Jeff Foust

Rockville

Senior writer, @SpaceNews_Inc. Tips? DMs open or email [email protected]. Obligatory Mastodon account: @[email protected].

Articles

Rocket Lab to launch NASA astrophysics smallsat mission

12 hours ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — NASA selected Rocket Lab to launch a small NASA astrophysics spacecraft that will study galaxies at ultraviolet wavelengths. NASA announced May 14 it awarded a task order to Rocket Lab for the launch of the Aspera mission on an Electron rocket. The launch is scheduled for no earlier than the first quarter of 2026 from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The award was made through NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract.
Satellite industry continues modest revenue growth trends

23 hours ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — The satellite industry continued trends of modest growth in 2024 even as the number of satellites increases rapidly. The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) released its annual State of the Satellite Industry report May 13 that showed that global satellite industry revenues reached $293 billion in 2024, a 3% increase from 2023. That roughly kept pace with inflation.
Altimeter problems, lighting challenges caused IM-2 lunar lander to fall on its side

1 day ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — Problems with laser altimeters along with lighting and terrain challenges caused Intuitive Machines’ second lunar lander to fall on its side when it landed on the moon in March. Company executives said in a May 14 earnings call that three factors contributed to the “landing anomaly” on its IM-2 mission. On that mission the Nova-C lander fell on its side in a crater when it touched down in the south polar region of the moon March 6.
Redwire sees opportunities in the U.S. and Europe despite budget and geopolitical uncertainties

2 days ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — Redwire says it expects to find more business opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic despite geopolitical challenges that could hamper international cooperation. Redwire executives, in a May 12 earnings call to discuss the company’s first quarter financial results, emphasized recent contract wins in Europe and the growth of the company there, such as the opening of a new office in Poland.
MDA Space sees options for robotic arm technology should Gateway be canceled

2 days ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — The prime contractor for Canada’s contribution to the lunar Gateway believes that technology could be repurposed for other uses should the White House’s budget proposal that cancels Gateway be enacted. Executives with MDA Space, which is building the Canadarm3 robotic arm system for Gateway, said in a May 8 earnings call they are focused for now on continuing work on Canadarm3 as the debate on the administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal unfolds in Washington.
Review: Extraterrestrial Life

3 days ago | thespacereview.com | Jeff Foust

Extraterrestrial Life: We Are Not Aloneby Antonino Del PopoloSpringer, 2025paperback, 156 pp., illus. ISBN 978-3-031-83496-7US$37.99It’s a familiar trajectory for astrobiology stories. Scientists announce the discovery of a biosignature, or at least a potential biosignature, on another world in our solar system or beyond. The announcement is made at a conference, or in a paper provided to media under embargo, resulting in a surge of stories touting the discovery.
Budget cuts and the fraying of international partnerships

3 days ago | thespacereview.com | Jeff Foust

The White House's 2026 budget proposal would cancel the lunar Gateway, a NASA-led program with contributions from Canada, Europe, Japan and the UAE. (credit: NASA)Even if you know the axe is falling, it doesn’t make it any less painful. It was clear for weeks that the White House would propose major cuts to NASA in its fiscal year 2026 budget request.
Rocket Lab sees Mynaric deal as key for its constellation plans

3 days ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — Rocket Lab says its planned acquisition of a German optical communications supplier is key to its plans for both bidding on large constellations and eventually developing its own. In a May 8 earnings call to discuss the company’s first quarter financial results, Rocket Lab executives said work to close its latest deal, the acquisition of optical communications terminal supplier Mynaric, was “progressing well” towards closing it later this year.
Trump administration to keep National Space Council

4 days ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — In a reversal, White House plans to retain the National Space Council, a move that industry officials say could serve as an advocate for space amid pressures to cut budgets. The White House is expected in the coming weeks to formally announce the National Space Council will continue after speculation that it would not be retained by the new Trump administration. Politico first reported on the move.
Engine change delays ispace-built lunar lander mission

5 days ago | spacenews.com | Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — A change in engines will cause the launch of a lunar lander being built for a NASA-funded mission to slip from 2026 to 2027. In a May 9 statement, ispace U.S., the American subsidiary of Japan’s ispace, said it will use a new engine called VoidRunner for its Apex 1.0 lunar lander. That lander is being developed by ispace U.S. for a team led by Draper flying a mission that is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.