Scientists Just Discovered How the
Universe Builds Monster Black Holes (Source: SciTech Daily)
The largest black holes ever detected through gravitational waves may
not have formed directly from collapsing stars, according to new
research. Instead, scientists say these enormous objects were likely
built through repeated black hole collisions inside extremely crowded
star clusters. The findings suggest the most massive black holes seen
through gravitational waves belong to a distinct population shaped by
repeated mergers rather than ordinary stellar collapse. (5/11)
What's The Plan for Cowboy Space
Corporation? (Source: Cowboy Space)
Our constellation of satellites, Stampede, will harness abundant solar
power to run on-orbit GPU data centers. With each launch, Stampede
grows the power and compute capacity for humanity. Traditional
architecture treats the rocket as a workhorse and the satellite as
freight. In our system, the rocket's upper stage is the satellite
itself.
It's a 1-megawatt data center with active thermal management and
integrated compute, designed as one unified vehicle from the ground up.
We trim the fat on redundant structure and avionics, dedicating every
possible kilogram of compute to Low Earth Orbit. Furthermore, by owning
our manufacturing and dedicated launch sites, we vertically integrate
core technologies that enable deploying compute at scale.
Later this year, we are scheduled to launch our first satellite into
orbit to demonstrate space-to-Earth power beaming. Our second mission,
targeted for early 2027, will operate a cluster of GPUs for
high-performance compute and demonstrate end-to-end optical data
transmission from space to Earth. This will pave the way for the launch
of our rocket, scheduled for the end of 2028. (5/11)
Bill Posey, Longtime Congressman for
the Space Coast, Dies (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Former U.S. House member Bill Posey, who represented the Space Coast
for 16 years in Congress, died Saturday at the age of 78. Born in
Washington, D.C., in 1947, Posey’s family moved to Florida where he
graduated from Cocoa High School in 1966, according to his
congressional biography. He earned an associates degree from what was
then Brevard Community College in 1969.
He then was elected as a Republican to the Florida House from
1992-2000, the Florida Senate from 2000-2008 and was elected to the
U.S. House to represent the 15th district in 2008, succeeding Dave
Weldon. This district included most of Brevard County, including
Kennedy Space Center. Posey was reelected to the U.S. House for his
final two-year term in 2022, opting to retire ahead of the 2024
election. (5/11)
Hughes Posts Decline in Broadband
Subscribers and Service Revenue (Source: Via Satellite)
Hughes Network Systems continues to report lower satellite broadband
subscribers, citing competition from satellite competitors and other
technologies. Hughes reported broadband subscribers on Monday as part
of EchoStar’s first quarter financials, reporting 681,000 broadband
subscribers at the quarter end. This was a 20% decline year-over-year
and a decline of 58 million subscribers sequentially. Hughes enterprise
backlog also dipped compared to last year. A year ago, the enterprise
backlog was $1.6 billion, and it is now at $1.4 billion. (5/11)
NASA's Artemis 3 Rocket is Taking
Shape for 2027 Launch to Test Lunar Landers (Source: Space.com)
It's only been a month since NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts splashed down
in the Pacific Ocean to wrap up their 10-mission around the moon, and
the space agency is already readying the rocket for the next Artemis
program test flight. The first stage of the Artemis 3 SLS rocket is now
vertical inside NASA's cavernous VAB at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport,
where it awaits integration with its engine section, NASA announced in
an X post on Sunday. (5/11)
Poland's Creotech Plans $118 Million
Capital Raise, Investment in New Satellite Factory (Source:
Space News)
Polish space technology company Creotech Instruments has announced
plans for a $118 million fundraise that will allow the company to open
a new satellite production facility in Poland by 2029 as part of a new
long term development strategy. Creotech Instruments hopes to quadruple
its manufacturing capacities to around 40 satellites annually by then.
(5/11)
May 11, 2026
Florida a Hotbed for UFO Sightings (Source:
Tropic Press)
Florida politicians have been at the forefront demanding the government open its filing cabinets to the public, notably Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Marco Rubio, back when he was still a senator. Other well-known Sunshine State pols and personalities demanding answers have included Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the late astronaut Edgar Mitchell, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (who quite possibly could be a space alien mole).
There have been more than 8,800 sightings since 1995, vaulting the state near the top of the list. But not the very top. That distinction belongs to California with nearly four times the number of reported unidentified flying objects. Why so many? Both Cali and Florida have extensive coastlines, which make for clearer skies. Large populations also mean more eyes looking heavenward.
In Florida’s case, we’re also home to several military bases and the state is a hub for aviation, including aircraft testing, which can be mistaken for what bureaucrats are now calling Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. (5/11)
Online Mob Fuels 6,000% Stock Rally at AST SpaceMobile (Source: Bloomberg)
Every so often, a tribalistic cry goes out to the community of zealots and space geeks who invest in and obsess over an obscure satellite company called AST SpaceMobile. It’s in essence a rally-around-the-stock moment when it’s plunging. In the vernacular of the SpaceMob, as they call themselves, this is a Kook Bottom, and it starts, naturally, with the Kook. An anonymous oddball of a character, the Kook plays the role of rah-rah bull on most days, firing off posts on X, one after the other, to remind the mob that AST will soon grow into a cash-minting powerhouse with a satellite business that can go toe-to-toe with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. (5/11)
Virgin Delta-Class Spaceplane Begins Production Acceptance Tests (Source: Aviation Week)
Suborbital space company Virgin Galactic is beginning a series of critical ground tests on the initial Delta-class SpaceShip, a new production-standard vehicle on which its hopes for long-term commercial success depend. Static and fatigue trials are underway. These tests are essential for validating the new design, which is designed to fly up to eight times per month, for commercial operations.
The first Delta-class vehicle finished structural assembly in April 2026, with rigorous ground, structural, and system tests scheduled to continue through July 2026. After the ground tests, the spaceplane will move to Spaceport America in New Mexico for glide tests later in Q3 2026, followed by powered flights. Virgin Galactic remains on track for commercial service to resume in late 2026, with specialized research flights planned for summer 2026 and private astronaut flights later in the fall. (5/11)
UK Ministry of Defence Hands Musk’s Starlink £16m (Source: Telegraph)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has spent £16.6 million over the past four years on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet to support Ukraine and maintain British military communications. Newly released figures show that,, as of May 2026,, £10.6m has been spent in the last two years alone, with the MoD confirming the technology provides vital connectivity for troops in remote areas and supports Ukraine-donated terminals. (5/10)
Moving Like an Inchworm – a Smarter Robot for Planetary Exploration (Source: ESA)
A robot exploring another planet needs to traverse unpredictable, uneven terrain, withstand extreme temperatures and radiation, and do all of this with minimal power and without maintenance. Conventional rigid robots – like those deployed on Mars – have a fixed number of joints and degrees of freedom, limiting their ability to squeeze through narrow gaps or adapt to irregular surfaces. Soft robots, by contrast, are flexible and compliant, making them far better suited to unstructured terrain. The challenge has always been how to make them move with precision. (5/11)
Italy Completes Air-Launched Rocket Demonstrator Test (Source: European Spaceflight)
An Italian consortium has successfully completed a suborbital demonstration of an air-launched rocket system. The project, which utilized a Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft and T4i’s HAX25 sounding rocket equipped with avionics supplied by GMV, was initiated to support Italy’s push to develop a more responsive launch capability. The Aviolancio program, which translates roughly to “air launch program”, was initiated by Italy’s Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Policies.
Initial testing began in February 2022 with a small, vertically launched rocket from Salto di Quirra in Sardinia, which was used to validate the hybrid propulsion system. After completing a captive-carry test in September 2025, the Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft, carrying the HAX25 rocket under its wing, took off from the Houston Spaceport in Texas on 22 April. Approximately 100 kilometers off the coast, over the Gulf of Mexico, the rocket’s cluster of four hybrid motors was ignited, and the rocket was released. (5/11)
The Mangled Remains of Probes Sent to Venus May Still Be There (Source: Scientific American)
When international space agencies send probes out into the solar system, many are abandoned to expire and deteriorate on extraterrestrial terrain. But if they’re still out there, can we learn something from them? Many researchers had assumed that all robotic missions sent to Venus would so thoroughly succumb to the brutal combo of scorchingly hot surface temperature and crushingly high atmospheric pressure that little would be left behind for subsequent study. And erupting volcanoes and landslides from “Venusquakes” could bury whatever remained in geologically short order.
Last month, however, space archaeologists suggested that the Venusian environment may preserve probes far better than once thought. Out of 20 probes, landers and balloons sent by the U.S. and Soviet Union that have reached the surface of Venus in the past 60 years, the study found that at least seven were probably hardy enough to endure the hostile environment and ended up in places on the planet where they’re not imminently threatened with geological burial or destruction. (5/11)
The UAE Is Betting Big on Space – Can It Take on Starlink and Amazon? (Source: WIRED)
Over the past decade, the UAE has invested more than $5.9 billion (22 billion UAE dirhams) into the space sector, according to the UAE Space Agency, through state-backed programs, international partnerships and institutions such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). Projects including the Hope Mission to Mars, astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi’s mission aboard the International Space Station and a growing portfolio of satellite programs helped raise the country’s global profile in the sector.
The newer push is more commercial: building companies that can manufacture, operate and eventually export parts of that infrastructure. Orbitworks is planning a $1 billion Earth observation satellite network, alongside a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi that can scale production from 10 satellites annually to as many as 50. Its first satellite is scheduled to launch on 1 October.
Operating at a different layer of the same ecosystem is Madari Space. Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2023, the company is developing what it describes as "space data centers offering data storage and data processing in low Earth orbit." Where Orbitworks is building the eyes in orbit, Madari is working on what sits behind them – the infrastructure that stores and processes what those eyes see. Al Romaithi frames the objective simply: "to give the UAE government complete independence from terrestrial systems." (5/11)
India to Upgrade Hope Habitat in Ladakh for Training Gaganyaan Astronauts (Source: India Today)
India’s ambitions for human spaceflight are driving new upgrades deep in the high-altitude cold desert of Ladakh, where a remote analogue habitat designed to simulate the harsh conditions of space is being expanded to support future astronaut training missions linked to ISRO's Gaganyaan program. The Hope Habitat, set up in the Tso Kar valley of Ladakh and developed by space research company Protoplanet, is now being upgraded after completing an earlier analogue isolation mission with help from the Indian space agency. (5/11)
Cowboy Space Raises $275 Million for Orbital Data Center-Topped Rockets (Source: Space News)
Cowboy Space, a startup formerly known as Aetherflux, has raised $275 million to build rockets with upper stages that would serve as data centers once in low Earth orbit. The company is now valued at $2 billion. The deal makes two-year-old Cowboy one of the space industry’s fastest “unicorns” — privately held companies valued at $1 billion or more — just a little more than a month after two-year-old Starcloud crossed the threshold with a $170 million Series A to develop its own orbital data centers. The company was founded as Aetherflux to pursue space-based solar power, but recently pivoted to orbital data centers. Cowboy Space's long-term plans include the development of a rocket larger than a Falcon 9 whose upper stage would serve as an orbital data center once in low Earth orbit. (5/11)
Swift Reboost Mission Passes Testing at Goddard (Source: Space News)
A mission to reboost a NASA space telescope is a step closer to launch. NASA announced Friday that Link, a spacecraft developed by Katalyst Space to raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, passed environmental testing recently at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Link is back at a Katalyst facility for final preparations and will be integrated with its launch vehicle, a Pegasus XL, in early June for launch later that month. Link is designed to attach to Swift and raise its orbit before Swift reenters late this year. (5/11)
Viasat Wins $307 Million Marine Corps Contract for Satcom Services (Source: Space News)
Viasat won a $307 million contract to provide communications services for the U.S Marine Corps. The five-year contract announced Friday is for the Marine Corps Enterprise Commercial Satellite Services, or MECS2. Under the MECS2 program, the Marine Corps is seeking to integrate multi-orbit and multi-band services that leverage newer commercial satellite architectures. The contract was awarded by Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office, which procures commercial satellite communications services on behalf of U.S. military branches. (5/11)
China Launches Cargo to TSS on Long March 7 (Source: Space News)
China launched a cargo spacecraft to its Tiangong space station Sunday night. A Long March 7 rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, placing the Tianzhou-10 spacecraft into orbit. Tianzhou-10 docked with the aft port of the space station's Tianhe core module five hours later. The spacecraft carried a new extravehicular spacesuit, a treadmill, around 700 kilograms of propellant, consumables for the future Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24 crews, and more than 220 spare parts and maintenance components for the station. (5/11)
ESA and JAXA Agree on Asteroid Mission Cooperation (Source: Space News)
ESA and JAXA finalized an agreement to cooperate on an asteroid mission. The heads of the agencies signed a cooperation agreement last week for the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety, or Ramses, scheduled to launch in 2028. JAXA will provide the solar panels and an instrument for Ramses, as well as launch it on an H3 rocket. Ramses will rendezvous with Apophis in February 2029, two months before the asteroid makes a very close flyby of Earth, studying the asteroid before and after it swings by Earth. (5/11)
Study Planned to Assess Launch Noise at Cape Canaveral (Source: Florida Today)
The city of Cape Canaveral, Florida, is partnering with a college to study noise from launches. Rollins College will place sensors on buildings throughout the city, just south of the Cape Canaveral spaceport, to measure noise from launches. Local residents have raised concerns about the effects of noise and vibrations from launches on their homes, particularly given future launches of SpaceX's Starship from the Cape starting as soon as late this year. (5/11)
India's TakeMe2Space Switches From PSLV to Falcon-9 Transporter for MOI-1A Launch (Source: The Print)
An Indian startup says consecutive PSLV launch failures forced it to go overseas to launch a spacecraft. TakeMe2Space said it now plans to launch its MOI-1a satellite on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission in October rather than a PSLV rocket. MOI-1a is a replacement for MOI-1, which was one of several payloads lost on a PSLV launch failure in January, the second consecutive failure of that rocket. The satellite is intended to test orbital data center technologies. The Indian space agency ISRO has not provided any recent updates on the status of the failure investigation and plans to return the PSLV to flight. (5/11)
Kratos Eyes $67M Orlando Expansion with 100 New Jobs (Source: Orlando Business Journal)
Orlando’s defense sector could be in for a sizable jolt. San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is lining up a roughly $67 million expansion of its local operations that would bring about 100 new jobs to the area. The pitch is big enough that city economic-development staff are now weighing a $150,000 job-creation incentive tied to the plan. (5/7)
SpaceX's Gigabay Facility Rises in Florida Ahead of Starship Launches (Source: Florida Today)
As SpaceX prepares for its next Starship launch from Texas — the version of the rocket expected to launch from Florida — the company’s massive Starship maintenance facility continues to rise on the Kennedy Space Center skyline. Its name is Gigabay.
The building's looming metal structure with black siding is easily visible from across the Indian River in Titusville. Situated at SpaceX’s Robert’s Road facility within KSC, it stands as a new landmark not too far from NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building. At 380 feet tall, the Starship Gigabay is shorter than NASA's 525-foot Vehicle Assembly Building but will still stand out near Cape Canaveral, offering the public a clear view of SpaceX's new operations.
Similar to the SpaceX facility in Texas, the Gigabay is intended for stacking and preparing the 232-foot-tall Super Heavy boosters (lower stages) before launch. When Starship is fully assembled on the launch pad, its height exceeds 400 feet. (5/9)
There Has Been a Sudden Increase in the Rate of Sea Level Rise (Source: New Scientist)
There has been an abrupt change in the rate of sea level rise as measured by satellites. Around 2012, it suddenly accelerated and has remained higher ever since. It is possible that the sudden jump is mainly due to natural variation. However, it could also be a response to the accelerating rate of global warming. The average global sea level has already risen by more than 0.2 meters over the past 15 years as a result of global warming. This has been caused by a number of factors: as well as increasing melting of mountain glaciers and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, the oceans are expanding as they warm. (5/8)
Antarctica Melting Worse Than Expected (Source: Science Daily)
Scientists have uncovered a hidden Antarctic threat that could accelerate global sea level rise far faster than expected. Deep beneath floating ice shelves, long channels carved into the ice appear to trap warmer ocean water, dramatically speeding up melting from below. Even regions of East Antarctica once considered relatively stable may be far more vulnerable than scientists realized. Researchers warn that current climate models may be missing this dangerous process entirely, meaning future sea level rise could be underestimated. (5/10)
U.S.-China Rivalry Reaches South American Skies (Source: New York Times)
In the foothills of the Argentine Andes, the enormous Chinese radio telescope sits in one of the world’s premier stargazing locations, surrounded by vast, undulating mountain ranges and beneath skies untouched by light pollution. It is also on the opposite side of the planet from Beijing, offering China a window on the half of the heavens it would not otherwise see.
But the Chinese telescope at the site, the Cesco observatory in San Juan Province, picks up no signals. After the U.S. government repeatedly pressed them on the issue, the Argentine authorities stopped the project’s completion. Lacking key parts, the telescope now sits dismembered, its gigantic antenna pointing blindly at the sky.
As the United States increasingly views Beijing as a rival in space, the stars above South America have become flash points in a geopolitical struggle, with top American officials trying to halt astronomy projects in the Andean deserts out of fear China could use them for military purposes. (5/10)
India's GalaxyEye Combines SAR and Optical Sensors on Drishti Satellite (Source: Indian Express)
To get clear and intuitive images from space, Indian start-up, GalaxEye, designed the Drishti satellite where both optical and radar imaging sensors are put on the satellite and operate in sync with each other to produce simultaneous imaging of the same place. This eliminates the need for users to manually align datasets from two different satellites. For this reason, the company is describing its innovation as Opto-SAR technology. (5/9)
FAA to Engage AI in Air Traffic Overhaul (Source: Politico)
An artificial intelligence project launched inside America’s aviation safety agency is aimed at easing burdens on the thousands of air traffic controllers who guide planes through the skies. The initiative, being spearheaded by FAA chief Bryan Bedford, envisions a dramatic revamp of how the nation’s increasingly complex airspace functions. But it would not seek to supplant the role of human controllers in making the second-by-second decisions needed to keep air travel safe, two of the project’s three vendors said. (5/9)
Tiny 'Metajets' Could Use Light to Steer Sails for Interstellar Travel (Source: New Scientist)
Interstellar travel propelled by light just got one step closer. Light sails, which are huge sheets pushed along by light that bounces off of them, may be the best way to travel enormous distances through space, and now we may have a way to steer them. “We knew already that any light or laser can impart momentum transfer, but now we can control the direction as well,” says Kaushik Kudtarkar. He and his colleagues created a tiny device called a metajet that uses refraction of light, not just reflection, to move in more than one direction at once. (5/10)
AST SpaceMobile Eyes June Launch of Three BlueBirds After Satellite Loss (Source: PC Mag)
AST SpaceMobile, a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile, will try to make up for last month’s botched satellite deployment by sending up three “BlueBirds” in mid-June. The company will skip using Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which accidentally placed AST’s BlueBird 7 satellite in an orbit too low to sustain operations, causing it to descend and burn up in the atmosphere. (5/6)
Starship Cannot Build a City on Mars Without First Collecting These Materials From Space (Source: IDR)
Mars is, by most industrial measures, a poor planet. It lacks the concentrated mineral deposits that made large-scale construction possible on Earth, and the cost of shipping materials from our planet across tens of millions of miles is, in practical terms, absurd. Instead of sourcing materials from Earth or relying exclusively on Martian soil, future missions should mine the Main Belt asteroids, the ring of space rocks orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. In practice, however, the execution of that idea runs headlong into some of the most unforgiving laws of orbital mechanics.
