Space News for Tuesday, June 27, 2023

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:24) D-Orbit wins contracts to test optical links and fly mini space lab(00:50) ESA, European companies back “zero debris” agreement(01:20) SES bid for equal split of C-band proceeds back in play(01:47) U.K. joins U.S. Space Command’s commercial space-tracking cell(02:17) Agile raises $13 million to expand production(02:46) NASA identifies potential major cost growth in Mars Sample Return(03:15) China conducts parachute tests for asteroid sample return mission(03:46) Month: (04:08) SpaceX conducts six-engine test fire as it gears up for second Starship flight(04:43) Final Ariane 5 launch scheduled for July 4 after fixes to booster separation system(05:13) NASA to provide coverage of ESA’s ‘Dark Universe’ mission launch – SatNews(06:11) Apex raises million$$ in Series A funding + the customers for the 1st Aries satellite bus – SatNews(06:51) SpiderOak demos OrbitSecure on Ball Aerospace payload – SatNews(07:24) Cobham Satcom receives million$$ contract from a U.S. Prime in support of USG + DoD for fleet ops – SatNews(07:54) WTA Certification Program announces Tier 4 Certification of Cyta’s Makarios Teleport – SatNews(08:24) Ad Astra Rocket Company’s two elected Board of Directors are from Cummins Inc. – SatNews(08:57) NASA to Provide Coverage for Launch of ESA ‘Dark Universe’ Mission