TAMPA, Fla. — Parallels with aviation and maritime industries offer important insights for managing increasingly congested orbits, according to a Feb. 6 panel of space technology executives at the SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley. “We have 10,000-plus satellites right now, projected to double every 22 months,” said Ahsun Murad, CEO of satellite network specialist Optimal … Read more
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — A Defense Department unit is examining how SpaceX’s Starship vehicle could be used to support a broader architecture of in-space refueling. Speaking at the Smallsat Symposium here Feb. 6, Gary Henry, a senior adviser at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and a former SpaceX executive, said the agency was working with … Read more
TAMPA, Fla. — The shift toward standardized, modular satellite platforms that can serve as the foundation for multiple missions is reshaping the role of vertical integration in the industry, manufacturers said Feb. 4 during the SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley. Instead of designing a unique satellite for each mission, companies are increasingly adopting a common … Read more
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Los Angeles startup OurSky announced a merger Feb. 4 with telescope manufacturer PlaneWave Instruments to create Observable Space, a vertically integrated software and hardware products company. “Everyone knows that telescopes are the cornerstone of cosmic observation and exploration, but what people don’t realize is that they are also extremely critical for … Read more