October 23, 2025

Call to Action: Launch Puerto Rico as Americas Space Hub (Source: Josh Molina)
The time is now to seize Puerto Rico's unique strategic advantage and establish it as a secure, resilient hub for the U.S. space economy, advanced manufacturing, and in-space production. The upcoming Caribbean Space Summit 2025: “Resilient Futures Through Space Innovation,” presents a critical inflection point.

As a U.S. territory at the crossroads of the Atlantic and Caribbean, Puerto Rico offers unmatched potential for: spaceport infrastructure and operations; satellite operations and ground control; and advanced manufacturing for the aerospace sector, including in-space production. Click here. (10/17)

Japan's Interstellar Aims for 2027 Launch Debut at Hokkaido Spaceport (Source: Aviation Week)
The Japanese government wants homegrown rocket capacity to reach 30 launches per year. Interstellar is aiming for its in-development Zero small launch vehicle to loft commercial and government payloads from Japan and across the Asia-Pacific region 10 times annually. The Zero is expendable, but the technology and components, such as the methane-propellant system, eventually will be adapted to Deca, a partially reusable, heavy launch vehicle.

The company’s closest rival in Japan is perhaps Honda Motor, which in June surprised the industry when it launched a small reusable rocket and landed it back on the ground at its facility in Taiki. Interstellar hopes to make its mark on the space market with the Zero’s relatively larger payload. The expendable rocket is designed to loft up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb.) to LEO compared with Rocket Lab’s highly successful small launch vehicle, the Electron, which has a payload capacity of 300 kg to LEO. The first launch of the Zero is planned for 2027.

Interstellar aims to carve out a niche in the Asia-Pacific region by using the local Hokkaido Spaceport, positioned on the rural east coast of the island. The Hokkaido Spaceport hosts a variety of suborbital sounding rocket launches from student groups, JAXA and Taiwan’s TiSpace. Editor's Note: Interstellar's first Zero launch will the fifth satellite developed by Florida's Wolfpack CubeSat Development Team. (10/17)

Relativity Completes Terran R Thrust Section, Continues Testing Ahead of First Launch (Source: NSF)
The first Terran R is under construction, with several components completed in recent weeks. One such component is the thrust section, which comprises the vehicle’s lower portion and where the first stage’s engines are attached. Other completed components of the first Terran R include all eight first-stage structural barrels and the first stage’s first two Aeon R flight engines.

The thrust section, made from 7140 and 7050 aluminum alloys and completed in August 2025, is one of the most intricate and complex parts of the Terran R vehicle. Following construction, the thrust section underwent a multi-week testing campaign at Relativity’s new test stand at its Long Beach, California, facility, where the Terran R is being built. This thrust section testing has now been completed. (10/22)

ESA Introduces Space Environment ‘Health Index’ (Source: ESA)
The congestion and pollution of Earth orbit is quickly getting worse. We need to be able to quantify how our behavior impacts the orbital environment in the future. To this end, ESA is adding a new health index to its yearly Space Environment Report that summarizes in one number the status of our space environment over time. The Space Environment Health Index is a single score that reflects how healthy or stressed the orbital environment is and what the consequences will be in a 200-year time period.

Even if one number can never explain all the intricacies involved, it will provide a useful impression of the space environment’s health that speeds up high-level conversations. Also, it will provide a framework to evaluate individual missions on how they will impact the overall state. (10/22)

Eutelsat’s LEO Revenues Surge as its GEO Business Slows (Source: European Spaceflight)
French satellite operator Eutelsat announced its first quarter 2025–26 financial results on 21 October, posting strong growth in its OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity segment. However, total revenues for the quarter declined by 2.2% year-on-year, driven by weaker performances in its video and geostationary (GEO) connectivity businesses. (10/22)

Vantor Secures USSF Contract For Space-to-Space Imaging (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force has tapped Vantor—formerly Maxar Intelligence—to help it track high-interest objects on orbit using non-Earth imaging (NEI), the company announced Oct. 22. Vantor will provide high-resolution imagery and analysis of space-based objects that are not visible to ground-sensors. (10/22)

Lockheed Martin Invests in Venus Aerospace's Rotating Detonation Rocket Tech (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin is investing in rocket propulsion startup Venus Aerospace. The startup said Wednesday that Lockheed Martin Ventures, the venture capital arm of the aerospace giant, would make an investment of undisclosed size to support development of a rotating detonation rocket engine. Such an engine promises more efficiency than conventional engines, and Venus has proposed using it for hypersonic vehicles. Venus Aerospace tested the technology on a sounding rocket launch in May. (10/23)

