Analysis: China, Europe pulling ahead of U.S. in commercial satellite imaging
U.S. satellite imaging capabilities historically have been the best in the world. Today, they are not just losing ground but they are officially behind those of other nations.
This bombshell is ricocheting around Washington following an internal analysis by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and was recently confirmed by the agency’s director Vice Adm.
Hydrosat raises $5 million in seed funding round
This article was updated June 17 at 4:50 pm Eastern time with comments from HydroSat CEO Pieter Fossel.
SAN FRANCISCO – Data analytics company Hydrosat has raised $5 million in seed funding for a satellite constellation to produce a global thermal infrared map.
Tyvak and Lawrence Livermore National Lab release Earth and space images
SAN FRANCISCO – Tyvak released the first images of objects in orbit and on the ground captured by telescopes the satellite manufacturer developed with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
The technology demonstration satellite, Tyvak-0130, launched May 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare flight.
SES seeks speedier summary judgment in C-band case against Intelsat
TAMPA, Fla. — SES is asking Intelsat’s bankruptcy court for a speedier summary judgment on the satellite operators’ C-band dispute instead of a full trial.
The company said in a June 16 court filing that it had already submitted enough evidence for a ruling in its favor over Intelsat’s withdrawal from their C-Band Alliance, where it said the competitors agreed to split proceeds from clearing the spectrum evenly.
Falcon 9 launches GPS satellite in first national security mission with reused booster
WASHINGTON — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a U.S. Space Force GPS 3 satellite June 17. The rocket lifted off at 12:09 p.m. Eastern from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Chinese crew enters new space station on 3-month mission
Capella Space wins research contract from U.S. Space Development Agency
WASHINGTON — Radar satellite imagery startup Capella Space on June 14 received a $3 million research contract in support of the Space Development Agency’s National Defense Space Architecture.
Capella Space was selected through a “broad agency announcement” issued by the space agency in January seeking proposals on a wide range of technologies for “National Defense Space Architecture Systems, Technologies, and Emerging Capabilities.
Senate confirms NASA deputy administrator, NOAA administrator
Updated 6 p.m. Eastern with NASA and Coalition for Deep Space Exploration statements.
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed the nominations June 17 of a former astronaut to be the deputy administrator of NASA and of an ocean scientist to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Japan passes space resources law
WASHINGTON — Japan’s parliament approved legislation that allows companies to extract and utilize space resources as the head of Russia’s space agency criticized similar national laws on the subject.
The House of Councilors, the upper house of the National Diet of Japan, passed the bill June 15.
After 9 years and $10M, Georgia spaceport nears FAA approval
