How Hard is it to Build Orbital Data
Centers, Actually? (Source: Ars Technica)
The physics of orbital data centers are, to put it mildly, challenging.
This subject has sparked a broad debate about the near-term viability
of this technology, both in terms of feasibility and whether it’s all
hype now that SpaceX is a publicly traded company. Iridium
Communications chief executive Matt Desch, a long-time, level-headed
satellite industry executive, was asked during an earnings call earlier
this year what he thought about the concept.
“It’s a hot, hot area right now of discussion, mainly because of
Starlink’s announcement and some others,” Desch said. “It looks like a
problem that can be solved in space… (But) there’s massive technical
challenges to overcome. ... It’s a really, really long-term opportunity
at best, and I wonder if all the discussion isn’t for other reasons
than maybe just solving an immediate problem.”
The satellites’ on-board computing power will generate significant
heat, requiring a large radiator. To get all of this mass into orbit,
you need a super heavy lift rocket. SpaceX likely plans for each
satellite to last five to seven years before being moved into a
heliocentric disposal orbit or burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.
Assuming a five-year lifetime, putting the 1-million satellite
constellation into orbit and then replenishing it over time would
require thousands of launches per year. (7/15)
China's LegendSpace Plans AI-Supported
Rocket Engine Development (Source: Space News)
A six-month-old Chinese startup aiming to use artificial intelligence
to compress rocket engine development cycles has raised $29.5 million.
LegendSpace announced last week it raised 200 million yuan in angel
funding from several investors. The funding will be used by the company
to put multiple liquid rocket engines with various levels of thrust
through testing, upgrade its research platform for AI simulation and
metal additive manufacturing capabilities, and make plans for
large-scale production. The round comes amid a surge of momentum in
China's commercial space industry, with new reusable rockets reaching
the pad, a wave of launch and satellite firms pressing towards IPOs and
clear support in the country's 15th Five Year Plan, approved in March.
(7/20)
Mauritius Signs Artemis Accords
(Source: Space News)
The Artemis Accords reached 70 countries on Friday with the island
nation of Mauritius. An official with the country's Ministry of
Tertiary Education, Science and Research signed the Accords in an event
there attended by State Department officials. Mauritius is the 11th
country so far this year to sign the Accords, which outline best
practices in space exploration. NASA also plans to use the Artemis
Accords to coordinate international collaboration on its lunar base and
related efforts. (7/20)
India's ISRO Remains Months Away From
Next PSLV Launch (Source: PTI)
As an Indian company reaches space, India's space agency is still up to
two months away from returning to flight. At a press conference after
the Vikram-1 launch Saturday, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said his
agency had seven launches planned this financial year, which runs
through next March. The first of those will be within the next two
months, he said. ISRO has not conducted a launch since the failed
flight of a PSLV rocket in January, the second consecutive failure of
that vehicle. (7/20)
Next Ariane 6 Goes GEO (Source:
Arianespace)
The next Ariane 6 launch will be its first mission to geostationary
orbit. Arianespace said Monday it is targeting Aug. 27 for an Ariane 62
launch carrying the MTG-I2 weather satellite for Eumetsat. This will be
the ninth launch of the Ariane 6 overall but the first to send a
payload to GEO after previous launches carried satellites to low and
medium Earth orbits. This will also be the fourth Ariane 6 launch of
the year, with Arianespace previously projecting seven to eight
launches of the vehicle this year. (7/20)
SpaceX Offers Terrestrial Data Center
Services to Pentagon (Source: Wall Street Journal)
SpaceX is in talks with the Pentagon to provide the military access to
terrestrial data centers. The discussions would cover Defense
Department use of SpaceX computing capacity in its existing data
centers and would be worth up to several billion dollars. There was no
indication the talks involved access to SpaceX's future orbital data
centers. (7/20)
Intuitive Machines and Texas A&M
Engineering Experiment Station Announce Successful Migration of the
Nation’s Largest Lunar Dataset (Source: Intuitive Machines)
Intuitive Machines and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
(“TEES”) today announced the successful migration of the nation’s
largest lunar dataset to Texas A&M’s high-performance data
infrastructure. The operational deployment secures long-term access to
more than 1.8 petabytes of critical lunar surface imagery and
topographic data, preserving the foundational digital infrastructure
required for future cislunar operations.
Intuitive Machines is the prime contractor for the operation of NASA’s
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (“LROC”) and NASA’s Shadowcam
instruments. Together, the data sets represent approximately 67% of
NASA’s total planetary data holdings. By protecting and scaling access
to this vital dataset, the partnership provides the lunar intelligence
required for civil, academic, and commercial partners to map, navigate,
and land on the Moon. (7/17)
Voyager and Penn State to Advance
Pennsylvania’s Space Economy (Source: Voyager)
Voyager Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with
Pennsylvania State University, expanding the Voyager Institute for
Space, Technology and Advancement (VISTA) ecosystem. The collaboration
will develop joint research programs and applications across in-space
research and manufacturing and national security, fusing commercial
innovation with defense mission expertise.
Under the MOU, Voyager and Penn State will pursue shared programs and
seek external funding to support further technological development. The
agreement provides reserved research resources, tenant opportunities
and collaboration within the VISTA ecosystem. (7/15)
Pennsylvania Chamber and Keystone
Space Collaborative Announce Strategic Affiliation to Advance Space
Economy (Source: PA Chamber)
he Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry (PA Chamber) and
Keystone Space Collaborative (Keystone Space) today announced they are
forming a strategic affiliation to advance Pennsylvania’s leadership in
the growing space economy, including the formation of a
first-of-its-kind Tri-State Space Council in partnership with the Ohio
Chamber of Commerce and West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The
announcement was made at the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation
Summit hosted by U.S. Senator Dave McCormick at the U.S. Army War
College in Carlisle.
