Trio of satellites completes functional testing and starts commercial operations

Herndon, Virginia (March 31, 2021) — HawkEye 360 Inc., the first commercial company to use formation-flying satellites to create a new class of radio frequency (RF) data and data analytics, today announced that its recently-launched “Cluster 2” satellites have achieved initial operating capability. The trio of satellites, which entered orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in January, have completed functional testing, moved into proper formation, and begun to geolocate RF signals. They are currently supplying RF data to customers and will soon ramp up output to reach full operating capability.

LYNCHBURG, Va., April 1, 2021 (BWX Technologies PR) – BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) announced today that it is continuing its groundbreaking Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) design, manufacturing development, and test support work for NASA. NTP is one of the technologies that is capable of propelling a spacecraft to Mars, and this contract continues BWXT’s work that began in 2017.

ICEYE Adds Key Executives to Leadership Team as Growth Accelerates

HELSINKI, Finland, March 31, 2021 (ICEYE PR) – ICEYE, the global leader in persistent monitoring of the Earth with radar satellite imaging, announced today $50M in signed contracts last year for radar satellite imaging services, solutions, and satellite missions. This represents nearly 10X growth from the previous year. ICEYE’s real-time Earth observation capabilities transform existing businesses and government processes by adding substantial efficiency with specific knowledge about ongoing events around the globe. Ten new satellite missions are planned for 2021 to meet growing customer demand for data.

On Wednesday morning, the Long March 4C carrier rocket launched the Gaofen 12-02 Earth observation satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Gaofen 12-02 will be primarily used for land census, urban planning, land rights confirmation, road network design, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation. Long March 4C was developed by the Eighth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group. For multi-satellite launch missions, the booster can carry […]

WASHINGTON (NASA PR) — NASA has selected nine scientists to join the upcoming Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) mission. Set to launch in August 2022 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 and orbit the Moon for about a year, KPLO is the first space exploration mission of the Republic of Korea (ROK) that will travel beyond Earth orbit.

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa, March 30, 2021 (Dragonfly Aerospace PR) — Dragonfly Aerospace is pleased to announce that it has delivered a customised Gecko electro-optical imager to Loft Orbital to fly on its YAM-3 satellite, due to launch in Q2 2021. The Gecko camera is an easy-to-integrate imaging solution with a compact design and includes large built-in mass storage. Its reliable performance comes from its mature flight-proven electronics and ruggedized optics.

This imager will be mounted to the exterior of the satellite and will be used to support tip-and-cue missions and demonstrations for customers.

“Dragonfly Aerospace is proud to be able to deliver one of our most popular products to Loft Orbital for their unique YAM programme. Our strategy is to partner with great companies from around the world to bring our vision of persistent high-quality imaging of the Earth to fruition. This mission with Loft Orbital is another step in the right direction.” Dragonfly Aerospace CEO Bryan Dean stated.

Crewed Dream Chaser® Spaceplane to Shuttle Private Astronauts

SPARKS, Nev., March 31, 2021 (Sierra Nevada Corporation PR) – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security company owned by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, outlined development plans for its low-Earth orbit (LEO) space station – leveraging its transportation and destination technologies – releasing new images, details and video of the unique concept in support of LEO commercialization.

The space station is a configuration of multiple large inflatable LIFE^™  habitats that can be serviced by both cargo and crew carrying Dream Chaser spaceplanes.

Shetland Space Centre’s (SSC) plans to build a spaceport on the old Royal Air Force Skaw radar station has been shot down, spelling potential doom for the project and Lockheed Martin’s plans to launch satellites from site in northern Scotland. The Shetland Times reports. Historic Environment Scotland (HES)  said it would cause “extensive and adverse impact on the cultural significance” of Skaw radar station. However, SSC chief executive Frank Strang […]

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched a space accelerator to assist startups in the industry. The company described the new program in a blog post: The AWS Space Accelerator is a four-week business support program that is open to space startups seeking to use AWS to help solve the biggest challenges in the space industry. Applications are open today and proposals are due by April 21, 2021. The AWS Space Accelerator will […]

The Ingenuity Mars helicopter is nearly ready for deployment from NASA’s Perseverance Rover. The rover will gently drop the helicopter onto the surface and then drive away. NASA is targeting April 8 for the vehicle’s first flight.

With broadband access essential to economic growth, 46 percent of the world’s population remains unconnected, Covid pandemic highlights importance of bridging the digital divide

PARIS, WASHINGTON, D.C., MONTREAL, YOKOHAMA, 29 March 2021 (Euroconsult PR) – In its first ever report on Universal Broadband Access, Euroconsult, the world’s leading authority on space and satellite-based applications markets, forecasts that the global market for satellite broadband is expected to triple with service revenues reaching $12.7 billion by 2029. With 46 percent of the world’s population still unconnected, satellite broadband remains key to bringing essential services to sparsely populated regions where extending terrestrial networks is not economically feasible.     

By Emily McLeod Sulkes
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

NASA invites the public to take part in virtual activities and events ahead of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission. Liftoff of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket with astronauts is targeted for no earlier than 6:11 a.m. EDT Thursday, April 22, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.