SSI News
Astra Rocket 3.3 failure cause: a burn through caused by blocked regenerative cooling…after ground testing-implied incorrect design assumptions
Astra Space has released its investigation findings into the Astra Rocket 3.3 launch failure which lost a pair of NASA's TROPICS-1 mission satellites. The TROPICS-1 mission launched on 12 June 2022 on Astra’s Rocket 3.3, serial number LV0010. The rocket completed a...
Rocket Lab receives four mission multilaunch contract from Capella Space
On 28 February 2023, American companies Rocket Lab and Capella Space announced a new multi-launch contract covering four missions. Capella has contracted Rocket Lab to launch four of its improved commercial SAR satellites - known as "Acadia" - individually on each of...
SpaceX launches new design V2 Mini satellites as Starlink Group 6-1 on a Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX is transitioning to a new design of spacecraft as it takes its Starlink constellation forward. The Starlink Group 6-1 mission was launched on a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket at 2313 GMT on 27 February from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of the Starlink Gen 2...
Babcock consortium secures £400 million UK military contract beating Airbus and Lockheed Martin
British defence company Babcock have won a £400 million contract to manage Skynet, the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) military satellite communications system. Babcock will manage the MoD's constellation as a consortium along with partners: SES, GovSat and Intelsat,...
Astroscale raises US$76 million for on-orbit servicing
Orbital debris removal company Astroscale has raised US$76 million at the close of a Series G fundraising round. The latest boost brings Astroscale's total funding to US$376 million since the company was set up in 2013. Based in Japan, Astroscale is developing...
Rivada Space places US$2.4 billion order for 300 satellites with Terran Orbital, but ITU deadline looms
On 21 February, Rivada Space Networks GmbH contracted American manufacturer Terran Orbital to produce 300 satellites in the 500 kg range for a planned LEO secure data-relay constellation. Rivada Space Networks is the German subsidiary of US company Rivada Networks,...
China launches EO satellite, Horus 1, into LEO (Updated)
A Long March 2C (CZ-2C) rocket lifted-off at 0401 GMT on 24 February from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. It carried a “remote sensing” satellite successfully into a sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit (LEO). According to Chinese media the satellite was...
Soyuz MS-23 “Rescue craft” is launched to ISS but crew is told they have to wait another six months to come back to Earth
The uncrewed Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft was successfully launched onboard a Soyuz 2-1A from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, near Tyuratam in Kazakhstan, at 0024 GMT on 24 February 2023. Soyuz MS-23, a replacement for the coolant-leak damaged Soyuz MS-22, is expected to...
China launches the Chinasat 26 communications satellite on the first launch of its New Year
As the first launch of its New Year (Year of the Rabbit), China has placed a communications satellite into orbit. At 1149 GMT on 23 February a Long March 3B (CZ-3B) rocket lifted-off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and successfully carried Chinasat 26...
Space Orders: NASA, D-Orbit and Plasmos
NASA selected Blue Origin to launch the two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft to study magnetosphere of Mars earlier this month. The contract was awarded as part of the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare...
Stay Informed with Seradata
Stay informed on the latest news, insights, and more from Seradata by signing up for our newsletter.