August 13, 2025

ULA Launches First National Security Mission From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space News)
United Launch Alliance successfully performed its first national security Vulcan launch. The Vulcan Centaur lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Tuesday, near the end of a one-hour launch window. About eight hours after liftoff, Space Systems Command confirmed the USSF-106 launch was successful. The primary payload for USSF-106 is the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), a $250 million experimental spacecraft developed by L3Harris for the Air Force Research Laboratory to test advanced positioning, navigation and timing technologies from geostationary orbit. This was the third launch of Vulcan after two certification launches last year. (8/13)

Ariane 6 Launches MetOp Weather Satellite (Source: Space News)
An Ariane 6 lifted off on its third flight Tuesday. The European rocket launched from French Guiana and deployed the MetOp-SG-A1 weather satellite into polar orbit about 65 minutes later. The satellite is the first in a second generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites for the European weather satellite agency Eumetsat. The satellite also carries a hosted payload, Sentinel-5, for the ESA/EU Copernicus program that will measure atmospheric trace gases and aerosols. This launch followed Ariane 6 missions last July and in March, with plans for three more Ariane 6 launches before the end of the year. (8/13)

AST SpaceMobile Fully Funded for Direct-to-Device Constellation (Source: Space News)
AST SpaceMobile says it has all the funding in hand for satellites needed to provide direct-to-device services in the United States and other key markets. The company said in earnings released this week it had the funds needed for a constellation of 45 to 60 satellites needed for continuous coverage. The company has five Block 1 satellites in orbit and will ship the first larger Block 2 satellite to India this month for an upcoming launch on a GSLV rocket. AST SpaceMobile anticipates at least four additional orbital launches by March 31, as part of plans to deploy spacecraft every 45–60 days on average to reach up to 60 satellites by the end of 2026. (8/13)

Mission Control Space Services Offers Space-Based Testing (Source: Space News)
Mission Control Space Services is inviting organizations to test machine-learning models on a spacecraft launched in June. Mission Control’s Persistence mission is housed in a six-unit Spire Global Lemur cubesat equipped with an optical-imaging payload. Fees to test models on Mission Control’s Marsupial flight computer will range from the “low tens to low hundreds of thousands” of dollars, the company said. Along with customer models, Mission Control will test two of its own machine-learning algorithms. (8/13)

Telespazio Partners with Digintara and Intella for EASE-Rise Mission Management (Source: Space News)
Telespazio Germany will enhance its EASE-Rise mission management platform through partnerships with two other companies. Indian startup Digantara will provide space situational awareness services while Intella will offer AI tools. The partnerships will improve the space safety capabilities of EASE-Rise as well as spacecraft anomaly detection services. (8/13)

SaxaVord Spaceport Founder Passes (Source: Shetland News)
Frank Strang, founder and former CEO of SaxaVord Spaceport in the Shetland Islands, has died. Strang died about a month after he announced he was stepping back from operations of the spaceport after receiving a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Strang, along with co-founders Scott Hammond and Debbie Strang, started work in 2017 to convert a former Royal Air Force facility into a spaceport. Several launch companies have announced plans to fly their rockets from SaxaVord, although none have yet attempted an orbital launch there. (8/13)

Blue Origin’s Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (Source: Blue Origin)
Built upon our existing and affordable Blue Ring platform, our Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) is ready to support NASA’s Mars mission in 2028. MTO is designed to provide continuous high-speed communications between Earth and Mars through multiple, steerable high-rate links supported by a broad beam that offers wide-area coverage. This coverage is supplemented with a small number of deployable UHF relay satellites in low Mars orbit, providing UHF coverage to legacy assets and future entry, descent, and landing demonstrations. (8/12)

TraCSS Moves From Beta to Pilot (Source: Space News)
The Office of Space Commerce’s space traffic coordination system is moving out its best-testing phase. Dmitry Poisik, program manager of the office’s Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, said the program was not adding any more organizations to serve as beta testers for TraCSS, instead moving those organizations to being “pilot users” that include going through the registration process TraCSS will have when it goes live in January.

