Challenges | Solicitations | Resources
NASA’s BIG Idea Challenge | NASA
Student teams from accredited and Space Grant Consortium affiliated US-based colleges and universities are welcome to participate, supporting NASA’s efforts to rapidly mature innovative and high-impact capabilities and technologies for future missions. Entry Deadline: February 1, 2024.
NASA Seeks Development of Universal Payload Interface | NASA
For NASA's third TechLeap Prize, join NASA’s Flight Opportunities program to create a seamlessly adaptable payload interface system for diverse technology payloads and various host commercial flight vehicles. Entry Deadline: February 1, 2024.
Who Let the Gas Out? NASA Tank Venting Challenge | NASA Tournament Lab (NTL)
Register to submit your novel solution to NASA’s spacecraft ullage venting challenges in microgravity for extended space travel. Chosen concept designs will win a share of the $80,000 prize. Deadline: February 22, 2024.
Mars Technology Institute Crowdfunding Campaign Credit: MTI
Mars Technology Institute (MTI) Crowdfunding Campaign | The Mars Society
Help fund the Mars Technology Institute to develop the biotech, agtech, artificial intelligence and advanced energy solutions needed to facilitate Mars settlements. Accredited investors who contribute $5,000 or more will be given opportunities to invest in MTI spinoff companies.
The solar system's biggest space jobs site | Space Crew
Accelerate your space career with email alerts for key space industry insights and over 4000 space company jobs.
Jobs in the Space Field & Tech Industry | Space Talent
Space Talent is a resource for careers at the intersection of space and tech. They match employers with top talent while providing insights and resources to grow your career.
Upcoming Events
Commercial space entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors will convene at Space for Inspiration 2024 to learn about discoveries and groundbreaking ventures in the LEO and lunar economies. January 18-19, 2024.
The Breakthrough Listen Initiative | Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society
The meeting will feature Breakthrough Listen's Principal Investigator, Berkeley SETI Research Center Director Andrew Siemion. Breakthrough Listen is funded with $100 million from Yuri Milner and searches for radio signals and laser transmissions from extraterrestrial civilizations. £2.88. Online. Friday, January 25, 2024.
GSA Spaceport Summit | Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA)
The GSA summit focuses on the future needs of spaceports and the initiatives to enable commerce. Free - $625. Orlando, FL. January 29, 2024.
Three conference programs including Global Spaceport Alliance's Spaceport Summit, 50th Space Congress, and Space Mobility Congress. Orlando, FL. January 29 - February 1, 2024.
Three-day conference focusing on the business and technical aspects of the smallsat ecosystem. $595 - $1695. Mountain View, CA and virtual. February 6-8, 2024.
Small Satellites & Services International Forum (SSSIF)
SSSIF 2024 is an international workshop for small satellite designers, technicians, developers, and launchers. €100 - €400. Málaga (Spain). February 20-22, 2024.
Space-Comm Expo brings together world-class speakers to discuss the theme, “Accelerating the commercial future of space” as multiple space-related industries network and learn about space technology and commercial developments. Farnborough, UK. March 6-7, 2024.
45th IEEE Aerospace Conference 2024
The IEEE Aerospace Conference invites leaders in aerospace, academia, and the military for plenary sessions on cutting edge aerospace system technologies and applications. $130-1770. Big Sky, MT. March 6-9, 2024.
April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse | NASA
Passing from Mexico to Canada, it will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous US until 2044. April 8, 2024.
Space Symposium gathers all sectors of the space community for networking and opportunities to examine multiple perspectives on critical space issues and plan for future achievements in space. $425-$3,560. Colorado Springs, CO. April 8-11, 2024.
CubeSat Developers Workshop 2024
Join over 600 attendees from 50 countries for this global small-satellite conference hosted by CubeSat. $175-$700. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA. April 23–25, 2024.
75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024 | International Astronautical Federation
IAC 2024 will highlight efforts to keep the space environment secure and open to exploration through international cooperation. Over 8,000 are expected to attend the event, which will feature the theme “Responsible Space for Sustainability.” Milan, Italy. October 14-18, 2024.
Add your event or campaign. Contact us for details.
Space Ecosystem | Startups | Deals
Regulatory filing reveals ABL Space Systems targeting $100M in new funding
ABL Space Systems closed over $40 million in venture funding and is targeting $100 million, to develop its mobile, all-in-one launch system comprised of a two-stage RS1 launch vehicle and GS0 ground system architecture.
D-Orbit ION orbital transfer vehicles. Image Credit: D-Orbit
D-Orbit raises $110 million to expand space logistics services
Italian space transportation services company D-Orbit raised €100M ($110M) in a Series C round led by Marubeni Corporation with participation from Avantgarde, CDP Venture Capital, Seraphim Space, and others, to expand into satellite servicing and other applications.
Chinese launch startup Galactic Energy raises $154 million for Pallas-1 reusable rocket
Galactic Energy raised 1.1 billion yuan ($154M) in C and C+ funding rounds for development of reusable launch vehicle technology for its Pallas-1 medium-lift rocket and related infrastructure. The rounds were led by Ziyang Heavy Industry Fund.
Axelspace raises $44 million for Earth observation and other smallsats
Japanese Earth observation company Axelspace raised JP¥6.24B ($43.9M) in a Series D round led by SMBC Venture Capital to expand its microsatellite constellation and provide smallsats for customers.
Orbital Matter secures more financing for in-space manufacturing innovation
Orbital Matter closed over one million euros in a pre-seed funding round led by Sunfish Partners to 3D-print ultra-light and cost-effective satellite parts and space infrastructure in-orbit.
Copernic Space sells digital assets for 2024 lunar flight
Los Angeles startup Copernic is selling capacity for a 2024 moon mission aboard the LifeShip capsule, which is collecting customer DNA to establish a lunar seed bank. The payload will also include digital assets such as videos, music and code. LifeShip is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and land in Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander.
Space Exploration | Development
A disturbance in the Peregrine lunar lander's insulation layer. Image Credit: Astrobotic
Peregrine lander suffers anomaly after launch
Astrobotic’s Peregrine spacecraft will not be able to attempt a soft landing on the moon because of a propellant leak. Astrobotic’s latest assessment is that Peregrine will likely burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
SpaceX and T-Mobile send first texts via Starlink satellites
SpaceX successfully sent and received text messages on unmodified cell phones via Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-device capabilities using T-Mobile’s network. Starlink aims to bring direct-to-device cell service to market in the coming year.
Citing “crew safety,” NASA delays upcoming Artemis missions by about a year
NASA delayed three of the Artemis lunar program missions by about a year each. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says crew safety is a chief priority, and cited several challenges to surmount before astronauts can return to the Moon.
Astronomy | Astrophysics | Astrobiology | Cosmology
What If There's A Black Hole Inside The Sun?
Primordial black holes, singularities created soon after the Big Bang, were discussed by Stephen Hawking in a 1971 paper. If numerous enough, they could be a candidate to explain dark matter, and might end up at the core of some stars ("Hawking stars"). While the Sun is unlikely to have a black hole at its center, Hawking stars would look similar, but do not grow as large and vibrate differently from normal stars.