-space destinations.

RESTON, Va. August 17, 2021 (Ligardo Networks PR) – Ligado Networks today announced Charles F. Bolden Jr. has joined its Board. Major General Bolden (USMC-Ret.) is a highly decorated naval aviator, test pilot, and astronaut who served as the 12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from 2009 to 2017.

Throughout his distinguished career, Administrator Bolden has forged innovative solutions and programs through government and industry collaboration. During his NASA tenure, he created the Space Technology Mission Directorate and ushered in a new era focused on innovation in aeronautics technology. Mr. Bolden oversaw key initiatives including an increase in the fleet of Earth-observing satellites, the landing of the Curiosity Rover on Mars, and the launch of spacecraft to Jupiter. He later served as a U.S. Department of State Science Envoy for Space and was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his lasting contributions to human spaceflight, space operations, and aeronautics research.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., August 17, 2021 (Virgin Orbit PR) — Virgin Orbit is excited to announce that Brig. Gen. Mark Baird (US Air Force, retired) has been selected as the new President of VOX Space, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary that provides responsive, timely, dedicated, and affordable launch services for the national security community. In his new role, Mark will leverage more than 30 years of aerospace experience spanning both government and private entities to lead the VOX Space team forward as it builds on its early successes.

Entering the Air Force in 1989, Mark served the US’ national security space community for three decades, including positions as the Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office; the Director of Space Acquisition for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force; the Vice Commander of the US Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, and the Director of Space Superiority Systems. As the Deputy Director of the Space Force Planning Task Force at the Pentagon, Mark was responsible along with the Director for overseeing the detailed planning activities required to establish the U.S. Space Force, as well as all requisite activities from the US Air Force, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Executive Branch, and Congress.

Lauren Lyons tapped to lead efforts in scaling production and operations as Firefly moves into commercial production

CEDAR PARK, Texas (Firefly Aerospace PR) — Firefly Aerospace, Inc., a leading provider of economical and dependable launch vehicles, spacecraft, and in-space services, today announced that Lauren Lyons will join the team as Chief Operating Officer (COO), working out of their corporate headquarters in Cedar Park, Texas. This appointment comes on the heels of Firefly’s recent component business announcement and preparation for its upcoming launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California.

KOUROU, French Guiana (ESA PR) — After years in development and testing, the LEDSAT 1U CubeSat is finally in space! 

The student satellite, developed under the Fly Your Satellite! programme, was successfully launched on Vega flight VV19 at 03:47 CEST from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. 

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. (NASA PR) — The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage for the second flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket arrived in Florida on July 28 for the final phase of production. The stage and its single RL10 engine provide the in-space propulsion needed to send NASA’s Orion spacecraft and its crew on a precise trajectory to the Moon for Artemis II, the first crewed mission of NASA’s […]

This marks the second in a series of strategic acquisitions by Phantom, who is building mass manufacturing capabilities for space transportation technology

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Phantom Space Corporation, a space transportation technology development and manufacturing company, today announced the successful acquisition of Micro Aerospace Solutions, a leader in space communications systems, space propulsion systems, and electrical hardware design for spacecraft and rockets. The acquisition has further propelled Phantom towards its goal of democratizing space access by mass manufacturing launch vehicles, satellites, and space propulsion systems. This is the second in a series of acquisitions made by Phantom, the first being StratSpace in May 2021.

• Spire’s Common Stock to Commence Trading on NYSE Under the Ticker “SPIR”
• Combined Company to Continue Providing Space-Based Data Solutions and Space Services to Global Customers
• Gross Proceeds to Spire totaled $265 million, combining funds held in NavSight Holdings’ Trust and concurrent PIPE financing

VIENNA, Va. & RESTON, Va. (Spire Global PR) – Spire Global, Inc. (“Spire” or the “Company”) a leading global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, today announced it has completed its previously announced business combination with NavSight Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NSH) (“NavSight”) to take Spire public. The combined company has been renamed “Spire Global, Inc.” and its shares will commence trading on the New York Stock Exchange on August 17, 2021, under the ticker symbol “SPIR” for Spire common stock and “SPIRW” for Spire warrants.

Models and lab tests suggest the asteroid could be venting sodium vapor as it orbits close to the Sun, explaining its increase in brightness.

PASADENA, Calif. (NASA PR) — As a comet zooms through the inner solar system, the Sun heats it, causing ices below the surface to vaporize into space. The venting vapor dislodges dust and rock, and the gas creates a bright tail that can extend millions of miles from the nucleus like an ethereal veil.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting Saturday, Aug. 28, to launch its 23rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is scheduled for liftoff at 3:37 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

• On August 16, Arianespace launched the 19th Vega mission (VV19), its 7th successful launch of the year.
• This launch orbited Pléiades Neo 4, the second very high-resolution satellite of the new Airbus Defence and Space’s Earth Observation satellite constellation.
• Four innovative cubesats were also deployed for ESA and Unseenlabs.

KOUROU, French Guiana (Arianespace PR) — On Monday, August 16, 2021 at 10:47 pm local time (01:47 am (UTC) on Thursday, August 17), a Vega launch vehicle operated by Arianespace lifted off successfully from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (South America). This mission marked Arianespace’s 7th successful launch of the year and the second with Vega in 2021. It lasted one hour, 44 minutes and 59 seconds during which Pléiades Neo 4 separated on a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 625 km while the four auxiliary payloads separated at 551 kilometers.

NASA public affairs has issued this statement: “NASA was notified that Blue Origin filed a bid protest with the United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC) following the denial of the protests filed with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding NASA’s selection for the human landing system (HLS) Option A award. NASA officials are currently reviewing details of the case. NASA is committed to the Artemis program and the nation’s […]