The strategic affiliation strengthens Pennsylvania’s ability to compete
in the rapidly growing space economy by pairing Keystone Space’s
industry expertise with the PA Chamber’s leading statewide advocacy and
business leadership network. Keystone Space will retain independent
governance over its strategic priorities, programs, branding, and
identity. (7/17)
Connect Everyone Coalition Calls on
Lawmakers to Support Regulatory Certainty for Space Innovators (Source:
Connect Everyone Coalition)
A broad alliance including business voices, consumer advocates,
education experts and rural advocates called on lawmakers to support
the satellite licensing modernizations included in the Satellite and
Telecommunications (SAT) Streamlining Act.
The Connect Everyone Coalition (CEC) and a number of its member
organizations wrote to leadership and members of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the U.S. House
Committee on Energy and Commerce, discussing how establishing clear
deadlines or “shotclocks” for satellite licensing procedures is an
essential step to “reduce delays, create more predictable review
timelines and enable faster rollout of next-generation satellite
networks.” (7/16)
FCC Chair Proposes to Expand
Direct-to-Device Satellite Broadband Connectivity to Unlicensed
Wireless Devices (Source: FCC)
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr proposed a new proceeding to explore new
avenues to allow innovative unlicensed wireless devices to communicate
directly with satellites. With the transformative wave of
investment and innovation in recent years around direct-to-device
(“D2D”) services, this proceeding will look at the more than 225
megahertz of unlicensed spectrum to potentially support the capacity
requirements and complement other bands for D2D services. The
proposal would also clarify that using equipment authorized under the
FCC’s part 15 rules for unlicensed wireless devices is permitted within
FCC-authorized spacecraft. (7/15)
Satellite Industry Association
Statement Commending FCC on its Plans to Expand Direct-to-Device
Satellite Connectivity (Source: SIA)
The Satellite Industry Association releases the following statement
regarding the release by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) titled, “Chairman Carr Proposes to Expand Direct-to-Device (D2D)
Satellite Broadband Connectivity to Unlicensed Wireless Devices”. (7/17)
Venus Aerospace Strengthens Leadership
Team to Mature RDRE Propulsion System, Scale Operations (Source:
Venus Aerospace)
Venus Aerospace announced eight leadership additions, new hires and
internal promotions spanning government, product and operations. The
moves follow the company's $91 million Series B, announced last week.
Venus flew the world's first high-thrust RDRE in May 2025. Venus' RDRE
architecture is designed for the range, efficiency and
manufacturability that defense and space customers need as legacy
systems struggle to keep pace with production timelines and supply
chain constraints.
The leadership additions announced today are built to carry that
architecture toward deployment: product leadership to mature
engineering into a full propulsion system, government relationships to
navigate policy, procurement and to engage the end users who will fly
and operate this technology, and operational depth to build the
organization Venus needs as it moves toward that goal. (7/16)
July 19, 2026
Q-CTRL Eyes Multiple Markets for
Quantum Navigation System (Source: AIN)
Quantum computing and sensing company Q-CTRL is looking to be in “every Airbus aircraft” with what it describes as a world-leading alternative navigation solution. Ironstone Opal—its “un-jammable, unspoofable, undetectable quantum navigation system”—is also of particular relevance to defense platforms, with technological readiness levels currently being advanced alongside partner and investor Lockheed Martin. (7/19)
Inside Japan's Super-Close Asteroid Flyby (Source: Space.com)
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft returned spectacular images of a near-Earth asteroid following a super-close flyby on July 5, but heated debate was needed before teams signed off on the daring attempt. In the end, the flyby was so close as to be at the very edge of what the aging spacecraft was designed to conduct.
When images of the asteroid Torifune arrived on the morning of July 6 Japan time, Makoto Yoshikawa and his team at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) got two surprises at once. Torifune turned out to be a contact binary, in which two chunks of rock have come together under gravity, and the returned images were also larger than hoped. (7/19)
Astronauts Marooned On Moon Could Be Abandoned Under Current NASA Plan (Source: Forbes)
NASA’s working masterplan for the upcoming lunar landings has a massive fundamental flaw that could prove fatal to the first American astronauts set to touch down on the Moon in 2028, say experts at the NASA Office of Inspector General. “While NASA is taking steps to prevent catastrophic events from occurring during the Artemis [Moon] missions, at some point in the future, astronauts will likely encounter a life-threatening emergency in space.”
But under NASA’s landing blueprints now in place, they warn, “Ultimately, should the astronauts encounter a life-threatening emergency in space or on the lunar surface, NASA does not have the capability to rescue the stranded crew.” (7/19)
Spaceport America Data Center Proposal Sparks Curiosity (Source: Albuquerque Journal)
Since New Mexico Tech and developer Green Data paused a proposed solar-powered data center in Socorro earlier this summer, residents in neighboring Sierra County have turned their attention to another Green Data collaboration — this time, with Spaceport America. The spaceport, a taxpayer-funded project that completed construction in 2006, sits on 18,000 acres of state land under a long-term lease with the State Land Office.