TraCSS is also proposing to develop a testing environment called MASTER that will allow the office to compare space situational awareness data and products from other companies and organizations, determining if they should be incorporated into the production version. TraCSS was targeted for cancellation in NOAA’s 2026 budget request but both House and Senate appropriations bills restored at least partial funding. (8/13)

Australian Radar Demonstrates GEO Space Tracking (Source: Space News)
A new deep-space radar site in Western Australia has demonstrated it can track objects in GEO. The facility is the first location in the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) network, a U.S. Space Force-led program designed to improve monitoring of high-altitude satellites and debris. The Western Australia site, known as Site 1, is part of a planned three-radar network that will also include sites in the United Kingdom and continental United States. The network is part of the AUKUS alliance’s defense technology cooperation that includes Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. (8/13)

Long March 5B Deploys More Guowang Broadband Satellites (Source: Xinhua)
A Long March 5B launched a set of broadband constellation satellites Wednesday. The rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the island of Hainan and carried a set of satellites for the Guowang broadband constellation, although the announcement of the launch did not disclose how many were on board. (8/13)

ESCAPADE Could Lead Way for Innovative Mars Mission Trajectories (Source: Space News)
The unique trajectory developed for NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars mission could be applied to other smallsat missions launching outside of typical launch windows. ESCAPADE is scheduled to launch later this year on the second flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn, even though the next Mars launch window does not open until late next year. The satellites will go into an orbit around the Earth-sun L2 Lagrange point, then fly by the Earth next year to go on to Mars. Similar trajectories could be used for other Mars smallsat missions provided they have sufficient propulsion for the Mars trajectory insertion burn. (8/13)

Japan's Pale Blue and Mitsubishi Team on Smallsat Propulsion (Source: Space News)
Japanese water propulsion startup Pale Blue plans to collaborate with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. An investment from Mitsubishi Electric’s corporate venture capital fund helped bring Pale Blue’s total equity raised to around 4.5 billion yen ($30 million) since its founding in 2020, allowing Pale Blue to strengthen production and quality control systems to meet rising demand for small satellite propulsion. Pale Blue said it is looking into collaborating with Mitsubishi Electric but did not go into details about those plans. (8/13)

Raptor 3 Testing Ramps Up at SpaceX McGregor (Source: NSF)
The SpaceX McGregor test site, situated in the small town of McGregor, Texas, serves as the company’s primary rocket development and test facility for propulsion systems. The site spans a large area and features horizontal and vertical test bays, enabling a range of simulations, from short ignition tests to full-duration burns, all conducted in a controlled environment separate from the company’s launch sites.

The importance of the McGregor facility lies in its role as the backbone of SpaceX’s engine refinement process, enabling iterative testing that accelerates advancements in reusable rocket technology. Among the recent key developments was the second test firing at the newly introduced Raptor North test stand, which lasted 19 seconds—significantly longer than the initial two-second burn conducted previously. (8/11)

Japanese Space Companies Embrace IPOs (Source: Space News)
Space companies are going public again. In June, Voyager Technologies conducted an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $440 million, much of which will be used to support its proposed Starlab commercial space station. A few weeks later, Firefly Aerospace announced its intent to conduct an IPO, one that could raise more than $630 million for the launch and spacecraft developer. (8/11)

Axiom Space Expands Partnership with India for Human Spaceflights and Space Station Development (Source: Economic Times)
US-based Axiom Space, which recently sent Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to space as part of its Axiom-4 mission, plans to deepen its partnership with India, in human spaceflights and its space station program, said its chief executive Tejpaul Bhatia. Speaking to ET’s Kiran Rathee, Bhatia underlined India’s growing importance in the global space ecosystem underscored by several endeavors in the past few years, including missions to the moon and the sun. (8/11)

Agile Space Industries Wins Nyx Thruster Contract (Source: Payload)
Agile Space Industries will provide the in-space propulsion system for The Exploration Company’s (TEC) Nyx reusable spacecraft. Under the agreement, TEC will integrate an undisclosed number of the CO-based propulsion startup’s DS250 bipropellant rocket thrusters into the outer mold line of the Nyx spacecraft for TEC’s upcoming ISS supply run in 2028. It’s in the name: The contract is the result of a rapid development process, in which Agile designed, 3D-printed, assembled, and hotfire-tested the DS250 in just 10 weeks. (8/12)

Space Force 2026 Budget: an $11B Boon or Bubble? (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force emerged as one of the near-term winners of Washington’s budget battles. A proposed $39.9 billion for fiscal year 2026 is a jaw-dropping $11.3 billion jump from last year. This funding windfall, which defense officials have dubbed “one budget, two bills,” comes from two sources: $26.1 billion in traditional discretionary spending and a whopping $13.8 billion in mandatory funding from a massive July 4 reconciliation bill. (8/12)

