Athena EPIC is poised to serve as a pathfinder for space startup NovaWurks and its sensorcraft architecture, demonstrating a more innovative method for placing remote sensing instruments into orbit faster and more affordably. This approach enables the opportunity to learn from commercial best practices and implement an “all-of-government” approach.

One of these ride-along NASA efforts is the Athena EPIC (Economical Payload Integration Cost) SmallSat, which will demonstrate a new way of more efficiently placing remote-sensing (or rather, Earth-observing) instruments into orbit.

Two NASA satellites rocketed into orbit from California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday, commencing a $170 million mission to study a phenomenon of space physics that has eluded researchers since the dawn of the Space Age.

The next satellites SpaceX helps to deliver to orbit from Vandenberg won't be its own, but rather two of NASA's on a scientific mission.

San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute is managing the $115 million mission examining the effects of solar winds.

Amazon has more than 80 launches lined up with SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin and Arianespace to create its $10 billion internet network.

The White House considered axing federal contracts for Elon Musk’s SpaceX after the billionaire’s dispute with US President Donald Trump, but found most were too important to cut.