It is governed by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, a state agency with a governing board chaired by state Economic Development Secretary Rob Black. After the release of public documents online by Sierra County resident Wil Troup, Spaceport America confirmed that it has held ongoing discussions on a possible project with Green Data since 2021. (7/18)
India’s Space Program Became a Foreign Policy Instrument (Source: Sunday Guardian)
Before India’s first private orbital rocket had fully entered the historical record, foreign customers had already bought seats on it; after its successful flight, that small fact has become a signal. Thus the satellite slips out of the laboratory and into the chancery. India’s space program is no longer only science, nor only commerce, but foreign policy in one ascending flame. (7/18)
It's Over for International Researchers In the US (Source: Times of India)
The new 4-year policy for F-1 students that the Donald Trump administration finalized on Thursday led to major confusion among academics as experts questioned how PhD students are supposed to complete their course in four years. International students from now on will have a four-year visa validity. They will have to seek an extension for their visa from the State Department and the USCIS will grant the extension after another round of screening, background checks, fraud reviews etc. Andreas Karch, a professor at the University of Texas-Austin, said it' impossible to finish PhD in 4 years. “How hard will it be to get an extension? Will any foreigner still come to the US for a science or engineering PhD?” (7/17)
China Finds Potential Asteroid Fragments in Lunar Samples (Source: Space Daily)
Researchers studying dust and rock returned from the far side of the Moon by China’s Chang’e-6 mission reported seven tiny fragments whose chemistry points not to the Moon itself, but to a rare, water-rich class of asteroid material. If the interpretation holds, the grains are the first confirmed CI-like chondrite relics identified in lunar samples. The reported fragments are microscopic relics, interpreted through mineral chemistry and isotopes. (7/17)
Space Force Can’t Figure Out What Personnel it Needs for its Missions (Source: Defense One)
One-quarter of the jobs Space Force leaders say they need went unfilled in fiscal 2025, partly because the young service lacks a solid way to track and use troops, civilian workers, and contractors, the Government Accountability Office found. “The Space Force has not established a process or guidance to consistently and accurately determine its personnel needs to accomplish its missions. Relatedly, although it has estimated the number of contractor personnel supporting it, the Space Force does not have a process or guidance to accurately measure the number of contractor personnel and the nature of work they perform.” (7/16)
Space Force Triples Launch Contract Ceiling Amid Rising Demand (Sources: Space News, Defense Daily)
The U.S. Space Force has more than tripled the ceiling of a major national security launch contract to $17 billion as the military prepares for a sharp increase in satellite missions. Space Systems Command (SSC) has increased the ceiling of Phase 3, Lane 1 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts by $11.4 billion to $17 billion. The funding would go to future task orders for rockets by ULA, SpaceX, Stoke Space, Rocket Lab, Impulse Space, and Relativity Space. (7/18)
South Korea Urged to Learn from Japan's Space Strategy (Source: Chosun)
The South Korean government has recently unveiled a series of blueprints to foster space as a future growth engine. Oh Tae-seog, head of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, announced the "Space and Aerospace Industry Development Strategy" earlier this month, stating that the nation aims to secure communication sovereignty by establishing a Korean low-orbit satellite communication network (K-Starlink) using hundreds of satellites by 2035. The timeline for a lunar landing has also been moved up from 2032 to 2030, with a goal to expand South Korea’s share of the global space market from the current 0.7% to 3%. (7/19)
Quantum computing and sensing company Q-CTRL is looking to be in “every Airbus aircraft” with what it describes as a world-leading alternative navigation solution. Ironstone Opal—its “un-jammable, unspoofable, undetectable quantum navigation system”—is also of particular relevance to defense platforms, with technological readiness levels currently being advanced alongside partner and investor Lockheed Martin. (7/19)
Inside Japan's Super-Close Asteroid Flyby (Source: Space.com)
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft returned spectacular images of a near-Earth asteroid following a super-close flyby on July 5, but heated debate was needed before teams signed off on the daring attempt. In the end, the flyby was so close as to be at the very edge of what the aging spacecraft was designed to conduct.
When images of the asteroid Torifune arrived on the morning of July 6 Japan time, Makoto Yoshikawa and his team at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) got two surprises at once. Torifune turned out to be a contact binary, in which two chunks of rock have come together under gravity, and the returned images were also larger than hoped. (7/19)
Astronauts Marooned On Moon Could Be Abandoned Under Current NASA Plan (Source: Forbes)
NASA’s working masterplan for the upcoming lunar landings has a massive fundamental flaw that could prove fatal to the first American astronauts set to touch down on the Moon in 2028, say experts at the NASA Office of Inspector General. “While NASA is taking steps to prevent catastrophic events from occurring during the Artemis [Moon] missions, at some point in the future, astronauts will likely encounter a life-threatening emergency in space.”
But under NASA’s landing blueprints now in place, they warn, “Ultimately, should the astronauts encounter a life-threatening emergency in space or on the lunar surface, NASA does not have the capability to rescue the stranded crew.” (7/19)
Spaceport America Data Center Proposal Sparks Curiosity (Source: Albuquerque Journal)
Since New Mexico Tech and developer Green Data paused a proposed solar-powered data center in Socorro earlier this summer, residents in neighboring Sierra County have turned their attention to another Green Data collaboration — this time, with Spaceport America. The spaceport, a taxpayer-funded project that completed construction in 2006, sits on 18,000 acres of state land under a long-term lease with the State Land Office.
