Max Q - Space startups crowd Disrupt Startup Battlefield 2020

Monday, September 21, 2020 • By Darrell Etherington

This past week we saw not one, but two great space startups participate in our annual TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield competition. Meanwhile, NASA is working on a new high-precision automated landing system for the spacecraft that will take humans back to the Moon and to Mars, and there’s a new reality show in the works where the winner will get a trip to the International Space Station (maybe this one will actually happen).

NASA will test landing system on upcoming Blue Origin launch

NASA is using a future Blue Origin suborbital launch here on Earth too test out its next-generation high-precision automated landing system. The system combines radar, optical cameras and lidar to make for extremely accurate landing on Moon and Mars terrain that may not be all that hospitable to landers overall.

NASA will test landing system on upcoming Blue Origin launch image

Image Credits: Blue Origin

There's a new Space Station reality show in the works

A production company called ‘Space Hero’ is working on creating a new TV show that will carry the same name, and feature aspiring private astronauts all competing to become the real thing via an all-expenses paid trip to the ISS. The production crew has already worked out an arrangement for a ticket aboard a 2023 ISS mission aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, provided everything comes together with pitching and selling the show.

Europe's Space Agency awards a contract to avoid planet-killers

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded contracts worth $153 million to companies that will help it build its Hera spacecraft, which will support NASA’s own DART test of a spaceship to help redirect any asteroids that might be on a collision course with Earth.

Europe's Space Agency awards a contract to avoid planet-killers image

Dynetics creates a full-scale mockup of its Human Lander

NASA has already named three companies that are vying to build it human landing systems for its forthcoming missions to the Moon, and Dynetics is among them. The company has already built a full-scale mockup of its very interesting lander, which looks kind of like a trailer in space with huge solar arrays. The company will use this to work through design of the final vehicle with the agency.

Satellite Vu looks to provide thermal vision of Earth

A startup hoping to provide thermal imaging of Earth, with precision above what’s been available previously, was among the competitors for this year’s Disrupt Cup and Startup Battlefield prize. The company didn’t win, but it does have impress tech for small satellite thermal constellation operation.

Satellite Vu looks to provide thermal vision of Earth image

Firehawk Aerospace wants to upend rocketry with 3D-printed hybrid fuel

Hybrid rocket fuel isn’t new, but it has limitations that make it difficult for the tech to ever overcome standard rocket propellant for doing things like lifting large rockets. This startup, another Startup Battlefield contestant (and finalist) at Disrupt 2020, wants to change all that, and it’s got the innovative, additive manufacturing design technology to help make it happen.