Mars is notably lacking in elements like boron and molybdenum, both of which are essential for manufacturing high-performance materials. According to the research, the delta-v required to redirect resources from the asteroid belt to Mars is only 2 to 4 km/s, a fraction of what it costs to leave Earth. That single figure is what makes the entire proposal worth taking seriously. The study grounds its logistics in a spacecraft modeled on SpaceX’s Starship: a theoretical vehicle with a dry mass of 120 tons, a payload capacity of 115 tons, and a fuel capacity of 1,100 tons. (5/9)
Blue Origin Prepares to Snatch Away SpaceX's Biggest Project (Source: Extreme Tech)
It may be debatable whether Blue Origin won the race to put a billionaire into space, but the perennial second runner of the private space industry could be on the trail of a much more lasting win. Last week, NASA announced that a Blue Origin-designed Moon lander had completed critical testing in the agency's vacuum chamber, raising hopes that it could be the first to meet NASA's specifications for a crewed lander. This one is only a cargo lander, but many of its design principles apply to both projects.
These most recent tests of the Blue Origin cargo lander, dubbed Endurance Mk1, are meant to validate the crewed lander project, dubbed Blue Moon Mk2. The tests proved that the vehicle can withstand the vacuum of space and the extreme temperature swings caused by solar radiation spikes. The tests help to prove that the lander is ready for the rigors of space and of the approach to the Moon. The official report didn't specify the exact tolerances tested, but in the past, such tests have also examined shielding against radiation and even surface dust resistance on the Moon. (5/8)
Florida politicians have been at the forefront demanding the government open its filing cabinets to the public, notably Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Marco Rubio, back when he was still a senator. Other well-known Sunshine State pols and personalities demanding answers have included Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the late astronaut Edgar Mitchell, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (who quite possibly could be a space alien mole).
There have been more than 8,800 sightings since 1995, vaulting the state near the top of the list. But not the very top. That distinction belongs to California with nearly four times the number of reported unidentified flying objects. Why so many? Both Cali and Florida have extensive coastlines, which make for clearer skies. Large populations also mean more eyes looking heavenward.
In Florida’s case, we’re also home to several military bases and the state is a hub for aviation, including aircraft testing, which can be mistaken for what bureaucrats are now calling Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. (5/11)
Online Mob Fuels 6,000% Stock Rally at AST SpaceMobile (Source: Bloomberg)
Every so often, a tribalistic cry goes out to the community of zealots and space geeks who invest in and obsess over an obscure satellite company called AST SpaceMobile. It’s in essence a rally-around-the-stock moment when it’s plunging. In the vernacular of the SpaceMob, as they call themselves, this is a Kook Bottom, and it starts, naturally, with the Kook. An anonymous oddball of a character, the Kook plays the role of rah-rah bull on most days, firing off posts on X, one after the other, to remind the mob that AST will soon grow into a cash-minting powerhouse with a satellite business that can go toe-to-toe with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. (5/11)
Virgin Delta-Class Spaceplane Begins Production Acceptance Tests (Source: Aviation Week)
Suborbital space company Virgin Galactic is beginning a series of critical ground tests on the initial Delta-class SpaceShip, a new production-standard vehicle on which its hopes for long-term commercial success depend. Static and fatigue trials are underway. These tests are essential for validating the new design, which is designed to fly up to eight times per month, for commercial operations.
The first Delta-class vehicle finished structural assembly in April 2026, with rigorous ground, structural, and system tests scheduled to continue through July 2026. After the ground tests, the spaceplane will move to Spaceport America in New Mexico for glide tests later in Q3 2026, followed by powered flights. Virgin Galactic remains on track for commercial service to resume in late 2026, with specialized research flights planned for summer 2026 and private astronaut flights later in the fall. (5/11)
UK Ministry of Defence Hands Musk’s Starlink £16m (Source: Telegraph)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has spent £16.6 million over the past four years on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet to support Ukraine and maintain British military communications. Newly released figures show that,, as of May 2026,, £10.6m has been spent in the last two years alone, with the MoD confirming the technology provides vital connectivity for troops in remote areas and supports Ukraine-donated terminals. (5/10)
Moving Like an Inchworm – a Smarter Robot for Planetary Exploration (Source: ESA)
A robot exploring another planet needs to traverse unpredictable, uneven terrain, withstand extreme temperatures and radiation, and do all of this with minimal power and without maintenance. Conventional rigid robots – like those deployed on Mars – have a fixed number of joints and degrees of freedom, limiting their ability to squeeze through narrow gaps or adapt to irregular surfaces. Soft robots, by contrast, are flexible and compliant, making them far better suited to unstructured terrain. The challenge has always been how to make them move with precision. (5/11)
Italy Completes Air-Launched Rocket Demonstrator Test (Source: European Spaceflight)
An Italian consortium has successfully completed a suborbital demonstration of an air-launched rocket system. The project, which utilized a Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft and T4i’s HAX25 sounding rocket equipped with avionics supplied by GMV, was initiated to support Italy’s push to develop a more responsive launch capability. The Aviolancio program, which translates roughly to “air launch program”, was initiated by Italy’s Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Policies.
Initial testing began in February 2022 with a small, vertically launched rocket from Salto di Quirra in Sardinia, which was used to validate the hybrid propulsion system. After completing a captive-carry test in September 2025, the Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft, carrying the HAX25 rocket under its wing, took off from the Houston Spaceport in Texas on 22 April. Approximately 100 kilometers off the coast, over the Gulf of Mexico, the rocket’s cluster of four hybrid motors was ignited, and the rocket was released. (5/11)
The Mangled Remains of Probes Sent to Venus May Still Be There (Source: Scientific American)
When international space agencies send probes out into the solar system, many are abandoned to expire and deteriorate on extraterrestrial terrain. But if they’re still out there, can we learn something from them? Many researchers had assumed that all robotic missions sent to Venus would so thoroughly succumb to the brutal combo of scorchingly hot surface temperature and crushingly high atmospheric pressure that little would be left behind for subsequent study. And erupting volcanoes and landslides from “Venusquakes” could bury whatever remained in geologically short order.
Last month, however, space archaeologists suggested that the Venusian environment may preserve probes far better than once thought. Out of 20 probes, landers and balloons sent by the U.S. and Soviet Union that have reached the surface of Venus in the past 60 years, the study found that at least seven were probably hardy enough to endure the hostile environment and ended up in places on the planet where they’re not imminently threatened with geological burial or destruction. (5/11)
The UAE Is Betting Big on Space – Can It Take on Starlink and Amazon? (Source: WIRED)
Over the past decade, the UAE has invested more than $5.9 billion (22 billion UAE dirhams) into the space sector, according to the UAE Space Agency, through state-backed programs, international partnerships and institutions such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). Projects including the Hope Mission to Mars, astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi’s mission aboard the International Space Station and a growing portfolio of satellite programs helped raise the country’s global profile in the sector.
The newer push is more commercial: building companies that can manufacture, operate and eventually export parts of that infrastructure. Orbitworks is planning a $1 billion Earth observation satellite network, alongside a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi that can scale production from 10 satellites annually to as many as 50. Its first satellite is scheduled to launch on 1 October.
Operating at a different layer of the same ecosystem is Madari Space. Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2023, the company is developing what it describes as "space data centers offering data storage and data processing in low Earth orbit." Where Orbitworks is building the eyes in orbit, Madari is working on what sits behind them – the infrastructure that stores and processes what those eyes see. Al Romaithi frames the objective simply: "to give the UAE government complete independence from terrestrial systems." (5/11)
India to Upgrade Hope Habitat in Ladakh for Training Gaganyaan Astronauts (Source: India Today)
India’s ambitions for human spaceflight are driving new upgrades deep in the high-altitude cold desert of Ladakh, where a remote analogue habitat designed to simulate the harsh conditions of space is being expanded to support future astronaut training missions linked to ISRO's Gaganyaan program. The Hope Habitat, set up in the Tso Kar valley of Ladakh and developed by space research company Protoplanet, is now being upgraded after completing an earlier analogue isolation mission with help from the Indian space agency. (5/11)
Cowboy Space Raises $275 Million for Orbital Data Center-Topped Rockets (Source: Space News)
Cowboy Space, a startup formerly known as Aetherflux, has raised $275 million to build rockets with upper stages that would serve as data centers once in low Earth orbit. The company is now valued at $2 billion. The deal makes two-year-old Cowboy one of the space industry’s fastest “unicorns” — privately held companies valued at $1 billion or more — just a little more than a month after two-year-old Starcloud crossed the threshold with a $170 million Series A to develop its own orbital data centers. The company was founded as Aetherflux to pursue space-based solar power, but recently pivoted to orbital data centers. Cowboy Space's long-term plans include the development of a rocket larger than a Falcon 9 whose upper stage would serve as an orbital data center once in low Earth orbit. (5/11)
Swift Reboost Mission Passes Testing at Goddard (Source: Space News)
A mission to reboost a NASA space telescope is a step closer to launch. NASA announced Friday that Link, a spacecraft developed by Katalyst Space to raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, passed environmental testing recently at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Link is back at a Katalyst facility for final preparations and will be integrated with its launch vehicle, a Pegasus XL, in early June for launch later that month. Link is designed to attach to Swift and raise its orbit before Swift reenters late this year. (5/11)
Viasat Wins $307 Million Marine Corps Contract for Satcom Services (Source: Space News)
Viasat won a $307 million contract to provide communications services for the U.S Marine Corps. The five-year contract announced Friday is for the Marine Corps Enterprise Commercial Satellite Services, or MECS2. Under the MECS2 program, the Marine Corps is seeking to integrate multi-orbit and multi-band services that leverage newer commercial satellite architectures. The contract was awarded by Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office, which procures commercial satellite communications services on behalf of U.S. military branches. (5/11)
China Launches Cargo to TSS on Long March 7 (Source: Space News)
China launched a cargo spacecraft to its Tiangong space station Sunday night. A Long March 7 rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, placing the Tianzhou-10 spacecraft into orbit. Tianzhou-10 docked with the aft port of the space station's Tianhe core module five hours later. The spacecraft carried a new extravehicular spacesuit, a treadmill, around 700 kilograms of propellant, consumables for the future Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24 crews, and more than 220 spare parts and maintenance components for the station. (5/11)
ESA and JAXA Agree on Asteroid Mission Cooperation (Source: Space News)
ESA and JAXA finalized an agreement to cooperate on an asteroid mission. The heads of the agencies signed a cooperation agreement last week for the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety, or Ramses, scheduled to launch in 2028. JAXA will provide the solar panels and an instrument for Ramses, as well as launch it on an H3 rocket. Ramses will rendezvous with Apophis in February 2029, two months before the asteroid makes a very close flyby of Earth, studying the asteroid before and after it swings by Earth. (5/11)
Study Planned to Assess Launch Noise at Cape Canaveral (Source: Florida Today)
The city of Cape Canaveral, Florida, is partnering with a college to study noise from launches. Rollins College will place sensors on buildings throughout the city, just south of the Cape Canaveral spaceport, to measure noise from launches. Local residents have raised concerns about the effects of noise and vibrations from launches on their homes, particularly given future launches of SpaceX's Starship from the Cape starting as soon as late this year. (5/11)
India's TakeMe2Space Switches From PSLV to Falcon-9 Transporter for MOI-1A Launch (Source: The Print)
An Indian startup says consecutive PSLV launch failures forced it to go overseas to launch a spacecraft. TakeMe2Space said it now plans to launch its MOI-1a satellite on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission in October rather than a PSLV rocket. MOI-1a is a replacement for MOI-1, which was one of several payloads lost on a PSLV launch failure in January, the second consecutive failure of that rocket. The satellite is intended to test orbital data center technologies. The Indian space agency ISRO has not provided any recent updates on the status of the failure investigation and plans to return the PSLV to flight. (5/11)
Kratos Eyes $67M Orlando Expansion with 100 New Jobs (Source: Orlando Business Journal)
Orlando’s defense sector could be in for a sizable jolt. San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is lining up a roughly $67 million expansion of its local operations that would bring about 100 new jobs to the area. The pitch is big enough that city economic-development staff are now weighing a $150,000 job-creation incentive tied to the plan. (5/7)
SpaceX's Gigabay Facility Rises in Florida Ahead of Starship Launches (Source: Florida Today)
As SpaceX prepares for its next Starship launch from Texas — the version of the rocket expected to launch from Florida — the company’s massive Starship maintenance facility continues to rise on the Kennedy Space Center skyline. Its name is Gigabay.
The building's looming metal structure with black siding is easily visible from across the Indian River in Titusville. Situated at SpaceX’s Robert’s Road facility within KSC, it stands as a new landmark not too far from NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building. At 380 feet tall, the Starship Gigabay is shorter than NASA's 525-foot Vehicle Assembly Building but will still stand out near Cape Canaveral, offering the public a clear view of SpaceX's new operations.
Similar to the SpaceX facility in Texas, the Gigabay is intended for stacking and preparing the 232-foot-tall Super Heavy boosters (lower stages) before launch. When Starship is fully assembled on the launch pad, its height exceeds 400 feet. (5/9)
There Has Been a Sudden Increase in the Rate of Sea Level Rise (Source: New Scientist)
There has been an abrupt change in the rate of sea level rise as measured by satellites. Around 2012, it suddenly accelerated and has remained higher ever since. It is possible that the sudden jump is mainly due to natural variation. However, it could also be a response to the accelerating rate of global warming. The average global sea level has already risen by more than 0.2 meters over the past 15 years as a result of global warming. This has been caused by a number of factors: as well as increasing melting of mountain glaciers and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, the oceans are expanding as they warm. (5/8)
Antarctica Melting Worse Than Expected (Source: Science Daily)
Scientists have uncovered a hidden Antarctic threat that could accelerate global sea level rise far faster than expected. Deep beneath floating ice shelves, long channels carved into the ice appear to trap warmer ocean water, dramatically speeding up melting from below. Even regions of East Antarctica once considered relatively stable may be far more vulnerable than scientists realized. Researchers warn that current climate models may be missing this dangerous process entirely, meaning future sea level rise could be underestimated. (5/10)
U.S.-China Rivalry Reaches South American Skies (Source: New York Times)
In the foothills of the Argentine Andes, the enormous Chinese radio telescope sits in one of the world’s premier stargazing locations, surrounded by vast, undulating mountain ranges and beneath skies untouched by light pollution. It is also on the opposite side of the planet from Beijing, offering China a window on the half of the heavens it would not otherwise see.
But the Chinese telescope at the site, the Cesco observatory in San Juan Province, picks up no signals. After the U.S. government repeatedly pressed them on the issue, the Argentine authorities stopped the project’s completion. Lacking key parts, the telescope now sits dismembered, its gigantic antenna pointing blindly at the sky.
As the United States increasingly views Beijing as a rival in space, the stars above South America have become flash points in a geopolitical struggle, with top American officials trying to halt astronomy projects in the Andean deserts out of fear China could use them for military purposes. (5/10)
India's GalaxyEye Combines SAR and Optical Sensors on Drishti Satellite (Source: Indian Express)
To get clear and intuitive images from space, Indian start-up, GalaxEye, designed the Drishti satellite where both optical and radar imaging sensors are put on the satellite and operate in sync with each other to produce simultaneous imaging of the same place. This eliminates the need for users to manually align datasets from two different satellites. For this reason, the company is describing its innovation as Opto-SAR technology. (5/9)
FAA to Engage AI in Air Traffic Overhaul (Source: Politico)
An artificial intelligence project launched inside America’s aviation safety agency is aimed at easing burdens on the thousands of air traffic controllers who guide planes through the skies. The initiative, being spearheaded by FAA chief Bryan Bedford, envisions a dramatic revamp of how the nation’s increasingly complex airspace functions. But it would not seek to supplant the role of human controllers in making the second-by-second decisions needed to keep air travel safe, two of the project’s three vendors said. (5/9)
Tiny 'Metajets' Could Use Light to Steer Sails for Interstellar Travel (Source: New Scientist)
Interstellar travel propelled by light just got one step closer. Light sails, which are huge sheets pushed along by light that bounces off of them, may be the best way to travel enormous distances through space, and now we may have a way to steer them. “We knew already that any light or laser can impart momentum transfer, but now we can control the direction as well,” says Kaushik Kudtarkar. He and his colleagues created a tiny device called a metajet that uses refraction of light, not just reflection, to move in more than one direction at once. (5/10)
AST SpaceMobile Eyes June Launch of Three BlueBirds After Satellite Loss (Source: PC Mag)
AST SpaceMobile, a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile, will try to make up for last month’s botched satellite deployment by sending up three “BlueBirds” in mid-June. The company will skip using Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which accidentally placed AST’s BlueBird 7 satellite in an orbit too low to sustain operations, causing it to descend and burn up in the atmosphere. (5/6)
Starship Cannot Build a City on Mars Without First Collecting These Materials From Space (Source: IDR)
Mars is, by most industrial measures, a poor planet. It lacks the concentrated mineral deposits that made large-scale construction possible on Earth, and the cost of shipping materials from our planet across tens of millions of miles is, in practical terms, absurd. Instead of sourcing materials from Earth or relying exclusively on Martian soil, future missions should mine the Main Belt asteroids, the ring of space rocks orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. In practice, however, the execution of that idea runs headlong into some of the most unforgiving laws of orbital mechanics.
Mars is notably lacking in elements like boron and molybdenum, both of which are essential for manufacturing high-performance materials. According to the research, the delta-v required to redirect resources from the asteroid belt to Mars is only 2 to 4 km/s, a fraction of what it costs to leave Earth. That single figure is what makes the entire proposal worth taking seriously. The study grounds its logistics in a spacecraft modeled on SpaceX’s Starship: a theoretical vehicle with a dry mass of 120 tons, a payload capacity of 115 tons, and a fuel capacity of 1,100 tons. (5/9)
Blue Origin Prepares to Snatch Away SpaceX's Biggest Project (Source: Extreme Tech)
It may be debatable whether Blue Origin won the race to put a billionaire into space, but the perennial second runner of the private space industry could be on the trail of a much more lasting win. Last week, NASA announced that a Blue Origin-designed Moon lander had completed critical testing in the agency's vacuum chamber, raising hopes that it could be the first to meet NASA's specifications for a crewed lander. This one is only a cargo lander, but many of its design principles apply to both projects.
These most recent tests of the Blue Origin cargo lander, dubbed Endurance Mk1, are meant to validate the crewed lander project, dubbed Blue Moon Mk2. The tests proved that the vehicle can withstand the vacuum of space and the extreme temperature swings caused by solar radiation spikes. The tests help to prove that the lander is ready for the rigors of space and of the approach to the Moon. The official report didn't specify the exact tolerances tested, but in the past, such tests have also examined shielding against radiation and even surface dust resistance on the Moon. (5/8)
May 10, 2026
NASA’s Twin Voyager Spacecraft Are
Very Low on Power After Nearly 50 Years. How Long Can They Keep Going?
(Source: Space.com)
The pioneering Voyager probes might only have a few years left to explore interstellar space, and that's assuming a planned, risky maneuver in 2026 goes well. NASA's twin Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, both running on nuclear power, now have access to just a portion of the 470 watts of energy that they generated immediately after their 1977 launches. Originally tasked with exploring the giant planets in our solar system, the pair have long passed their expected lifespans and are still transmitting data, far from home. (5/9)
NASA Welcomes Paraguay as 67th Artemis Accords Signatory (Source: NASA)
The Republic of Paraguay signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday during a ceremony in Asunción, becoming the latest nation to commit to the shared principles guiding civil space exploration. The Paraguayan Space Agency was established in 2014 and has worked to develop capabilities in satellite technology and Earth observation, including with international partners. Its first satellite, GuaraníSat‑1, launched from the International Space Station in 2021. The agency now is preparing to launch its second satellite, GuaraníSat‑2, in October aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (5/7)
FCC Chair: Starlink Isn't Enough. We Need at Least 3 Satellite-to-Phone Services (Source: PC Mag)
The FCC chair, who has gone out of his way to laud SpaceX’s connectivity from space and sometimes critique its rivals, said Wednesday that the market for direct-to-phone service needs more than one competitor to Starlink. “We think the market wants to be, should be, at least three facilities-based providers,” Brendan Carr opined. Today, US options for more-than-messaging cellular satellite service stop at SpaceX’s Starlink roaming. It's limited to a select set of apps and has seen less uptake among T-Mobile subscribers than the carrier expected after inking its deal with SpaceX in 2022. (5/7)
Meet Rassvet, Russia’s Answer to Starlink (Sources: WIRED, DCD)
In late March, Russian company Bureau 1440 brought into low orbit the first 16 broadband internet satellites of the new Rassvet constellation, already dubbed by observers and local media the Russian answer to SpaceX's Starlink. It's an ambitious global internet project that experts say could conceal much broader strategic goals, with functions including military and communications control.
