https://www.kentvalleywa.com Kent Valley Economic Development News Feed Sat, 16 May 2026 14:21:53 +0000 en-US https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67546/blue-origin-tests-1st-moon-lander-ahead-of-lunar-launch-later-this-year https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67546/blue-origin-tests-1st-moon-lander-ahead-of-lunar-launch-later-this-year Fri, 08 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACE.COM - Blue Origin continues putting its first lunar lander through its paces, testing the spacecraft at NASA centers across the nation to prepare it for its upcoming mission to the moon.That vehicle, named "Endurance," is Blue Origin's uncrewed Blue Moon MK1 test lander, which is designed to pave the... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67475/blue-origin-moon-lander-completes-testing-at-nasa-vacuum-chamber https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67475/blue-origin-moon-lander-completes-testing-at-nasa-vacuum-chamber Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 NASA - Also known as Endurance, MK1 is an uncrewed cargo lander funded by Blue Origin as a commercial demonstration mission to advance Human Landing System capabilities in support of NASA’s Artemis program. The tests in Chamber A represent a public-private partnership model, with Blue Origin conducting work through a... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67453/egyptair-takes-delivery-of-first-boeing-737-max-jet https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67453/egyptair-takes-delivery-of-first-boeing-737-max-jet Sun, 03 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BOEING - Boeing and EgyptAir announced today the Egyptian national airline took delivery of its first 737 MAX. The 737-8 is the first of 18 airplanes leased from SMBC Aviation Capital to be delivered and represents the first 737 MAX in Egypt."The delivery of our first Boeing 737 MAX marks... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67416/blue-origin-certainly-has-ambitious-launch-targets-for-new-glenn https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67416/blue-origin-certainly-has-ambitious-launch-targets-for-new-glenn Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 ARS TECHNICA - Earlier this week, Blue Origin posted a job opportunity for a “senior manager” to oversee tank fabrication for “Quattro,” and the description contained some intriguing information.“As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers you will be the Senior Manager of Gen 2.0 Tank Fabrication,... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67415/blacksky-wins-nearly-30-million-oneyear-assured-contract-from-international-defense-customer https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67415/blacksky-wins-nearly-30-million-oneyear-assured-contract-from-international-defense-customer Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BLACKSKY - BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) won a nearly $30 million, one-year Assured contract from an international defense customer. The customer rapidly scaled from an initial six-figure Early Access program to the subscription deal in less than six months to meet an accelerated need for real time space-based tactical... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67413/boeing-and-scat-airlines-announce-order-for-five-737-max-jets-to-support-growth https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67413/boeing-and-scat-airlines-announce-order-for-five-737-max-jets-to-support-growth Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BOEING PR - Boeing [NYSE: BA] and SCAT Airlines today announced the carrier will expand its fleet and boost capacity with the fuel-efficient 737 MAX. The airline's previously unidentified order for five more 737-9 jets will support operational efficiency and expand longer-range single-aisle service, including more routes to Europe.SCAT also... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67418/blue-origin-is-one-step-closer-to-having-lunar-lander-ready-for-launch https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67418/blue-origin-is-one-step-closer-to-having-lunar-lander-ready-for-launch Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 MSN - Blue Origin is getting closer and closer to having its lunar lander ready for an uncrewed mission to the surface of the moon.Billionaire Jeff Bezos' space technology company has been putting its Blue Moon spacecraft through its paces at testing facilities in both Texas and Florida. Ahead? a... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67414/panamas-copa-airlines-to-buy-60-boeing-737-max-jets https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67414/panamas-copa-airlines-to-buy-60-boeing-737-max-jets Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 REUTERS - Copa Airlines, opens new tab tied up an agreement ​with Boeing, opens new tab and GE Aerospace to ‌purchase up to 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for a list price of around $13.5 billion, ​the Panamanian carrier said on Monday.​The order, combined with 40 aircraft pending ⁠delivery from... