Deep Space Network antenna mishap blamed on poor training and procedures
spacenews.com

Deep Space Network antenna mishap blamed on poor training and procedures

A NASA investigation into a Deep Space Network (DSN) antenna mishap in Goldstone, California, has identified poor training and procedures as the primary causes of the incident. The 70-meter DSN antenna suffered damage when it over-rotated, resulting in $4.1-$4.6 million in damage. The investigation found six critical events leading up to the mishap, including inadequate training, procedures, and a reliance on undocumented behaviors. The incident has led to 20 recommendations, including improving training and procedures to prevent [...]
Watch SpaceX launch 3 huge BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites from Florida early on June 17
space.com

Watch SpaceX launch 3 huge BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites from Florida early on June 17

SpaceX will launch three giant direct-to-cell satellites, BlueBird 8, 9, and 10, from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 17, during a 96-minute window. The satellites, built by AST SpaceMobile, will form part of a constellation that beams internet service directly to cell phones. This is the company's eighth launch, and it will quadruple the number of next-generation satellites in low Earth orbit. The launch will be carried out using a Falcon 9 rocket, which [...]
PiLogic partners with Air Force lab to test satellite fault-prediction software
spacenews.com

PiLogic partners with Air Force lab to test satellite fault-prediction software

PiLogic, a Los Angeles-based startup, has partnered with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to test its artificial intelligence software for predicting satellite faults. The two-year agreement will use an AFRL cubeSat launched in 2022 as a platform to evaluate PiLogic's software, which analyzes onboard sensor data to detect anomalies and predict potential failure modes. The company's software aims to provide engineers with an explainable understanding of spacecraft behavior, rather than simply generating alerts. This approach could [...]
SpaceX passes Amazon as valuation balloons to $2.7T
techcrunch.com

SpaceX passes Amazon as valuation balloons to $2.7T

SpaceX has surpassed Amazon as the fifth-most valuable company in the world, with a valuation of $2.7 trillion following a 20% stock price increase on Monday and an 8% rise in early trading Tuesday. The company's valuation has grown by $1 trillion since its initial public offering (IPO) on Friday, despite a $4.9 billion loss on $18.7 billion in revenue last year. SpaceX's recent acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion and compute leasing deals [...]
Katalyst Space raises $12 million for GEO servicing demo mission
spacenews.com

Katalyst Space raises $12 million for GEO servicing demo mission

Katalyst Space Technologies has raised $12 million for a geosynchronous orbit demonstration mission. The funding will support development of its first Nexus spacecraft, scheduled to launch in 2027 on an Ariane 6. Nexus-1 will approach a U.S. Space Force satellite and install a space domain awareness sensor, then conduct additional rendezvous operations. This mission follows the upcoming launch of its Link spacecraft, which will raise the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The Link spacecraft is [...]
Will NASA still be able to land humans on the Moon by 2028?
interestingengineering.com

Will NASA still be able to land humans on the Moon by 2028?

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded violently during a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in late May 2026. The incident occurred shortly after the rocket's seven BE-4 engines ignited, resulting in a costly failure. The explosion is expected to have significant repercussions for the Artemis program, which relies on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket for future missions. The incident raises concerns about the program's ability to meet its 2028 deadline for landing humans [...]
DARPA to explore ways to rapidly rebuild satellite networks if attacked
spacenews.com

DARPA to explore ways to rapidly rebuild satellite networks if attacked

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking input from the space industry on how to rapidly restore critical space capabilities if satellites are disabled or destroyed during a conflict. DARPA released a request for information titled "Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities" on June 12, with responses due by July 8. The agency aims to reestablish critical services on timelines measured in hours to weeks, reflecting Pentagon concerns that space is becoming an increasingly contested domain.