The constellation’s current satellite generation, the 370kg Rassvet-3, built by Bureau-1440, features optical intersatellite links, designed to enable 1Gbps speeds, but is not thought to match the hardware of industry-standard NewSpace LEO satellites in the West.
The Russian satellite Internet service is expected to begin operation in 2027 once its minimum fleet of 250 is established. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov has told Russian newspaper Kommersant that Rassvet’s next stage involves “dozens more launches.” Only 15 additional launches are required, so long as 16 satellites are launched apiece. (5/8)
Can Pakistan Make Its Space Program Great Again? (Source: The Diplomat)
Pakistan is quietly picking up the pace in its spacefaring ambitions. On April 22, two Pakistani men – Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, both pilots with the Pakistan Air Force – were selected to undergo training in Beijing in a milestone in their country’s scientific history. Both aspiring astronauts are in deep training at China’s Astronaut Center; one of them will be the first Pakistani astronaut in space on an official mission, and the first foreign national to board China’s Tiangong Space Station. The Tiangong is China’s answer to the International Space Station after the United States blocked China from becoming a part of the ISS.
The Pakistani astronaut will not be a symbolic stowaway, but rather an integral part of the team on the Tiangong as a working scientist expected to work on microgravity experiments, use specialized equipment, and respond to emergencies in orbit. Departure for the mission is scheduled to take place in late 2026.
Back home, Pakistan is facing skyrocketing inflation, soaring energy prices and bills, insurgencies in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and border clashes with India and Afghanistan. Back in 2023, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index downgraded Pakistan to the status of an authoritarian regime due to the encroaching powers of the Pakistan Army in politics. (5/8)
Applied Aerospace Files for IPO, Joining Pre-SpaceX Rush (Source: Bloomberg)
Applied Aerospace & Defense Inc. filed for a US initial public offering, joining a recent rush of space and defense firms to public markets ahead of the potential listing of SpaceX later this year. The Huntsville-based space and defense engineering firm made a net loss of $15.1 million on revenue of $134.4 million for the first three months of this year, compared with a net loss of $7.3 million on revenue of $111 million in the same period a year earlier, according to a filing Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. (5/8)
MDA Space Proceeds With Canadarm3 Work Amid Reset Talks (Source: Aviation Week)
MDA Space is proceeding "full steam ahead" with Canadarm3 development, confirming that its contract with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) remains unaffected despite NASA's decision to pause the Lunar Gateway project. The company is actively working with the CSA to assess the project's future, as the AI-driven robotic system was originally destined for the now-halted space station. While designed for the Gateway, MDA is evaluating other uses for the technology, including commercial space station applications. (5/8)
SaxaVord Spaceport Appoints Conservative Peer and UK Space Agency Chairman Lord David Willetts as Director (Source: Shetland Times)
The Conservative lord who chairs the UK Space Agency has been appointed as a director of SaxaVord Spaceport. Documents lodged with Companies House show that Lord David Willets was appointed on 1st May. (5/9)
Space Force Releases Officer Career Development Path (Source: AFNS)
The U.S. Space Force released a new officer career development path and accompanying narrative document to provide officers, supervisors and mentors with clearer expectations for career progression, leadership development and assignment planning. The framework is designed to develop combat-credible Guardians through deliberate career progression and mentorship. Built on the “Guardian First, Specialist Second” philosophy, the framework ensures officers develop a multidisciplinary foundation across space operations, intelligence, cyber and force modernization before advancing into more specialized tracks. (5/8)
Chinese Team Makes Breakthrough in Space-Based Gravitational Wave Detection (Source: Xinhua)
A Chinese research team has announced a key breakthrough in the space-based gravitational wave detection program named Taiji, according to the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The team designed a full-function interferometer optical bench (OB) for the Taiji program, constructed a first-generation Taiji interferometer OB and ground test system, and conducted preliminary testing and calibration.
The research program Taiji aims to study gravitational waves from the merging of binary black holes and other celestial bodies, according to the institute. The full-function interferometer OB can effectively mitigate interference from temperature fluctuations in the measurement. Boasting picometer-level measurement accuracy, it can detect tiny variations equivalent to one ten-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair, the research team said. (5/9)
Chinese Scientists Discover New Extreme Particle Accelerator in Cosmos (Source: Xinhua)
For decades, scientists have been trying to solve a mystery: Where do high-energy cosmic rays come from? These charged particles travel from outer space to Earth, but their origins remain unknown. Now, a major discovery by Chinese scientists is bringing them closer to the answer.
Based on observations from China's Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO), researchers have detected ultra-high-energy gamma rays from a special type of object in the Milky Way. This object is a gamma-ray binary system, meaning it consists of two stars: one massive star and one compact object. The compact object could be either a neutron star or a black hole. (5/9)
MDA Space: High-Volume Canadian Satellite Factory On Schedule for Telesat and Globalstar, Should Appeal to Military Demand Too (Source: Space Intel Report)
MDA Space said it remains on schedule to open the high-volume production facility that will be producing Telesat’s Lightspeed broadband and Globalstar’s direct-to-device (D2D) satellites, an event the company hopes will draw new customers, including defense ministries interested in satellites for space defense applications. The 185,000-square-foot plant, located 34 kilometers west of Montreal, is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 8. (5/7)
Venture Capital, Regulations, and Medium-Lift: What Canada’s 'Launch the North' Startups Need Next (Source: SpaceQ)
As everyone in Canadian space knows these days, sovereign launch is having a moment. Just a few weeks ago, the Canadian government announced it would commit on the order of $300 million for sovereign launch, including a 10-year, $200-million pledge for Maritime Launch Services launch pad access and money for the Launch the North effort for homegrown rockets.
The three companies selected for the first stage of Launch the North were NordSpace, Reaction Dynamics and Canada Rocket Company, each receiving $8.3 million for early-stage funding. The three companies came together on stage on Tuesday (May 5) at NordSpace’s Canadian Space Launch Conference, held at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, to provide an update on how things are going so far.
They also pointed to a few gaps that they would love to see the federal government fill: more access to venture capital (which is more limited in Canada than the U.S.), more clarity on launch regulations (which may come through the new Bill C-28, the Canadian Space Launch Act), and some help on having the companies develop medium-lift opportunities to expand their customer base. Click here. (5/8)
Astrophotographer Teamed with Artemis 2 Crew for Farside Shots (Source: Space.com)
Just weeks before the first Artemis 2 launch window, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy had a last-minute idea: What if he could get the Artemis 2 astronauts to shoot the moon the same way he shoots the moon? Artemis 2 commander and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman "was immediately onboard," McCarthy said. "It was a dream come true, obviously, for me, but I saw it as this very unique opportunity."
The astronauts snapped breathtaking photos of the moon, which showed beautifully haunting views of the lunar far side that Artemis 2 crew member Christina Koch of NASA described as "the most ominous thing I've ever loved." On Earth, McCarthy combines hundreds to thousands of photos of the moon to bring out details you can't see in a single image. The results are colorful landscapes that look more like paintings than the gray orb we're used to seeing hang in the night sky, but the diversity he presents in his images come down to lunar spectroscopy rather than artistic interpretation. (5/8)
Are Trump and Musk Giving Up on Mars? (Source: NBC)
The Trump administration is pushing a pivot to the Moon over Mars, with budget proposals seeking to cut science spending. While SpaceX continues developing Starship, official focus has shifted toward building lunar infrastructure, challenging the immediate, exclusive focus on Mars exploration. The White House's proposed budget seeks to prioritize lunar surface missions (Artemis 3/4) and commercial partnerships, rather than a direct, near-term mission to Mars.
While Elon Musk continues to push for Mars in the long term, SpaceX is currently focusing on landing Starship on the Moon and developing orbital refueling, which are necessary for both lunar and Martian missions. The Mars Society and other experts have expressed concern that budget cuts to science divisions (like Mars Curiosity) could threaten the foundational research needed for eventual human exploration of Mars. (5/9)
Watch Out, SpaceX—NASA Is Already Training on Blue Origin’s Moon Lander Prototype (Source: Gizmodo)
On Thursday, NASA shared a photo of a full-scale prototype of the MK2 crew cabin, which has arrived at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to support training and testing. In a statement, the agency said it and its industry partners will use this prototype for Artemis 3 and 4 mission simulations.
“Blue Origin’s lander, launching uncrewed on top of the company’s New Glenn rocket, will meet astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit,” the statement reads. “Two astronauts will board the Blue Moon crew lander, which will ferry them to the surface and back to other crew members aboard Orion in lunar orbit following the conclusion of their surface stay.”
Meanwhile, Starship HLS development has been more of a black box. At the end of October 2025, SpaceX said its HLS team had completed “49 milestones tied to developing its subsystems, infrastructure, and operations needed to land astronauts on the Moon,” but the company has not provided a detailed update since then. (5/8)
The pioneering Voyager probes might only have a few years left to explore interstellar space, and that's assuming a planned, risky maneuver in 2026 goes well. NASA's twin Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, both running on nuclear power, now have access to just a portion of the 470 watts of energy that they generated immediately after their 1977 launches. Originally tasked with exploring the giant planets in our solar system, the pair have long passed their expected lifespans and are still transmitting data, far from home. (5/9)
NASA Welcomes Paraguay as 67th Artemis Accords Signatory (Source: NASA)
The Republic of Paraguay signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday during a ceremony in Asunción, becoming the latest nation to commit to the shared principles guiding civil space exploration. The Paraguayan Space Agency was established in 2014 and has worked to develop capabilities in satellite technology and Earth observation, including with international partners. Its first satellite, GuaraníSat‑1, launched from the International Space Station in 2021. The agency now is preparing to launch its second satellite, GuaraníSat‑2, in October aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (5/7)
FCC Chair: Starlink Isn't Enough. We Need at Least 3 Satellite-to-Phone Services (Source: PC Mag)
The FCC chair, who has gone out of his way to laud SpaceX’s connectivity from space and sometimes critique its rivals, said Wednesday that the market for direct-to-phone service needs more than one competitor to Starlink. “We think the market wants to be, should be, at least three facilities-based providers,” Brendan Carr opined. Today, US options for more-than-messaging cellular satellite service stop at SpaceX’s Starlink roaming. It's limited to a select set of apps and has seen less uptake among T-Mobile subscribers than the carrier expected after inking its deal with SpaceX in 2022. (5/7)
Meet Rassvet, Russia’s Answer to Starlink (Sources: WIRED, DCD)
In late March, Russian company Bureau 1440 brought into low orbit the first 16 broadband internet satellites of the new Rassvet constellation, already dubbed by observers and local media the Russian answer to SpaceX's Starlink. It's an ambitious global internet project that experts say could conceal much broader strategic goals, with functions including military and communications control.
The constellation’s current satellite generation, the 370kg Rassvet-3, built by Bureau-1440, features optical intersatellite links, designed to enable 1Gbps speeds, but is not thought to match the hardware of industry-standard NewSpace LEO satellites in the West.
The Russian satellite Internet service is expected to begin operation in 2027 once its minimum fleet of 250 is established. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov has told Russian newspaper Kommersant that Rassvet’s next stage involves “dozens more launches.” Only 15 additional launches are required, so long as 16 satellites are launched apiece. (5/8)
Can Pakistan Make Its Space Program Great Again? (Source: The Diplomat)
Pakistan is quietly picking up the pace in its spacefaring ambitions. On April 22, two Pakistani men – Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, both pilots with the Pakistan Air Force – were selected to undergo training in Beijing in a milestone in their country’s scientific history. Both aspiring astronauts are in deep training at China’s Astronaut Center; one of them will be the first Pakistani astronaut in space on an official mission, and the first foreign national to board China’s Tiangong Space Station. The Tiangong is China’s answer to the International Space Station after the United States blocked China from becoming a part of the ISS.
The Pakistani astronaut will not be a symbolic stowaway, but rather an integral part of the team on the Tiangong as a working scientist expected to work on microgravity experiments, use specialized equipment, and respond to emergencies in orbit. Departure for the mission is scheduled to take place in late 2026.
Back home, Pakistan is facing skyrocketing inflation, soaring energy prices and bills, insurgencies in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and border clashes with India and Afghanistan. Back in 2023, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index downgraded Pakistan to the status of an authoritarian regime due to the encroaching powers of the Pakistan Army in politics. (5/8)
Applied Aerospace Files for IPO, Joining Pre-SpaceX Rush (Source: Bloomberg)
Applied Aerospace & Defense Inc. filed for a US initial public offering, joining a recent rush of space and defense firms to public markets ahead of the potential listing of SpaceX later this year. The Huntsville-based space and defense engineering firm made a net loss of $15.1 million on revenue of $134.4 million for the first three months of this year, compared with a net loss of $7.3 million on revenue of $111 million in the same period a year earlier, according to a filing Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. (5/8)
MDA Space Proceeds With Canadarm3 Work Amid Reset Talks (Source: Aviation Week)
MDA Space is proceeding "full steam ahead" with Canadarm3 development, confirming that its contract with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) remains unaffected despite NASA's decision to pause the Lunar Gateway project. The company is actively working with the CSA to assess the project's future, as the AI-driven robotic system was originally destined for the now-halted space station. While designed for the Gateway, MDA is evaluating other uses for the technology, including commercial space station applications. (5/8)
SaxaVord Spaceport Appoints Conservative Peer and UK Space Agency Chairman Lord David Willetts as Director (Source: Shetland Times)
The Conservative lord who chairs the UK Space Agency has been appointed as a director of SaxaVord Spaceport. Documents lodged with Companies House show that Lord David Willets was appointed on 1st May. (5/9)
Space Force Releases Officer Career Development Path (Source: AFNS)
The U.S. Space Force released a new officer career development path and accompanying narrative document to provide officers, supervisors and mentors with clearer expectations for career progression, leadership development and assignment planning. The framework is designed to develop combat-credible Guardians through deliberate career progression and mentorship. Built on the “Guardian First, Specialist Second” philosophy, the framework ensures officers develop a multidisciplinary foundation across space operations, intelligence, cyber and force modernization before advancing into more specialized tracks. (5/8)
Chinese Team Makes Breakthrough in Space-Based Gravitational Wave Detection (Source: Xinhua)
A Chinese research team has announced a key breakthrough in the space-based gravitational wave detection program named Taiji, according to the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The team designed a full-function interferometer optical bench (OB) for the Taiji program, constructed a first-generation Taiji interferometer OB and ground test system, and conducted preliminary testing and calibration.
The research program Taiji aims to study gravitational waves from the merging of binary black holes and other celestial bodies, according to the institute. The full-function interferometer OB can effectively mitigate interference from temperature fluctuations in the measurement. Boasting picometer-level measurement accuracy, it can detect tiny variations equivalent to one ten-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair, the research team said. (5/9)
Chinese Scientists Discover New Extreme Particle Accelerator in Cosmos (Source: Xinhua)
For decades, scientists have been trying to solve a mystery: Where do high-energy cosmic rays come from? These charged particles travel from outer space to Earth, but their origins remain unknown. Now, a major discovery by Chinese scientists is bringing them closer to the answer.
Based on observations from China's Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO), researchers have detected ultra-high-energy gamma rays from a special type of object in the Milky Way. This object is a gamma-ray binary system, meaning it consists of two stars: one massive star and one compact object. The compact object could be either a neutron star or a black hole. (5/9)
MDA Space: High-Volume Canadian Satellite Factory On Schedule for Telesat and Globalstar, Should Appeal to Military Demand Too (Source: Space Intel Report)
MDA Space said it remains on schedule to open the high-volume production facility that will be producing Telesat’s Lightspeed broadband and Globalstar’s direct-to-device (D2D) satellites, an event the company hopes will draw new customers, including defense ministries interested in satellites for space defense applications. The 185,000-square-foot plant, located 34 kilometers west of Montreal, is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 8. (5/7)
Venture Capital, Regulations, and Medium-Lift: What Canada’s 'Launch the North' Startups Need Next (Source: SpaceQ)
As everyone in Canadian space knows these days, sovereign launch is having a moment. Just a few weeks ago, the Canadian government announced it would commit on the order of $300 million for sovereign launch, including a 10-year, $200-million pledge for Maritime Launch Services launch pad access and money for the Launch the North effort for homegrown rockets.
The three companies selected for the first stage of Launch the North were NordSpace, Reaction Dynamics and Canada Rocket Company, each receiving $8.3 million for early-stage funding. The three companies came together on stage on Tuesday (May 5) at NordSpace’s Canadian Space Launch Conference, held at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, to provide an update on how things are going so far.
They also pointed to a few gaps that they would love to see the federal government fill: more access to venture capital (which is more limited in Canada than the U.S.), more clarity on launch regulations (which may come through the new Bill C-28, the Canadian Space Launch Act), and some help on having the companies develop medium-lift opportunities to expand their customer base. Click here. (5/8)
Astrophotographer Teamed with Artemis 2 Crew for Farside Shots (Source: Space.com)
Just weeks before the first Artemis 2 launch window, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy had a last-minute idea: What if he could get the Artemis 2 astronauts to shoot the moon the same way he shoots the moon? Artemis 2 commander and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman "was immediately onboard," McCarthy said. "It was a dream come true, obviously, for me, but I saw it as this very unique opportunity."
The astronauts snapped breathtaking photos of the moon, which showed beautifully haunting views of the lunar far side that Artemis 2 crew member Christina Koch of NASA described as "the most ominous thing I've ever loved." On Earth, McCarthy combines hundreds to thousands of photos of the moon to bring out details you can't see in a single image. The results are colorful landscapes that look more like paintings than the gray orb we're used to seeing hang in the night sky, but the diversity he presents in his images come down to lunar spectroscopy rather than artistic interpretation. (5/8)
Are Trump and Musk Giving Up on Mars? (Source: NBC)
The Trump administration is pushing a pivot to the Moon over Mars, with budget proposals seeking to cut science spending. While SpaceX continues developing Starship, official focus has shifted toward building lunar infrastructure, challenging the immediate, exclusive focus on Mars exploration. The White House's proposed budget seeks to prioritize lunar surface missions (Artemis 3/4) and commercial partnerships, rather than a direct, near-term mission to Mars.
While Elon Musk continues to push for Mars in the long term, SpaceX is currently focusing on landing Starship on the Moon and developing orbital refueling, which are necessary for both lunar and Martian missions. The Mars Society and other experts have expressed concern that budget cuts to science divisions (like Mars Curiosity) could threaten the foundational research needed for eventual human exploration of Mars. (5/9)
Watch Out, SpaceX—NASA Is Already Training on Blue Origin’s Moon Lander Prototype (Source: Gizmodo)
On Thursday, NASA shared a photo of a full-scale prototype of the MK2 crew cabin, which has arrived at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to support training and testing. In a statement, the agency said it and its industry partners will use this prototype for Artemis 3 and 4 mission simulations.
“Blue Origin’s lander, launching uncrewed on top of the company’s New Glenn rocket, will meet astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit,” the statement reads. “Two astronauts will board the Blue Moon crew lander, which will ferry them to the surface and back to other crew members aboard Orion in lunar orbit following the conclusion of their surface stay.”
