NASA

BETHESDA, Md. — The U.S. government’s support for the commercial remote sensing satellite industry is at a critical juncture amid growing military demand for real-time intelligence, industry experts said Aug. 27.  The commercial remote sensing satellite industry is expanding, but it’s still not equipped to meet evolving U.S. military needs for tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), said David Gauthier, former head of commercial operations at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Tactical ISR refers to the immediate collection and analysis of data to inform military operations on the battlefield. This intelligence is crucial for decision making during to dynamic situations.  Speaking at the AFCEA-INSA Intelligence and National Security S...

Later this month, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will take to the skies for the third time to launch the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program-2 (STP-2) mission. Several exciting, one-of-a-kind NASA technology and science payloads are among the two-dozen spacecraft aboard.First, let’s talk about that Falcon Heavy rocket. Its 27 engines generate thrust at liftoff equal to that of approximately 18 airplanes, and it can lift over 140,000 pounds. Managed by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, STP-2 is the first government-contracted Falcon Heavy launch. It will reuse the two side boosters recovered after the April flight. SpaceX describes it as one of the most challenging launches in the company’s history. It’s a big deal to us at NASA because we’re launching some pretty co...

WASHINGTON — Orbex, now projecting a 2025 first launch of its small launch vehicle, plans to focus on the small end of the market even as competitors shift to larger rockets. In an interview during the Farnborough International Airshow in July, Phil Chambers, chief executive of the United Kingdom-based company, said the company was making progress on both its Prime small rocket and launch site at Sutherland Spaceport in northern Scotland. “We expect the spaceport to be ready in early spring of next year,” he said. Vehicle subsystems are going through critical design reviews, with some flight hardware under construction. “We are shooting for a 2025 launch,” he said, but declined to be more specific about a launch date other than to say that the company wanted to avoid...

Awards Ceremony at Space Center Houston honored student entrepreneurs with scholarships and patent assistance to support their innovations HOUSTON, TX (April 27, 2024) – The Conrad Foundation announced the winners of the 2023-2024 Conrad Challenge, one of the world’s most highly regarded global STEM innovation and entrepreneurship competitions for high school students. At the Challenge’s Innovation Summit hosted by Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas, four student teams were recognized with the Challenge’s top honor of Pete Conrad Scholar, along with four Power Pitch winners in the categories of Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, and Health & Nutrition. Each member of the winning team receives scholarships, grants, patent...