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China's LandSpace lands rocket booster; joins SpaceX and Blue Origin with reusable tech

China's LandSpace lands rocket booster; joins SpaceX and Blue Origin with reusable tech

BEIJING, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Chinese startup LandSpace on Wednesday recovered the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket, joining SpaceX and Blue Origin as the only private companies to land an orbital-class booster and narrowing China's gap with the U.S. in reusable rockets.
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California rocket launches have soared. Here's why even more are ahead

California rocket launches have soared. Here's why even more are ahead

California's Vandenberg is on pace for another record year for rocket launches. A new forecast predicts even more are ahead in the next decade.
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As Europe rearms, Italy's fragmented space sector faces a scale test

As Europe rearms, Italy's fragmented space sector faces a scale test

By Mirko Miorelli Aug 19 (Reuters) - Italy's fragmented space industry is facing growing pressure to consolidate as defence and government customers increasingly favour larger suppliers capable of handling complex programmes.
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U.S. Space Force Awards $981 Million Contract to Boost Space Industry

U.S. Space Force Awards $981 Million Contract to Boost Space Industry

The U.S. Space Force has announced a significant $981 million award, distributed among more than a dozen space companies, for the 'National Space Test and Training Complex Innovative Technology and Engineering Space Test and Range Capability Development,' or 'NITE-STAR' program. This contract aims to advance sophisticated systems and technologies crucial for maintaining the U.S. Space Force's advantage in a contested space domain. The award comes at a time when many space stocks have experienced volatility, with some, including SpaceX, showing signs of recovery. The NITE-STAR contract is intended to provide a sustained influx of funding into the space sector over the next decade, supporting various companies involved in space exploration and defense technologies. While the exact details of what NITE-STAR will entail are not fully clear, the overarching goal is to enhance the capabilities of Space Force servicemen, known as Guardians, in navigating complex space environments.
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China's LandSpace Achieves Global First with Stainless-Steel Booster Recovery After Orbital Launch

China's LandSpace Achieves Global First with Stainless-Steel Booster Recovery After Orbital Launch

China's commercial rocket company, LandSpace, has successfully recovered a stainless-steel booster after an orbital launch, marking a global first. The Zhuque-3 rocket, powered by liquid methane and oxygen, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre and delivered a Honghu-3 internet satellite into orbit. Its first stage then returned to Earth, executing a vertical touchdown at a recovery site in Minqin county, Gansu province. This achievement makes the Zhuque-3 China’s first commercial rocket to both reach orbit and have its first stage recovered. This success positions LandSpace as the fourth entity globally, after SpaceX, Blue Origin, and the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, to recover a launch vehicle, and the first to do so with a stainless-steel booster, a material choice that can offer cost advantages over traditional aluminum alloys.
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Rescue mission for aging NASA space telescope fails

Rescue mission for aging NASA space telescope fails

By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - A mission to rescue NASA's aging Swift observatory in space was canceled on Wednesday after the spacecraft that was launched to tug the satellite to a higher orbit suffered irredeemable technical issues in space, the rescue craft's owner, Katalyst
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Elon Musk’s $900 billion SpaceX stake is built on more than rockets

Elon Musk’s $900 billion SpaceX stake is built on more than rockets

Elon Musk’s biggest fortune may depend more on internet bills than Mars
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NASA Establishes State Hubs to Cultivate Aerospace Technical Workforce

NASA Establishes State Hubs to Cultivate Aerospace Technical Workforce

NASA has allocated approximately $10.5 million to seven institutions across the United States to establish 'NASA State Hubs.' This initiative aims to strengthen and streamline pathways for high school and community college students into skilled technical jobs within the aerospace industry. The investment is designed to accelerate the development of technical roles, such as welders, electricians, and machinists, to meet the growing talent demands of the space sector. The awarded organizations include Antelope Valley Community College District in California, Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Southern Utah University, Space Florida, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupation Education in Colorado, and the Texas Space Commission. These hubs will act as strategic conveners, aligning industry employers, educational programs, and workforce systems to facilitate student entry into high-demand technical jobs. The funding for these cooperative agreements comes from ...
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SEOPS Expands Rideshare Missions on Falcon 9 Amid SpaceX Program Wind-Down Concerns

SEOPS Expands Rideshare Missions on Falcon 9 Amid SpaceX Program Wind-Down Concerns

SEOPS Expands Rideshare Missions on Falcon 9 Amid SpaceX Program Wind-Down Concerns
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Goldman Sachs sees upside in a new industry

Goldman Sachs sees upside in a new industry

Wall Street has spent the past year watching rockets the way it once watched chip stocks. Launch schedules, satellite contracts, and IPO calendars have become dinner table conversation for a certain kind of investor. The pace of new listings has only accelerated that shift. Now one of the biggest ...
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HEO Partners with Planet to Expand Non-Earth Imaging Capabilities for U.S. Government Clients

HEO Partners with Planet to Expand Non-Earth Imaging Capabilities for U.S. Government Clients

HEO, an Australian company specializing in non-Earth imaging (NEI) of other spacecraft, has announced a partnership with Planet, a U.S.-based Earth observation company. This collaboration, revealed on August 17, allows HEO to utilize Planet's SkySat high-resolution satellites for NEI purposes. Under the agreement, HEO will task SkySat satellites to image other space objects when they are not engaged in Earth observation. Initially, this SkySat NEI imagery will be exclusively available to HEO's U.S. government customers due to licensing considerations. HEO's CEO, Will Crowe, emphasized the importance of diverse sensors and orbits to increase the chances of capturing images of objects of interest. This partnership significantly expands HEO's access to in-orbit sensors, adding to its existing network of over 50 sensors, primarily from other Earth observation providers.
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Fidelity Investments Among Key Holders of SpaceX Shares

Fidelity Investments Among Key Holders of SpaceX Shares

Fidelity Investments Among Key Holders of SpaceX Shares