Northrop Grumman Touts Sentinel ICBM Milestones (Source: Air & Space Forces)
Northrop Grumman has reported significant progress on the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, completing a full-scale qualification test of the second stage solid rocket motor and passing critical design review for the Launch Support System. However, the program faces challenges, including a Nunn-McCurdy breach due to cost overruns and a potential two-year delay. Northrop CEO Kathy Warden remains optimistic about the program's execution and the Air Force has requested $3.7 billion for the program in 2026, with Congress adding $2.5 billion for risk reduction activities. (10/22)

Airbus, Leonardo, Thales Reach Agreement on Space Merger Terms (Source: Space News)
Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have agreed to merge space businesses to enhance competitiveness in the global market. "This new European space champion will be able to compete with the world and in particular with the Americans," Thales Chairman Patrice Caine said. "It will have the size, the capacity for innovation and the financial resources." (10/23)

France's Ion-X to Provide Thrusters for Univity Broadband Constellation (Source: Space News)
French propulsion startup Ion-X won a contract to provide thrusters for a broadband constellation company. Univity, a three-year-old French venture planning 1,500 small 5G broadband satellites in very low Earth orbit, said it will buy electrospray thrusters from Ion-X for one of two UniShape prototype satellites it plans to launch in 2027. The UniShape mission would mark the first flight of Ion-X’s Halo-Max, designed to deliver around five times the total impulse of its existing Halo-100X thruster. (10/23)

SpaceX Launches Wednesday Starlink Mission From California (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites Wednesday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and deployed 28 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch was the 133rd so far this year of the Falcon 9, compared to 132 Falcon 9 launches in all of 2024. (10/23)

Hungary Signs Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Hungary is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords. NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy announced the signing Wednesday in a social media post, although there was no other publicity about the agreement from the U.S. or Hungarian governments. The signing coincided with a visit by Hungary’s foreign minister to the United States. Hungary is the fifth country to sign the Accords this year and the 57th overall. (10/23)

Texas Senators Lawyer-Up for Discovery Shuttle Fight (Source: CollectSpace)
The Texas senators pushing to move the space shuttle Discovery to Houston are now getting the Justice Department involved. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn (R-TX), along with Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), said Wednesday they sent a letter to the Justice Department, calling on it to investigate allegations that the Smithsonian Institution violated the Anti-Lobbying Act in efforts to oppose the transfer of Discovery. The budget reconciliation bill passed in July included $85 million for a “space vehicle transfer” since interpreted to mean moving Discovery. Opponents of the move argue that the cost would be far greater than the $85 million appropriated and risks damaging the orbiter. (10/23)

SpaceX Forced to Vacate, Settles Trespassing Lawsuit at Starbase (Source: AP)
SpaceX has settled a lawsuit filed by a game company that owns land adjacent to Starbase. Cards Against Humanity (CAH) said this week SpaceX agreed to settle the $15 million lawsuit it filed last year, claiming SpaceX construction contractors trespassed on a plot of land CAH owns near Starbase. CAH claimed that workers parked equipment and left debris on the land for at least six months. The companies did not disclose terms of the settlement, reached just before the case was set to go to trial, but CAH said that SpaceX admitted during the discovery phase of the case that workers did trespass on the property. CAH bought the land in 2017 in a bid to oppose a proposed border wall. (10/23)

FAA Air Traffic Workers Stressed While Other Federal Employees Get Second RIF Notice (After Agencies Brought Them Back) (Source: FNN)
In response to a recent union survey, 700 employees working in air traffic control jobs detailed stories of financial difficulties, like turning to local food banks, canceling medical treatments and seeking part-time jobs. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, or “PASS,” says those hardships can carry over into the workday.

At other agencies, several laid-off federal employees described the toll these layoffs are having on their lives. One told the court she received her RIF notice while on maternity leave. Others said they received RIF notices earlier this year that were rescinded, and have now received a second RIF notice this month. Dorothy Roper at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said she received a RIF notice on Oct. 10 — her second this year. “This RIF and the uncertainty of whether I have a job is causing me deep financial and emotional distress.”