Meanwhile, Starship HLS development has been more of a black box. At the end of October 2025, SpaceX said its HLS team had completed “49 milestones tied to developing its subsystems, infrastructure, and operations needed to land astronauts on the Moon,” but the company has not provided a detailed update since then. (5/8)
May 9. 2026
NASA Names Brian Hughes to Launch
Operations Role (Source: NASA)
NASA announced that Brian Hughes will return to the agency as senior director of launch operations, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Hughes will provide enterprise-level leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for NASA’s launch infrastructure, with direct responsibility for launch operations at KSC and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. He will work across government, industry, and local leadership to strengthen coordination among stakeholders supporting NASA’s spaceports.
Most recently, Hughes served as NASA’s chief of staff, after serving as deputy national security advisor for Strategic Communications at the White House. Hughes also served as chief administrative officer for the City of Jacksonville. NASA Watch remarked that the decades-long management of Wallops by NASA Goddard (in a blue state) will now be run out of Florida (a red state) – thus continuing the deliberate shrinkage of NASA Goddard. And while NASA HQ is not being moved out of Washington DC, some of its major functions will be moving to Florida. (5/8)
NASA Pushes Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotor Blades Past Mach 1 (Source: NASA)
The rotor blades that will carry NASA’s next-generation helicopters to new Martian heights broke the sound barrier during March tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Data from the tests, which took place in a special chamber that can simulate environmental conditions on the Red Planet, indicate that the fastest traveling part of the rotor blade, the tips, can be accelerated beyond Mach 1 without breaking apart. Data gathered from 137 test runs will enable engineers to design aircraft capable of carrying heavier payloads, including science instruments. (5/7)
Study Finds Narrow Physical Rules Limit Life as We Know It (Source: Science Daily)
Scientists may have uncovered a surprising secret behind why life exists at all. A new study suggests that the Universe’s fundamental constants — the deep physical rules that govern everything from atoms to stars — appear to sit within an incredibly narrow “sweet spot” that allows liquids to flow properly inside living cells. Life depends on movement at microscopic scales. Nutrients must travel through cells, proteins need to fold correctly, and molecules constantly diffuse through watery environments.
All of this relies on viscosity, the property that determines how easily a liquid flows. According to the researchers, the Universe appears to operate within a surprisingly narrow "bio-friendly" window where viscosity and diffusion remain suitable for life. If the constants governing physics shifted by only a few percent, liquids essential to biology could become dramatically thicker or thinner. (5/8)
Rocket Lab Rises on Strong Sales, With Neutron on Track 2026 (Sources: Bloomberg, RNZ)
Rocket Lab Corp. rose as the company touted strong demand for rocket launches and space-related services, including a contract for President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense project. The Long Beach, California-based company sold more launches in the first three months of the year than in all of 2025, with a total outstanding launch manifest of 70 missions with its backlog valued at $2.2 billion.
The company posted record revenue of $200 million in the first quarter, as demand for its launch vehicles surged. While revenue was up more than 63 percent on the same period a year earlier, the company still posted a net loss of about $45 million. (5/8)
Blue Origin Adding More Than 100 Jobs in the Huntsville Area (Source: AL.com)
Blue Origin will be hiring more than 100 people as it expands its operation in the Huntsville area. The new jobs will support the company’s thruster production. Blue Origin has grown from an initial commitment of approximately 300 jobs to well over 1,600 employees building the future of space in Alabama. (5/8)
Hanwha Expands From Defense Into Space with 'Korean SpaceX' Vision (Source: UPI)
South Korea's Hanwha Group is accelerating its expansion from defense manufacturing into aerospace and space industries as it pursues a long-term strategy to build a vertically integrated space business modeled after SpaceX. The conglomerate is strengthening localization strategies in the United States, Canada and Europe while expanding through mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures amid rising global defense demand.
Hanwha's ambitions increasingly extend beyond defense manufacturing into aerospace and satellite services. The group aims to create a comprehensive space value chain integrating launch vehicles, satellites, data and related services. Under the strategy, Hanwha Aerospace would oversee launch vehicles and aircraft engines, while Hanwha Systems would handle satellite manufacturing and satellite data services. Hanwha recently acquired a 5.09% stake in Korea Aerospace Industries, becoming its fourth-largest shareholder, and has announced plans to increase the stake to 8% within the year. (5/7)
MDA Space Reports 32% Revenue Growth in Q1 2026 (Source: SpaceQ)
MDA Space reported its first-quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday. The company experienced strong year-over-year revenue growth across its three business segments, driven by higher volumes of work on commercial satellite constellations and robotics programs. During the first quarter, MDA Space generated $464.1 million in consolidated revenues, a 32.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This growth was heavily driven by the Satellite Systems business area, which saw revenues rise 41.0% year-over-year to $313.1 million. (5/7)
JAXA Joins Ramses Mission With H3 Launch To Asteroid (Source: Aviation Week)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan’s space agency, has agreed to work with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the Ramses planetary defense mission. The arrangement would see Mitsubishi Heavy’s H3 rocket serve as the launcher for the probe. (5/7)
Wanted: NASA Employees (Source: Politico)
NASA wants to turn some of its contractors into government employees — a move that stands in contrast to last year’s push by the Trump administration to gut the federal workforce. The shift, many agree, is welcome — saving NASA overhead costs and bringing core functions in-house. Isaacman is adding government workers, but he argues that he’s actually fulfilling the Trump administration’s cost-cutting mandates with the moves. So Isaacman may have successfully messaged the plan, but it may be difficult to get some contractors to take a compensation cut to move in-house. And, there are logistical hurdles too. (5/8)
Space Coast Saw Nearly 350,000 Visitors for Artemis II Launch (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Sending humans out past the moon for the first time in more than half a century enticed nearly 350,000 people to descend on the Space Coast for the Artemis II mission that launched from Kennedy Space Center. That total includes more than 90,000 out-of-county visitors for the actual launch, based on data from cell device tracking software.
Crowds crammed into parks throughout northern Brevard County to get close-up views. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sold out of its launch packages early on, closing the attraction to only those with special tickets on launch day. Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park also sold out in the days leading up to launch. In comparison, the week of the uncrewed Artemis I launch in November 2022 saw 226,000 visitors. (5/4)
NASA Keeps Boeing Starliner Flights in Holding Pattern in Updated Space Station Plan (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA said it was still not ready to nail down Boeing Starliner’s next flight to the International Space Station as it continues to work through the problems found during its beleaguered Crew Flight Test mission in 2024. Since last year, NASA had been targeting Starliner’s return to flight as early as April 2026, but that month came and went with no clear sign on progress to work through the failures of its last mission. (5/2)
ESA Begins Developing Replacements for NASA’s Contributions to LISA (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has begun mitigation efforts for key elements of its LISA mission after a White House budget proposal sought, for the second year running, to eliminate most of NASA’s planned support. One of these mitigation efforts was formalised on 5 May, when ESA awarded a €26.1 million contract to Thales Alenia Space for the development of the mission’s telescopes.
ESA’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) consists of three spacecraft working in tandem to detect gravitational waves from significant events in the Universe, such as when two black holes collide. When ESA adopted the mission in early 2024, NASA was expected to provide several critical LISA subsystems, including laser systems, telescopes, and devices to reduce disturbances from electromagnetic charges. (5/8)
Turkish and Azerbaijani Agreement Expands Regional Satcom Service (Source: SatNews)
PROFEN, a Türkiye-based leader in satellite communication solutions, and Azercosmos, the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, have signed a landmark cooperation agreement to enhance satellite capacity utilization across the EMEA region. The partnership combines PROFEN’s extensive ground segment infrastructure with Azercosmos’ robust orbital assets to address the surging demand for reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity in government, commercial, and mobility sectors. (5/7)
Planet Signs 7-Figure Enterprise Contract to Power Greece’s National Satellite Space Project (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Planet Labs Germany has entered a 2-year, 7-figure agreement with the Greek government to support the country’s National Satellite Space Project. The contract includes numerous data offerings, including near-daily medium-resolution imagery and high-resolution tasking to support a number of broad area monitoring initiatives. (5/8)
China Prepares Cargo, Crew, and Deep Space Missions, as Commercial Sector Steps Toward Reusability (Source: NSF)
China is preparing to launch both cargo and crew missions to its Tiangong space station, as a new cargo freighter is tested in low-Earth orbit and new designs are revealed to expand the orbiting outpost. Celebrating 70 years since the foundation of its space program this year, China is also advancing plans for deep space missions exploring the Moon and Mars, and is extending international involvement in the projects. As one launcher potentially retires, new commercial vehicles advance towards their own debuts, and China moves closer to attempting its first booster catch. Click here. (5/7)
The Exploration Company Fires Up Rocket Engine for Moon Lander (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Exploration Company has successfully test fired a prototype of its 15 kN Huracan rocket engine. The engine is designed to enable the company’s future lunar vehicles to land on the surface of the Moon and to be restarted for ascent and orbital rendezvous. While The Exploration Company is currently focused on delivering its Nyx Earth spacecraft, which will transport cargo to and from low Earth orbit, the company is also preparing for future variants of the vehicle, including a lunar lander. (5/7)
NASA announced that Brian Hughes will return to the agency as senior director of launch operations, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Hughes will provide enterprise-level leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for NASA’s launch infrastructure, with direct responsibility for launch operations at KSC and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. He will work across government, industry, and local leadership to strengthen coordination among stakeholders supporting NASA’s spaceports.
Most recently, Hughes served as NASA’s chief of staff, after serving as deputy national security advisor for Strategic Communications at the White House. Hughes also served as chief administrative officer for the City of Jacksonville. NASA Watch remarked that the decades-long management of Wallops by NASA Goddard (in a blue state) will now be run out of Florida (a red state) – thus continuing the deliberate shrinkage of NASA Goddard. And while NASA HQ is not being moved out of Washington DC, some of its major functions will be moving to Florida. (5/8)
NASA Pushes Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotor Blades Past Mach 1 (Source: NASA)
The rotor blades that will carry NASA’s next-generation helicopters to new Martian heights broke the sound barrier during March tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Data from the tests, which took place in a special chamber that can simulate environmental conditions on the Red Planet, indicate that the fastest traveling part of the rotor blade, the tips, can be accelerated beyond Mach 1 without breaking apart. Data gathered from 137 test runs will enable engineers to design aircraft capable of carrying heavier payloads, including science instruments. (5/7)
Study Finds Narrow Physical Rules Limit Life as We Know It (Source: Science Daily)
Scientists may have uncovered a surprising secret behind why life exists at all. A new study suggests that the Universe’s fundamental constants — the deep physical rules that govern everything from atoms to stars — appear to sit within an incredibly narrow “sweet spot” that allows liquids to flow properly inside living cells. Life depends on movement at microscopic scales. Nutrients must travel through cells, proteins need to fold correctly, and molecules constantly diffuse through watery environments.
All of this relies on viscosity, the property that determines how easily a liquid flows. According to the researchers, the Universe appears to operate within a surprisingly narrow "bio-friendly" window where viscosity and diffusion remain suitable for life. If the constants governing physics shifted by only a few percent, liquids essential to biology could become dramatically thicker or thinner. (5/8)
Rocket Lab Rises on Strong Sales, With Neutron on Track 2026 (Sources: Bloomberg, RNZ)
Rocket Lab Corp. rose as the company touted strong demand for rocket launches and space-related services, including a contract for President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense project. The Long Beach, California-based company sold more launches in the first three months of the year than in all of 2025, with a total outstanding launch manifest of 70 missions with its backlog valued at $2.2 billion.
The company posted record revenue of $200 million in the first quarter, as demand for its launch vehicles surged. While revenue was up more than 63 percent on the same period a year earlier, the company still posted a net loss of about $45 million. (5/8)
Blue Origin Adding More Than 100 Jobs in the Huntsville Area (Source: AL.com)
Blue Origin will be hiring more than 100 people as it expands its operation in the Huntsville area. The new jobs will support the company’s thruster production. Blue Origin has grown from an initial commitment of approximately 300 jobs to well over 1,600 employees building the future of space in Alabama. (5/8)
Hanwha Expands From Defense Into Space with 'Korean SpaceX' Vision (Source: UPI)
South Korea's Hanwha Group is accelerating its expansion from defense manufacturing into aerospace and space industries as it pursues a long-term strategy to build a vertically integrated space business modeled after SpaceX. The conglomerate is strengthening localization strategies in the United States, Canada and Europe while expanding through mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures amid rising global defense demand.
Hanwha's ambitions increasingly extend beyond defense manufacturing into aerospace and satellite services. The group aims to create a comprehensive space value chain integrating launch vehicles, satellites, data and related services. Under the strategy, Hanwha Aerospace would oversee launch vehicles and aircraft engines, while Hanwha Systems would handle satellite manufacturing and satellite data services. Hanwha recently acquired a 5.09% stake in Korea Aerospace Industries, becoming its fourth-largest shareholder, and has announced plans to increase the stake to 8% within the year. (5/7)
MDA Space Reports 32% Revenue Growth in Q1 2026 (Source: SpaceQ)
MDA Space reported its first-quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday. The company experienced strong year-over-year revenue growth across its three business segments, driven by higher volumes of work on commercial satellite constellations and robotics programs. During the first quarter, MDA Space generated $464.1 million in consolidated revenues, a 32.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This growth was heavily driven by the Satellite Systems business area, which saw revenues rise 41.0% year-over-year to $313.1 million. (5/7)
JAXA Joins Ramses Mission With H3 Launch To Asteroid (Source: Aviation Week)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan’s space agency, has agreed to work with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the Ramses planetary defense mission. The arrangement would see Mitsubishi Heavy’s H3 rocket serve as the launcher for the probe. (5/7)
Wanted: NASA Employees (Source: Politico)
NASA wants to turn some of its contractors into government employees — a move that stands in contrast to last year’s push by the Trump administration to gut the federal workforce. The shift, many agree, is welcome — saving NASA overhead costs and bringing core functions in-house. Isaacman is adding government workers, but he argues that he’s actually fulfilling the Trump administration’s cost-cutting mandates with the moves. So Isaacman may have successfully messaged the plan, but it may be difficult to get some contractors to take a compensation cut to move in-house. And, there are logistical hurdles too. (5/8)
Space Coast Saw Nearly 350,000 Visitors for Artemis II Launch (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Sending humans out past the moon for the first time in more than half a century enticed nearly 350,000 people to descend on the Space Coast for the Artemis II mission that launched from Kennedy Space Center. That total includes more than 90,000 out-of-county visitors for the actual launch, based on data from cell device tracking software.
Crowds crammed into parks throughout northern Brevard County to get close-up views. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sold out of its launch packages early on, closing the attraction to only those with special tickets on launch day. Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park also sold out in the days leading up to launch. In comparison, the week of the uncrewed Artemis I launch in November 2022 saw 226,000 visitors. (5/4)
NASA Keeps Boeing Starliner Flights in Holding Pattern in Updated Space Station Plan (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA said it was still not ready to nail down Boeing Starliner’s next flight to the International Space Station as it continues to work through the problems found during its beleaguered Crew Flight Test mission in 2024. Since last year, NASA had been targeting Starliner’s return to flight as early as April 2026, but that month came and went with no clear sign on progress to work through the failures of its last mission. (5/2)
ESA Begins Developing Replacements for NASA’s Contributions to LISA (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has begun mitigation efforts for key elements of its LISA mission after a White House budget proposal sought, for the second year running, to eliminate most of NASA’s planned support. One of these mitigation efforts was formalised on 5 May, when ESA awarded a €26.1 million contract to Thales Alenia Space for the development of the mission’s telescopes.
ESA’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) consists of three spacecraft working in tandem to detect gravitational waves from significant events in the Universe, such as when two black holes collide. When ESA adopted the mission in early 2024, NASA was expected to provide several critical LISA subsystems, including laser systems, telescopes, and devices to reduce disturbances from electromagnetic charges. (5/8)
Turkish and Azerbaijani Agreement Expands Regional Satcom Service (Source: SatNews)
PROFEN, a Türkiye-based leader in satellite communication solutions, and Azercosmos, the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, have signed a landmark cooperation agreement to enhance satellite capacity utilization across the EMEA region. The partnership combines PROFEN’s extensive ground segment infrastructure with Azercosmos’ robust orbital assets to address the surging demand for reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity in government, commercial, and mobility sectors. (5/7)
Planet Signs 7-Figure Enterprise Contract to Power Greece’s National Satellite Space Project (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Planet Labs Germany has entered a 2-year, 7-figure agreement with the Greek government to support the country’s National Satellite Space Project. The contract includes numerous data offerings, including near-daily medium-resolution imagery and high-resolution tasking to support a number of broad area monitoring initiatives. (5/8)
China Prepares Cargo, Crew, and Deep Space Missions, as Commercial Sector Steps Toward Reusability (Source: NSF)
China is preparing to launch both cargo and crew missions to its Tiangong space station, as a new cargo freighter is tested in low-Earth orbit and new designs are revealed to expand the orbiting outpost. Celebrating 70 years since the foundation of its space program this year, China is also advancing plans for deep space missions exploring the Moon and Mars, and is extending international involvement in the projects. As one launcher potentially retires, new commercial vehicles advance towards their own debuts, and China moves closer to attempting its first booster catch. Click here. (5/7)
The Exploration Company Fires Up Rocket Engine for Moon Lander (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Exploration Company has successfully test fired a prototype of its 15 kN Huracan rocket engine. The engine is designed to enable the company’s future lunar vehicles to land on the surface of the Moon and to be restarted for ascent and orbital rendezvous. While The Exploration Company is currently focused on delivering its Nyx Earth spacecraft, which will transport cargo to and from low Earth orbit, the company is also preparing for future variants of the vehicle, including a lunar lander. (5/7)
May 8, 2026
MDA Space Satellite Revenue Grows 40%
in Q1 (Source: Via Satellite)
MDA Space posted 32% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026 and more than 40% growth for its satellite manufacturing business, driven by work for Telesat Lightspeed and Globalstar. (5/8)
Rocket Lab Joins Raytheon on Golden Dome Interceptor Program (Source: AeroTime)
Rocket Lab, in partnership with Raytheon, has been selected to demonstrate advanced capabilities for the Space Force’s Space Based Interceptor program, a central building block of the Golden Dome missile defense architecture. Rocket Lab itself is not a prime on the SBI program. Its role is to support Raytheon’s prototype work on a proliferated low-Earth orbit constellation, carrying kinetic interceptors that can destroy missiles during the boost, midcourse and glide phases of flight. (5/8)
Spire Says New German Facility Can Produce Up to 100 Satellites Per Year (Source: Via Satellite)
Spire has opened a new satellite manufacturing facility in Munich the company says has the capacity to produce up to 100 satellites per year. The facility is designed for end-to-end satellite manufacturing, including integration, testing, and mission-specific payload development. Initially, this facility will be focused on the EURIALO project to build a satellite-based aircraft surveillance system. EURIALO, which is supported by the European Space Agency, is focused on developing aircraft geolocation capabilities that are independent of GNSS using satellites. (5/7)
HawkEye 360 Raises $416M in IPO (Source: Payload)
HawkEye 360 raised $416M with its IPO Thursday morning on the NYSE, where it is now trading under the ticker $HAWK. The Virginia-based company priced its 16M shares at $26 per share—at the top of the $24-$26 range shared in the company’s S-1 filing on May 1. (5/8)
Rocket Lab Sells Five Neutron and Three Electron Launches (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab announced Thursday the largest launch contract in its history. The company signed a contract with a confidential customer for five Neutron and three Electron launches between 2026 and 2029. The company did not disclose the contract's value but said it sold the launches at average prices for those vehicles and the total contract value exceeded the $190 million award for 20 launches of its HASTE suborbital vehicle it announced in March.
