All posts tagged: techcrunch space

TechCrunch Space: SpaceX alums raising a massive new fund for deep tech and more

TechCrunch Space: SpaceX alums raising a massive new fund for deep tech and more

Published by skeptic

Hello, and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. The final agenda for the Space Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt is live and we’d love to see you there. Come hear the latest and greatest insights from top space entrepreneurs and investors! Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at [email protected] or send a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You can also send a note to the TechCrunch crew at [email protected]. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop instructions and links to encrypted messaging apps. Story of the week This week I wanted to highlight a new startup that’s taking aim at a technology that’s been studied for decades but never materialized: space-based solar power. Aetherflux, emerging from stealth Wednesday, says it is developing a novel design for space-based solar to unlock this energy source for the first time. The startup was founded by Baiju Bhatt, the co-founder of financial trading platform Robinhood, who said he became interested in the rapid commercialization of space. “The thing that’s always been my interest is, how do …

TechCrunch Space: Launch pad decongestion

TechCrunch Space: Launch pad decongestion

Published by skeptic

Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. Let’s jump in! Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at [email protected] or send me a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You also can send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at [email protected]. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop instructions and links to encrypted messaging apps. This week, we’ve got some very cool news from Hubble Networks, which became the first company in history to connect a Bluetooth chip to a satellite. The startup has stayed relatively low-profile, but with this tech validation they’re looking to expand — and connect possibly billions of Bluetooth-enabled devices. One of Hubble’s satellites in a terrestrial test chamber. Image Credits: Hubble Network Slides and audio from a nonpublic NASA meeting reveal the ambitious plans the agency has for its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Bringing these plans to fruition is key for private space companies, including Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman and others, and could ease launch pad congestion on both coasts. The Northrop Grumman Antares …

TechCrunch Space: Rapidly responsive… space stations!?

TechCrunch Space: Rapidly responsive… space stations!?

Published by skeptic

Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. Let’s jump in! Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at [email protected] or send me a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You also can send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at [email protected]. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop instructions and links to encrypted messaging apps. While there are scant details as to the mission profile, I can’t help but feel ultra-intrigued by this news from space station developer Gravitics, which was selected to develop orbital platforms to enable rapid response space missions. Gravitics co-founder and CMO Mike DeRosa did clarify in an email that the company is not putting a module on a rocket for a tactically responsive launch. Instead, the mission is related to developing “platforms to enable a new kind of tactically responsive space mission,” he said. Image Credits: Gravitics Defense and space startup True Anomaly has laid off around 25% of staff, and canceled its summer internship program, TechCrunch learned. While TechCrunch could not confirm the total …

TechCrunch Space: Reusable rockets, reusable satellites

TechCrunch Space: Reusable rockets, reusable satellites

Published by skeptic

Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. I hope everyone had a restful Easter, for those who celebrate. Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at [email protected] or send me a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You also can send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at [email protected]. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop instructions and links to encrypted messaging apps. This week, I sat down with Orbit Fab CEO Daniel Faber to talk about the company’s first refueling port officially hitting the market. The price tag? Just $30,000. “SpaceX has made rockets reusable, Orbit Fab makes satellites reusable,” he said. “In this world today, if you’re running a rocket company, and you’re not working towards reusable rockets, you’re working to a dead end. The same is true of satellites: If you’re not making your satellites reusable, you’re just putting preordained junk into orbit.” Image Credits: Orbit Fab (opens in a new window) I learned a lot from this deep dive into China’s struggles to bring on international …

The not-so-secret-anymore lunar mining startup

The not-so-secret-anymore lunar mining startup

Published by skeptic

Hello and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. We’re just two days away from Intuitive Machines’ first-ever mission to the moon. Pro-tip: If you haven’t already, check out this ultra thorough press kit on the mission — the company goes into a ton of detail about the lander architecture, the payloads on board and everything that will happen during the mission. Want to reach out with a tip? Email Aria at [email protected] or send me a message on Signal at 512-937-3988. You can also send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew at [email protected]. For more secure communications, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and links to encrypted messaging apps.  In honor of the forthcoming IM-1 launch, this week I’m highlighting a story I wrote about the mission when SpaceX and Intuitive Machines (finally) announced the date and time for lift-off. Like many guessed, they’re targeting February 14 at 12:57 a.m. EST, with an extra few days as back up in case weather or some other issue delays launch. Intuitive Machines is hoping to pave the …