Mayra Medrano at the Dept. of Commerce also received her second RIF notice this year. Medrano told the court she received her first RIF notice while she was in the hospital, covering from a “stress-induced” seizure, but was later reinstated. This time around, she’s not sure what to expect. (10/22)

Shutdown Now Second-Longest Ever (Source: 1440)
The federal government shutdown entered its 23rd day Thursday, after becoming the second-longest funding lapse in modern history, eclipsing the 1995-96 shutdown during the Clinton administration. The holdup continues to be over healthcare. More than 24 million people in the US are insured through programs the Democrats seek to protect, with nearly 4 million expected to lose coverage if costs increase next year.

The Senate failed to pass the House bill yesterday for the twelfth time. Tomorrow, federal workers will miss their first full paychecks; hundreds of thousands of employees received partial paychecks on Oct. 10. (10/23)

Avio Shareholders Approve €400M Capital Increase, Plans US Manufacturing Facility (Source: European Spaceflight)
Avio shareholders approved a proposal to initiate a €400 million capital increase during an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on Thursday. The Italian rocket builder is focused on meeting rising demand in the global space and defense markets, which includes the construction of a new tactical propulsion systems manufacturing facility in the United States. (10/23)

ArianeGroup Awards €1.5M Contract to Ireland's Réaltra for Ariane 6 Video Telemetry (Source: European Spaceflight)
Irish space electronics company Réaltra Space Systems Engineering has been awarded a €1.5 million contract by ArianeGroup to supply seven Independent Video Kits (VIKIs) that will provide live onboard video telemetry during Ariane 6 launches. (10/23)

Nyxara is Building Lasers To Pierce the Clouds (Source: Payload)
In the world of optical communications, cloudy days are bad for business. Compared to radio comms, space-to-ground lasers stand to increase both how much data satellites can downlink to ground stations on Earth, and the speed with which that data can be accessed—but only if the weather is nice. Nyxara, a new startup from Palo Alto, wants to solve this issue by creating a space-based internet service built on laser communications hardware capable of transmitting through cloud cover. (10/23)

ispace Secures Toyota’s Support for the Development of a Next-Gen Small-Sized Rover (Source: Spacewatch Global)
ispace partners with the Toyota Motor Corporation to receive technical evaluation and quality improvement support for the conceptual design of its small-sized rover, currently under development by ispace for future missions. The company is developing a small-sized rover towards enhancing its data collection capabilities through its rover platform. The lunar exploration company will consequently receive system-level technical evaluation from Toyota for the development of its rover toward an optimal system design solution. (10/23)

Nordic Ministers for Trade and Industry Strengthen Cooperation on Space Policy (Source: Norden)
The Nordic ministers for trade and industry have just issued a joint declaration marking a new step towards closer co-operation on space-related matters. With a focus on innovation, security, and competitiveness, the Nordic countries are seeking to step up dialogue and co-ordination on space-related initiatives. (10/23)

China-Led Moon Mission’s Water Probe Will be ‘First for Humanity’ (Source: SCMP)
China could beat the United States to become the first country to find water on the moon, with all international payloads already handed over for its next robotic lunar mission which is slated for launch in August. Scientific instruments from six national partners and one NGO have been delivered to the China National Space Administration. The instruments have been provided by China’s traditional partner Russia along with Egypt and a number of US space allies including Bahrain, Thailand, Italy and Switzerland, as well as Hawaii-based NGO the International Lunar Observatory Association.

The mission will focus on studying the environment and searching for water ice near the moon’s south pole – a vital resource for future crewed space exploration because of its potential to be converted into drinking water, breathable oxygen and even rocket fuel. The Chang’e-7 spacecraft is the most complex ever built for China’s lunar program, Tang told state broadcaster CCTV on Saturday. It would consist of an orbiter, lander, rover, hopper and a relay satellite. (10/23)

How Spaceport America Impacts the Economy of Doña Ana County, New Mexico (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
Spaceport America contributed over $240 million to New Mexico's economy in 2024, according to a university report. Job growth at the facility is expected to slow temporarily as anchor tenant Virgin Galactic pauses flights until 2026. The spaceport is working to diversify its tenants beyond space tourism to include data centers and suborbital flight companies. Officials state that continued investment in infrastructure is necessary to attract more companies and grow the state's aerospace industry. (10/22)

President Trump Will Make NASA Great Again, Again (Source: The Floridian)
As the NASA CFO during President Trump’s first term, I had the honor and privilege of being part of the team that made NASA a highly functioning and relevant organization again. Under Donald Trump’s leadership, the nation’s space agency rediscovered its footing and was refocused on bold objectives - including a firm commitment to send Americans back to the Moon and onward to Mars.

