Space

The future of the space industry may look a lot like its past, or so believes Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. At technewss Disrupt 2024 in San Francisco, he’ll be explaining how full-service, vertically integrated space companies will (again) be the big winners of this evolving sp

Astroscale's space junk observation satellite has moved within striking distance to a discarded rocket upper stage that's been floating around Earth for nearly 20 years, taking close-up pictures — preliminary to actually deorbiting the object in a future mission. The company released an

Satellite imagery startup Albedo is preparing for its up-close-and-personal debut. Albedo's first satellite will take to orbit next spring as the company looks to turn the commercial Earth observation industry upside down with its novel approach and ultra-high-resolution cameras. 

We could be entering a renaissance for human spaceflight research, as a record number of private citizens head to space — and as scientists improve techniques for gathering data on these intrepid test subjects.  A sign that the renaissance is imminent appeared earlier this week, when the jo

Fresh off the success of its first mission, satellite manufacturer Apex has closed $95 million in new capital to scale its operations.  The Los Angeles-based startup successfully launched and commissioned its first spacecraft, a model called Aries, in March. That mission has gone off seemingly wi

Rocket Lab is poised to snap up around $24 million in federal funding to dramatically boost the production of its compound semiconductors, also known as solar cells, which provide power to satellites and spacecraft.  The funding, which would go to Rocket Lab subsidiary SolAero Technologies, w

William A. Anders, the astronaut behind perhaps the single most iconic photo of our planet, has died at the age of 90. On Friday morning, Anders was piloting a small plane that dove into the water near Roche Harbor, Washington. His son Greg confirmed his death. Anders retired from

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has successfully delivered two astronauts to the International Space Station, a key milestone in the aerospace giant’s quest to certify the capsule for regular crewed missions.  Starliner safely docked at 10:34 AM Pacific Time. After taking some time to equ

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is officially on its way to the International Space Station, marking an historic first for the long-delayed astronaut transportation program. Inside the spacecraft are two NASA astronauts — spaceflight veterans Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — who are set to a

The number of satellites on low Earth orbit is poised to explode over the coming years as more mega-constellations come online. This will create new opportunities for bad actors to hide weapons or spy satellites among their fleet.  That's according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Ag

The Japanese billionaire who commissioned SpaceX for a private mission around the moon on a Starship rocket has abruptly canceled the project, citing ongoing uncertainties around when the launch vehicle will be ready to fly.  “I signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption that dearM

Space startup Basalt Technologies started in a shed behind a Los Angeles dentist’s office, but things have escalated quickly: Soon it will try to “hack” a derelict satellite and install its space-specific OS. (With the owner's permission, of course). The startup's co-founder, Ale

After two years of preparation and four delays over the past several months due to technical glitches, Indian space startup Agnikul has successfully launched its first suborbital test vehicle, powered by its unique 3D-printed rocket engines, space agency Indian Space Research Organisation said Thur

The European Space Agency selected two companies on Wednesday to advance designs of a cargo spacecraft that could establish the continent's first sovereign access to space.  The two awardees, major aerospace prime Thales Alenia Space and French startup The Exploration Company, will receiv