Autonomy Improves Performance of Aerospace Cubesat Optical Links (Source: Space News)
Aerospace Corp. is refining technology to enable cubesats to share data through optical links, after demonstrating the capability early this year. Such a move would allow communication at greater distances and to work more autonomously. (8/12)

Tata Group’s Nelco Inks Pact with Eutelsat to Expand Satellite Connectivity in India (Source: Financial Express)
Tata Group’s Indian satellite communication services company, Nelco has signed an agreement with Eutelsat to bring OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services to customers across India. The deal will enable Nelco to provide secure, low-latency connectivity for users on land, at sea, and in the air, with coverage extending across India’s borders, territorial waters, and remote regions. Nelco plans to roll out these offerings as soon as OneWeb’s LEO network becomes commercially operational in India. (8/12)

Why DOD’s HR Revolution Might Start in Space (Source: Defense Scoop)
As the leader of human capital for the U.S. Space Force, Katharine Kelley is on the frontlines of creating the workforce of the future for the military’s newest service. That effort could serve as a launch pad for modernizing the way the Department of Defense manages its workforce across the entire HR lifecycle, from recruitment and hiring to retention and retirement. Click here. (8/11)

Europe’s Ariane 6 Rocket Slated to Launch in SpaceX Challenge (Source: Bloomberg)
A troubled European rocket critical to the continent’s goal of reducing its reliance on Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to thunder off a launchpad for only its third-ever mission. The Ariane 6, which had its debut in July 2024 and is the centerpiece of Europe’s space ambitions, will be sending an Airbus SE-made satellite into a polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate monitoring. The launch in French Guiana is scheduled on Tuesday. (8/12)

South Korea Ready to Deliver Cubesat for Artemis Mission (Source: Yonhap)
South Korea's space administration said Tuesday it plans to deliver a small satellite designed to measure space radiation to take part in a U.S.-led moon exploration program. The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) said the K-RadCube, a Korean-made cube satellite, will be delivered via air to the Kennedy Space Center to participate in the Artemis II mission. The K-RadCube will be mounted on the Orion stage adapter, located between the Space Launch System rocket and the crewed Orion spacecraft, with the launch scheduled for April 2026. (8/12)

Las Vegas Sphere Team to Design Starlab Interior (Source: The National)
Starlab, being built by Voyager Space and Airbus, is working with design company Journey and hospitality company Hilton to shape the interior of the station, scheduled for launch in 2029.

“Journey is helping us ask the right questions: where will people gather at the end of a long day? How do you create a psychological balance between work and rest in microgravity? They're real, daily considerations for astronauts spending months in orbit, not abstract design challenges ... One area where this really comes through is in the design of communal zones. Instead of sterile corridors, these areas are being shaped as spaces that invite collaboration, reflection and routine.” (8/11)

NASA Prepares To Enact White House Budget Cuts, Changes (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA is preparing to enact the Trump administration’s proposed spending plan, which includes a nearly 50% cut to the agency’s science programs. “Right now we are planning to the limits—or the resources—that were set for us in the president’s budget,” said a NASA Associate Administrator. (8/11)

Why Does Jeff Bezos Keep Buying Launches From Elon Musk? (Source: Ars Technica)
First and foremost, one of SpaceX's two core businesses is launching rockets. (The other is its Starlink Internet service). SpaceX sells launch services to all comers and typically offers the lowest price per kilogram to orbit. By reusing the first stage of the Falcon 9, SpaceX has cracked the code on rapid, reliable launch service.

SpaceX also has proven that it is willing to launch competitors. Between December 2022 and October 2024, SpaceX launched four batches of satellites for OneWeb, another broadband Internet competitor. AST SpaceMobile has purchased multiple launches from SpaceX for its direct-to-device satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket has also launched two Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS for Northrop Grumman, a direct competitor to its Cargo Dragon vehicle.

SpaceX is also not doing this entirely out of the goodness of its heart. Last year The Wall Street Journal reported, credibly, that SpaceX asked companies seeking launch services, including OneWeb and Kepler Communications, to share spectrum rights as a condition of flying on Falcon 9. (8/11)

Experts Sound Off on NASA Fast-Track for Lunar Nuclear Reactor (Source: The Independent)
NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said the administration wanted to have a nuclear reactor ready to launch by 2030. Earlier this year, China and Russia announced a plan to build a nuclear reactor for a lunar base by 2035. “The first country to do so could potentially declare a ‘keep-out’ zone which would significantly inhibit the United States from establishing a planned Artemis presence if not there first,” Duffy said.

