Our growth as a civilization is tightly coupled to our ability to sufficiently generate ever-increasing amounts of electricity. Could the same be true in space? Star Catcher Industries, a startup just emerging from stealth today, is betting that might be the case. The company is developing a space-based energy grid that could enable more power-intensive […]
TechCrunch Space: SpaceX’s big plans to bring the ISS back to Earth
Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. Before we begin, a quick note: I write this newsletter on Friday and it gets delivered to you on Monday. So if I neglect to mention a world-historical event that happens over the weekend — like, say, the attempted assassination of a former President — that’s why. Now […]
SpaceX’s vehicle to deorbit the International Space Station is a Dragon on steroids
The $ 843 million spacecraft SpaceX is designing to bring down the International Space Station at the end of the decade will be a super-powered version of its Dragon capsule that’s used to transport astronauts and cargo to orbit today, the company revealed Wednesday. NASA awarded SpaceX the massive contract to develop the U.S. Deorbit […]
TechCrunch Space: Space cowboys
Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. Is it just me, or is the news cycle only accelerating this summer?! Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at [email protected] or send a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You also can send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at [email protected]. For more secure communications, click […]
‘Wild Wild Space’ doc captures the risks and rivalries of the new space race
Astra CEO Chris Kemp is already pulling out of a parking spot when he warns the person in the passenger seat that he doesn’t have a valid driver’s license. “And the car’s not registered, and they canceled my insurance,” he says. “This is a little risky.” So opens “Wild Wild Space,” a new HBO documentary […]