The Edge
Firefly’s successful rocket launch over the weekend helps fill a big gap in the market, CEO says
The view from the upper stage of the Alpha rocket after reaching orbit on Oct. 1, 2022. Firefly Aerospace Private venture Firefly Aerospace reached orbit with its Alpha rocket for the first time on Saturday, a milestone in the company’s development that sees it join an increasingly competitive U.S. launch market. Firefly is the fifth […]
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NASA is working with SpaceX to explore a private mission to extend the life of the Hubble telescope
This 1990 photograph shows the Hubble Space Telescope being deployed from the space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-31. Source: NASA SpaceX and billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman are teaming up with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to study whether a private mission could extend the life of the famed Hubble telescope. NASA signed an agreement […]
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Cathie Wood’s Ark is buying stock in space SPAC Rocket Lab
A look at the company’s production floor shows a series of Electron boosters, with the typical black carbon fiber rockets in the foreground and a metallic-looking reusable booster in the center. Rocket Lab Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest is dipping back into a space SPAC, with two of the firm’s funds buying up stock in Rocket […]
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Artemis moon mission probable delayed to November as NASA moves rocket out of hurricane’s route
NASA’s huge Artemis 1 moon rocket is rolled again to the Vehicle Assembly Setting up off its lauchpad, after suspending the a great deal-anticipated mission a third time owing to the arrival of Hurricane Ian and other specialized challenges, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. September 27, 2022. Michael Weekes Jr | Reuters NASA’s extensive-awaited return […]
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Planet prepares to launch another line of imagery satellites to expand data-gathering operations
An artist’s depiction of a Tanager satellite in orbit. Planet PARIS — Planet is adding another type of imagery satellite to its product line, the latest expansion of the company’s data-gathering operations. The company named the new satellites Tanager — named after a bird family, like the existing lines of Dove and Pelican satellites that […]
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Hilton to design astronaut suites, facilities for Voyager’s private space station Starlab
Concept art of a “Starlab” space station Nanoracks PARIS — Hotel giant Hilton has signed on to design astronaut facilities for the private space station Starlab currently under development by Voyager Space Holdings and Lockheed Martin, the companies told CNBC on Monday. In addition to designing hospitality suites and sleeping arrangements, Hilton will also work […]
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How billionaire Jared Isaacman is using fighter jets to prepare his crew for private SpaceX missions
Astronauts love fighter jets, and billionaire founder Jared Isaacman is no different. Isaacman, who founded payments company Shift4, is deep into training with his team for the first spaceflight of the Polaris Program, announced earlier this year, in partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Isaacman’s crew of four is using fighter jets — including aircraft from his […]
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Lunar tech company Intuitive Machines to go public via SPAC at near $1 billion valuation
The Nova-C lunar lander seen on April 26, 2022 during assembly for the IM-1 mission. Intuitive Machines PARIS — Lunar-focused space company Intuitive Machines announced Friday it will go public via a SPAC, in a deal that values the venture at about $1 billion. The merger with special purpose acquisition company Inflection Point is expected […]
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Northrop Grumman exec says SpaceX’s Starship rocket has ‘awesome’ potential but ‘not there yet’
Starship prototype #24 conducts a test firing of six of its Raptor engines at the company’s facility near Brownsville, Texas on Sept. 8, 2022. SpaceX PARIS — The leader of a Northrop Grumman subsidiary that’s working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX sees exciting potential in the private space venture’s massive Starship rockets, but warned the industry […]
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How satellite broadband company SES wants to distinguish itself from rivals like SpaceX’s Starlink
PARIS — European satellite broadband operator SES wants to distinguish its services from the likes of industry challengers in SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper, as the company looks to reinforce its market position. SES CEO Steve Collar, speaking to CNBC at the annual World Satellite Business Week conference, said his company’s services, supported by satellites […]
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