Space

Hello and welcome back to Max Q. There is SO much news this week, so let’s dive in. In this issue: Astroforge’s asteroid mining ambitions Boeing’s Starliner comes home News from Virgin Orbit, Rocket Lab and more Don't forget to sign up to get the free newslet

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has successfully touched down at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico after ferrying a load of supplies to the International Space Station — its first successful orbital mission. Though not everything went exactly to plan, this success may establish Boei

The concept of solar sails is not particularly new — just check out the Planetary Society’s LightSail 2, French startup Gama or NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System. But one group of researchers is pushing the technology to new heights. The Diffractive Solar Sailing project as

A massive contract from the National Reconnaissance Office will put billions in the pockets of new and established Earth observation companies BlackSky and Planet, and the more generalist Maxar. The “Electro-Optical Commercial Layer” contracts will be paid out over the next five to 10 y

Starlink has added yet another new service tier, its second diversification of its offerings in 2022, after it introduced a Business option earlier this year. The new “'RV” plan comes with some noteworthy differences versus its standard service — including the ability to stop and

Hello and welcome back to Max Q. In this issue: Boeing’s make it or break it launch Fresh funding for SpaceX News from Virgin Orbit, Rocket Lab and more Don't forget to sign up to get the free newsletter version of Max Q delivered to your inbox. Boeing’s make it or

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has had a rough couple years, but this afternoon it successfully docked with the International Space Station, its first successful mission to orbit. Despite a few hiccups, this launch went more or less as planned, and if the craft can return to Earth safe

Update: Aaaaand we have lift-off! As I write, Starliner is making its way over Ireland and heading towards space. Update 2: Orbital insertion burn complete! The previous test flight failed before it could successfully perform this maneuver, so it’s a big feat. See you on IS

Hello and welcome back to Max Q. In this issue: Astra’s long game in the small launch market The supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy News from Virgin Orbit, SpaceX and more Don't forget to sign up to get the free newsletter version of Max Q delivered to y

In a time when every rocket launch is livestreamed on YouTube, millions of people get a front row seat to a space company's successes and failures. Astra, a rocket startup-turned-public company, has had a few of both. But according to CEO Chris Kemp, perfection is not the point. “The expectat

Hello and welcome back to Max Q. In this issue: Rocket Lab’s milestone booster recovery Ursa Major and Phantom Space News from NASA, SpaceX and more Don't forget to sign up to get the free newsletter version of Max Q delivered to your inbox. Rocket Lab briefly catches bo

GPS networks are already a crucial part of everyday life around the world, but an international team of scientists has found a new, potentially life-saving use for them: tsunami warnings. Researchers from University College London and universities across Japan studied the ability of the GPS network

Starlink has introduced a paid add-on feature that lets customers “temporarily” move their service to different locations — anywhere within the same continent as their permanent service address that is currently served by Starlink satellite availability. The add-on will cost an additi

Hundreds of rocket engines manufactured by startup Ursa Major will be going to space company Phantom Space over the next few years, part of a massive order that reflects Phantom's bullish stance on the small launch market. “We placed the order based on how far out we could see the demand, and