President Trump’s track record shows he will once again make NASA a highly successful organization. I am honored to have been part of President Trump’s team which, under his leadership, demonstrated NASA’s ability to deliver on its commitments. It is time to reignite American leadership in space. Under Trump, NASA can and will be strong again - because it will be focused, nimble, and accountable. (10/22)

Abandoned NASA Nominee May Find New Life (Source: Politico)
“JARED ISAACMAN FOR NASA ADMINISTRATOR!” MAGA influencer Laura Loomer posted Tuesday on social media, even as Elon Musk took to his X platform to pillory Duffy and stump for Isaacman. “Sean Dummy is trying to kill NASA!” he wrote. But Isaacman faces a surprising blockade in Duffy, who is both the interim NASA director and the head of the Transportation Department.

Duffy has been working to keep NASA under his purview, and he’s discussed plans to have the space agency folded into the Transportation Department, according to a person familiar with the process, who, like others interviewed, was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. (10/22)

Indian Space Sector Saw Remarkable Achievements, Over 200 Significant Milestones in 2025 (Source: Ani News)
ISRO Chairman Narayanan said the country's space sector has achieved remarkable progress in 2025 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narenda. India performed its first-ever on-orbit docking experiment, launched its 100th large-vehicle mission from the Satash Dhawan spaceport, and achieved approval for a third launch pad to boost India's launch capabilities. (10/23)

The Lunar Mining Gold Rush is Coming – and Success Requires Bridging Two Worlds (Source: Space News)
The moon is about to become the first extraterrestrial mining frontier, and most investors may be backing the wrong players. While venture capital pours into space startups promising to revolutionize lunar resource extraction, the real winners may well be companies that have spent 150 years turning rock into revenue: Rio Tinto, BHP, Glencore and their peers. (10/22)

Quantum Space Readies its Ranger Spacecraft to Fly in 2026 (Source: Payload)
The first wave of Golden Dome spacecraft is about to start boot camp. Maryland spacecraft manufacturer Quantum Space announced its plans to launch its Ranger Prime vehicle to orbit in June. The spacecraft aims to demonstrate the company’s ability to meet the needs of future missions for the US Golden Dome architecture. (10/22)

Vantor Wins New Space Force Contract for In-Space Monitoring (Source: Payload)
Vantor—the company formerly known as Maxar Intelligence—is expanding its relationship with the DoD through another in-space awareness contract. The company will work with Space Force’s Joint Commercial Operations program to provide in-space imagery and analysis on high-interest objects in space, particularly those objects located in blind spots that can’t be seen by ground-based sensors. (10/22)

Viasat VS-3 F2 Will More Than Double Firm's Bandwidth (Source: Runway Girl)
Viasat is poised to soon launch its much-anticipated ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (VS-3 F2) satellite aboard a ULA Atlas V 551 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Once VS-3 F2 is online — around “mid- to end of Q1” calendar year 2026 — and Viasat starts bringing up its services, the Ka-band geostationary satellite is expected to more than double the bandwidth capacity of the firm’s entire existing fleet. It will initially support both aviation and residential markets in the Americas. (10/22)

Super-Warming Methane Gas is Being Tackled Too Slowly, UN Says Ahead of COP30 (Source: Reuters)
Almost 90% of satellite-detected methane leaks flagged to governments and oil and gas companies are not being acknowledged, the UN said Wednesday ahead of the COP30 climate talks next month. The International Methane Emissions Observatory, which integrates over 17 satellites to observe plumes, got a 12% response rate from 3,500 alerts from leaks detected across the oil and gas sector, the report said, marking limited progress from last year's response rate when only 1% of alerts resulted in action to prevent them. (10/22)

The Smithsonian Might Have to Cut Space Shuttle Discovery Into Pieces to Get it to Texas (Source: Space.com)
The tug-of-war over space shuttle Discovery is becoming more volatile. Discovery — the crown jewel of the Smithsonian Institution's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia — is the subject of a political battle over whether the shuttle should remain part of the National Air and Space Museum's collection or be relocated to Houston, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center.

