Launch

Unrelenting demand for launch availability, particularly from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation operators, is pushing launch providers to diversify and adapt their existing vehicle lineups. As evident during Monday’s closing session at the SATELLITE 2018 Conference & Exhibition, a common thread running through major launch companies’ strategies is the need to accommodate “opportunistic” launches for...

As the panel on “New Launch Options to Orbit Part 1” ensued, moderator, Kendall Russell, assistant editor for Via Satellite, noted the huge growth that the smallsat sector has recently been through. 2017 was an important — and a breakthrough — year for the small satellite sector with more than 200 launched. The potential for...

SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation has signed an agreement with Blue Origin for the future use of its New Glenn launch vehicle currently under development. The rocket, named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, is planned for a debut launch in 2020 from Florida. Read more at GeekWire>>

After the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) denied Swarm Technologies to launch their satellites because they are too small to track, IEEE Spectrum is finding that it looks like those satellites reached space anyway. Read more at TechCrunch >>

Relive the excitement from just moments ago as #Soyuz begins its first mission from French Guiana in 2018. #VS18 @SES_Satellites @Thales_Alenia_S pic.twitter.com/7mjTzJT5J5 — Stéphane Israël (@arianespaceceo) March 9, 2018 In its second launch of the year, Arianespace successfully orbited four O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites for SES. The new Ka-band satellites will join the...

Accion Systems founder and CEO gives us 10 reasons why 2018 will be the year where NewSpace proves itself...

In 2018, the space industry has — with a mélange of excitement and relief — witnessed advances in launch capabilities on both ends of the mass spectrum. Rocket Lab’s dedicated smallsat vehicle Electron and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy conducted successful demo missions in January and February, respectively, paving the way for long-awaited commercial operations to begin...

SpaceX marked its 50th Falcon 9 launch on Tuesday, successfully orbiting a city bus-sized satellite for Spanish operator Hispasat. The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida just after midnight EST. Very proud of the SpaceX team! Can’t believe it’s been fifty Falcon 9...

NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched the second in a series of next-generation weather satellites this week for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At 5:02 p.m. EST Thursday, NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES S) lifted off on an Atlas 5 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air...

By now, you probably know we announced SpaceX’s President and COO, Gwynne Shotwell, as our 2017 Satellite Executive of the Year. She is one of the most admired and respected executives in our industry and an inspiration for young women around the world. SpaceX continues to accomplish amazing feats under her management and her contributions...