Infrastructure
Three Dimensions of Building Toward a Sustained Lunar Return
The Moon is re-emerging as a focus for global space exploration activities at a level and tempo that will surpass the peak of lunar activities during the space race of the 1960s and 1970s. Governments and commercial entities . . .
Nuclear Power and Propulsion: A Keystone for the Security, Exploration, and Development of Space
Advancements in space nuclear power and propulsion are essential for maintaining a safe and secure space environment, achieving an enduring human and robotic presence in deep space, and expanding commercial activity in and beyond traditional earth orbits. . .
A Growing Ecosystem: The SmallSat Economy
Between 2011 and 2021, commercial business in the global space industry experienced profound changes in the small satellite (SmallSat) sector. In less than 10 years, an ecosystem expanded, catering to commercial SmallSat operators. The sector . . .
Go For Launch
Inspired by forecasts predicting that thousands of SmallSats will launch over the next decade, launch entrepreneurs have raised billions of dollars and assembled legions of technical experts in a quest to build innovative and cost effective new rockets. But as the first of these next-generation new entrants reach the launchpad . . .
SNAPSHOT: Payload Analysis 2020: Communications Deployments Redefine Growth
Communications payloads dominated the satellite market in 2020, accounting for 81% of all payloads deployed and driving a five-year increase of 3,000% The primary influencer. . .
2021 Midyear Orbital Launch Update
Much of the world came roaring back to life throughout the first half of 2021, and the global orbital launch industry was no exception. Comparing the period . . .
SNAPSHOT: Mars Missions
The first attempts to reach Mars began more than 60 years ago, when the former Soviet Union launched two probes to Mars. Both failed to reach Earth orbit.
Full Story: 2020 in Launches: Successes, Failures, and Everything in Between
This was the year of the partial success. From the LauncherOne demo to the maiden flight of the KZ-11, 2020 saw explosions and anomalies around the world. Companies such as… Space Policy 2020 – Global Highlights: Collaboration, Situational Awareness, Debris Tracking, and Private Growth Dominate
In 2020, many significant events influenced policy across the global space community. In the United States, new policy directives, along with the results of the 2020 election. . .
Infrastructure: Human Spaceflight
Since Yuri Gagarin’s orbital flight around the Earth in April 1961, humans in pioneering new technologies and pushing the limits of what’s considered possible. This year ushered in a new era of human spaceflight when SpaceX became the first . . .