“It was in the last Trump administration that NASA had put out a press release, they had a YouTube video, they had these announcements about how they’re going to develop these small, modular nuclear reactors for use on the moon, and it was going to be ready by 2026,” said Joseph Cirincione, who is vice-chair of the Center for International Policy, a non-profit that advocates for a peaceful approach to foreign policy. “Oh, really? So, where is it?”

Ultimately, the expert believes a nuclear reactor on the moon could take up to 20 years to become a reality. NASA would need a working launch vehicle, a small and adaptable reactor, and the ability to land on the moon. Right now, the SpaceX Starship is the only vehicle option – but it has exploded during several of its test flights. There are also the scientific and technological advances needed. “Small modular nuclear reactors, it turns out, are always just around the corner – a corner you never get to turn,” Cirincione said. (8/9)

‘Unacceptable’: Lawmakers Shocked to Hear About Reported NASA Wallops Visitor Center Closure (Source: Virginian-Pilot)
Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation were shocked by news of the potential closure of the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center and worry it will negatively impact the Eastern Shore’s economy. Employees at Goddard Space Flight Center and Wallops received word last week that management planned to close several facilities, including NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center — and federal workers asked for congressional support to preserve the local landmark.

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, a Republican who represents Virginia’s 2nd District, said the proposed closure came as a shock. In a statement, she said was committed to supporting NASA Wallops staff. (8/11)

NASA Launches Second Phase of Moon Recycling Competition (Source: UPI)
NASA is launching the second phase of its moon recycling competition to clean up trash in space. The space agency's LunaRecycle Challenge is looking for the brightest minds to figure out a way to recycle plastics, foams and metals left behind by ongoing activity and building in space.

LunaRecycle's Phase 1 competition attracted record-breaking interest with more than 1,200 registrations. Seventeen teams, from five countries and nine U.S. states, were named winners in that challenge. For Phase 2, only U.S. individuals and teams may participate and must build a physical prototype to manage a year's worth of trash. (8/11)

NASA Emphasizes Smallsats for Science Amid Budget Uncertainty (Source: Space News)
The head of NASA’s science directorate said the agency remains committed to using small satellites to carry out a variety of missions, although those plans face uncertain budgets. Nicola Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, highlighted the role that smallsats were playing across the Science Mission Directorate, from Earth science to astrophysics. “Technologies like smallsats allow us to fly more science at a lower cost and at a quicker pace,” she said. “My goal is to put more science into space.” (8/12)

ESCAPADE Trajectory Design Creates New Options for Mars Smallsat Missions (Source: Space News)
NASA’s ESCAPADE mission, featuring a pair of identical smallsats built by Rocket Lab for the University of California Berkeley Space Sciences Lab, is now scheduled to launch later this year on the second flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. Neither NASA nor Blue Origin have yet offered a specific launch date. (8/12)

TraCSS Moving Past Beta Test of Space Traffic Coordination System (Source: Space News)
Dmitry Poisik, program manager of the office’s Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, said Aug. 11 that the system has started to move satellite operators who signed on as beta users to “pilot users” of TraCSS. (8/12)

Autonomy Improves Performance of Aerospace Cubesat Optical Links (Source: Space News)
Aerospace Corp. is refining technology to enable cubesats to share data through optical links, after demonstrating the capability early this year. Such a move would allow communication at greater distances and to work more autonomously, as the cubesats would use incoming signals to align themselves with one another. (8/12)

Telespazio Joins Forces with Digantara and Intella (Source: Space News)
Telespazio Germany announced plans Aug. 12 to enhance its EASE-Rise mission management platform with Digantara space situational awareness (SSA) services and Intella artificial intelligence tools, extending Telespazio's global presence. (8/12)

ThrustMe, Marble and Reflex to Test Iodine-Fueled Hall-Effect Thruster (Source: Space News)
French propulsion startup ThrustMe has high expectations for an iodine-fueled Hall-effect thruster set to launch in 2026 on a Marble Imaging satellite built by Reflex Aerospace. (8/12)

Pale Blue Teams Up with Mitsubishi Electric to Advance Water Propulsion (Source: Space News)
Japanese water propulsion startup Pale Blue is exploring jointly developing systems with Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric, after the satellite maker joined the University of Tokyo spin-off’s $10 million Series C funding round. Pale Blue co-founder and CEO Jun Asakawa said the funding will help strengthen production and quality control systems to meet rising demand for small satellite propulsion. (8/12)