Advanced Television

Space

Blue Origin acquires Honeybee Robotics

Honeybee Robotics is to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Origin. A deal between Honeybee’s parent organisation, Ensign-Bickford Industries, and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, is expected to close in mid-February. Financial terms were not disclosed. Since 1983, Honeybee has delivered more than 1,000 advanced projects to government and industrial customers in the spacecraft, planetary […]

January 28, 2022By Chris Forrester

Roddenberrys’ ashes bound for space

In an homage to the late Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, some of his ashes, along with a similar capsule contain the remains of his wife, actress Majel Barrett Roddenberry, will be launched into space on an upcoming United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket. The flight, dubbed Celestis/The Enterprise Flight, will be aboard the debut flight […]

January 28, 2022By Chris Forrester

Forecast: 60,000 passengers into space by 2031

A study from analysts at Northern Sky Research (NSR) suggests that by 2031 some 57,500 passengers will be taking a trip into space. The value of this space tourism and orbital travel will capture the majority of an overall cumulative $20.3 billion in related revenues. The numbers come from NSR’s Space Tourism & Travel Markets, […]

January 12, 2022By Chris Forrester

Scotland: Prestwick advances spaceport plan

Scotland’s South Ayrshire Council in Prestwick, near Glasgow, has started formal submissions to see its existing airport converted and expanded to allow for space-based activity as part of the Prestwick Spaceport development. The formal Proposal of Application Notice (POAN) is the first step in the planning process for Prestwick Spaceport and signals the intent to […]

January 11, 2022By Chris Forrester

mu Space to build 200 satellites

Bangkok-based mu Space says it can build low Earth orbiting small satellites at just $4 million (€3.55m) each, and thus undercut its rivals which it says cost considerably more. mu Space is already planning to build 200 of its MU-B200 craft which are suitable for delivering 5 Gb/s internet speeds to remote locations. The company […]

December 17, 2021By Chris Forrester

EU selects 2nd LEO consortium study

The European Commission has selected a second consortium to supply potential ideas for a future Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) system for Europe. Last week it named New Symphonie, which is led by Euroconsult and Unseenlabs, to present its ideas. It received €1.4 million in funding for a 6-month study. The second consortium has now been […]

December 15, 2021By Chris Forrester

UK’s Surrey Satellite to help clear space debris

Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) is leading a consortium made up of experienced space-related businesses as part of the European Space Agencies ‘Leopard’ project to clear dangerous space debris. The Leopard study will be led by SSTL and delivered by a consortium of leading UK space companies and academia to benefit from the wide breadth of […]

December 14, 2021By Chris Forrester

EC selects New Symphonie

New Symphonie, a newly established consortium made up of 22 European space companies, has won the European Commission call for tenders to develop New Space solutions for an innovative European broadband constellation. The consortium will leverage the new ideas, prevalent in the commercial space ecosystem, to develop secure and resilient global connectivity in response to […]

December 10, 2021By Chris Forrester

Orbex starts UK rocket launch site build

Orbex, a private, small satellite launch services provider, has started construction of its first launch platform – the first orbital space launchpad to be built in the UK for more than half a century. Orbex says it has commissioned Motive Offshore Group, a Scottish company specialising in the design and manufacture of marine and lifting […]

December 10, 2021By Chris Forrester

NASA wants new space station designs

NASA has awarded a total of $415 million to three businesses with a brief to come up with a design of a commercial space station. Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin is one of the chosen few ($130 million) along with Nanoracks ($160 million) and Northrop Grumman ($125.6 million). The agreements are part of NASA’s efforts to […]

December 7, 2021By Chris Forrester