Rocket Lab says it is still planning a first launch of Neutron in the fourth quarter but acknowledged that is an "aggressive schedule." Rocket Lab also announced it would acquire space robotics company Motiv Space Systems, which produces components ranging from the robotic arm on the Perseverance Mars rover to solar array drive assemblies. The acquisition helps Rocket Lab vertically integrate its satellite manufacturing supply chain. (5/8)
Lunar Outpost Raises $30 Million for Lunar Rovers (Source: Space News)
Lunar Outpost, a startup working on a line of lunar rovers, has raised $30 million. The company announced the oversubscribed Series B round Thursday, led by Industrious Ventures. Lunar Outpost is one of three companies that had been working on lunar rover designs for NASA's Artemis campaign through the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) program. NASA announced in March it would not select the rover designs submitted by those companies, instead asking them to propose simpler rovers that could be ready as soon as 2028. Lunar Outpost says it has developed a new design, called Pegasus, that meets NASA's needs, and the new funding would allow the company to accelerate work on that rover. (5/8)
Redwire Takes Aim at Lunar Landers and Lunar Power Systems (Source: Space News)
Redwire sees opportunities in both lunar landers and lunar power systems for Artemis. In an earnings call Thursday, Redwire executives said while the company has been part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, it had not been active because of the low volume of missions. With NASA now proposing a much higher rate of CLPS missions, the company is now considering pursuing those opportunities. Redwire is also interested in providing power systems for a lunar base using its solar arrays. Artemis is one of six areas the company is focusing its internal R&D funding on to take advantage of market opportunities. (5/8)
UK's Odin Space Plans US Office (Source: Space News)
British startup Odin Space plans to open a U.S. office. The company, which develops systems to track very small space debris, said it is opening an office in Los Angeles to capture the growing demand it sees in the United States. Odin's U.S. office will serve commercial and government satellite operators seeking information on debris larger than one millimeter, which is too small to be tracked by ground-based sensors but large enough to damage spacecraft since it's traveling at orbital velocity. Odin also announced that Ariksys, a developer of modular spacecraft, will be the first U.S. customer for a product line that combines Odin's Nano Sensor that detects and analyzes debris strikes with insurance for debris collisions. (5/8)
Proposed Sharp Increase in DoD Space Spending Raises Industry Questions (Source: Space News)
Space companies have questions about the Pentagon's plans to sharply increase space spending. The administration's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal would more than double the Space Force's budget, and officials say that budget is the demand signal industry needs to invest in increased production capacity. However, companies say they need more information, including what exactly will be bought, when contracts will be awarded and how quickly money will translate into programs. Without new capacity, the Pentagon risks bottlenecks as it tries to scale up constellations and supporting infrastructure. But, without contracts, companies are unlikely to build that capacity. (5/8)
SatVu HotSat-2 Produces First Thermal Imagery (Source: Space News)
SatVu released the first thermal imagery from its HotSat-2 spacecraft. The images, released Thursday, showed the spacecraft's ability to monitor activity and oil and natural gas facilities. Commodity traders, energy operators, intelligence agencies and environmental regulators can use thermal imagery to better understand the market, assess risk and make strategic decisions, the company says. HotSat-2, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., launched in March and replaces HotSat-1, which failed in 2023 after six months in orbit. (5/8)
Germany's OHB Considers Legal Action to Stop Airbus/Leonardo/Thales Joint Venture (Source: Reuters)
German space company OHB says it will consider legal action if regulators approve a joint venture of three other European space companies. In an interview, OHB CEO Marco Fuchs said he opposed "Project Bromo," a joint venture of the space businesses of Airbus, Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space. Project Bromo is undergoing a European antitrust review, and Fuchs said he would consider a suit to block the deal should regulators endorse it, saying that Bromo "impacts our supply chain." (5/8)
Satellite Imagery Reveals Extent of Damage to US Facilities From Iran's Attacks (Source: Washington Post)
Satellite imagery shows Iranian attacks damaged far more U.S. facilities than acknowledged by the Defense Department. The analysis found that at least 228 structures and pieces of equipment across the Middle East were damaged by Iranian drones and missiles. With commercial imagery of the region from U.S. companies largely unavailable, the analysis relied on high-resolution satellite images released by the Iranian government, verified using lower resolution images from Europe's Copernicus system and some high-resolution Planet images. (5/8)
Louisiana Purchase Could Benefit SpaceX or Blue Origin (Source: Acadiana Advocate)
Louisiana officials say an unnamed space company is interested in buying a large tract of land in the state. A state senator said Thursday that a company he did not identify has reached out to landowners in the southwestern part of the state, including Exxon, which owns 136,000 acres there. There has been speculation that both Blue Origin and SpaceX are interested in land there, but it was not clear what they would use it for. The reports come as state legislators work on an incentive package for aerospace companies.
The confirmation comes ahead of a hearing next week on the final piece of legislation in an incentive package designed to attract aerospace companies to Louisiana. The bills would offer tax incentives while limiting certain lawsuits and exempting some records from public disclosure. A legislative committee on Monday will take up the final piece of the aerospace incentive package. The bill would shield aerospace companies from lawsuits related to harm or damages their rockets cause to people and properties. (5/7)
Lockheed Opposes Northrop Bid to Remove Firewall on Solid Rocket Motor Business (Source: Breaking Defense)
Northrop Grumman has quietly asked the Federal Trade Commission to remove restrictions on its solid rocket motor business, in a move that competitor Lockheed Martin opposes, setting up a rare regulatory battle between two of the world’s largest defense firms. The FTC’s decision could have implications not only for the defense industrial base, but for the Pentagon’s race to ramp up the production of missiles and backfill its stockpiles — an endeavor dependent on also ramping up the manufacture of solid rocket motors (SRMs). (5/6)
Brussels Shoots to Become the New Sheriff in Space (Source: Courthouse News Service)
Seeking to boost Europe’s space industry and help it catch up with the United States and China, the European Union is developing rules to prevent more junk from clogging Earth’s orbit, safeguard satellites from hackers and create a traffic control system for space. The proposed EU Space Act is an attempt to craft the world’s first chapters of space law that would set some guardrails around a revolution taking place in outer space — its rapid commercialization.
Does outer space need a traffic management system, like airports have, for the more than 14,000 satellites whizzing by overhead? What about pollution and junk in outer space? What are the rules there? Who’s making sure satellites sent into orbit don’t get hacked, causing serious harm to vital tasks back on Earth? The EU Space Act seeks to answer these questions and provide domestic space companies a common set of rules across the 27-nation bloc.
At the same time, it would force outside competitors, particularly American ones, to play by European rules in the race for the stars. Broadly, the law seeks to set up a traffic management system for spacecraft; lay down rules to ensure things launched into space don’t end up as dangerous floating junk or cause preventable pollution; and compel satellite operators to install heavy duty safeguards against cyberattacks. (5/6)
Why This Leader Calls Africa The New Eldorado For The Global Space Business (Source: Forbes)
As celestial prowess becomes a source for geopolitical strength, Africa’s capacity in the projected trillion-dollar space sector will influence its global sway. With as much at stake, the African Space Agency (AfSA) was formed in April 2025. AfSA, headquartered in Egypt, was years in the making, beginning in January 2016 when an African Union (AU) assembly adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy.
Despite its extensiveness across various topics and sub-agendas, a running theme throughout the declaration is its ambition for harmony within. “Regional collaboration is not just important, it is the defining principle of Africa’s space future,” said AfSA President Ouattara Tidiane. “By sharing infrastructure, harmonizing policies and regulatory framework, and aligning and leveraging investments, we reduce costs, avoid duplication, and accelerate progress."
With Africa’s space industry expected to reach $39.52 billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7.97%, all signs point to a region prioritizing the cosmos. And for good reason. The downsides of foreign satellite reliance are immense. In a world where data is currency, establishing a competitive space presence is a matter of wealth and autonomy; and not doing so could cement irreversible dependency. (5/6)
Rocket Lab Awarded $30 Million Contract for HASTE Hypersonic Rocket Launches for Anduril (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab has been selected by defense technology company Anduril Industries for multiple hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle. The partnership brings together two defense industry leaders to advance one of the Department of War's most critical technology areas: scaled hypersonics that deliver Mach 5 and beyond capabilities for future defense missions. In a showcase of Rocket Lab’s responsive space capabilities, the first of these three missions is set to launch in less than 12 months: demonstrating contract to launch in a matter of months, not years. (5/7)
Rocket Lab To Acquire Robotics Leader Motiv Space Systems (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Motiv Space Systems, a California-based company specializing in space robotics, motion control systems, and precision mechanisms for spacecraft. The acquisition will add Mars-proven robotics heritage and capability for advanced planetary and national security missions, and also close one of the final gaps in Rocket Lab's vertical integration strategy by bringing in house costly and supply-constrained spacecraft components, including solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) and other precision mechanisms and motion control systems.
The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2026 subject to the completion of customary closing conditions. Motiv – which will be branded Rocket Lab Robotics – is renowned for its advanced multi-degree of freedom robotic arms, actuators, and drive electronics that have enabled some of the most ambitious space missions, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover. (5/7)
Soon-to-Be SpaceX Billionaires are Gearing Up for a Windfall (Source: New York Post)
SpaceX’s looming IPO is set to mint more new billionaires than any liquidity event in history. Investors and employees are rushing to prepare for the windfall. “It’s completely life changing,” an anonymous source who invested in SpaceX nearly 20 years ago told me. While she’s made many successful investments, this single bet could increase her net worth 20 fold. “I didn’t think I’d be a billionaire,” she added.
SpaceX is expected to list on the Nasdaq in June, and the company’s valuation could exceed $2 trillion, making it the largest company ever to go public. (5/7)
Contractor Conversion Flaws Arise At NASA (Source: NASA Watch)
I have been hearing of some concern at NASA KSC (and elsewhere around NASA too) about a perceived rush to convert core functions from contractors to civil servants. At a top level there is a certain logic to this. But when reality pops up it gets messy. One issue has to do with waiving education requirements to retain civil servant expertise. Again, this makes some sense – people who have been doing the job and doing it well should be allowed to continue regardless of where they got their experience.
But when this is put in practice it is totally different. Some of the engineering folks at KSC have 10, 20, 30+ years of experience but are lacking college degrees. They are being told that this prevent or limits their ability to be converted from contractor to civil servant. At the Launch Equipment Test Facility (LETF) the younger contractor engineers with degrees were converted – but the ‘legacy’ (older) engineers were laid off – and with them a lot of space muscle memory went out the door.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded to this issue on social media: "This is not true. The education requirement was dated and I addressed. If you are good enough to be an engineer as a NASA contractor you are good enough to be an engineer as a NASA civil servant." (5/7)
Dishonoring Public Service - Fewer Nominees for 2026 Heyman Medals, None From NASA (Sources: Washington Post, Partnership for Public Service)
The 25th annual Oscars-like ceremony for federal workers — the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals — honored the civil service under five previous administrations. But the current occupant of the White House specifically went unnamed Wednesday night. Fewer civil servants were nominated and received awards after many federal workers expressed a fear of retaliation if they drew too much attention, said Max Stier, chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service.
In total, the nonprofit organization received more than 140 nominations across 39 federal agencies and other offices, down from more than 350 nominations across 65 federal agencies and other offices last year. Stier said some people who were nominated asked that their names not be considered at all, though the Partnership for Public Service declined to provide further information about those who did not partake in this year’s event. “The workforce that remains has worried about what might happen to them if they’re recognized,” Stier said.
Editor's Note: Two NASA employees were honored in 2025, including John Blevins, Ph.D. (MSFC) and Richard Burns (GSFC). No NASA employees were among the 2026 honorees, but James Szykman of the EPA won for leading a cross-agency collaboration that validated NASA's TEMPO satellite to improve air pollution monitoring. (5/7)
Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska USA (Source: GSA)
Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska stands as a defining example of how bold decisions can reshape an industry. Established in the 1990s as the Kodiak Launch Complex, it became the first FAA-licensed U.S. launch site independent of federal ranges, opening new pathways for commercial flexibility and innovation.
Positioned at the nation’s northernmost orbital launch site, PSCA provides unmatched access to a wide range of orbital inclinations, supporting missions from small satellite deployment to advanced defense testing. Its state-owned, self-sustaining model has driven continuous evolution, enabling cost efficiencies, new capabilities, and diversified revenue streams.
From a greenfield concept to a thriving economic engine, PSCA’s legacy reflects independence, adaptability, and forward-thinking leadership. Its story continues to guide the next generation of spaceports as they build for a more dynamic and commercially driven future. Click here. (4/30)
Overview Energy Wins Air Force Contract to Study Space-Based Solar Power for Military Bases (Source: Space News)
Overview Energy has won a contract from the U.S. Air Force to study beaming space solar power to military installations, reviving a concept studied two decades ago. The startup, based in Ashburn, Virginia, announced May 6 it received a contract from the Secretary of the Air Force for Installation, Energy and Environment to study how space-based solar power could provide power to military installations, particularly in remote locations. (5/6)
Space Force To Add $4.4 Billion To RG-XX Contracting Vehicle (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force plans to add $4.4 billion for a nascent program to build next-generation space domain awareness satellites for geosynchronous orbit, a May 4 government notice says. The service in April awarded 14 companies a cumulative $1.84 billion contract to build those next-generation reconnaissance systems under a program called RG-XX, and surveillance satellites under an effort known as SG-XX, via a new contracting vehicle it calls Andromeda. (5/7)
What Has to Happen if NASA Wants to Land on the Moon Every Month (Source: Ars Technica)
The fundamentals for high-frequency missions to the lunar surface are in place. NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program has assembled a roster of commercial providers to design and build robotic Moon landers. NASA has penciled in nine lunar landings for next year, followed by 10 in 2028.
NASA and its commercial partners must pick up the pace to come anywhere close to that. Isaacman acknowledged this in a Senate hearing last week. “We have to do more than talk,” Isaacman said. “For a very long time across all of NASA, we’ve talked a really good game but then we kind of sit and wait for our vendors and partners to deliver outcomes, and as a result we tend to be late and it tends to cost more, so how do you change that?”
One way, Isaacman said, is for NASA to offer more aid to the companies it is paying to develop Moon landers. “You start to embed subject matter experts across the supply chain to drive outcomes,” he said. “I don’t want to sit and watch on TV as a lander tips over,” Isaacman said. “I want a high batting average here, a high probability of success. I think the way you do that is you leverage a lot of the NASA expertise, incorporate it in the supply chain, and drive the outcomes that we’re looking for.” Click here. (5/6)
Solar Activity Makes Space Junk Crash to Earth Faster (Source: Space.com)
In the new study, researchers measured the trajectories of 17 pieces of space junk in low Earth orbit over a 36-year span, starting two generations ago. "For the first time, we find that, once solar activity passes a certain level, this loss of altitude happens noticeably more quickly," said Ayisha Ashruf. "This observation is expected to be key for planning sustainable space operations in the future." (5/6)
‘Whatever Russia Is Testing, It’s Sophisticated’: 2 Russian Satellites Get Within 10 Feet of Each Other in Orbit (Source: Space.com)
Two Russian spacecraft just demonstrated a very particular set of orbital skills. The satellites, known as COSMOS 2581 and COSMOS 2583, got within just 10 feet or so of each other on April 28. "This wasn't a coincidental pass — COSMOS 2583 performed several fine maneuvers to maintain this tight configuration," COMSPOC wrote. The two satellites and a third one, COSMOS 2582, launched to low Earth orbit in February 2025 atop a Soyuz rocket. According to COMSPOC, all three of them were involved in the recent rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), as was "Object F," a subsatellite previously deployed by COSMOS 2583. During the 10-foot close approach, "COSMOS 2582 trailed the formation at sub-100 km range, while Object F passed within 15 km of 2582 and within 10 km of 2581. (5/6)
MDA Space posted 32% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026 and more than 40% growth for its satellite manufacturing business, driven by work for Telesat Lightspeed and Globalstar. (5/8)
Rocket Lab Joins Raytheon on Golden Dome Interceptor Program (Source: AeroTime)
Rocket Lab, in partnership with Raytheon, has been selected to demonstrate advanced capabilities for the Space Force’s Space Based Interceptor program, a central building block of the Golden Dome missile defense architecture. Rocket Lab itself is not a prime on the SBI program. Its role is to support Raytheon’s prototype work on a proliferated low-Earth orbit constellation, carrying kinetic interceptors that can destroy missiles during the boost, midcourse and glide phases of flight. (5/8)
Spire Says New German Facility Can Produce Up to 100 Satellites Per Year (Source: Via Satellite)
Spire has opened a new satellite manufacturing facility in Munich the company says has the capacity to produce up to 100 satellites per year. The facility is designed for end-to-end satellite manufacturing, including integration, testing, and mission-specific payload development. Initially, this facility will be focused on the EURIALO project to build a satellite-based aircraft surveillance system. EURIALO, which is supported by the European Space Agency, is focused on developing aircraft geolocation capabilities that are independent of GNSS using satellites. (5/7)
HawkEye 360 Raises $416M in IPO (Source: Payload)
HawkEye 360 raised $416M with its IPO Thursday morning on the NYSE, where it is now trading under the ticker $HAWK. The Virginia-based company priced its 16M shares at $26 per share—at the top of the $24-$26 range shared in the company’s S-1 filing on May 1. (5/8)
Rocket Lab Sells Five Neutron and Three Electron Launches (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab announced Thursday the largest launch contract in its history. The company signed a contract with a confidential customer for five Neutron and three Electron launches between 2026 and 2029. The company did not disclose the contract's value but said it sold the launches at average prices for those vehicles and the total contract value exceeded the $190 million award for 20 launches of its HASTE suborbital vehicle it announced in March.