It is governed by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, a state agency with a governing board chaired by state Economic Development Secretary Rob Black. After the release of public documents online by Sierra County resident Wil Troup, Spaceport America confirmed that it has held ongoing discussions on a possible project with Green Data since 2021. (7/18)
India’s Space Program Became a Foreign Policy Instrument (Source: Sunday Guardian)
Before India’s first private orbital rocket had fully entered the historical record, foreign customers had already bought seats on it; after its successful flight, that small fact has become a signal. Thus the satellite slips out of the laboratory and into the chancery. India’s space program is no longer only science, nor only commerce, but foreign policy in one ascending flame. (7/18)
It's Over for International Researchers In the US (Source: Times of India)
The new 4-year policy for F-1 students that the Donald Trump administration finalized on Thursday led to major confusion among academics as experts questioned how PhD students are supposed to complete their course in four years. International students from now on will have a four-year visa validity. They will have to seek an extension for their visa from the State Department and the USCIS will grant the extension after another round of screening, background checks, fraud reviews etc. Andreas Karch, a professor at the University of Texas-Austin, said it' impossible to finish PhD in 4 years. “How hard will it be to get an extension? Will any foreigner still come to the US for a science or engineering PhD?” (7/17)
China Finds Potential Asteroid Fragments in Lunar Samples (Source: Space Daily)
Researchers studying dust and rock returned from the far side of the Moon by China’s Chang’e-6 mission reported seven tiny fragments whose chemistry points not to the Moon itself, but to a rare, water-rich class of asteroid material. If the interpretation holds, the grains are the first confirmed CI-like chondrite relics identified in lunar samples. The reported fragments are microscopic relics, interpreted through mineral chemistry and isotopes. (7/17)
Space Force Can’t Figure Out What Personnel it Needs for its Missions (Source: Defense One)
One-quarter of the jobs Space Force leaders say they need went unfilled in fiscal 2025, partly because the young service lacks a solid way to track and use troops, civilian workers, and contractors, the Government Accountability Office found. “The Space Force has not established a process or guidance to consistently and accurately determine its personnel needs to accomplish its missions. Relatedly, although it has estimated the number of contractor personnel supporting it, the Space Force does not have a process or guidance to accurately measure the number of contractor personnel and the nature of work they perform.” (7/16)
Space Force Triples Launch Contract Ceiling Amid Rising Demand (Sources: Space News, Defense Daily)
The U.S. Space Force has more than tripled the ceiling of a major national security launch contract to $17 billion as the military prepares for a sharp increase in satellite missions. Space Systems Command (SSC) has increased the ceiling of Phase 3, Lane 1 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts by $11.4 billion to $17 billion. The funding would go to future task orders for rockets by ULA, SpaceX, Stoke Space, Rocket Lab, Impulse Space, and Relativity Space. (7/18)
South Korea Urged to Learn from Japan's Space Strategy (Source: Chosun)
The South Korean government has recently unveiled a series of blueprints to foster space as a future growth engine. Oh Tae-seog, head of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, announced the "Space and Aerospace Industry Development Strategy" earlier this month, stating that the nation aims to secure communication sovereignty by establishing a Korean low-orbit satellite communication network (K-Starlink) using hundreds of satellites by 2035. The timeline for a lunar landing has also been moved up from 2032 to 2030, with a goal to expand South Korea’s share of the global space market from the current 0.7% to 3%. (7/19)
July 18, 2026
Monday Targeted for Re-Try of 13th
Starship Test Flight (Source: Teslarati)
SpaceX has announced a new target date for the thirteenth test flight of Starship: Monday, July 20, with the launch window opening at 6:45 p.m ET/5:45 p.m. CT. This is the first rescheduling attempt of Starship’s 13th test flight. It was set to launch last night, but SpaceX scrubbed the launch attempt. (7/17)
‘Asteroid’ Tracked Since 1998 Made an Unexplained Orbital Shift—Now Astronomers Say It’s Something Far More Mysterious (Source: The Debrief)
Last summer, astronomers were observing the near approach of a space object believed to be an asteroid that had been tracked since its discovery in 1998. However, in a surprising development, the object failed to appear where it was predicted to be after decades of observations. Now, a team of researchers reports in a new study that this mysterious orbital body is no asteroid at all, but instead may be an elusive class of space objects that scientists are still working to fully understand.
1998 SH2 was likely steered off course as a result of jets of gas escaping from beneath the object’s surface—a phenomenon known as weak cometary outgassing—meaning that the suspected asteroid is actually probably a type of comet. (7/16)
Space Force Welcomes First Part-Time Guardians (Source: FNN)
The Space Force welcomed its first part-time troops on Wednesday, bringing in 18 Air Force Reservists as the service rolls out a more flexible personnel model designed to help recruit and retain experienced staff. The Space Force is the first military branch to let troops move between full-time and part-time work without transferring to the National Guard or Reserves, instead keeping both under a single chain of command.
The new approach will test how far military service can go to accommodate members’ needs without compromising critical national security missions. Part-timers will serve in a new status dubbed “nonsustained duty” — an option that allows them to hold a private-sector job or care for ailing family, for instance. (7/17)
Beyond Reach Labs Raises $10M Seed, Moves to NYC (Source: Payload)
Beyond Reach Labs, a startup building hardware to help satellite operators deploy large solar arrays, announced a $10M seed round to meet an expected massive wave of incoming demand. Beyond Reach was founded in 2023 to commercialize a technology that has its roots in a NASA grant intended to support large scale space structures. They have narrowed their focus—at least in the short term—on solar arrays.
