Focus: In-Space Services

European satellite operator Hispasat is collaborating with Infinite Orbits on a life extension mission using Endurance, the Infinite Orbits Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite life extension service solution.  Infinite Orbits will apply the life extension service to Hispasat’s GEO satellites. The companies hope the life extension mission will broaden the European space industry for European satellite...

Exotrail’s orbital transfer vehicle successfully deployed its first passenger in orbit, completing the demonstration of its new satellite delivery service, “spacedrop.” Launched in November 2023 aboard the SpaceX Transporter 9 mission, Exotrail conducted this delivery mission with the French Space Agency (CNES) and other space surveillance and tracking (SST) partners.  The “spacevan” orbital transfer vehicle...

Viasat selected Rocket Lab to produce a spacecraft bus and mission operation support to Viasat’s hybrid space network. The demonstrations will advance Viasat’s portfolio of space relay communication services in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) space missions. It is scheduled to launch in early 2026. The spacecraft will support demonstrations that are part of Viasat’s work under...

NASA made the decision to cancel the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) mission, citing technical, cost, and schedule challenges. NASA announced the decision on March 1, which affects prime contractor Maxar.  OSAM-1 was set to be the first mission to robotically refuel a satellite not designed for fueling or servicing. Yet NASA said...

The Federal Communications Commission proposed a framework for licensing in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) activities at its most recent meeting on Feb. 15. All five commissioners voted in favor of proposing the framework.  The FCC said these proposed changes are meant to support the development of these space activities, which it described as an...

It’s not every day that the FCC proposes an entirely new rule section to address an emerging technology. But it may be a signal of the technology’s potential when it does. Such is the case for ISAM — or in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. On Jan. 25, 2024, the Commission released a draft Notice of...

Italian space logistics company D-Orbit raised $100 million euros ($110 million) in a Series C funding round announced Thursday. Japanese industrial conglomerate Marubeni Corporation led the round, solidifying a commercial collaboration between the companies on space logistics. This is one of the largest funding rounds for a European space tech company.  D-Orbit is a rideshare...

Space infrastructure services company Momentus secured a contract with Italy’s Apogeo Space to provide orbital transportation services for nine of Apogeo’s IoT constellation picosatellites. The deal, announced Monday, represents the second nine-satellite batch Momentus that will deliver for Apogeo’s planned 100-satellite constellation, which is schedule to enter service by the second half of 2023. Apogeo’s...

This is the second of a two-part series analyzing the value of edge computing in space by the Boston Consulting Group. Read Part One: Size of the Prize: How Will Edge Computing in Space Drive Value Creation? What key drivers are necessary to ensure that edge computing in space is widely adopted to the degree that...

This is the second of a two-part series analyzing the value of edge computing in space by the Boston Consulting Group. Read Part One: Size of the Prize: How Will Edge Computing in Space Drive Value Creation? What key drivers are necessary to ensure that edge computing in space is widely adopted to the degree...