NASA has selected SpaceX of Starbase, Texas, to provide the launch service for the agency’s Pandora mission, which will study at least 20 known exoplanets and their host stars to find out how changes in stars affect our observations of exoplanet atmospheres.

The selection is part of NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity awards during VADR’s five-year ordering period, with a maximum total value of $300 million across all contracts.

During its one-year primary mission, Pandora will observe each exoplanet 10 times, observing for 24 hours each visit. It will capture critical data about the planet and its host star during transits, an event where a planet crosses in front of the star it orbits.

The satellite will use an innovative 17-inch (45-centimeter)-wide all-aluminum telescope to simultaneously measure the visible and near-infrared brightness of the host star and obtain near-infrared spectra of the transiting planet. This will allow scientists to cleanly separate star and planetary signals, knowledge that will enhance observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and future missions searching for habitable worlds, like the agency’s Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Pandora is a joint effort between NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. The Astrophysics Pioneers program, from the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, funds Pandora and other astrophysics science missions using smaller, lower cost hardware and payloads. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, manages the VADR contract.

By Chris Forrester

The 2025 SmallSat Symposium opened on February 4 with a session which looked at the Risks, Realities and Regulations which shape the SmallSat market. Moderated by Janna Lewis (SVP/Policy & General Counsel, Astroscale US) the panel of acknowledged experts examined the challenges and agreed that a core truth was that the industry had to constantly navigate the challenges which inevitably could directly affect a business. She explained that it was generally accepted that the sector was enjoying a 30% CAGR. 

Dr. Abhishek Tripathi, Director of Mission Operations, UC Berkeley, Space Sciences Lab., agreed that growth would continue and that the new Trump administration would be favourable although the risks were that the product market fit – and their product fit – was key. “Are there cheaper large sats coming onto the market, and this is a risk”. 

Robert Cleave, COO, Neo Space Group, agreed with the sector’s prospects. But he cautioned that almost every proposal once suggested ended up by changing the parameters of their intentions.  He said he believed that space was a unifier, and keen to share risk. He said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he was based, was very much looking at the sharing of risk to ensure a success to its investment plans. 

Drew Svor, partner with Sheppard Mullin, suggested that the risks, whether commercial or technical, or regulatory and geo-political meant that players had to be very flexible, and be aware of those risks and challenges. He said that the new Trump administration would need some time to make their demands known. He warned that SmallSat manufacturers needed to be aware of Cyber security demands. He also hoped that some of the current congestion in some of the frequency bands needed to be addressed although was hopeful that regulators were aware of this congestion and the need to solve the problems. He also forecast the new administration would be open to foreign cash coming in. 

Stewart Marsh, Head of Aerospace, Cambridge Consultants, explained that risks came down to choices and trade-offs. There are manufacturers out there who know their business very well, but SmallSat operators had to be aware that changing the model, for any reason, meant risk and knowing how to mitigate those risks was crucial. Mr Marsh also said that standards-based developments, such as Direct-To-Device services, were extremely important and frequently a partner would be needed to help with the adjacent opportunities. This included AI in networks, and the AI problems were a greater magnitude of challenge in space but AI could definitely help in spectrum, for example. 

Sita Sonty, Partner & MD, Alix Partners, and very interested in the investment opportunities. She argued that the cynic in her saw technical mitigation being less important. “I am not at all sure that the SmallSat market must look closely at commercial conversion. They must sell better – and sell the right thing, and listen more to what the market wants. People also need to talk to the government more, and in particular what it wants in space.”  She also stressed that AI had to be recognised as likely to have a growing importance. 

Dr. Tripathi said he felt that government, based on previous experience, was often fragmented in its procurement. The military and NASA wanted dedicated bespoke satellites, “but in our sector our SmallSat developers cannot put all their efforts into one satellite version. There are solutions, and a commercial company can then supply a more flexible architecture and make some money.”

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has signed a contract for a responsive launch on Electron with Orora Technologies (OroraTech), a German company developing a satellite constellation to monitor wildfires and alert first responders to danger. 

