U.S. and United Arab Emirates-based space tech company Precious Payload released the first API software integration of the "Launch.ctrl" space navigation tool it developed with "ienai GO" software by Spanish propulsion solutions provider Ienai Space. In an April 7 announcement, Ienai Space said it will utilize Lauch.ctrl to allow engineers to design thrusters using their own open-access cloud platform…

Aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin published an open-source, non-proprietary Mission Augmentation Port (MAP) interface standard for on-orbit spacecraft docking on Monday and made it available for download on their website. The company hopes the standard will accelerate the development of technology that allows interoperability of docking satellites. The Lockheed Martin standard includes: information required for a compliant…

To commemorate International Women’s Day, Via Satellite is celebrating women who have made a difference for the greater satellite and space industry, and in the lives of their colleagues. More than 40 people wrote about their mentors, friends, and bosses — women that drive the industry forward through engineering, business development, regulatory policy, sales, and more. Here…

European scientists have bounced a long-range message off the Moon, setting a new world record of 730,360 km for the furthest distance a long-range message has ever travelled. The players involved claim that the IoT standard long-range could become relevant for future lunar communications. It was also the first time a data message was bounced…