Space Economy

NASA’s new Administrator Bill Nelson spoke at the Space Symposium on Tuesday, emphasizing the agency’s focus on using space to impact Earth, particularly to fight climate change.  “NASA’s value is not limited to space,” Nelson said. “Think about NASA’s work to stop wildfires and address our changing climate. Over the past week, a thick plume...

Rocket Lab has signed a deal with in-space manufacturing company Varda Space Industries to produce three Photon spacecraft that will integrate with the company’s “space factories.”   Varda Space is working to commercialize space manufacturing to build fiber optic cables, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors, which the company says have higher performance when produced in zero-gravity. Varda Space...

Malaysian satellite operator Measat was unable to salvage the Measat-3 satellite after it suffered an anomaly in late June. The company announced Friday that it is now in the process of de-orbiting the satellite, which will take place over the next few weeks. Measat still does not know the cause of the anomaly and said...

Space debris removal company Astroscale secured two significant endorsements of its long-term sustainability solutions within its home nation of Japan — its first collaborative partnership agreement with a launch service provider, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and an in-orbit servicing robotics research contract with the Japanese government. MHI, one of Japan’s largest global aerospace companies, will...

NASA has finalized its contract with Northrop Grumman to develop the living quarters for astronauts working on the Gateway, the planned in-orbit moon outpost. NASA announced July 9 the firm, fixed-price contract is valued at $935 million.  This is a step forward for NASA’s Artemis program, which is developing the Gateway to support science investigations...

Benchmark Space Systems has announced an in-space mobility offering that allows customers to pay as they go for in-space transport. SCOUT and Orbit Fab has signed on with agreements for the service, Benchmark announced on Wednesday.  Under the agreement, SCOUT plans to integrate Benchmark Halcyon thrusters across its fleet of 3D imaging and thermal sensor-equipped...