AMSTERDAM (NSO PR) — Space is developing rapidly as a global commercial market and it is no longer the exclusive domain of space agencies. The Netherlands has the necessary qualities to play a substantial role in the growth market for space in the future as well.

How does the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) ensure that those future opportunities actually arise and are capitalised on? The answer: by supporting promising innovations during a crucial phase with one of its innovation schemes. Sometimes, that support is needed in order to e.g. take the final step towards the market.

This is what will allow the Belgian company Aerospacelab to launch a small earth-observation satellite in a few years’ time that will be powered by a new generation of solar panels from the Netherlands. This makes the company the launching customer of Sparkwing, an innovative product developed by Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands from Leiden, with a final push towards the market provided by the NSO. The contract between Aerospacelab and Airbus Defense and Space was signed last month. An untapped market awaits.

KBR will deploy, develop and operate the Space Weather Follow-On Antenna Network. This work will contribute to accurate space weather forecasts.

HOUSTON – (May 13, 2021) – KBR (NYSE: KBR) won a new $51.2 million contract from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to deploy, develop and operate the agency’s Space Weather Follow-On (SWFO) Antenna Network. KBR’s work will contribute to accurate forecasts of space weather, protecting lives and livelihood around the planet.

Under this contract, KBR will build and maintain an antenna network that sends and receives continuous mission data from the SWFO-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory and its ground segment. KBR’s network will perform telemetry, command and ranging services for the observatory’s operations.

SEATTLE (BlackSky PR) — On Saturday, May 15, 2021, a Rocket Lab Electron rocket carrying two BlackSky satellites suffered a failure during flight, preventing the successful deployment of our satellites. Rocket Lab is actively investigating the cause of the failure. “We have developed a resilient and responsive strategy for our constellation,” Brian E. O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky. “BlackSky has additional satellites ready to deploy, as well as an active production […]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (SMC PR) – The Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise, in collaboration with the Space Development Corps’ Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), today released three Requests for Prototype Proposals to industry.

SMC intends to partner with industry to invest in next generation rocket engine testing, upper stage resiliency enhancements, and orbital transfer and maneuver capabilities.

“These enabling investments are a part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 strategy to accelerate development of transformational space access capabilities and make them available for future NSSL procurement contracts,” said Col. Rob Bongiovi, director of SMC’s Launch Enterprise. “We are eager to work with SpEC to maximize acquisition flexibility and speed to award the next generation rocket engine testing and upper stage resiliency enhancements Other Transactions by September 2021 and the orbital transfer and maneuver capabilities OTs in early 2022.”

It’s been more than 24 hours and people have begun to notice China hasn’t released any photos from its successful landing on the Red Planet. Other than the initial announcement of a successful landing, there are no updates on the Chinese space agency’s website. It’s not clear what might have happened, but the longer the silence goes on the more ominous it becomes. Space is hard. Mars is even harder.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (SpaceX PR) — On Saturday, May 15 at 6:56 p.m. EDT, SpaceX launched 52 Starlink satellites, a Capella Space Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, and Tyvak-0130 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the eighth launch and landing of this Falcon 9 first stage booster, which previously launched NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station, […]

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., (May 15, 2021) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to launch the Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS GEO) Flight 5 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC). The launch is on track for May 17 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Launch is planned for 1:35 p.m. EDT. The live launch broadcast begins at 1:15 p.m. EDT on May 17 at www.ulalaunch.com.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (SpaceX PR) — SpaceX is targeting today, Saturday, May 15, for its next Starlink mission launching aboard Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 6:54 p.m. EDT, or 22:54 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Sunday, May 16 at 6:33 p.m. EDT, or 22:33 UTC. On board this mission are 52 Starlink satellites, a Capella […]

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

Rocket Lab suffered its second launch failure in less than a year on Saturday as an Electron booster’s second stage appeared to tumble out of control immediately after its engine fired. Two optical Earth observation satellites owned by U.S.-based BlackSky were lost in the accident.

Rocket Lab’s third launch failure in 20 launches comes at a delicate time for the dedicated small satellite launch provider. Rocket Lab is in the midst of going public by merging with a company already listed on the nasdaq stock exchange. The merger will provide about $800 million that Rocket Lab needs to develop a larger booster to address competitive threats posed by smallsat launch rivals and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

AUKLAND, New Zealand, May 16, 2021 (Rocket Lab PR) — Following a successful lift-off, first stage burn, and stage separation, Rocket Lab experienced an anomaly during its 20th Electron mission ‘Running Out Of Toes.’ The issue occurred following second stage ignition during the flight on May 15, 2021 UTC, resulting in the loss of the mission. The launch vehicle’s second stage remained within the predicted launch corridor and caused no harm […]

• Arqit Limited (“Arqit”), a leader in quantum encryption technology, has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with Centricus Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CENH, CENHW, CENHU) (“Centricus”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company.
• Arqit has pioneered a unique quantum encryption technology, QuantumCloud™, which makes the communications links of any networked device secure against current and future forms of hacking – even an attack from a quantum computer.
• The transaction with Centricus is expected to provide up to $400 million of gross proceeds to Arqit (assuming minimal redemption from existing Centricus shareholders). This includes funds from a fully committed PIPE of approximately $70 million with participation from Arqit business partners Virgin Orbit and Sumitomo Corporation, and Centricus sponsor Heritage Group.
• Pro forma equity value of the business combination is approximately $1.4 billion, and pro forma enterprise value is approximately $1.0 billion at the PIPE price of $10.00 per share, assuming minimal redemption from existing Centricus shareholders.
• This transaction will accelerate the next stages of Arqit’s business plan, including the mass commercialization of its products and the launch of two satellites, which is targeted for 2023.
• Investor webcast and call is scheduled for May 12, 2021, at 9:00 AM EST / 2:00 PM BST.

NEW YORK and LONDON (Centricus/Arqit PR) — Arqit Limited (“Arqit”), a leader in quantum encryption technology and Centricus Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CENH) (Nasdaq: CENHW) (Nasdaq: CENHU) (“Centricus”), a special purpose acquisition company, have entered into a definitive agreement that would result in Arqit becoming a publicly listed company (the “Business Combination Agreement”). Upon closing of the transaction, a newly formed Cayman holding company, Arqit Quantum Inc., will merge with Centricus, acquire Arqit and register its shares  for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Virgin Orbit PR) — Virgin Orbit, the California-based responsive launch company, today announced it has been selected by UK-based Arqit Limited, a leader in quantum encryption technology, to conduct two launches to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) beginning in 2023.

Arqit has pioneered a unique quantum encryption technology, QuantumCloud™, which makes the communications links of any networked device secure against current and future forms of hacking — even an attack from a quantum computer. Currently, Arqit’s system delivers an unlimited number of encryption keys using terrestrial communications systems, but by incorporating satellites, Arqit can further enhance the system.