Top Stories of the Week From SpaceNews
11/15/2024 | View in Browser | Welcome to our roundup of top SpaceNews stories, delivered every Friday! Several companies announced new launch contracts this week: Rocket Lab signed its first Neutron launch customer ahead of a mid-2025 debut, Impulse Space signed on for three Falcon 9 launches, and AST SpaceMobile leaned on Blue Origin for its next wave of satellite deployments in addition to two Falcon 9 launches and one of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). | | |
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By Jeff Foust, Nov. 14, 2024 |
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| Rocket Lab says it has signed the first customer for its Neutron launch vehicle as the company pushes towards a mid-2025 first launch of the vehicle.
The company announced Nov. 12 that it signed a contract with an undisclosed "commercial satellite constellation operator" for two launches of Neutron, one in mid-2026 and the other in 2027, a deal that could lead to additional launches for the same customer.
"We see this agreement as an important opportunity that signifies the beginning of a productive collaboration that could see Neutron deploy this particular customer's entire constellation," Peter Beck, chief executive of Rocket Lab, said in an earnings call Nov. 12 to discuss the company's third quarter financial results. Read More |
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Spire Global offloads commercial maritime business for $241 million Vienna, Virginia-based Spire Global said Nov. 13 it has reached a $241 million deal to sell maritime customer contracts to Kpler of Belgium, which would also get exclusive rights to sell ship-tracking data from the operator's satellites to commercial entities and governments worldwide. Read More
Firefly Aerospace raises $175 million
The company announced Nov. 12 it raised what it described as an oversubscribed Series D round led by RPM Ventures. Several other existing and new ventures also participated in the round, which values Firefly at more than $2 billion. That valuation is an increase from the $1.5 billion the company reported in November 2023 when it closed the final tranche of a Series C round. Read More
Impulse Space buys three Falcon 9 launches Impulse Space announced the contract with SpaceX Nov. 14 for launches beginning in 2026. Each launch will carry the company's Helios transfer vehicle, a high-energy kick stage the company introduced in January to transport payloads quickly between orbits. Read More
AST SpaceMobile leans on Blue Origin to ramp up satellite launches AST SpaceMobile said Nov. 14 it has booked rockets from Blue Origin and others to deploy up to 45 Block 2 BlueBird satellites, with options for around 15 more, between 2025 and 2026 to provide full text, voice, and 5G data services to standard mobile phones across the United States and other key markets. AST SpaceMobile will also launch satellites on two Falcon 9 launches and one launch of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Read More | | |
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| | China unveils fully reusable Starship-like rocket concept China's main space contractor has unveiled a fully reusable rocket concept, reminiscent of SpaceX's Starship, designed to support its grandest ambitions for space. The new concept for the oft-revamped design of China's Long March 9 rocket is on display at the Zhuhai Airshow in Guangdong province, which opened Nov. 12. Read More
JPL announces new round of layoffs In a memo to employees Nov. 12 that JPL later published online, center director Laurie Leshin announced that about 325 employees would be be laid off this week to adjust to projected spending levels for fiscal year 2025. This is the second round of layoffs at JPL this year. Read More
NASA extends ISS cargo contracts through 2030
In procurement filings Nov. 8, NASA stated it planned to extend the existing Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 2 contracts with Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space and SpaceX that were set to expire at the end of 2026 through the end of 2030. NASA's current plans call for retiring the ISS in 2030. Read More
Next Ariane 6 launch slips to early 2025
Arianespace company said in a statement the next launch of the rocket was now projected to take place in the first quarter of 2025, "from mid-February." The launch, the first of the rocket to be overseen by Arianespace, will carry the CSO 3 reconnaissance satellite for the French military. Read More
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 | POLICY & POLITICS |
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| Trump's second term could push Space Force to take bolder stance As Donald Trump embarks on his second term, all eyes are on the future of the U.S. Space Force. Created during Trump's first term, the Space Force has become a focal point of national security strategy, with its mission aimed at countering rising space threats from China and Russia. Now, a sweeping policy agenda known as Project 2025 — led by the conservative Heritage Foundation —suggests that Trump's return could see a pivot toward a more "offensive" Space Force. Read More
Denmark signs Artemis Accords
NASA announced Nov. 13 that Christina Egelund, Denmark's minister of higher education and science, signed the Accords in a ceremony in Copenhagen. Alan Leventhal, U.S. ambassador to Denmark, represented the country at the event, with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson providing remarks by video. Denmark is the 48th country to sign the Accords. Read More | | |
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| | OPINION |
|  | By Kendall Marston, Nov. 7, 2024
| Forty years ago, the United States government made a decision that transformed the modern world: it opened the Global Positioning System (GPS) to civilian use. What began as a military technology became the foundation for countless innovations that we now take for granted — from turn-by-turn navigation to precision farming to emergency response systems. Today, GPS contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the global economy while maintaining America's technological leadership.
We stand at a similar crossroads with another transformative space technology: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). These advanced satellites can image the Earth through clouds and darkness, providing critical data for a wide range of applications. From improving agricultural yields to accelerating disaster response while also providing critical capacity for dual-use missions, the potential benefits are vast and exhilarating. Read More
The future with hypersonics
By Vince Fong
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