Today’s solar-array tech faces an upper limit, according to officials at Beyond Reach: larger arrays make the spacecraft more susceptible to vibrations as the craft maneuvers and passes through wild temperature swings. But making arrays more rigid—to avoid vibrations—often means increasing the spacecraft’s weight, threatening the bottom line. Beyond Reach’s remedy is a patented solar array deployer that can stretch 100 m long, and flat pack into a typical launch fairing, thus solving the SWaP conundrum. (7/17)
Terraforming Mars May be More Realistic Than Once Thought (Source: Science Daily)
Scientists say new technologies have reopened the debate over whether Mars could someday be terraformed, turning a once impossible idea into a serious research topic. Before anyone tries to reshape the Red Planet, though, researchers say we must understand the risks, including what might be lost if Mars already harbors its own forms of life.
Potentially dramatic reductions in launch costs from SpaceX's Starship, along with breakthroughs in synthetic biology and climate modeling, have shifted the discussion. Rather than asking whether terraforming violates the laws of physics, researchers believe the more important questions are whether humanity should pursue it and what the safest path would look like. (7/17)
China’s Reusable Rocket Breakthrough Demands a Private Space Response (Source: National eview)
China’s achievement should be qualified: This wasn’t its first attempt at launching a reusable orbital booster, and it hasn’t reused the booster yet. Still, this development demands serious attention and reflection from our side. History shows that when the United States faces a technological challenge from a rival, the fastest path to American dominance is unleashing private ingenuity backed by smart government demand signals, not recreating Soviet-style central planning or slow bureaucratic programs.
China’s success, achieved via state-owned enterprises like China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, should not prompt the U.S. to double down on slow and expensive government hardware. It should encourage the opposite and accelerate the model that already works: a private-sector led overhaul of America’s space program.
That must include expanding commercial partnerships and streamlining the regulatory processes involved in launches, as well as streamlining licensing, which would cut reusable rocket launch and landing approval timelines from months to weeks with predictable, risk-based rules that are modeled on successful SpaceX iterations. Additionally, NASA and Pentagon spending should be shifted from cost-plus to fixed-price milestone contracts for crew, cargo, and lunar logistics, to repeat the Commercial Crew model that built SpaceX at scale. (7/18)
APL Installing Electronics, Readying to Add Insulation on NASA’s Dragonfly Spacecraft (Source: Aerospace America)
Technicians at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland are installing electronics inside NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft in preparation for its 2028 launch toward Titan. “We just finished the spacecraft structure qualification here,” said Simmie Berman, APL’s thermal-mechanical subsystem lead for Dragonfly, on the broadcast. This consisted of tests of “the entire structure” to verify that Dragonfly will be able to withstand the stress of launch, landing on Titan and flying on another planetary body.
The spacecraft is slated to reach Titan in 2035 and spend at least three years traversing the Saturnian moon via a series of short flights resembling leapfrog hops. No spacecraft has visited this icy body — which features liquid methane rain, sand dunes and slushy bodies of water — since 2005. The European Space Agency’s Huygens probe was not designed to operate on Titan’s surface, instead sending back atmosphere data during its descent and surface photos shortly after touching down. (7/16)
Skyroot Aerospace Achieves India’s First Private Orbital Launch (Source: Douglas Messier)
India has joined the growing club of countries with a private orbital launch capability after startup Skyroot Aerospace successfully flew its Vikram-1 rocket. The rocket took off at 2:36 a.m. ET from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, carrying six research payloads.
Vikram-1 is 22 meters tall and has a diameter of 1.7 meters. The rocket is built of carbon composite and features a 3D printed engine. Vikram-1 is designed to place 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO). Skyroot named the mission Aagaman, which means arrival in Sanskrit. Skyroot is also developing the more powerful Vikram-II launch vehicle capable of placing 900 kilograms into LEO. (7/18)
British Taxpayers Lose Millions on Rival to Starlink (Source: Telegraph)
British taxpayers have lost more than £340m after an investment in a rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink turned sour. The UK’s £517m investment in Eutelsat OneWeb, the satellite business, slumped by two thirds, government accounts reveal. Originally championed as a taxpayer investment by Dominic Cummings, OneWeb is struggling against rivals such as Starlink, owned by Mr Musk’s SpaceX.
Ministers last year put a further £143m into the company, but its value has since fallen further. Boris Johnson’s government agreed to invest £374m in OneWeb in 2020, to rescue the UK-headquartered satellite provider from bankruptcy. However, it took longer to launch its commercial services than Starlink, and in 2022 was merged with the French satellite company Eutelsat, which is state-backed. (7/18)
China is SpaceX’s Biggest Long-Term Competitive Threat (Source: Investing.com)
SpaceX’s biggest long-term competitive threat is China, even though the U.S. rocket company retains a commanding lead in reusable launch technology and satellite operations, Bernstein said in a research note. The brokerage said China’s recent successful landing of the first-stage booster from its Long March 10B rocket marked a significant milestone that arrived around six months earlier than it had expected, highlighting the country’s accelerating progress in space launch capabilities.
Bernstein said China remains well behind SpaceX, noting the Long March 10 has yet to demonstrate booster reuse, while SpaceX has been reusing Falcon 9 boosters for nearly a decade and completed 165 launches last year. China will need to prove rapid relaunch capabilities and develop high-rate manufacturing before it can match SpaceX’s launch cadence, the brokerage said. (7/18)
The War on ‘Woke Science’ Comes for Space Research (Source: The Verge)
The Trump administration is waging a culture war on science, and the latest salvo is in the form of a dry, bureaucratic proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that could threaten the future of US science as we know it. The proposal would give political appointees unprecedented control over grant funding, the method through which scientists receive federal money to perform groundbreaking space research such as the search for evidence of organic compounds on Mars or the discovery of some of the earliest galaxies in the universe.
