Ed Dwight was supposed to be the first astronaut of color. Now the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship is trying to create space opportunities for Black students.

The post America’s first Black astronaut candidate finally flew. Now it’s time to make more appeared first on SpaceNews.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai talks orbital debris rules, megaconstellations, C-band auction, Ligado and more with SpaceNews.

The post Interview | FCC Chairman Pai on RDOF, megaconstellations, debris rules and C-band auction appeared first on SpaceNews.

SAR satellites can gather data day and night, but the resultant imagery is typically more expensive, less available, and more difficult to use than optical imagery. Technological advances are breaking down those barriers, positioning SAR for much more widespread adoption, according to experts.

The post Synthetic aperture radar finally shedding its mystique appeared first on SpaceNews.

French space and defense company Hemeria is taking steps to quickly scale beyond cubesats and find a niche building slightly larger classes of small satellites.

The post Hemeria seeks niche in microsat manufacturing appeared first on SpaceNews.

Spire Global will launch its first cubesats with cross links over the next few months, beginning a refresh that will eventually replace its full constellation. 

The post Spire adding cross links to cubesat constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.

The European Space Agency has awarded study contracts to Airbus and Eutelsat consortia to identify what solutions and “disruptive technologies” the agency should focus on.

The post Airbus, Eutelsat win ESA study contracts • Leonardo CEO to lead industry group appeared first on SpaceNews.

Arianespace and OneWeb on Sept. 21 announced a revised launch contract that covers OneWeb’s constellation deployment with three fewer launches than originally planned. 

The post Arianespace’s revised OneWeb contract drops Ariane 6, two Soyuz launches appeared first on SpaceNews.

Astranis announced Sept. 17 that Goldin will chair the company’s new technical advisory board, and recently oversaw the critical design review of the company’s first satellite ahead of a mid-2021 launch. 

The post Astranis adds former NASA Administrator Dan Goldin to advisory board appeared first on SpaceNews.

French propulsion startup Exotrail has signed two contracts with the European Space Agency for its smallsat electric propulsion technology.

The post Exotrail wins ESA contracts • SmartSky suing ATG equipment contractor • Eutelsat executive steps down appeared first on SpaceNews.

Intelsat has signed a satellite contract with Maxar Technologies, placing the final order in a one-time surge in manufacturing deals triggered by the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming C-band spectrum auction. 

The post Intelsat taps Maxar for fifth C-band satellite, capping order spree  appeared first on SpaceNews.

Mangata aims to launch its first eight satellites into a highly elliptical orbit in 2023 or 2024. Another 24 satellites would follow in 2024 or 2025 in medium Earth orbit.

The post Megaconstellation startup Mangata Networks joins T-Mobile-backed 5G incubator appeared first on SpaceNews.

British satellite operator Avanti has no plans to relist on public markets anytime soon,  focusing instead on streamlining costs while finding customers for its underutilized fleet of three satellites and two payloads.

The post After downsizing, Avanti focusing on fleet fill rate, mulls small GEO satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

The European Space Agency on Sept. 15 finalized a contract worth 129.4 million euros ($153.3 million) with German satellite manufacturer OHB to build its Hera asteroid spacecraft with a pan-European consortium. 

The post OHB to build ESA’s Hera asteroid mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

Europe’s next-generation Vega C rocket won’t launch until at least the middle of 2021, the rocket’s manufacturer said Monday.

The post Vega C debut slips to mid-2021 appeared first on SpaceNews.

Mynaric will not be able to launch its first laser communications terminal this year because of a German ban on exporting that technology to China, the company said Monday. 

The post German export ban blocks Mynaric’s first laser terminal from launching in China appeared first on SpaceNews.

Virgin Orbit has asked OneWeb’s bankruptcy court to require OneWeb pay $46.3 million on a contract termination fee for 35 LauncherOne missions it canceled in 2018

The post Virgin Orbit asks OneWeb bankruptcy court to mandate payment for canceled launches appeared first on SpaceNews.

SpaceX on Sept. 3 launched 60 Starlink internet satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket while disclosing early testing results from the constellation for which it has now launched 713 satellites.

The post Falcon 9 launch adds 60 Starlink satellites to orbit as constellation beta testing continues appeared first on SpaceNews.

European launch provider Arianespace conducted a successful return-to-flight mission of Vega, its light-lift rocket, on Sept. 2, completing the vehicle’s first launch in 14 months. 

The post Arianespace launches Vega on return-to-flight mission with 53 smallsats appeared first on SpaceNews.

Newcomer satellite operator MonacoSat is close to ordering its second geostationary communications satellite, and could complete the process by year’s end, its chief executive said Tuesday. 

The post MonacoSat planning second geostationary satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.

To receive FIRST UP Satcom, a weekly SpaceNews newsletter for satellite and telecom professionals, sign up here. TOP STORIES Analysts see a limited opportunity for satellite broadband companies in the connected car […]

The post Eutelsat renews major broadcast contract • Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions gets new CEO appeared first on SpaceNews.

Commercial satellite operator Intelsat, still operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, is purchasing a large chunk of inflight connectivity provider Gogo’s business for $400 million.

The post Intelsat buys Gogo commercial aviation business for $400 million appeared first on SpaceNews.

SpaceX completed its first Cape Canaveral polar launch Aug. 30, delivering an Argentine radar satellite and two smallsats on a Falcon 9 rocket. 

The post SpaceX launches Argentine radar satellite, rideshare smallsats on Falcon 9 rocket appeared first on SpaceNews.

The contract covers a satellite called Thuraya-4 NGS, and includes an option for a Thuraya-5 NGS satellite that, if exercised, would complete the replacement of Thuraya’s existing two-satellite fleet. 

The post Yahsat begins Thuraya fleet refresh with Airbus satellite order appeared first on SpaceNews.

Three Hungarian companies are forming a joint venture to launch the country’s first geostationary communications satellite in 2024.

The post Hungary plans first GEO satellite • Intelsat plots M&A move • Glavkosmos, ISS Reshetnev team on satellite exports appeared first on SpaceNews.