Rocket Lab says it is still planning a first launch of Neutron in the fourth quarter but acknowledged that is an "aggressive schedule." Rocket Lab also announced it would acquire space robotics company Motiv Space Systems, which produces components ranging from the robotic arm on the Perseverance Mars rover to solar array drive assemblies. The acquisition helps Rocket Lab vertically integrate its satellite manufacturing supply chain. (5/8)
Lunar Outpost Raises $30 Million for Lunar Rovers (Source: Space News)
Lunar Outpost, a startup working on a line of lunar rovers, has raised $30 million. The company announced the oversubscribed Series B round Thursday, led by Industrious Ventures. Lunar Outpost is one of three companies that had been working on lunar rover designs for NASA's Artemis campaign through the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) program. NASA announced in March it would not select the rover designs submitted by those companies, instead asking them to propose simpler rovers that could be ready as soon as 2028. Lunar Outpost says it has developed a new design, called Pegasus, that meets NASA's needs, and the new funding would allow the company to accelerate work on that rover. (5/8)
Redwire Takes Aim at Lunar Landers and Lunar Power Systems (Source: Space News)
Redwire sees opportunities in both lunar landers and lunar power systems for Artemis. In an earnings call Thursday, Redwire executives said while the company has been part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, it had not been active because of the low volume of missions. With NASA now proposing a much higher rate of CLPS missions, the company is now considering pursuing those opportunities. Redwire is also interested in providing power systems for a lunar base using its solar arrays. Artemis is one of six areas the company is focusing its internal R&D funding on to take advantage of market opportunities. (5/8)
UK's Odin Space Plans US Office (Source: Space News)
British startup Odin Space plans to open a U.S. office. The company, which develops systems to track very small space debris, said it is opening an office in Los Angeles to capture the growing demand it sees in the United States. Odin's U.S. office will serve commercial and government satellite operators seeking information on debris larger than one millimeter, which is too small to be tracked by ground-based sensors but large enough to damage spacecraft since it's traveling at orbital velocity. Odin also announced that Ariksys, a developer of modular spacecraft, will be the first U.S. customer for a product line that combines Odin's Nano Sensor that detects and analyzes debris strikes with insurance for debris collisions. (5/8)
Proposed Sharp Increase in DoD Space Spending Raises Industry Questions (Source: Space News)
Space companies have questions about the Pentagon's plans to sharply increase space spending. The administration's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal would more than double the Space Force's budget, and officials say that budget is the demand signal industry needs to invest in increased production capacity. However, companies say they need more information, including what exactly will be bought, when contracts will be awarded and how quickly money will translate into programs. Without new capacity, the Pentagon risks bottlenecks as it tries to scale up constellations and supporting infrastructure. But, without contracts, companies are unlikely to build that capacity. (5/8)
SatVu HotSat-2 Produces First Thermal Imagery (Source: Space News)
SatVu released the first thermal imagery from its HotSat-2 spacecraft. The images, released Thursday, showed the spacecraft's ability to monitor activity and oil and natural gas facilities. Commodity traders, energy operators, intelligence agencies and environmental regulators can use thermal imagery to better understand the market, assess risk and make strategic decisions, the company says. HotSat-2, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., launched in March and replaces HotSat-1, which failed in 2023 after six months in orbit. (5/8)
Germany's OHB Considers Legal Action to Stop Airbus/Leonardo/Thales Joint Venture (Source: Reuters)
German space company OHB says it will consider legal action if regulators approve a joint venture of three other European space companies. In an interview, OHB CEO Marco Fuchs said he opposed "Project Bromo," a joint venture of the space businesses of Airbus, Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space. Project Bromo is undergoing a European antitrust review, and Fuchs said he would consider a suit to block the deal should regulators endorse it, saying that Bromo "impacts our supply chain." (5/8)
Satellite Imagery Reveals Extent of Damage to US Facilities From Iran's Attacks (Source: Washington Post)
Satellite imagery shows Iranian attacks damaged far more U.S. facilities than acknowledged by the Defense Department. The analysis found that at least 228 structures and pieces of equipment across the Middle East were damaged by Iranian drones and missiles. With commercial imagery of the region from U.S. companies largely unavailable, the analysis relied on high-resolution satellite images released by the Iranian government, verified using lower resolution images from Europe's Copernicus system and some high-resolution Planet images. (5/8)
Louisiana Purchase Could Benefit SpaceX or Blue Origin (Source: Acadiana Advocate)
Louisiana officials say an unnamed space company is interested in buying a large tract of land in the state. A state senator said Thursday that a company he did not identify has reached out to landowners in the southwestern part of the state, including Exxon, which owns 136,000 acres there. There has been speculation that both Blue Origin and SpaceX are interested in land there, but it was not clear what they would use it for. The reports come as state legislators work on an incentive package for aerospace companies.
The confirmation comes ahead of a hearing next week on the final piece of legislation in an incentive package designed to attract aerospace companies to Louisiana. The bills would offer tax incentives while limiting certain lawsuits and exempting some records from public disclosure. A legislative committee on Monday will take up the final piece of the aerospace incentive package. The bill would shield aerospace companies from lawsuits related to harm or damages their rockets cause to people and properties. (5/7)
Lockheed Opposes Northrop Bid to Remove Firewall on Solid Rocket Motor Business (Source: Breaking Defense)
Northrop Grumman has quietly asked the Federal Trade Commission to remove restrictions on its solid rocket motor business, in a move that competitor Lockheed Martin opposes, setting up a rare regulatory battle between two of the world’s largest defense firms. The FTC’s decision could have implications not only for the defense industrial base, but for the Pentagon’s race to ramp up the production of missiles and backfill its stockpiles — an endeavor dependent on also ramping up the manufacture of solid rocket motors (SRMs). (5/6)
Brussels Shoots to Become the New Sheriff in Space (Source: Courthouse News Service)
Seeking to boost Europe’s space industry and help it catch up with the United States and China, the European Union is developing rules to prevent more junk from clogging Earth’s orbit, safeguard satellites from hackers and create a traffic control system for space. The proposed EU Space Act is an attempt to craft the world’s first chapters of space law that would set some guardrails around a revolution taking place in outer space — its rapid commercialization.
Does outer space need a traffic management system, like airports have, for the more than 14,000 satellites whizzing by overhead? What about pollution and junk in outer space? What are the rules there? Who’s making sure satellites sent into orbit don’t get hacked, causing serious harm to vital tasks back on Earth? The EU Space Act seeks to answer these questions and provide domestic space companies a common set of rules across the 27-nation bloc.
At the same time, it would force outside competitors, particularly American ones, to play by European rules in the race for the stars. Broadly, the law seeks to set up a traffic management system for spacecraft; lay down rules to ensure things launched into space don’t end up as dangerous floating junk or cause preventable pollution; and compel satellite operators to install heavy duty safeguards against cyberattacks. (5/6)
Why This Leader Calls Africa The New Eldorado For The Global Space Business (Source: Forbes)
As celestial prowess becomes a source for geopolitical strength, Africa’s capacity in the projected trillion-dollar space sector will influence its global sway. With as much at stake, the African Space Agency (AfSA) was formed in April 2025. AfSA, headquartered in Egypt, was years in the making, beginning in January 2016 when an African Union (AU) assembly adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy.
Despite its extensiveness across various topics and sub-agendas, a running theme throughout the declaration is its ambition for harmony within. “Regional collaboration is not just important, it is the defining principle of Africa’s space future,” said AfSA President Ouattara Tidiane. “By sharing infrastructure, harmonizing policies and regulatory framework, and aligning and leveraging investments, we reduce costs, avoid duplication, and accelerate progress."
With Africa’s space industry expected to reach $39.52 billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7.97%, all signs point to a region prioritizing the cosmos. And for good reason. The downsides of foreign satellite reliance are immense. In a world where data is currency, establishing a competitive space presence is a matter of wealth and autonomy; and not doing so could cement irreversible dependency. (5/6)
Rocket Lab Awarded $30 Million Contract for HASTE Hypersonic Rocket Launches for Anduril (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab has been selected by defense technology company Anduril Industries for multiple hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle. The partnership brings together two defense industry leaders to advance one of the Department of War's most critical technology areas: scaled hypersonics that deliver Mach 5 and beyond capabilities for future defense missions. In a showcase of Rocket Lab’s responsive space capabilities, the first of these three missions is set to launch in less than 12 months: demonstrating contract to launch in a matter of months, not years. (5/7)
Rocket Lab To Acquire Robotics Leader Motiv Space Systems (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Motiv Space Systems, a California-based company specializing in space robotics, motion control systems, and precision mechanisms for spacecraft. The acquisition will add Mars-proven robotics heritage and capability for advanced planetary and national security missions, and also close one of the final gaps in Rocket Lab's vertical integration strategy by bringing in house costly and supply-constrained spacecraft components, including solar array drive assemblies (SADAs) and other precision mechanisms and motion control systems.
The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2026 subject to the completion of customary closing conditions. Motiv – which will be branded Rocket Lab Robotics – is renowned for its advanced multi-degree of freedom robotic arms, actuators, and drive electronics that have enabled some of the most ambitious space missions, including NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover. (5/7)
Soon-to-Be SpaceX Billionaires are Gearing Up for a Windfall (Source: New York Post)
SpaceX’s looming IPO is set to mint more new billionaires than any liquidity event in history. Investors and employees are rushing to prepare for the windfall. “It’s completely life changing,” an anonymous source who invested in SpaceX nearly 20 years ago told me. While she’s made many successful investments, this single bet could increase her net worth 20 fold. “I didn’t think I’d be a billionaire,” she added.
SpaceX is expected to list on the Nasdaq in June, and the company’s valuation could exceed $2 trillion, making it the largest company ever to go public. (5/7)
Contractor Conversion Flaws Arise At NASA (Source: NASA Watch)
I have been hearing of some concern at NASA KSC (and elsewhere around NASA too) about a perceived rush to convert core functions from contractors to civil servants. At a top level there is a certain logic to this. But when reality pops up it gets messy. One issue has to do with waiving education requirements to retain civil servant expertise. Again, this makes some sense – people who have been doing the job and doing it well should be allowed to continue regardless of where they got their experience.
But when this is put in practice it is totally different. Some of the engineering folks at KSC have 10, 20, 30+ years of experience but are lacking college degrees. They are being told that this prevent or limits their ability to be converted from contractor to civil servant. At the Launch Equipment Test Facility (LETF) the younger contractor engineers with degrees were converted – but the ‘legacy’ (older) engineers were laid off – and with them a lot of space muscle memory went out the door.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded to this issue on social media: "This is not true. The education requirement was dated and I addressed. If you are good enough to be an engineer as a NASA contractor you are good enough to be an engineer as a NASA civil servant." (5/7)
Dishonoring Public Service - Fewer Nominees for 2026 Heyman Medals, None From NASA (Sources: Washington Post, Partnership for Public Service)
The 25th annual Oscars-like ceremony for federal workers — the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals — honored the civil service under five previous administrations. But the current occupant of the White House specifically went unnamed Wednesday night. Fewer civil servants were nominated and received awards after many federal workers expressed a fear of retaliation if they drew too much attention, said Max Stier, chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service.
In total, the nonprofit organization received more than 140 nominations across 39 federal agencies and other offices, down from more than 350 nominations across 65 federal agencies and other offices last year. Stier said some people who were nominated asked that their names not be considered at all, though the Partnership for Public Service declined to provide further information about those who did not partake in this year’s event. “The workforce that remains has worried about what might happen to them if they’re recognized,” Stier said.
Editor's Note: Two NASA employees were honored in 2025, including John Blevins, Ph.D. (MSFC) and Richard Burns (GSFC). No NASA employees were among the 2026 honorees, but James Szykman of the EPA won for leading a cross-agency collaboration that validated NASA's TEMPO satellite to improve air pollution monitoring. (5/7)
Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska USA (Source: GSA)
Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska stands as a defining example of how bold decisions can reshape an industry. Established in the 1990s as the Kodiak Launch Complex, it became the first FAA-licensed U.S. launch site independent of federal ranges, opening new pathways for commercial flexibility and innovation.
Positioned at the nation’s northernmost orbital launch site, PSCA provides unmatched access to a wide range of orbital inclinations, supporting missions from small satellite deployment to advanced defense testing. Its state-owned, self-sustaining model has driven continuous evolution, enabling cost efficiencies, new capabilities, and diversified revenue streams.
From a greenfield concept to a thriving economic engine, PSCA’s legacy reflects independence, adaptability, and forward-thinking leadership. Its story continues to guide the next generation of spaceports as they build for a more dynamic and commercially driven future. Click here. (4/30)
Overview Energy Wins Air Force Contract to Study Space-Based Solar Power for Military Bases (Source: Space News)
Overview Energy has won a contract from the U.S. Air Force to study beaming space solar power to military installations, reviving a concept studied two decades ago. The startup, based in Ashburn, Virginia, announced May 6 it received a contract from the Secretary of the Air Force for Installation, Energy and Environment to study how space-based solar power could provide power to military installations, particularly in remote locations. (5/6)
Space Force To Add $4.4 Billion To RG-XX Contracting Vehicle (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force plans to add $4.4 billion for a nascent program to build next-generation space domain awareness satellites for geosynchronous orbit, a May 4 government notice says. The service in April awarded 14 companies a cumulative $1.84 billion contract to build those next-generation reconnaissance systems under a program called RG-XX, and surveillance satellites under an effort known as SG-XX, via a new contracting vehicle it calls Andromeda. (5/7)
What Has to Happen if NASA Wants to Land on the Moon Every Month (Source: Ars Technica)
The fundamentals for high-frequency missions to the lunar surface are in place. NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program has assembled a roster of commercial providers to design and build robotic Moon landers. NASA has penciled in nine lunar landings for next year, followed by 10 in 2028.
NASA and its commercial partners must pick up the pace to come anywhere close to that. Isaacman acknowledged this in a Senate hearing last week. “We have to do more than talk,” Isaacman said. “For a very long time across all of NASA, we’ve talked a really good game but then we kind of sit and wait for our vendors and partners to deliver outcomes, and as a result we tend to be late and it tends to cost more, so how do you change that?”
One way, Isaacman said, is for NASA to offer more aid to the companies it is paying to develop Moon landers. “You start to embed subject matter experts across the supply chain to drive outcomes,” he said. “I don’t want to sit and watch on TV as a lander tips over,” Isaacman said. “I want a high batting average here, a high probability of success. I think the way you do that is you leverage a lot of the NASA expertise, incorporate it in the supply chain, and drive the outcomes that we’re looking for.” Click here. (5/6)
Solar Activity Makes Space Junk Crash to Earth Faster (Source: Space.com)
In the new study, researchers measured the trajectories of 17 pieces of space junk in low Earth orbit over a 36-year span, starting two generations ago. "For the first time, we find that, once solar activity passes a certain level, this loss of altitude happens noticeably more quickly," said Ayisha Ashruf. "This observation is expected to be key for planning sustainable space operations in the future." (5/6)
‘Whatever Russia Is Testing, It’s Sophisticated’: 2 Russian Satellites Get Within 10 Feet of Each Other in Orbit (Source: Space.com)
Two Russian spacecraft just demonstrated a very particular set of orbital skills. The satellites, known as COSMOS 2581 and COSMOS 2583, got within just 10 feet or so of each other on April 28. "This wasn't a coincidental pass — COSMOS 2583 performed several fine maneuvers to maintain this tight configuration," COMSPOC wrote. The two satellites and a third one, COSMOS 2582, launched to low Earth orbit in February 2025 atop a Soyuz rocket. According to COMSPOC, all three of them were involved in the recent rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), as was "Object F," a subsatellite previously deployed by COSMOS 2583. During the 10-foot close approach, "COSMOS 2582 trailed the formation at sub-100 km range, while Object F passed within 15 km of 2582 and within 10 km of 2581. (5/6)
May 7, 2026
India's Skyroot Achieves Unicorn
Status with $1.1 Billion Valuation (Source: Space News)
Indian launch startup Skyroot Aerospace has become the country's first space unicorn with a $60 million funding round. The company announced the funding round Thursday, co-led by investment firms Sherpalo Ventures and GIC. The company has raised $160 million to date and the new round values the company at $1.1 billion. Skyroot is developing the Vikram-1 small launch vehicle, slated to make its first orbital launch attempt later this year. The funding will allow the company to scale up production of that rocket and also develop the larger Vikram-2 rocket. (5/7)
NGA Aims to Accelerate New Warfighting Capabilities (Source: Space News)
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is working to accelerate development of new capabilities for warfighters. NGA Director Lt. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp said at the GEOINT Symposium on Wednesday that she charged the agency's Rapid Capabilities Office to "take a lot of risk in acquisition" and use alternative contracting mechanisms, such as the Other Transaction Authority, to produce disruptive capabilities. Among the office's top priorities are moving advanced GEOINT capabilities supported by artificial intelligence to units operating in the field as well as finding new geospatial-intelligence products and services. (5/7)
Need for Speed in National Security Space (Source: Space News)
Speed is taking precedence over price in national security contracting. Companies say the ability to move quickly is eclipsing traditional priorities such as cost and, in some cases, even technical performance. The urgency reflects mounting concern over threats to the satellites that underpin U.S. military operations and economic activity. Officials say adversaries are moving faster than the traditional pace of government acquisition. A policy of spiral development, which often begins with a minimum viable product and proceeds through frequent upgrades, is replacing the traditional approach, where government agencies only accepted satellites or sensors that met extensive technical requirements. (5/7)
France's Eutelsat and India's Station Satcom Team for OneWeb Support for Maritime Market (Source: Space News)
French-led satellite operator Eutelsat and Indian maritime service provider Station Satcom have signed a multi-year agreement. Under the deal announced last week, Eutelsat will make its OneWeb broadband services available to across Station Satcom's maritime fleet. The agreement builds on a previous activation in 2025 covering hundreds of Station Satcom vessels and broadens the number of ships using OneWeb services to more than 1,000. (5/7)
Anthropic Could Use SpaceX Data Center (Source: Space News)
AI company Anthropic says it will consider using orbital data center satellites being developed by SpaceX. The companies announced an agreement Wednesday that, in the near term, gives Anthropic access to a SpaceX terrestrial data center. Anthropic added that it has "expressed interest" in working with SpaceX on several gigawatts of on-orbit computing capacity from SpaceX's proposed constellation of data center spacecraft. SpaceX announced in January plans to deploy up to 1 million satellites, which appeared initially to focus on supporting its own AI efforts through xAI. (5/7)
HawkEye360 Goes Public (Source: HawkEye360)
HawkEye360 is set to go public on the New York Stock Exchange today. The company announced late Wednesday it set a price of $26 per share for its IPO. That would raise $416 million for the company before commissions and other expenses. The company announced plans last month to go public, funding further development of its constellation of satellites that provide radio-frequency intelligence services. (5/7)
China's Nayuta Space Raises Funds for Reusable Horizontal-Landing Rocket Concept (Source: Space News)
Chinese commercial launch startup Nayuta Space raised funding for an unconventional rocket concept. The company said it raised an undisclosed amount of funding in Pre-A1 to Pre-A3 rounds for its Xuanniao-R rocket. The vehicle features a reusable first stage that would use aerodynamics to control its return, landing horizontally using thrusters. The company is planning a first launch as soon as 2027. (5/7)
Starfighters Space Hires Former Blue Origin Managers for Air-Launch (Source: Space News)
Starfighters Space has hired two former Blue Origin New Glenn managers to help advance its air-launch system. The company said Thursday that Jose Arias has joined as vice president of space operations, while Catrina Medeiros was named director of operations for Starlaunch. The company is developing an air-launch system that would use F-104 fighter jets as a platform for a small launch vehicle. Starfighters Space recently went public on the NYSE American stock exchange to help raise capital for the program, but is not providing updated timing guidance or customer mission details publicly. (5/7)
UAE's Space42 Teams with Iceye for Radar Imaging (Source: Space News)
Hybrid satellite constellations seek to combine communications and imagery. Space42 of the United Arab Emirates, formed through the merger of Yahsat's geostationary communications operations and Bayanat's geospatial analytics business, is working with Iceye on radar imaging satellites that will be part of Space42's Foresight LEO imagery constellation. Similarly, Japan's flagship satellite TV and broadband provider Sky Perfect JSAT is buying 10 Pelican high-resolution optical imagery satellites from Planet, while Open Cosmos, a startup originally focused on Earth observation satellites, recently outlined plans for a sovereign broadband and Internet of Things connectivity constellation. (5/7)
Iceye Brings Satellite Intelligence to French Army (Source: Aerotime)
Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operator ICEYE embedded a deployable ISR Cell at the core of a French Army infantry brigade during the ORION 2026 exercise in April 2026, the company said in a blog post on May 6, 2026. The deployment placed satellite tasking, downlink, and analysis directly inside a maneuver unit, marking one of the most concrete European tests to date of pushing space-based intelligence down to brigade-level decisions.
