China may include helicopter in Mars sample return mission
Sunday, 23 April 2023 14:31Astra wins $11.5 million contract to launch military experimental payloads
Saturday, 22 April 2023 22:17![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
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Astra Space won a task order worth $11.5 million to launch experimental payloads for the Defense Department’s Space Test Program.
U.S. military buying SES mPower satcom services under new NATO agreement
Saturday, 22 April 2023 19:09![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/O3b-mPOWER-Constellation-Rendition-Europe-Middle-East-and-Africa-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C158&ssl=1)
The U.S. Space Force in its 2024 budget allocated $59 million to buy satellite communications services from SES’ new broadband constellation in medium Earth orbit known as O3b mPower.
U.S. Space Force will be the first customer for BlueHalo’s mobile ground station
Saturday, 22 April 2023 11:18![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Badger antenna Bluehalo](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_1194-scaled.jpeg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1)
The U.S.
Swedish astronaut to fly to ISS on Axiom mission
Friday, 21 April 2023 21:42![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Christer Fuglesang](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/fuglesang2.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1)
A Swedish astronaut may fly to the International Space Station on a commercial mission within the next year under an agreement signed this week.
Inmarsat still trying to restore satellite phone services in Asia Pacific
Friday, 21 April 2023 20:45![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Inmarsat_HQ_in_London_-_credit_Inmarsat.jpeg?fit=300%2C165&ssl=1)
Inmarsat has restored maritime and aviation safety capabilities on its I-4 F1 satellite over Asia Pacific but is still trying to recover services for L-band phones that have been down for nearly a week.
Government calls for greater responsibility by satellite operators
Friday, 21 April 2023 16:23![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![DalBello and Langster](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/38ss-dalbello-langster.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1)
Government officials say satellite operators need to take greater responsibility for safe operations of their spacecraft in increasingly congested orbits.
LeoLabs highlights on-orbit maneuvers
Friday, 21 April 2023 13:49![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
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A LeoLabs maneuver-detection dashboard displayed at the 38th Space Symposium tracked the location of about 30 Chinese, Iranian and Russian spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.
Week in images: 17-21 April 2023
Friday, 21 April 2023 12:10![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/04/earth_30_year_comparison/24832556-1-eng-GB/Earth_30_year_comparison_card_full.jpg)
Week in images: 17-21 April 2023
Discover our week through the lens
Nelson supports continuing restrictions on NASA cooperation with China
Friday, 21 April 2023 11:20![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![Nelson at House CJS hearing April 2023](https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/nelson-housecjs-april2023.jpg?fit=300%2C213&ssl=1)
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said he supports continuing current restrictions on the agency’s ability to work with China in spaceflight as he warns of a “space race” between the countries.
Lockheed Martin cubesats validate essential maneuvers for on-orbit servicing
Friday, 21 April 2023 10:08![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/lockheedmartin-linuss-small-sats-mission-marker-bg.jpg)
Lockheed Martin's first LM 400 multi-mission space vehicle completes testing milestone
Friday, 21 April 2023 10:08![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/lockheed-martin-first-lm-400-mid-sized-multi-mission-satellite-bus-bg.jpg)
Scientists reviewed the research and development of Tianzhou cargo spacecraft
Friday, 21 April 2023 10:08![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/china-configuration-tianzhou-cargo-spacecraft-bg.jpg)
'Complacency' must be avoided to maintain U.S. superiority in space, Saltzman says
Friday, 21 April 2023 10:08![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/us-force-chief-of-space-operations-general-chance-saltzman-bg.jpg)
Kendall explains why success in space requires 'transformational change'
Friday, 21 April 2023 10:08![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/secretary-air-force-frank-kendall-2023-space-symposium-bg.jpg)