China’s Shijian spacecraft separate after pioneering geosynchronous orbit refueling tests
HELSINKI — China’s experimental Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites have separated in geosynchronous orbit after being docked for months…
Baikonur pad damaged in Soyuz launch to ISS
BERLIN — The Baiknour pad used for the launch of the latest crew to the International Space Station…
China set for first orbital launch and landing attempt this weekend with commercial Zhuque-3 rocket
HELSINKI — Chinese commercial launch firm Landspace is preparing to attempt the country’s first orbital launch and booster…
China moves to integrate commercial space into its national space development plan
HELSINKI — China’s space administration has published a policy blueprint aimed at accelerating development of commercial space and…
ACME Space plans test run for balloon-launched space factory next year
LONDON – London-headquartered ACME Space has unveiled plans to begin hardware tests of its balloon-launched orbital manufacturing vehicle…
Lithuanian space company Astrolight launches Greenland optical ground station project
WARSAW, Poland — The European Space Agency and Lithuanian space startup Astrolight are building the first optical ground…
China launches TJS-21 towards Molniya orbit, lofts trio of Shijian-30 spacecraft
HELSINKI — China conducted a pair of launches last week, adding new spacecraft to its opaque TJS and…
Finland’s Iceye secures Japanese contract as it advances international expansion, new satellite ranges
WARSAW, Poland — Finnish SAR constellation operator Iceye and Japan’s aerospace and defense company IHI Corporation recently signed…
First next-generation Starship booster damaged in testing
MUNICH — The first booster in the new generation of Starship vehicles suffered significant damage during a Nov.…
Think tank urges Europe to scale up space-based data center efforts
TAMPA, Fla. — Europe must move quickly to craft a large-scale strategy for space-based data centers or risk…
The ultimate backup: why humanity needs a lunar seed vault — now
Humanity is losing the genetic diversity that sustains life on Earth at a pace that should alarm every…
Electron launches confidential commercial satellite
BREMEN, Germany — Rocket Lab launched a payload for an undisclosed commercial customer Nov. 20, just hours after…