According to ICEYE, the cell operated alongside drone and other reconnaissance units to support targeting and fires coordination during Phase 4.2 of the exercise, contributing to the brigade’s sensor-to-shooter loop. (5/7)
Odin Space Opens U.S. Office in Los Angeles (Source: Space News)
London-based Odin Space is expanding to the U.S. with a new Los Angeles office, announced May 7, 2026, to accelerate its mission of mapping sub-centimeter orbital debris. The startup utilizes specialized nano-sensors to detect and analyze, in real-time, tiny, untrackable space debris that poses significant risks to satellites and spacecraft. The L.A. office, as detailed on the Odin Space website, aims to bolster partnerships in the U.S. space market for its debris monitoring services. (5/7)
Imagery Fusion Helping to Track Illegal Fishing (Source: Space News)
Satellite imagery is playing a growing role in operations. The Republic of the Marshall Islands worked with a New Zealand company, Starboard Maritime Intelligence, to fuse radar and optical imagery with AIS ship-tracking data to detect vessels suspected of illegal fishing in its waters. The effort reduced the detection time from days to hours. In another example highlighted by the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, a Muon Space satellite was able to detect a wildfire in Oregon in its earliest stages that other sensors had missed, enabling quick action to extinguish it. (5/7)
Vast to Collaborate with Lithuania (Source: Vast)
Commercial space station developer Vast has signed an agreement with Lithuania. The agreement between Vast and Innovation Agency Lithuania, announced Wednesday, covers the study of potential joint scientific research opportunities on the International Space Station or Vast's Haven-1 station, as well as collaboration with Lithuanian space companies. The agreement is the sixth between Vast and national space agencies related to international collaboration. (5/7)
Isaacman to Industry: Get Aligned or Else (Source: Bloomberg)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, discussing racing China to the moon on Wednesday, said this:
"I tell industry, you know, get aligned right now. Everything you lobby for better be in the interest of America's national imperative of returning to the moon because, if not, if we see the Chinese get to the moon before America is able to return, I'll be fired. I'll be at home watching on TV as all of you get hauled before Congress." (5/7)
Should Saturn's Huge Moon Titan be Humanity's Next Destination, After the Moon and Mars? (Source: Space.com)
After "re-booting" the moon and establishing a base there, followed by dispatching expeditionary crews to Mars, where should humanity go?
Next month, a first-of-its-kind gathering will blueprint an eventual crewed trek to tantalizing Titan, the largest of Saturn's many moons. That inaugural "Humans to Titan Summit" will make the case for an astronaut outing to that far-off moon, detailing the science goals and concepts of human missions to Titan as well as necessary forerunner robotic efforts. And there is already a robotic Titan mission on the books — NASA's nuclear-powered Dragonfly octocopter mission, which is targeted to launch in 2028. Could it help fuel a human leap? (5/7)
Ramon.Space Expands U.S. Engineering Operations with New Denver-Area Office (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Ramon.Space, a leader in space computing infrastructure, has announced the expansion of its U.S. engineering operations with a new office in Englewood, Colorado. The new facility will include a state-of-the-art lab and integration center and will serve as the company’s primary U.S. engineering hub. Ramon.Space’s solutions span compute, connectivity, and storage, enabling advanced in-orbit data processing across satellite communications, Earth observation, remote sensing, and space-based data center infrastructure. The site will support product development, customer engagement, and the company’s next phase of operational growth. (5/7)
SpaceX Is Starting To Move On From the World’s Most Successful Rocket (Source: Ars Technica)
It is far too soon to mention retirement, but astute observers of the space industry have noticed SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket is not launching as often as it used to. The decline is modest so far, and it does not signal any problem at SpaceX or with the Falcon 9. Rather, it is a manifestation of SpaceX’s eagerness to shift focus to the much larger Starship rocket, an enabler of what the company wants to do in space: missions to land on the Moon and Mars, orbital data centers, and next-gen Starlink.
We’re beginning to see what the long, slow tail-off will look like. The changes are most apparent at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where SpaceX has launched the lion’s share of its rockets. Until last December, SpaceX launched Falcon 9s with regularity from two pads on Florida’s Space Coast—one at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and another a few miles to the south on military property at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is transitioning the site at Kennedy, known as Launch Complex-39A, to launch Starships. LC-39A is out of the rotation for Falcon 9 launches, although it remains available for occasional flights of the more powerful triple-core Falcon Heavy. SpaceX launched the first Falcon Heavy in a year and a half last week from LC-39A, and a handful more Falcon Heavy flights are on tap later this year. (5/6)
Leonardo Space Reports Increased Q1 Revenue (Source: Space Intel Report)
Leonardo Space reported increased revenue profit and backlog in the three months ending March 31, meaning all three components of a planned European space industry merger have confirmed continued robust health in 2026. Airbus Space and Thales Alenia Space had earlier reported growth and profitability in advance of the three companies’ proposed merger in 2027, pending European Union regulatory approval. (5/6)
Data Fusion Provides a High-Definition Look At Mars' Temperature Maps (Source: Universe Today)
Researchers used a fancy AI-like algorithm to improve Martian orbiters' thermal resolution, providing a much better map to some of the most important resources we’ll be looking for. That data was looking at a physical property known as thermal inertia (TI). Basically, it’s a material’s resistance to external temperature changes.
For example, after the Sun sets on Mars, fine dust and loose sand will lose their heat rapidly, showing up as dark spots on an infrared map. On the other hand, bedrock and large boulders hold onto the heat from the Sun for much longer, glowing brightly on infrared images for much longer. By mapping these hot and cold sites, scientists can figure out plenty of physical properties about the surface - most notably its grain size and rock abundance. But other features, such as the presence of water ice, or the safety of landing sites, can also be gleaned from these images. (5/6)
SpaceX IPO Gives Musk Sweeping Power and Curbs Shareholder Rights (Source: CNA)
SpaceX has adopted corporate governance policies that will erode typical shareholder protections in unprecedented ways, giving founder Elon Musk virtually unchecked executive authority when the rocket maker goes public later this year. Excerpts of SpaceX's IPO registration statement reviewed by Reuters show the company is combining supervoting shares, mandatory arbitration, stricter rules on shareholder proposals and Texas corporate law to give Musk and other insiders broad control. At the same time, it sharply limits investors' ability to challenge management, sue in court and force votes on governance issues. (5/6)
Europe’s 1st Reusable Spacecraft ‘Space Rider’ Clears Key Hurdles on the Road To Launch (Source: Space.com)
Before Europe's new spacecraft design can lift off on its first mission, ESA must first test the hardest parts of bringing it home. Space Rider is advancing toward its first flight, with new milestones tackling two of the vehicle's biggest challenges: surviving the heat of reentry and executing a precise landing back on Earth. Engineers recently pushed the spacecraft's thermal protection system to extreme conditions while also completing assembly of a full-size drop-test model that will soon undergo a guided landing attempt. (5/6)
Bezos Shakes Up Blue Origin Staff Incentives Ahead of SpaceX IPO (Source: Reuters)
Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has outlined a new stock plan for employees in an attempt to put an end to staff unrest and make the incentives more competitive with rival SpaceX. Bezos's efforts to make staff incentives more competitive come on the back of an intensifying rivalry between Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX, which recently filed for a U.S. initial public offering targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion.
The rocket maker briefed staff last week on a revamped incentive scheme after employees' widespread anger over its previous plan, as options under the earlier plan started to expire without any payout, Financial Times reported. The new plan seeks to address some of these complaints, and sets out a new strike price for the options of $9.50 a share, the FT report said.
The stock options are cash-settled, which means they will pay out rather than give employees an ownership stake, the report said. The scheme also adds to the list of "liquidity events" that would trigger a payout, and now includes external funding rounds or tender offers, the FT said, citing documents seen by them. Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s chief executive, told staff the group had no immediate plans for an IPO. (5/6)
SpaceX Flags at Least $55 Billion Investment in Chip Plant (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX estimated a chip factory it plans to build along with Tesla Inc. will cost at least $55 billion, with total investment potentially exceeding the amount the rocket maker aims to raise from a record initial public offering. The “next-generation, vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility” may be located in Grimes County, Texas, according to a public notice. The estimated total capital investment could rise to $119 billion if additional phases of the project are completed. (5/6)
Ireland Just Signed up to a Global Pact Aimed at Keeping Things From Kicking Off in Space (Source: The Journal)
Ireland has signed up to a US-led agreement setting out how countries should operate in outer space. The Artemis Accords were signed by enterprise minister Peter Burke at NASA headquarters in Washington DC yesterday. The agreement sets out a shared set of principles for how countries involved in space exploration should cooperate.
In practice, it is intended to establish “peaceful use” of space, covering issues such as avoiding interference between spacecraft, sharing scientific data, assisting astronauts in distress and managing space debris. Speaking at the signing, Burke said the move strengthens Ireland’s engagement in the space sector and its cooperation with international partners, including the United States and the European Space Agency. (5/5)
UCF Professor Helps Bring Hospitality Into Emerging Space Tourism Industry (Source: UCF)
A UCF professor is helping send student research to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX mission scheduled for next summer. Dr. Amy Gregory, endowed chair for space tourism programming and initiatives at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, is a faculty facilitator on a student experiment selected for flight through the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.
The selected experiment, “A Kidney Stone in Microgravity — Examining Physical and Chemical Properties of Calcium Crystals Formed in Microgravity,” will study how calcium crystals form in space conditions and compare those results to Earth-based samples. The proposal states the research focuses on crystal formation processes related to kidney stones in astronauts.
Gregory also worked with students on a second proposal, “Gelatin in Microgravity: Bridging Molecular Food Science and Hospitality,” which received honorable mention but was not selected for flight. That project examined how gelatin forms and behaves in space conditions and how texture develops differently outside Earth’s environment. (5/1)
Scientist Accidentally Finds Shortcut to Mars That Could Slash Travel Time in Half (Source: Live Science)
Astronauts could complete a round trip to Mars in less than a year someday, potentially cutting current mission timelines in half, according to a new study that drew inspiration from asteroid trajectories. Under current mission profiles, reaching Mars, which is located about 50% farther from the sun than Earth is, takes roughly seven to 10 months.
Because Earth and Mars align for fuel-efficient transfers only every 26 months, astronauts must wait for a return window, stretching a full round trip to nearly three years. However, the new findings suggest that early, imprecise orbital estimates of near-Earth asteroids — which were historically used to assess impact risks, before being discarded in favor of more precise data — may contain valuable geometric clues for designing faster interplanetary routes.
For the October 2020 opposition, Souza's calculations showed that a very fast, roughly 34-day trip from Earth to Mars is geometrically possible if a spacecraft follows a path similar to the asteroid's early orbital plane. However, such a trajectory would require departure speeds of around 32.5 kilometers per second, well beyond current rocket capabilities, and a spacecraft would arrive at Mars traveling around 108,000 km/h — too fast for existing landing systems to handle safely, Souza noted in the paper. (5/5)
Buyers 'Interested' in Assets of Collapsed Orbex (Source: BBC)
Discussions are taking place to sell off various parts of a collapsed rockets manufacturer, according to the firm handling the sale. Moray-based Orbex was placed into administration earlier this year with the loss of more than 150 jobs. Administrators FRP Advisory said there had been a "high level" of interest from buyers, with 15 offers received for parts of the business and its assets. FRP said one bidder was given a short period of exclusivity to explore a bid and paid a £25,000 deposit, but that period had now lapsed. (5/5)
Collins on Women in Space (Source: CFPM)
Speaking as the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and command the spacecraft during a later Space Shuttle mission, Eileen Collins said that she congratulates Christina Koch and is “really proud of her. She has done great for the reputation of women.” But now that decades have passed since women weren’t allowed at NASA, Collins said women at NASA now most likely just want to be viewed as part of the mission or the crew rather than to stand out.
Meal Planning for Space Travel (Source: CFPM)
One professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management is taking fine dining to space by experimenting with microgravity-friendly dishes. The college is studying tofu formation in microgravity and producing delicious dishes to send beyond our planet. This includes the fan favorite sticky rice pudding with freeze dried mangos, according to Cesar Rivera Cruzado, Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Rosen College. Food on Earth is more than subsistence. Cruzado wants to bring that same dining experience to each space voyager. (5/5)
Alex MacDonald on Canada’s Orbital Launch Future (Source: SpaceQ)
Sovereign launch. Canadian rockets. These are buzzwords, backed by government funding, being invoked daily in the Canadian space community these days. But while many in the country may think this is a new phenomenon, Alex MacDonald reminded the audience Tuesday (May 5) at NordSpace’s Canadian Space Launch Conference in Ottawa that Canada has been here before.
Much has changed since the last NordSpace launch conference a year ago, MacDonald said in a keynote at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. The Government of Canada began its Launch the North program, allocating more than $300 million to Maritime Launch Services and three Canadian launch companies (including NordSpace). The government also recently launched Bill C-28 to enact the Canadian Space Launch Act and regulate spaceflight. Artemis II is now a flown mission, bringing Canada’s space capabilities to the world stage. (5/5)
Local Sources Report SpaceX May Be Acquiring 136,000 Acres of Louisiana Coastal Marshland (Sources: Mach 33, Keaty Blog)
Local real estate insider Jim Keaty of Keaty Real Estate and multiple Vermilion Parish sources report credible but unconfirmed indications that SpaceX may be acquiring approximately 136,000 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island and Freshwater City in Louisiana. Supporting signals include cancelled hunting leases for the entire 2026 season, unsolicited offers from out-of-state speculators at three to ten times appraised value, and ExxonMobil's stalled wetlands permits for a 125,000-acre carbon capture project in the same footprint.
The proposed campus would reportedly focus on manufacturing, testing, and barge logistics via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway rather than new launch pads. If confirmed, this would be among the largest land deals in SpaceX's history, dwarfing Starbase Texas in raw acreage, and would slot into the company's vertical integration playbook in a way that directly supports Starship production cadence between Boca Chica and Florida.
The barge logistics angle fits Starship's road-impossible dimensions and the halfway-point geography of Vermilion Parish along the GIWW, while the ExxonMobil permitting stall suggests the seller side has motive rather than just speculative inquiry. Sophisticated investors should treat this as a pre-IPO infrastructure scaling rumour worth tracking through Vermilion Parish records, FAA environmental filings, and the forthcoming public S-1, with credible read-through to long-term Starship cadence assumptions and the IPO narrative around manufacturing capacity. (5/5)
Boom Supersonic CEO Floats Possible HQ Move: 'North Carolina Would Love to Have Us' (Source: Triad Business Journal)
As artificial regulations tighten in Colorado, Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl said the company could move the company's headquarters out of Colorado, citing concerns that tightening state regulations, particularly regarding artificial intelligence, hinder business growth and innovation. Scholl expressed that restrictive regulations increase compliance costs and, "If you can't move, you're dead."
Scholl mentioned that North Carolina and Texas are potential destinations for the company's headquarters. While based in Centennial, Colorado, the company has an established manufacturing presence at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, and had considered that location. (5/5)
From Alan Shepard to Artemis, Celebrating 65 Years of Americans in Space (Source: The Verge)
On the morning of May 5th, 1961, 37-year-old Alan Shepard woke up, ate a breakfast (consisting of a filet mignon wrapped in bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice), strapped into the Freedom 7 rocket, and blasted off into space, becoming the first American astronaut to do so. Shepard’s flight only lasted 15 minutes, but it provided enough critical information to serve as a foundation for America’s human spaceflight program in the years to come. (5/5)
US and Australian Companies Want to Start Removing Space Junk From Orbit in 2027 (Source: Space.com)
Two private companies are partnering up to establish a repeatable debris removal service for low Earth orbit. The U.S. firm Portal Space Systems and Australian startup Paladin Space are working together to establish the commercial Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS) for removing multiple debris objects during a single mission.
The partnership, which Portal announced on March 19, will see a combining of respective technologies to make the service possible. The platform will be based on Portal's maneuverable, refuellable Starburst spacecraft and will integrate Paladin's Triton payload for imaging, classifying and capturing tumbling debris objects under 1 meter in size. (5/5)
Texas Homeowners Allege "Terrestrial Bombardment" From Starship Vibration and Noise, State and Federal Lawsuits Filed (Source: KWTX)
Almost 80 Central Texas residents who allege their homes have been damaged by SpaceX’s “daily barrage of terrestrial bombardment” are suing Elon Musk’s aerospace company in McGregor. The 77 plaintiffs, residents of McGregor, Moody, Crawford and Oglesby, collectively are seeking more than $1 million in damages in their lawsuit, filed Friday in Waco’s 414th State District Court.
The lawsuit alleges gross negligence and trespass and claims that regular rocket testing by SpaceX“ continues to physically, intentionally, and voluntarily cause massive airborne acoustic pressure waves and ground-borne seismic shockwaves to physically enter and invade Plaintiffs’ properties.” The peak volume of an October 2024 Starship launch was 110 decibels, enough to cause structural damage as far as 35 kilometers from the launch site, according to the lawsuit.
SpaceX did not respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit, which was filed the same week as a federal lawsuit in the U.S. Southern District of Texas in which 80 South Texas residents claim their homes were damaged by “massive” sonic booms from the SpaceX facility in South Texas. Editor's Note: I would expect the same legal action after Starship launches from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, with homes in Titusville and Cape Canaveral potentially suffering foundation damage from ground vibration. (5/4)
Edgesource Acquires Lyteworx (Source: Edgesource)
Edgesource, a small business delivering innovative national security solutions to defense, intelligence, diplomatic, and civilian communities, has acquired Lyteworx Automation Systems. Lyteworx brings an extensive suite of software products supporting space domain awareness, mission management, and AI-enabled data integration. Edgesource will support maturing these products and capabilities into solutions that are suitable for mission-speed simplified acquisition processes and are sustainable over the long term. (5/4)
Indian launch startup Skyroot Aerospace has become the country's first space unicorn with a $60 million funding round. The company announced the funding round Thursday, co-led by investment firms Sherpalo Ventures and GIC. The company has raised $160 million to date and the new round values the company at $1.1 billion. Skyroot is developing the Vikram-1 small launch vehicle, slated to make its first orbital launch attempt later this year. The funding will allow the company to scale up production of that rocket and also develop the larger Vikram-2 rocket. (5/7)
NGA Aims to Accelerate New Warfighting Capabilities (Source: Space News)
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is working to accelerate development of new capabilities for warfighters. NGA Director Lt. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp said at the GEOINT Symposium on Wednesday that she charged the agency's Rapid Capabilities Office to "take a lot of risk in acquisition" and use alternative contracting mechanisms, such as the Other Transaction Authority, to produce disruptive capabilities. Among the office's top priorities are moving advanced GEOINT capabilities supported by artificial intelligence to units operating in the field as well as finding new geospatial-intelligence products and services. (5/7)
Need for Speed in National Security Space (Source: Space News)
Speed is taking precedence over price in national security contracting. Companies say the ability to move quickly is eclipsing traditional priorities such as cost and, in some cases, even technical performance. The urgency reflects mounting concern over threats to the satellites that underpin U.S. military operations and economic activity. Officials say adversaries are moving faster than the traditional pace of government acquisition. A policy of spiral development, which often begins with a minimum viable product and proceeds through frequent upgrades, is replacing the traditional approach, where government agencies only accepted satellites or sensors that met extensive technical requirements. (5/7)
France's Eutelsat and India's Station Satcom Team for OneWeb Support for Maritime Market (Source: Space News)
French-led satellite operator Eutelsat and Indian maritime service provider Station Satcom have signed a multi-year agreement. Under the deal announced last week, Eutelsat will make its OneWeb broadband services available to across Station Satcom's maritime fleet. The agreement builds on a previous activation in 2025 covering hundreds of Station Satcom vessels and broadens the number of ships using OneWeb services to more than 1,000. (5/7)
Anthropic Could Use SpaceX Data Center (Source: Space News)
AI company Anthropic says it will consider using orbital data center satellites being developed by SpaceX. The companies announced an agreement Wednesday that, in the near term, gives Anthropic access to a SpaceX terrestrial data center. Anthropic added that it has "expressed interest" in working with SpaceX on several gigawatts of on-orbit computing capacity from SpaceX's proposed constellation of data center spacecraft. SpaceX announced in January plans to deploy up to 1 million satellites, which appeared initially to focus on supporting its own AI efforts through xAI. (5/7)
HawkEye360 Goes Public (Source: HawkEye360)
HawkEye360 is set to go public on the New York Stock Exchange today. The company announced late Wednesday it set a price of $26 per share for its IPO. That would raise $416 million for the company before commissions and other expenses. The company announced plans last month to go public, funding further development of its constellation of satellites that provide radio-frequency intelligence services. (5/7)
China's Nayuta Space Raises Funds for Reusable Horizontal-Landing Rocket Concept (Source: Space News)
Chinese commercial launch startup Nayuta Space raised funding for an unconventional rocket concept. The company said it raised an undisclosed amount of funding in Pre-A1 to Pre-A3 rounds for its Xuanniao-R rocket. The vehicle features a reusable first stage that would use aerodynamics to control its return, landing horizontally using thrusters. The company is planning a first launch as soon as 2027. (5/7)
Starfighters Space Hires Former Blue Origin Managers for Air-Launch (Source: Space News)
Starfighters Space has hired two former Blue Origin New Glenn managers to help advance its air-launch system. The company said Thursday that Jose Arias has joined as vice president of space operations, while Catrina Medeiros was named director of operations for Starlaunch. The company is developing an air-launch system that would use F-104 fighter jets as a platform for a small launch vehicle. Starfighters Space recently went public on the NYSE American stock exchange to help raise capital for the program, but is not providing updated timing guidance or customer mission details publicly. (5/7)
UAE's Space42 Teams with Iceye for Radar Imaging (Source: Space News)
Hybrid satellite constellations seek to combine communications and imagery. Space42 of the United Arab Emirates, formed through the merger of Yahsat's geostationary communications operations and Bayanat's geospatial analytics business, is working with Iceye on radar imaging satellites that will be part of Space42's Foresight LEO imagery constellation. Similarly, Japan's flagship satellite TV and broadband provider Sky Perfect JSAT is buying 10 Pelican high-resolution optical imagery satellites from Planet, while Open Cosmos, a startup originally focused on Earth observation satellites, recently outlined plans for a sovereign broadband and Internet of Things connectivity constellation. (5/7)
Iceye Brings Satellite Intelligence to French Army (Source: Aerotime)
Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operator ICEYE embedded a deployable ISR Cell at the core of a French Army infantry brigade during the ORION 2026 exercise in April 2026, the company said in a blog post on May 6, 2026. The deployment placed satellite tasking, downlink, and analysis directly inside a maneuver unit, marking one of the most concrete European tests to date of pushing space-based intelligence down to brigade-level decisions.
