LunIR is a NASA-funded cubesat built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems and Lockheed Martin payload to collect images and gather data. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Article updated Feb. 9 at 10:30 pm Eastern time with comments from KSAT CEO Rolf Scatteboe.

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Debra Werner is a correspondent for SpaceNews based in San Francisco. Debra earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is a recipient...