Launching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the dedicated mission on Electron will deploy eight satellites to a 550 km orbit within just four months from launch contract signing, enabling OroraTech to meet the season-sensitive requirements of its wildfire detection mission. The rapid turnaround is just the latest demonstration of Rocket Lab’s responsive launch capabilities for satellite operators needing urgent access to space.

OroraTech is developing a constellation of satellites with thermal infrared cameras that can provide 24/7 monitoring of wildfires globally, supporting better and faster wildfire response to protect forests, people, and infrastructure worldwide. The mission will deploy its latest plane of satellites called OTC-P1 to their current constellation, further expanding OroraTech’s capabilities to first responders, governments, and industry partners. The company will expand their constellation with up to 100 satellites in total by 2028. 

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “This launch is a showcase of all the benefits of flying dedicated on Electron: control over schedule, agility and ability to meet tight deadlines and mission requirements, and the reliability of launching on the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket. Knowing that time is of the essence to get these satellites in space, we’re proud to be rising to the challenge and supporting the OroraTech mission to better monitor for and protect against these devastating natural disasters globally.” 

The mission is the latest launch to be announced in a packed 2025 launch manifest for Rocket Lab that includes the continuation of multi-launch contracts with constellation operators Synspective, Kineis, and BlackSky; a responsive space mission for the U.S. Space Force that will see Rocket Lab build a spacecraft, then launch it on Electron with 24-hours’ notice; and the debut launch of Rocket Lab’s new medium-lift reusable rocket, Neutron.

Space42 is the newly-established combination of Abu Dhabi’s Al Yah (YahSat) and Bayanat AI, which operates the Thuraya fleet of satellites. Its latest, Thuraya 4, was launched on January 3rd into its transfer orbit and is on its way to a location at 44 degrees East. The company says that Thuraya 4 has a firm backlog of $799 million the company states they are looking to launch Direct-to-Device services with a new LEO constellation.

The new craft will replace Thuraya 2 which was launched in 2003 and still remains in service. However, Thuraya 3, launched in 2008, suffered a power anomaly which has meant lower revenues from the craft.

Ali Al Hashemi, chief executive of Space42’s Yahsat Space Services division, said the company’s ambition is to become a global, non-terrestrial leader and to establish direct-to-device and IoT connections.

Initially these services would be simple Text and short-message services using the company’s geostationary satellites, and tap into 20 MHz of spectrum for D2D. Al Hashemi has said Space42 will move cautiously into the market but is convinced the business case is valid.

Rocket Lab National Security LLC has successfully completed the company’s Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta (T2TL-Beta) program — this milestone marks a critical step in Rocket Lab’s mission as a prime contractor to deliver 18 advanced, data transport satellites for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Some of the initial Planet imagery of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County are published below, courtesy of Planet Labs PBC.

• 50 cm resolution SkySat imagery of the Palisades fire, dated January 8, 2025.

• 3m resolution PlanetScope imagery of the Eaton fire, dated January 6 and 8, 2025. Processed in false color NIR. 

Eutelsat Group (Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) has selected Airbus Defence and Space to build the extension of the company’s OneWeb LEO constellation.

Exolaunch is ready for its next major launch: the Bandwagon-2 Rideshare mission with SpaceX — this launch will build upon the success of the inaugural Bandwagon mission that occurred earlier this year, and Exolaunch will once again integrate and deploy satellites into orbit for a diverse range of international customers. The Bandwagon-2 mission is scheduled to lift off no earlier than December of 2024 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Bandwagon-2 is a unique, mid-inclination rideshare mission, offering a rare orbital opportunity for diverse satellite deployments. As part of this mission, the launch campaign at Vandenberg Space Force Base is currently underway for Exolaunch’s roster of 22 customer satellites, including 15 cubesats and 7 microsatellites. Exolaunch’s customers represent a broad spectrum of space exploration, with missions originating from countries including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Djibouti, Finland, Mongolia, and the United States.

This is Exolaunch’s seventh mission in 2024, after successfully deploying 83 satellites into orbit across the Bandwagon-1, Transporter-10, and Transporter-11 Rideshare missions with SpaceX, two dedicated missions with Rocket Lab, and ESA’s Ariane 6 maiden flight.

