Dynetics and its industry partners have cleared a preliminary design review of a Universal Stage Adapter that will work to support cargo transportation aboard NASA‘s Space Launch System rocket. The USA will be used to carry cargo during the first crewed flight of SLS and the Orion spacecraft, dubbed Exploration Mission-2, which is scheduled for launch by […] More

NASA has announced the top three teams to perform in cycle one of the agency’s competition on innovative technologies. The selection follows the iTech 2018 competition’s recent phase wherein ten finalist groups developed technology projects seeking to improve space exploration and terrestrial life, the agency said Friday. NASA chief technologists, potential investors and leaders from the […] More

Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s space systems business, has been named one of the nominees for the Via Satellite magazine’s 2017 Satellite Executive of the Year award. Via Satellite said the nomination seeks to acknowledge Ambrose’s ability to advance innovation in the company’s operations, bring new business opportunities and expand the firm’s industry […] More

CSRA will work with Supermicro Computer and Edge Solutions & Consulting to expand the computing capacity at NASA’s Center for Climate Simulation under a contract with the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center. CSRA said Wednesday it will update NASA’s Discover supercomputer to increase the system’s high-performance computing capacity to approximately 5 petaFLOPS as part of the […] More

When working with U.S. government agencies on defining next-generation space technologies, industry leaders across the board are all hands on-deck. SSL Government Systems, for instance, is helping the U.S. Air Force test the security of hosting payloads on commercial satellites; researching power and propulsion for NASA’s Deep Space gateway; developing concepts for advanced military satellite […] More

NASA has awarded three companies $10.2 million in total grants to develop ground-based prototypes of a multimaterial fabrication laboratory. Interlog, Techshot and Tethers Unlimited will aim to deliver the prototypes within an 18-month period as part of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships  initiative, NASA said Friday. The agency plans to select partners to further mature resulting […] More

L3 Technologies has agreed to be the exclusive avionics and services provider for United Launch Alliance‘s Vulcan Centaur rocket under a potential 10-year, $1 billion agreement. Both companies plan to combine design and manufacturing processes in an effort to customize technologies intended to help boost ULA’s launch service offerings, L3 said Monday. Vulcan Centaur is designed […] More

NASA has extended its partnership agreements with Astrobotic Technology, Masten Space Systems and Moon Express to further develop technologies designed to transport payload cargo to the moon’s surface. The space agency said Tuesday it amended the original Space Act Agreements between NASA and its three industry partners to extend the performance for work by two years. All three companies have supported […] More

NASA has awarded five companies $2.4 million in combined funds to study power and propulsion technologies that can support the development of a solar electric propulsion platform for deep space missions. The studies will help NASA identify requirements and reduce risk for a 50 kilowatt-class SEP system that will support human missions into deep space, the agency said Thursday. […] More

As defense budget dollars continue to be treated like a precious metal, there is an increased importance placed on additional capabilities, the development of new technologies and an efficient acquisition system that benefits all the players involved. Sitting around this table discussing the past 20-30 years of acquisition reform is none other than the magnanimous […] More

Deltek has released a new report that takes a look at how federal agencies adopt blockchain technology and artificial intelligence platforms. The General Services Administration has helped facilitate the implementation of blockchain technology through the Emerging Citizen Technology Program launched in October 2016, Alex Rossino, a principal research analyst at Deltek, wrote in a blog post published Thursday. ECTP […] More

NASA has completed an initial ground demonstration of a robotic system designed to autonomously assemble satellites and space infrastructure components in orbit. The space agency said Wednesday that the Dragonfly system was used to install and reconfigure large antenna reflectors on a simulated geostationary satellite. Dragonfly is equipped with a robotic arm that will work […] More