A typical proposed rule from the OMB garners less than 100 public comments. This rule has netted over 500,000 comments, the large majority of which appear to be negative, including a response from respected nonprofit The Planetary Society, which has criticized everything from the proposal’s rules around publication to its move away from peer review to its chilling effect on scientists in every field. “Nearly every proposed aspect of these rule changes has some deleterious or negative consequence for the practice of science,” said Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society. (7/17)
Women Astronauts’ Chances for Space Flight (Source: PBS)
From the dawn of NASA’s space program in 1958, an astronaut prerequisite was to be a graduate of the test pilot school of the U.S. military, which didn’t permit its female pilots to attend. All military test pilots were men, so that was the immediate barrier to any woman reaching outer space. It was not until NASA began recruiting scientists and doctors as astronauts for the Shuttle program in the 1970s that women would be considered for the job, just like men. Simultaneous, in the mid-1970s the U.S. military began accepting women into test pilot schools of the Navy and Air Force.
According to the astronaut directory of the site Orbital Radar, which tracks all things space-related, more than 580 people have flown in space, and approximately 90 have been women. For the first time in its 66-year history, NASA’s new class of astronaut candidates has more women than men. The 10-person cohort that began training in September 2025 has six women and four men. (7/17)
The U.S. Wants to Turn Abandoned Oil Rigs Into Spaceports (Source: Vice)
The U.S. government sounds like it took a huge bong rip and dared ask the question no one really cared to ask or even wanted answered: What if America’s abandoned offshore oil rigs became rocket launch pads? The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently requested public feedback on whether inactive oil and gas platforms in federal waters could be repurposed for commercial space launches, spacecraft re-entry, and recovery operations.
No official policy has been proposed yet, and there’s no clear indication that plans of any kind are moving forward, but the simple act of requesting public feedback reflects the acknowledgment of a growing need to quickly expand the country’s roster of rocket launch sites as the commercial space industry rapidly expands. (7/18)
I’m Proud of my Utterly Insignificant Association with NASA (Source: The Spectator)
Even though my career has been almost entirely in front of the camera, rather than behind it, I’ve long been obsessed with film equipment. How, then, can I resist a party in LA for Cine Gear, a trade show for new film kit? It’s a good place for the ‘creatives’ to meet the technical guys. The director Dan Trachtenberg is there, and we handle the latest Cooke glass.
Cooke has been making lenses in Leicester since 1893, and they are still the best cine lenses in the world. I bought my set of Cooke Speed Panchros in the 1980s, when nobody wanted them because they were ‘slow’, but now they are back in fashion. They have a warmth and softness that modern lenses strive to emulate because their coatings involved radio-active elements that are not permitted in manufacture now. But Cooke glass and Cine Gear’s cameras can’t compete with NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. Click here. (7/18)
Will Russia’s Answer to the Falcon 9 Rocket Ever Take Flight? (Source: Ars Technica)
Everyone seems to be launching and landing rockets these days. Last week, China joined the club of countries that have launched an orbital mission and brought its booster safely back to Earth, which is just the beginning of public and private ventures in that country aggressively pushing into rocket reuse. Also in Asia, Japan’s space agency has been conducting hop tests, and Honda recently performed vertical reuse tests.
In the United States, of course, SpaceX launches and lands reusable rockets every few days. Blue Origin, although its New Glenn booster is temporarily grounded, has also demonstrated the ability to both land and re-launch a large orbital booster. Other US companies, including Stoke Space, Rocket Lab, and Relativity Space, are all making credible progress toward partially or fully reusable rockets.
So what about Russia, which boasts a storied history of spaceflight and conducted the world’s first orbital launch nearly seven decades ago? There was some news this week from Russian space officials, but it does not exactly bolster confidence. Nearly six years have now passed since the state-backed Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, unveiled plans to develop a reusable rocket called “Amur-LNG.” Amur was intended to have a reusable first stage, methane-powered engines, and be capable of delivering 10.5 metric tons to low-Earth orbit in reusable mode. Dmitry Baranov, Roscosmos’ Deputy Director General for Rocket Programs, said the current focus is on developing a “demonstrator” for the first stage of the rocket. (7/17)
Google-Backed Satellites for Wildfire Detection Launch as Smoke Chokes US, Canada (Source: Ars Technica)
As smoke from hundreds of burning wildfires spread across Canada and the United States, the first three operational satellites in the Google-backed FireSat program successfully launched into orbit. The satellites will begin providing wildfire detection capable of spotting even small fires in the United States, Australia, and Europe before the end of the year.
The launch of the microsatellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 7, 2026 marks a transition to “initial operational capability” for the FireSat constellation managed by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance. After a three-month testing period, the three satellites will begin actively providing data to fire agencies while covering every fire-prone region on Earth at least twice per day. (7/17)
The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency Hasn’t Moved as Fast as Anyone Would Like (Source: Ars Technica)
The Space Development Agency was established in 2019 to help speed up the deployment of US military space systems by sidestepping the Pentagon’s traditional sluggish bureaucracy. Seven years later, SDA is finally launching its first batches of operational satellites, just as the Pentagon plans to shutter the semi-autonomous agency and fold it back into the Space Force’s procurement pipeline, newly reorganized under several program acquisition executives in a bid to streamline weapons buying.
