Astroscale’s space junk observation satellite has moved within striking distance to a discarded rocket upper stage that’s been floating around Earth for nearly 20 years, taking close-up pictures — preliminary to actually deorbiting the object in a future mission. The company released an image captured by its satellite from a distance of just 50 meters […]
Apex’s off-the-shelf satellite bus business attracts $95M in new funding
Fresh off the success of its first mission, satellite manufacturer Apex has closed $ 95 million in new capital to scale its operations. The Los Angeles-based startup successfully launched and commissioned its first spacecraft, a model called Aries, in March. That mission has gone off seemingly without a hitch — a rarity in the space […]
Basalt plans to hack a defunct satellite to install its space-specific OS
Space startup Basalt Technologies started in a shed behind a Los Angeles dentist’s office, but things have escalated quickly: soon it will try to hack a derelict satellite and install its space-specific OS. The startup’s cofounder, Alex Choi, found himself living in said shed after suddenly getting kicked out of his MIT dorm due to […]
Hubble Network makes Bluetooth connection with a satellite for the first time
Hubble Network has become the first company in history to establish a Bluetooth connection directly to a satellite — a critical technology validation for the company, potentially opening the door to connecting millions more devices anywhere in the world. The Seattle-based startup launched its first two satellites to orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 ride-share mission in […]
LeoLabs lands new capital to help the U.S. keep track of space junk and adversarial satellite launches
The number of objects in space has risen dramatically over the past thirty years, and much of that is due to commercial companies unlocking new business cases and discovering cheaper ways to get to space. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been growing pains — like increased congestion in orbit. For commercial satellite operators, the […]