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67283/powerlight-achieves-industryfirst-wireless-power-beaming-to-a-fielded-military-uas-in-flight https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67283/powerlight-achieves-industryfirst-wireless-power-beaming-to-a-fielded-military-uas-in-flight Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 POWERLIGHT - PowerLight Technologies has reached a defining milestone in wireless power transmission: successfully delivering power via laser to a fielded military unmanned aerial system (UAS) while in flight—an industry first that moves power beaming from concept to operational reality.This achievement marks a critical step forward in the evolution of... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67236/blue-origin-hot-fires-its-first-previously-flown-booster-prepares-for-weekend-launch https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67236/blue-origin-hot-fires-its-first-previously-flown-booster-prepares-for-weekend-launch Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACEFLIGHT NOW - Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket roared to life in a critical pre-launch demonstration of its main engines Thursday, less than an hour after the Sun crested over the horizon in Florida.The seven BE-4 engines fired for about 20 seconds, at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 UTC). Engineers will... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67228/boeing-hiring-more-than-100-factory-workers-a-week-to-grow-output-replace-retirees https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67228/boeing-hiring-more-than-100-factory-workers-a-week-to-grow-output-replace-retirees Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 REUTERS - Boeing, opens new tab ​is hiring around 100 to 140 factory workers a week, the highest pace since 2024, as the U.S. ‌jetmaker replaces retirees and increases staffing to support higher production rates and new models, a union leader said.Boeing's unionized factory workers in the Pacific Northwest now... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67231/blue-origin-one-step-closer-to-launching-new-glenn-from-vandenberg-space-force-base https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67231/blue-origin-one-step-closer-to-launching-new-glenn-from-vandenberg-space-force-base Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACEFLIGHT NOW - Days ahead of the planned third launch of a New Glenn rocket, Blue Origin was tapped by the U.S. Space Force to proceed towards developing its first launch site in California.The Space Force said it picked Blue Origin’s proposal to develop Space Launch Complex 14 (SLC-14) at... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67230/senators-seek-increased-funding-for-nasa-mars-missions https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67230/senators-seek-increased-funding-for-nasa-mars-missions Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACENEWS - Several senators are asking appropriators to increase funding for NASA’s robotic Mars exploration efforts, fearing “severe and irreversible harm” if funding is not restored.In a letter this week to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) subcommittee, four senators requested that NASA’s Mars... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67237/as-starship-v3-lags-behind-blue-origin-prepares-third-launch-of-new-glenn https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67237/as-starship-v3-lags-behind-blue-origin-prepares-third-launch-of-new-glenn Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 GIZMODO - Blue Origin is getting ready for the third flight of New Glenn, taking another step toward ramping up its heavy-lift launch cadence.According to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory, Blue Origin plans to launch New Glenn no earlier than 6:45 a.m. ET on Friday. The company said Tuesday that... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67232/apple-chooses-amazon-satellites-for-iphone-years-after-rejecting-starlink-offer https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67232/apple-chooses-amazon-satellites-for-iphone-years-after-rejecting-starlink-offer Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 ARS TECHNICA - Amazon today announced two satellite deals that it hopes will make its Amazon Leo network a more formidable competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. Amazon signed a merger agreement to buy satellite operator Globalstar and said it entered into an agreement with Apple to provide satellite service for iPhones... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67275/venture-funding-gap-widens-between-seattles-haves-havenots https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67275/venture-funding-gap-widens-between-seattles-haves-havenots Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL - The competitive world of venture capital funding has grown even more fierce in recent years.It’s a byproduct of the intense age of artificial intelligence that is forcing startups to show parabolic growth early while investors, afraid of missing out on the next household name, make... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67156/avalanche-energy-lands-share-of-52m-dod-award-to-develop-longlasting-nuclear-batteries https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67156/avalanche-energy-lands-share-of-52m-dod-award-to-develop-longlasting-nuclear-batteries Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 GEEKWIRE - Seattle fusion startup Avalanche Energy was awarded a share of a $5.2 million contract announced Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop compact nuclear batteries.The award comes from the DARPA Rads to Watts program, which is focused on building long-lasting batteries for defense and space applications... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67154/onorbit-services-startup-starfish-space-raises-110m-to-execute-missions-boost-production https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67154/onorbit-services-startup-starfish-space-raises-110m-to-execute-missions-boost-production Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000 VIA SATELLITE - Starfish Space on Tuesday said it has raised about $110 million in a Series B round that will be used to execute orbital servicing missions already on contract, boost production of its Otter service spacecraft and add employees.The investment was led by Point72 Ventures and brings the... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67104/delta-picks-amazon-leo-for-inflight-wifi-starting-in-2028 https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67104/delta-picks-amazon-leo-for-inflight-wifi-starting-in-2028 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 ENGADGET - In-flight Wi-Fi on Delta flights will be provided by Amazon Leo beginning in 2028, the two companies have announced. In a blow to Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon’s deal with Delta will see its satellite internet service installed on 500 Delta aircraft initially, each equipped with its own Leo... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67103/blacksky-awarded-multiyear-solesource-99-million-us-government-idiq-contract-for-advanced-next-generation-capabilities https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67103/blacksky-awarded-multiyear-solesource-99-million-us-government-idiq-contract-for-advanced-next-generation-capabilities Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 BLACKSKY - BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) was awarded a multi-year, sole-source $99 million U.S. government IDIQ contract for advanced, next generation capabilities. The company received an initial $2 million to accelerate the design of an advanced large aperture optical payload for Earth observation and space domain awareness platforms.“This award... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67054/seahawks-file-plans-for-virginia-mason-athletic-center-addition https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67054/seahawks-file-plans-for-virginia-mason-athletic-center-addition Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SEATTLE TIMES - The Seahawks have filed plans with the city of Renton for a possible addition of up to 80,000-square feet to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.A team spokesperson confirmed the news, which was first revealed this week by the Daily Journal of Commerce.There is no current date for... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67048/starfish-space-finds-a-new-partner-for-docking-demonstration-mission https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67048/starfish-space-finds-a-new-partner-for-docking-demonstration-mission Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 SPACE NEWS - Starfish Space has changed plans for a docking demonstration mission after its original partner backed out.In a March 26 statement, Starfish said it changed the destination for Otter Pup 2, a spacecraft launched in June 2025 to demonstrate the ability to dock with an unprepared satellite.“In late... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67047/algerias-national-carrier-orders-10-boeing-737-max-8-planes-to-modernize-fleet https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67047/algerias-national-carrier-orders-10-boeing-737-max-8-planes-to-modernize-fleet Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 REUTERS - Algeria’s national carrier Air Algerie said on Thursday it ​had ordered 10 Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737 ‌MAX 8 aircraft as part of a national strategy to develop civil ​air transport.The airline said ​the acquisition forms part of efforts ⁠to modernize its fleet, expand ​its route network... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67051/branding-firm-names-seattlebased-us-ceo-ahead-of-lumen-field-makeover https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67051/branding-firm-names-seattlebased-us-ceo-ahead-of-lumen-field-makeover Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL - Toronto-based branding company The Look Co. on Tuesday named Amy Johnson, previously a president at the company, as its U.S. CEO.Johnson, who will be based in Seattle, is taking over the Look Co.'s U.S. operations as the company prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The... https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67046/amazon-leo-readies-200-satellites-for-orbit-as-it-ramps-up-launch-schedule https://www.kentvalleywa.com/news-and-resources/recent-news/p/item/67046/amazon-leo-readies-200-satellites-for-orbit-as-it-ramps-up-launch-schedule Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 VIA SATELLITE - More than 200 Amazon Leo satellites are loaded onto six dispensers at Cape Canaveral, ready to be launched into orbit in the coming months as Amazon prepares to ramp up launch cadence for its megaconstellation, Chris Weber, the company’s vice president for Leo Business told a lunchtime...