SDA’s fate is not a surprise, and lawmakers in both houses of Congress have backed the agency’s closure in drafts of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. SDA’s strategy was to cast a wide net across the US space industry, using satellites and sensors developed by many companies. Launches of SDA’s new satellites were supposed to occur at a cadence of about once per month. Much of SDA’s mission will continue under a different banner within the US Space Force.
Thursday’s launch was the second SDA launch of York’s data transport satellites, and the third for Tranche 1 overall. Seven more launches will complete Tranche with 63 additional data transport satellites and 28 missile tracking satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris. None of the Tranche 1 tracking satellites have launched yet. Sandhoo said the schedule for the next series of SDA satellites is “still constrained” by the availability of optical communication terminals, the laser transmitters and receivers needed to connect the transport and tracking satellites into one integrated mesh network. (7/17)
NASA Ends Draper Lunar Lander Effort (Source: Space News)
NASA and Draper have terminated plans for a lunar lander mission following significant delays in development of the spacecraft. The cancellation marks a setback for the program’s timeline and underscores continuing schedule risk in lunar surface systems procurement. (7/17)
AST SpaceMobile Discloses Delays to Launch Campaign, Explores Vertical Integration (Source: Via Satellite)
AST SpaceMobile has pushed back the expected timing of its launch campaign to early 2027, the company disclosed this week. The company also launched a share sale to raise $1 billion, mentioning it may consider vertical integration in launch. The company needs 45 to 60 BlueBird satellites in orbit to provide continuous service in key markets including the United States, Europe, Japan, leadership told investors in May.
In addition, AST SpaceMobile announced a share sale to raise up to $1 billion, indicating it could look to pursue vertical integration in launch. The capital raise could potentially fund “partnerships and/or acquisitions to further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers,” the filing said.
It also disclosed “advanced discussions” with Japanese company Rakuten about a joint venture related to the Japanese Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) program J-LEO to build a sovereign direct-to-device (D2D) constellation in Japan. The Japanese government is awarding Rakuten 148 billion yen (nearly $1 billion) to build a satellite communications network. (7/16)
BosonQ Psi Federal (BQP) Wins SpaceWERX Funding to Advance Quantum-Assisted AI for Space Domain Awareness (Source: Via Satellite)
BosonQ Psi Federal LLC (BQP) has secured SpaceWERX funding to advance the company’s quantum-assisted AI platform to improve space domain awareness (SDA). This is the company’s first federal contract. The award is part of the SpaceWERX Open Topic Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Under the award announced Friday, BQP will develop and validate a new software application designed to improve the speed and accuracy of identifying unknown objects and behaviors in space.
Its software platform, Physics-Constrained Quantum-Assisted Machine Learning (PC-QAML), combines physics-based modeling with quantum-inspired computational techniques to perform AI inference. It is designed to run directly on directly on space-qualified processors rather than cloud computing or GPUs. (7/17)
Arianespace CEO Urges the EU to Procure Large Blocks of Ariane 6 Flights (Source: European Spaceflight)
Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès has called on either the European Commission or the German government to place block orders for 10 to 20 Ariane 6 launches, arguing that such a commitment would transform how the company approaches its supply chain. Cavaillolès made the comments amid a broader discussion of rising demand for military satellite launches.
He pointed specifically to a September 2025 speech by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in which he announced €35 billion in spending on space-related defense projects as a “turning point” for launch demand. However, he cautioned that the political decisions needed to enable European launch providers to meet that demand would have to come quickly, warning that waiting until 2027 or 2028 would be too late. (7/17)
Sky Perfect JSAT and ispace Sign MoU to Collaborate on Lunar Exploration (Source: Via Satellite)
Sky Perfect JSAT is linking up with ispace in a new MoU in the area of lunar exploration. The two companies will exchange technical information and conduct system compatibility studies with the aim of establishing communications between JSAT Space Line ground stations and ‘ULTRA’, ispace’s next-generation lunar lander planned for Mission 3, currently targeted for launch in 2028. The collaboration will also explore the feasibility of demonstration activities between the spacecraft and ground stations. The two companies announced the MoU, July 16.
ispace is seeking to expand its options for ground station services and mission support capabilities. ispace will explore the feasibility of leveraging JSAT Space Line’s ground station infrastructure to support communications for future lunar exploration missions. The study will also examine the potential use of the service as a backup to the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) ground station network operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). (7/17)
SDA backs ‘Golden Dome’ Missile-Warning/Tracking with $1.75B in New Agreements; Includes $7.1M for Protective Glass for Solar Cells (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Development Agency awarded two agreements totaling $1.75 billion for additional space vehicles supporting missile warning, missile tracking and missile defense. Separately, the Pentagon awarded $7.1 million to Martin Materials Solutions to expand U.S. manufacturing of space-qualified cover glass used to protect satellite solar-cell power systems. (7/18)
A Century of Aerospace and Defense Growth Places Dayton Near the Top in New Ranking (Source: Dayton Daily News)
Long before Dayton was ranked among the nation’s best places for aerospace and defense manufacturing, the region spent decades building the ingredients for that success — military research, engineering talent, advanced manufacturing and a network of companies drawn to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Now, a new national site-selection study says that ecosystem has made Dayton the third-strongest city in America for defense and aerospace manufacturing. The region has an array of strengths that are tough to match, with the presence of Air Force planners and decision-makers at Wright-Patterson Air Base, a cadre of contractors and manufacturers drawn to that Air Force presence, as well as universities like the University of Dayton and Wright State University. (7/16)
Aerospace and Defense Industry Undergoing Major Shift in US Regions (Source: National Defense)
The report ranked the 387 most competitive U.S. metropolitan regions for aerospace and defense manufacturing, analyzing public and private data from over 120 categories, including demographics, workforce and engineering talent, research and development and defense support assets, core infrastructure, business and regulatory environment and livability. According to the report, Wichita, Kansas is the top metropolitan area for aerospace and defense investment, scoring a 92.18 on the report’s rubric. Ogden, Utah; Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, Ohio; Salt Lake City-Murray, Utah; and Huntsville, Alabama rounded out the top five, respectively.
