Space on a shoestring
Can reusable rockets bring down launch costs enough to meet growing market needs and create wider access to space? Keith J Fernandez investigates.
Can reusable rockets bring down launch costs enough to meet growing market needs and create wider access to space? Keith J Fernandez investigates.
The number of small satellites launched in the past few years has surged substantially owing to ther low cost, easier launch vehicle integration, and technological developments.
The three Falcon 9 launches contracted by Project Kuiper are slated to commence in mid-2025.
Blue Origin is one of 14 companies that are part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services program for uncrewed lunar landings.
Smith joined Blue Origin in 2017 following a successful 13-year tenure at the aerospace conglomerate Honeywell.
Alexander has joined Firefly with more than 30 years of aerospace experience, including senior advisor and leadership roles at NASA, the White House, and NewSpace companies.
Blue Origin will develop its Blue Moon lander for the Artemis V mission, set for 2029.
Blue Origin is one of 13 firms NASA chose last year for its Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare missions (VADR) programme.
Zeitouni brings defence and intelligence expertise following tenures at Blue Origin, McKinsey & Co., and Northrop Grumman.
NASA awarded Blue Origin $130m in December 2021 for the development of Orbital Reef as part of its Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development (CLDP) programme.
Space for Humanity, a nonprofit group, has sponsored the seat of Sara Sabry, the first Egyptian to go to space.
Through Project Kuiper, Amazon has planned to build a network of 3,236 satellites to provide high-speed internet around the globe.
There is a five-year ordering period and a maximum total value of $300m across all contracts.
Before joining Blue Origin, Mowry was the longtime head of Arianespace Inc., the US subsidiary of Arianespace.
These awards are part of NASAs plans to transition from the ageing International Space Station to commercial space stations, which will be available to both government and private-sector customers.
Al Qubaisi explores closer cooperation in spaceflight technology, investment, scientific research, exploratory missions, and knowledge sharing with global partners at the event.
For the first time, the IAC will open its doors to the global space community in an Arab country since its establishment in 1950.
The contracts are part of NASA's Artemis programme, which aims to send astronauts back to the moon by 2024.
NASA in April awarded SpaceX with a sole $2.89bn contract to build the next crewed lunar lander under its Human Landing Systems programme.