New correspondence between the space agency, Congress and the Smithsonian shows both the progress and struggles of those efforts taking place behind the scenes. In a letter to Congress, museum officials have warned the shuttle may need to be partially disassembled in order to be transferred, risking irreversible damage to one of the most meticulously preserved pieces of spaceflight history. (10/22)

Global Spaceport Summit Coming to Orlando in January (Source: GSA)
The 2026 GSA Spaceport Summit, “Spaceports: Catalysts for Economic Growth,” will be held in Orlando on Jan. 27. Hosted by the Global Spaceport Alliance, the world’s largest network of spaceports, this event brings together global leaders, industry experts, policymakers, investors, and more. As the largest gathering in the spaceport sector, the Summit offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect, collaborate, and gain insights into how spaceports are shaping the future of commerce, transportation, and regional economic growth. Click here. (10/22) 

AST SpaceMobile Announces $850 Million Convertible Notes Offering (Source: Mach33)
AST SpaceMobile announced its intention to offer $850 million in convertible senior notes due 2036 in a private placement, with an option for initial purchasers to buy up to an additional $150 million, bringing total potential proceeds to $1 billion. In a related transaction, the company also launched a registered direct equity offering to fund the repurchase of up to $50 million of its existing 4.25% convertible senior notes due 2032 through privately negotiated transactions. (10/21)

‘Why Are You Gay?’: Elon Musk’s Homophobic Slur Escalates Feud with NASA (Source: Independent)
The SpaceX boss made a series of posts on his social media platform X in response to Duffy’s remarks, including a GIF of a famous exchange in which an anchor asked a guest, “Why are you gay?” But the disparagement from the Tesla co-founder did not stop there. “The person responsible for America’s space program can’t have a 2 digit IQ,” he wrote in a separate post.

SpaceX was previously awarded the $2.9 billion contract to build the lander system that will get American astronauts back on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. But a timeline for such an achievement under the Artemis III mission is up in the air — maybe coming by 2028, Duffy told CNBC. (10/22)

Uruguay is Already Experiencing the Future of Space Tech: Satellites, Hackathons, and a Spaceport on the Horizon (Source: Radio Carve)
The industry that connects space exploration with life on Earth is beginning to take off in Uruguay. From young people designing satellites to space-inspired energy and food projects, the country is seeking to position itself in a sector with potential for investment and development. In Uruguay, one of the most inspiring examples is ShakthiSAT, a program that has already engaged 120 teenagers from across the country to train in the construction of a satellite that will be sent to the Moon in India.

Uruguay already has key players in this field. These include CIDA-E, Uruguay XXI, and companies such as Satellogic and Epic Aerospace. Added to this are the teams that participate each year in the NASA Space Apps Challenge, the world's largest space hackathon, which connects hundreds of young people with real-life NASA challenges in Uruguay.

The discussion isn't limited to education or business innovation. The Budget Law, currently being reviewed by Parliament, includes the creation of a space commission to provide a regulatory framework for the sector. At the same time, the idea of ​​establishing a spaceport in Rocha is beginning to be floated, taking advantage of the country's geographical conditions and political stability. (10/3)

Made on the Space Coast: Blue Origin Could Benefit From SpaceX Delay as NASA Reopens Moon Lander Contract (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
“I’m going to open up the contract. I’m letting other space companies compete with SpaceX, like Blue Origin,” Duffy said. “Whatever one can get us there first, to the moon, we’re going to take, and if SpaceX is behind, but Blue Origin can do it before them, Good on Blue Origin.” Blue Origin’s moon lander is the Blue Moon Mark 2, and the company opened up a factory at its Merritt Island manufacturing campus last month.

It’s nearly ready to fly up an uncrewed lander called the Mark 1, also built on the Space Coast. That lander would launch atop Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station with the mission still slated to fly before the end of the year. (10/21)

Taiwan Should Build a Space-Enabled Kill Web, Not Big Warships (Source: Space News)
As part of a broader modernization effort, United States defense assistance should focus on freeing Taiwan’s senior military leadership from outdated paradigms by embedding multi-domain operations, joint training and campaign-level wargaming. The Pentagon’s most valuable contribution is doctrinal and architectural: helping Taiwan build a kill web — a distributed sensor-to-shooter network spanning space, air, sea and shore, linked by resilient communications, edge AI and decentralized command and control to find and hit targets fast even under electronic and kinetic attack. (10/21)