According to ICEYE, the cell operated alongside drone and other reconnaissance units to support targeting and fires coordination during Phase 4.2 of the exercise, contributing to the brigade’s sensor-to-shooter loop. (5/7)
Odin Space Opens U.S. Office in Los Angeles (Source: Space News)
London-based Odin Space is expanding to the U.S. with a new Los Angeles office, announced May 7, 2026, to accelerate its mission of mapping sub-centimeter orbital debris. The startup utilizes specialized nano-sensors to detect and analyze, in real-time, tiny, untrackable space debris that poses significant risks to satellites and spacecraft. The L.A. office, as detailed on the Odin Space website, aims to bolster partnerships in the U.S. space market for its debris monitoring services. (5/7)
Imagery Fusion Helping to Track Illegal Fishing (Source: Space News)
Satellite imagery is playing a growing role in operations. The Republic of the Marshall Islands worked with a New Zealand company, Starboard Maritime Intelligence, to fuse radar and optical imagery with AIS ship-tracking data to detect vessels suspected of illegal fishing in its waters. The effort reduced the detection time from days to hours. In another example highlighted by the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, a Muon Space satellite was able to detect a wildfire in Oregon in its earliest stages that other sensors had missed, enabling quick action to extinguish it. (5/7)
Vast to Collaborate with Lithuania (Source: Vast)
Commercial space station developer Vast has signed an agreement with Lithuania. The agreement between Vast and Innovation Agency Lithuania, announced Wednesday, covers the study of potential joint scientific research opportunities on the International Space Station or Vast's Haven-1 station, as well as collaboration with Lithuanian space companies. The agreement is the sixth between Vast and national space agencies related to international collaboration. (5/7)
Isaacman to Industry: Get Aligned or Else (Source: Bloomberg)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, discussing racing China to the moon on Wednesday, said this:
"I tell industry, you know, get aligned right now. Everything you lobby for better be in the interest of America's national imperative of returning to the moon because, if not, if we see the Chinese get to the moon before America is able to return, I'll be fired. I'll be at home watching on TV as all of you get hauled before Congress." (5/7)
Should Saturn's Huge Moon Titan be Humanity's Next Destination, After the Moon and Mars? (Source: Space.com)
After "re-booting" the moon and establishing a base there, followed by dispatching expeditionary crews to Mars, where should humanity go?
Next month, a first-of-its-kind gathering will blueprint an eventual crewed trek to tantalizing Titan, the largest of Saturn's many moons. That inaugural "Humans to Titan Summit" will make the case for an astronaut outing to that far-off moon, detailing the science goals and concepts of human missions to Titan as well as necessary forerunner robotic efforts. And there is already a robotic Titan mission on the books — NASA's nuclear-powered Dragonfly octocopter mission, which is targeted to launch in 2028. Could it help fuel a human leap? (5/7)
Ramon.Space Expands U.S. Engineering Operations with New Denver-Area Office (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Ramon.Space, a leader in space computing infrastructure, has announced the expansion of its U.S. engineering operations with a new office in Englewood, Colorado. The new facility will include a state-of-the-art lab and integration center and will serve as the company’s primary U.S. engineering hub. Ramon.Space’s solutions span compute, connectivity, and storage, enabling advanced in-orbit data processing across satellite communications, Earth observation, remote sensing, and space-based data center infrastructure. The site will support product development, customer engagement, and the company’s next phase of operational growth. (5/7)
SpaceX Is Starting To Move On From the World’s Most Successful Rocket (Source: Ars Technica)
It is far too soon to mention retirement, but astute observers of the space industry have noticed SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket is not launching as often as it used to. The decline is modest so far, and it does not signal any problem at SpaceX or with the Falcon 9. Rather, it is a manifestation of SpaceX’s eagerness to shift focus to the much larger Starship rocket, an enabler of what the company wants to do in space: missions to land on the Moon and Mars, orbital data centers, and next-gen Starlink.
We’re beginning to see what the long, slow tail-off will look like. The changes are most apparent at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where SpaceX has launched the lion’s share of its rockets. Until last December, SpaceX launched Falcon 9s with regularity from two pads on Florida’s Space Coast—one at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and another a few miles to the south on military property at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is transitioning the site at Kennedy, known as Launch Complex-39A, to launch Starships. LC-39A is out of the rotation for Falcon 9 launches, although it remains available for occasional flights of the more powerful triple-core Falcon Heavy. SpaceX launched the first Falcon Heavy in a year and a half last week from LC-39A, and a handful more Falcon Heavy flights are on tap later this year. (5/6)
Leonardo Space Reports Increased Q1 Revenue (Source: Space Intel Report)
Leonardo Space reported increased revenue profit and backlog in the three months ending March 31, meaning all three components of a planned European space industry merger have confirmed continued robust health in 2026. Airbus Space and Thales Alenia Space had earlier reported growth and profitability in advance of the three companies’ proposed merger in 2027, pending European Union regulatory approval. (5/6)
Data Fusion Provides a High-Definition Look At Mars' Temperature Maps (Source: Universe Today)
Researchers used a fancy AI-like algorithm to improve Martian orbiters' thermal resolution, providing a much better map to some of the most important resources we’ll be looking for. That data was looking at a physical property known as thermal inertia (TI). Basically, it’s a material’s resistance to external temperature changes.
For example, after the Sun sets on Mars, fine dust and loose sand will lose their heat rapidly, showing up as dark spots on an infrared map. On the other hand, bedrock and large boulders hold onto the heat from the Sun for much longer, glowing brightly on infrared images for much longer. By mapping these hot and cold sites, scientists can figure out plenty of physical properties about the surface - most notably its grain size and rock abundance. But other features, such as the presence of water ice, or the safety of landing sites, can also be gleaned from these images. (5/6)
SpaceX IPO Gives Musk Sweeping Power and Curbs Shareholder Rights (Source: CNA)
SpaceX has adopted corporate governance policies that will erode typical shareholder protections in unprecedented ways, giving founder Elon Musk virtually unchecked executive authority when the rocket maker goes public later this year. Excerpts of SpaceX's IPO registration statement reviewed by Reuters show the company is combining supervoting shares, mandatory arbitration, stricter rules on shareholder proposals and Texas corporate law to give Musk and other insiders broad control. At the same time, it sharply limits investors' ability to challenge management, sue in court and force votes on governance issues. (5/6)
Europe’s 1st Reusable Spacecraft ‘Space Rider’ Clears Key Hurdles on the Road To Launch (Source: Space.com)
Before Europe's new spacecraft design can lift off on its first mission, ESA must first test the hardest parts of bringing it home. Space Rider is advancing toward its first flight, with new milestones tackling two of the vehicle's biggest challenges: surviving the heat of reentry and executing a precise landing back on Earth. Engineers recently pushed the spacecraft's thermal protection system to extreme conditions while also completing assembly of a full-size drop-test model that will soon undergo a guided landing attempt. (5/6)
Bezos Shakes Up Blue Origin Staff Incentives Ahead of SpaceX IPO (Source: Reuters)
Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has outlined a new stock plan for employees in an attempt to put an end to staff unrest and make the incentives more competitive with rival SpaceX. Bezos's efforts to make staff incentives more competitive come on the back of an intensifying rivalry between Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX, which recently filed for a U.S. initial public offering targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion.
The rocket maker briefed staff last week on a revamped incentive scheme after employees' widespread anger over its previous plan, as options under the earlier plan started to expire without any payout, Financial Times reported. The new plan seeks to address some of these complaints, and sets out a new strike price for the options of $9.50 a share, the FT report said.
The stock options are cash-settled, which means they will pay out rather than give employees an ownership stake, the report said. The scheme also adds to the list of "liquidity events" that would trigger a payout, and now includes external funding rounds or tender offers, the FT said, citing documents seen by them. Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s chief executive, told staff the group had no immediate plans for an IPO. (5/6)
SpaceX Flags at Least $55 Billion Investment in Chip Plant (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX estimated a chip factory it plans to build along with Tesla Inc. will cost at least $55 billion, with total investment potentially exceeding the amount the rocket maker aims to raise from a record initial public offering. The “next-generation, vertically integrated semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility” may be located in Grimes County, Texas, according to a public notice. The estimated total capital investment could rise to $119 billion if additional phases of the project are completed. (5/6)
Ireland Just Signed up to a Global Pact Aimed at Keeping Things From Kicking Off in Space (Source: The Journal)
Ireland has signed up to a US-led agreement setting out how countries should operate in outer space. The Artemis Accords were signed by enterprise minister Peter Burke at NASA headquarters in Washington DC yesterday. The agreement sets out a shared set of principles for how countries involved in space exploration should cooperate.
In practice, it is intended to establish “peaceful use” of space, covering issues such as avoiding interference between spacecraft, sharing scientific data, assisting astronauts in distress and managing space debris. Speaking at the signing, Burke said the move strengthens Ireland’s engagement in the space sector and its cooperation with international partners, including the United States and the European Space Agency. (5/5)
UCF Professor Helps Bring Hospitality Into Emerging Space Tourism Industry (Source: UCF)
A UCF professor is helping send student research to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX mission scheduled for next summer. Dr. Amy Gregory, endowed chair for space tourism programming and initiatives at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, is a faculty facilitator on a student experiment selected for flight through the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.
The selected experiment, “A Kidney Stone in Microgravity — Examining Physical and Chemical Properties of Calcium Crystals Formed in Microgravity,” will study how calcium crystals form in space conditions and compare those results to Earth-based samples. The proposal states the research focuses on crystal formation processes related to kidney stones in astronauts.
Gregory also worked with students on a second proposal, “Gelatin in Microgravity: Bridging Molecular Food Science and Hospitality,” which received honorable mention but was not selected for flight. That project examined how gelatin forms and behaves in space conditions and how texture develops differently outside Earth’s environment. (5/1)
Scientist Accidentally Finds Shortcut to Mars That Could Slash Travel Time in Half (Source: Live Science)
Astronauts could complete a round trip to Mars in less than a year someday, potentially cutting current mission timelines in half, according to a new study that drew inspiration from asteroid trajectories. Under current mission profiles, reaching Mars, which is located about 50% farther from the sun than Earth is, takes roughly seven to 10 months.
Because Earth and Mars align for fuel-efficient transfers only every 26 months, astronauts must wait for a return window, stretching a full round trip to nearly three years. However, the new findings suggest that early, imprecise orbital estimates of near-Earth asteroids — which were historically used to assess impact risks, before being discarded in favor of more precise data — may contain valuable geometric clues for designing faster interplanetary routes.
For the October 2020 opposition, Souza's calculations showed that a very fast, roughly 34-day trip from Earth to Mars is geometrically possible if a spacecraft follows a path similar to the asteroid's early orbital plane. However, such a trajectory would require departure speeds of around 32.5 kilometers per second, well beyond current rocket capabilities, and a spacecraft would arrive at Mars traveling around 108,000 km/h — too fast for existing landing systems to handle safely, Souza noted in the paper. (5/5)
Buyers 'Interested' in Assets of Collapsed Orbex (Source: BBC)
Discussions are taking place to sell off various parts of a collapsed rockets manufacturer, according to the firm handling the sale. Moray-based Orbex was placed into administration earlier this year with the loss of more than 150 jobs. Administrators FRP Advisory said there had been a "high level" of interest from buyers, with 15 offers received for parts of the business and its assets. FRP said one bidder was given a short period of exclusivity to explore a bid and paid a £25,000 deposit, but that period had now lapsed. (5/5)
Collins on Women in Space (Source: CFPM)
Speaking as the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and command the spacecraft during a later Space Shuttle mission, Eileen Collins said that she congratulates Christina Koch and is “really proud of her. She has done great for the reputation of women.” But now that decades have passed since women weren’t allowed at NASA, Collins said women at NASA now most likely just want to be viewed as part of the mission or the crew rather than to stand out.
Meal Planning for Space Travel (Source: CFPM)
One professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management is taking fine dining to space by experimenting with microgravity-friendly dishes. The college is studying tofu formation in microgravity and producing delicious dishes to send beyond our planet. This includes the fan favorite sticky rice pudding with freeze dried mangos, according to Cesar Rivera Cruzado, Director of Food and Beverage Operations at Rosen College. Food on Earth is more than subsistence. Cruzado wants to bring that same dining experience to each space voyager. (5/5)
Alex MacDonald on Canada’s Orbital Launch Future (Source: SpaceQ)
Sovereign launch. Canadian rockets. These are buzzwords, backed by government funding, being invoked daily in the Canadian space community these days. But while many in the country may think this is a new phenomenon, Alex MacDonald reminded the audience Tuesday (May 5) at NordSpace’s Canadian Space Launch Conference in Ottawa that Canada has been here before.
Much has changed since the last NordSpace launch conference a year ago, MacDonald said in a keynote at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. The Government of Canada began its Launch the North program, allocating more than $300 million to Maritime Launch Services and three Canadian launch companies (including NordSpace). The government also recently launched Bill C-28 to enact the Canadian Space Launch Act and regulate spaceflight. Artemis II is now a flown mission, bringing Canada’s space capabilities to the world stage. (5/5)
Local Sources Report SpaceX May Be Acquiring 136,000 Acres of Louisiana Coastal Marshland (Sources: Mach 33, Keaty Blog)
Local real estate insider Jim Keaty of Keaty Real Estate and multiple Vermilion Parish sources report credible but unconfirmed indications that SpaceX may be acquiring approximately 136,000 acres of coastal marshland near Pecan Island and Freshwater City in Louisiana. Supporting signals include cancelled hunting leases for the entire 2026 season, unsolicited offers from out-of-state speculators at three to ten times appraised value, and ExxonMobil's stalled wetlands permits for a 125,000-acre carbon capture project in the same footprint.
The proposed campus would reportedly focus on manufacturing, testing, and barge logistics via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway rather than new launch pads. If confirmed, this would be among the largest land deals in SpaceX's history, dwarfing Starbase Texas in raw acreage, and would slot into the company's vertical integration playbook in a way that directly supports Starship production cadence between Boca Chica and Florida.
The barge logistics angle fits Starship's road-impossible dimensions and the halfway-point geography of Vermilion Parish along the GIWW, while the ExxonMobil permitting stall suggests the seller side has motive rather than just speculative inquiry. Sophisticated investors should treat this as a pre-IPO infrastructure scaling rumour worth tracking through Vermilion Parish records, FAA environmental filings, and the forthcoming public S-1, with credible read-through to long-term Starship cadence assumptions and the IPO narrative around manufacturing capacity. (5/5)
Boom Supersonic CEO Floats Possible HQ Move: 'North Carolina Would Love to Have Us' (Source: Triad Business Journal)
As artificial regulations tighten in Colorado, Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl said the company could move the company's headquarters out of Colorado, citing concerns that tightening state regulations, particularly regarding artificial intelligence, hinder business growth and innovation. Scholl expressed that restrictive regulations increase compliance costs and, "If you can't move, you're dead."
Scholl mentioned that North Carolina and Texas are potential destinations for the company's headquarters. While based in Centennial, Colorado, the company has an established manufacturing presence at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, and had considered that location. (5/5)
From Alan Shepard to Artemis, Celebrating 65 Years of Americans in Space (Source: The Verge)
On the morning of May 5th, 1961, 37-year-old Alan Shepard woke up, ate a breakfast (consisting of a filet mignon wrapped in bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice), strapped into the Freedom 7 rocket, and blasted off into space, becoming the first American astronaut to do so. Shepard’s flight only lasted 15 minutes, but it provided enough critical information to serve as a foundation for America’s human spaceflight program in the years to come. (5/5)
US and Australian Companies Want to Start Removing Space Junk From Orbit in 2027 (Source: Space.com)
Two private companies are partnering up to establish a repeatable debris removal service for low Earth orbit. The U.S. firm Portal Space Systems and Australian startup Paladin Space are working together to establish the commercial Debris Removal as a Service (DRAAS) for removing multiple debris objects during a single mission.
The partnership, which Portal announced on March 19, will see a combining of respective technologies to make the service possible. The platform will be based on Portal's maneuverable, refuellable Starburst spacecraft and will integrate Paladin's Triton payload for imaging, classifying and capturing tumbling debris objects under 1 meter in size. (5/5)
Texas Homeowners Allege "Terrestrial Bombardment" From Starship Vibration and Noise, State and Federal Lawsuits Filed (Source: KWTX)
Almost 80 Central Texas residents who allege their homes have been damaged by SpaceX’s “daily barrage of terrestrial bombardment” are suing Elon Musk’s aerospace company in McGregor. The 77 plaintiffs, residents of McGregor, Moody, Crawford and Oglesby, collectively are seeking more than $1 million in damages in their lawsuit, filed Friday in Waco’s 414th State District Court.
The lawsuit alleges gross negligence and trespass and claims that regular rocket testing by SpaceX“ continues to physically, intentionally, and voluntarily cause massive airborne acoustic pressure waves and ground-borne seismic shockwaves to physically enter and invade Plaintiffs’ properties.” The peak volume of an October 2024 Starship launch was 110 decibels, enough to cause structural damage as far as 35 kilometers from the launch site, according to the lawsuit.
SpaceX did not respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit, which was filed the same week as a federal lawsuit in the U.S. Southern District of Texas in which 80 South Texas residents claim their homes were damaged by “massive” sonic booms from the SpaceX facility in South Texas. Editor's Note: I would expect the same legal action after Starship launches from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, with homes in Titusville and Cape Canaveral potentially suffering foundation damage from ground vibration. (5/4)
Edgesource Acquires Lyteworx (Source: Edgesource)
Edgesource, a small business delivering innovative national security solutions to defense, intelligence, diplomatic, and civilian communities, has acquired Lyteworx Automation Systems. Lyteworx brings an extensive suite of software products supporting space domain awareness, mission management, and AI-enabled data integration. Edgesource will support maturing these products and capabilities into solutions that are suitable for mission-speed simplified acquisition processes and are sustainable over the long term. (5/4)
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