Exolaunch’s flight-proven satellite separation hardware will play a critical role in this mission. The CarboNIX microsatellite separation rings and EXOpod Nova deployers will ensure the safe and reliable deployment of over 700 kg of customer payloads into orbit. Additionally, Exolaunch will fly its versatile EXOport adapter, enabling the accommodation and deployment of multiple customer satellites on a single launch.

Known for their lightweight yet robust designs, these systems offer unmatched precision and safety during satellite deployments, minimizing shock and vibration to ensure payload integrity. These systems are engineered to perform in the most demanding space environments, renowned for their reliability and effectiveness across numerous missions. Exolaunch’s continuous innovation in satellite separation technology solidifies its leadership in the smallsat launch segment, delivering trusted solutions to customers worldwide.

Exolaunch provides comprehensive launch procurement and top-tier mission management expertise, ensuring seamless operations from start to finish. From the initial contract to final deployment, Exolaunch guides customers through the complexities of their launch planning, global shipping and logistics for sensitive space hardware, managing regulatory compliance, integration, and more. With a decade of experience in managing high-stakes satellite missions, Exolaunch is a trusted partner in navigating the technical, logistical, and legal challenges of getting payloads into space. This all-inclusive service guarantees that customer satellites are delivered safely and on time, ready for integration and launch.

“We’re honored to work with SpaceX on the mid-inclination Bandwagon-2 mission. Our long-standing relationship has been instrumental in Exolaunch’s growth, and this mission demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of global access to space,” said Robert W. Sproles, chief executive officer at Exolaunch. “With each mission, we continue to raise the bar for satellite integration and deployment, and we’re proud to support the innovative and impactful work of our new and existing customers flying on Bandwagon-2.”

LKD Aerospace and Scanway have announced their firms have entered into a new strategic partnership — this collaboration aims to enhance Earth Observation (EO) capabilities through advanced imaging systems and innovative satellite solutions.

Scanway specializes in providing optical payloads for EO)and other remote sensing applications designed for a range of small satellites, including nano and micro configurations. Their innovative camera systems feature multifunctional modules that enable self-diagnostics and self-inspection, allowing for real-time monitoring of space infrastructure.

This capability is crucial for detecting degradation levels, faults, and anomalies in space equipment, thereby optimizing mission success and longevity. In addition, they can be used in such applications as space situational awareness, docking missions, space exploration, etc.

The partnership leverages Scanway’s extensive expertise in customizable and athermal telescope systems, designed to meet diverse mission requirements. These advanced systems support critical applications in object classification and military operations and also play a vital role in monitoring natural disasters, climate change, and supporting agricultural and urban development initiatives.

Scanway’s innovative approach to optical payload design allows for scalability and integration across various platforms, ensuring that clients can tailor their solutions to fit specific mission goals. This flexibility is a significant advantage in an ever-evolving aerospace landscape.

As both companies continue to innovate and collaborate, they are committed to providing innovative solutions that not only enhance satellite performance but also contribute to global sustainability efforts. Thanks to Star Linker who supports Scanway in business development activities in the U.S., an agreement has been signed between LKD and Scanway, paving the way for a strengthened partnership focused on these shared goals.

“We are thrilled to partner with Scanway, whose commitment to modularity and adaptability aligns perfectly with LKD Aerospace’s vision for the future of satellite technology,” said Len McNally, VP Sales / PGM at LKD Aerospace. “Together, we aim to push the boundaries of Earth observation capabilities, providing our clients with unparalleled insights into our planet’s dynamics.”

“We’re confident that this partnership will transform how we observe and engage with our planet,” said Mikołaj Podgórski, Chief Operating Officer at Scanway. “By merging our cutting-edge imaging technologies with LKD Aerospace’s extensive partnerships and network, we aim to create solutions for some of the most urgent challenges our world faces today.”

About LKD Aerospace
LKD Aerospace ‘s mission is to help OEM’s and customers successfully connect, and expand these possibilities through technical product sales experience, aggressive promotion, and over 40 years of experience of forging connections both throughout the US and across the world.

About Scanway
Scanway is a leader in optical payload technology, providing high-resolution imaging systems for Earth Observation satellites. With a focus on modularity and adaptability, Scanway develops customizable solutions that meet the diverse needs of the aerospace industry.