Space Ecosystem | Startups | Deals
Comments from Shotwell on the historic Demo-2 mission scheduled for May 27. Also see the NASA Demo-2 briefing video for the full interview and this overview of how to watch. [Forward]
SpaceX conducted a successful static fire of the Starship SN4 prototype from their Texas launch site. This was the first static fire of a Raptor engine on a Starship vehicle. [Forward]
As SpaceX started to build and test their new Starship rocket, residents of Boca Chica realized they couldn’t coexist with SpaceX, so SpaceX started buying out every property. [Forward]
Whitesides says COVID-19 led to an unprecedented situation for companies and individuals across the world, but Virgin Galactic remains focused on their strategic goals and path to commercial launch. [Forward]
They are testing an experimental satellite, “DarkSat”, which is less reflective than previous models, and implementing changes to how their satellites move from insertion to parking and then on-station orbit. [Forward]
The hyperCurie will power the forthcoming Photon Lunar, which is a new satellite bus being developed by Rocket Lab to carry small payloads to the Moon, Mars, Venus and beyond. [Forward]
Space Exploration
SpaceX’s MASSIVE Starship is one of the lunar landers NASA chose alongside Blue Origin and Dynetics, raising questions about whether or not NASA should just use commercial launchers for Artemis. [Forward]
CEO of Blue Origin Bob Smith says their National Team brings unparalleled heritage, passion and innovation that will enable Americans to return to the lunar surface and inspire another generation. [Forward]
Astronomy | Astrophysics | Cosmology
Space chemist Karin Öberg scans the universe for a paradoxical chemical using ALMA, the world's largest radio telescope, to detect hotbeds of molecular activity and the formation of life-sustaining planets. [Forward]
The supermoon phenomenon occurs when the moon is within 10% of its closest distance to the Earth at the full moon. May's full moon is also called a "flower moon". [Forward]
Events
Space News provides ongoing coverage and daily updates of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the global space industry, including a list of all delayed or canceled space events. [Forward]
The meeting will be held online between June 1 - 3, 2020 with networking, updates on latest discoveries, and an array of 9 plenary and prize lectures. [Forward]
Conference organizers have announced that the 34th Annual Small Satellite Conference, scheduled for August 1-6 in Logan, Utah, will be held “in a virtual format with no on-site presence.” [Forward]
Join TechCrunch's editors in Los Angeles on December 17 for a day of fireside chats and panel discussion with the top investors, founders, and technologists forging the future of space. [Forward]