Nationwide, industry employment has grown about 11% since 2021, compared with roughly 4% for manufacturing overall, underscoring the sector's continued workforce expansion. Weekly job postings nearly doubled between January 2025 and May 2026, reflecting rapidly growing demand for engineers, technicians, skilled trades workers, and security-cleared personnel. 76% of companies in the sector say engineering jobs are both the most needed and the hardest to fill, and skilled manufacturing roles face similar challenges. About one-quarter of the industry's workforce is age 55 or older, indicating a significant potential labor gap over the coming decade.
Editor's Note: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville (basically the Space Coast) was ranked at #6 among the top 10. No other Florida region made the top 10. (7/16)
Ecuador and Peru Discuss Space Collaboration (Source: Forbes)
The space industry continues to generate discussion. Last Monday, the Ecuador: Space, Business & Diplomacy event took place, focusing on the opportunities the country has in this sector. “The space economy is not a matter of the future, it is a matter of the present.” The phrase belongs to the Peruvian ambassador to Ecuador, José Eduardo Zevallos, who was one of the guests at the Ecuador: Space, Business & Diplomacy meeting, which took place last Monday in Quito.
The diplomat pointed out that this industry represents an opportunity for countries like Ecuador and Peru. For Zevallos, the key lies in reaching an agreement among the states and countries that wish to participate in this economy. The meeting was organized by Global Diplomacy, the Embassy of Peru in Ecuador, and the Ecuador Space Society. (7/14)
Stoke Second Stage Makes for an Unusual Fully Reusable Rocket (Source: Rich Nicholls)
Stoke Space rebuilt the launch pad that carried John Glenn to orbit in 1962, and its first rocket flies from it later this year. Nova's second stage carries 24 thrust chambers ringed around a regeneratively cooled metallic heat shield, a design that removes the need for thermal tiles entirely. The rocket lifts 3,000 kg to low Earth orbit with both stages recovered, and 7,000 kg when expended, against a target of cutting launch cost by a factor of 20
Stoke gives up more than half of every payload to bring its hardware home, and that only pays back if the same rocket flies many times over. The heat shield is what allows it: metal, self-cooling, and free of the tile-by-tile inspection that slowed every reusable vehicle before it. The payload Stoke gives up on the first flight, it earns back on the tenth. (7/15)
Don't Lose Sleep Over Reports Of 260 Starlink Satellites Deorbiting (Source: Engadget)
SpaceX recently submitted the semi-annual report for its satellite constellation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), revealing that it deorbited 260 Starlink satellites over the course of six months. From December 2025 until May 2026, it brought down 176 first-generation Starlink satellites and 84 of its bigger second-generation ones.
While 260 sounds like a lot, it's not unusual for the company to deorbit that many within a six-month period. It wasn't even the largest number of satellites it deorbited within a similar timeframe. In 2024, SpaceX identified a common issue in a small population of version-one satellites that could increase the probability of failure. It deorbited 406 satellites in response to that finding and followed that up with nearly 500 satellites from December 2024 to May 2025. (7/16)
Scientists Discover Atmosphere Around Potentially Habitable Planet for First Time (Source: Independent)
Scientists have discovered an atmosphere around LHS 1140 b, a rocky exoplanet in its star's “habitable zone.” This marks the first time an atmosphere has been detected on a potentially habitable, Earth-like planet. The discovery was made by observing escaping helium from the planet's upper atmosphere using a telescope in Chile. The presence of an atmosphere is considered essential for a planet to potentially support extraterrestrial life. Researchers plan to use the James Webb Space Telescope to confirm the atmosphere's stability and see if there is water in the atmosphere. (7/17)
Several Space Stocks Aren't Soaring Lately (Source: Space News)
It’s been about one month since SpaceX’s IPO... But how's that been going for the other publicly traded space stocks the last couple of weeks? The short answer is: not great. Intuitive Machines, York Space Systems, Redwire, Firefly, Rocket Lab and Voyager are all down about 25% or more in the past month. AST Space Mobile, Planet and MDA, which recently announced it would acquire French data analytics company CLS, are all down more than 10%. Yes, there are a few winners as well, Iridium, which is being acquired by Rocket Lab, and Viasat are both up during that time period. But broadly it’s been a rough month. (7/15)
GOES-19 Satellite is Down at a Bad Time (Source: WRAL)
The GOES-19 weather satellite is down at a critical time for meteorologists across the U.S. According to NOAA: “Engineers report GOES-19 is in a Safehold. They are working to recover the satellite and will share a recovery timeline when available. Engineers are investigating the suspected source of anomaly is the satellite/instrument.” The good news is that GOES-16 is already operational and in orbit. The bad news is that it can take extended periods of time (up to weeks) to move the satellite into proper positioning.
GOES-18 is another backup that is already transmitting data but the coverage is limited. JPSS satellites are not geostationary, but they provide high-resolution snapshots that can be useful in detecting tropical anomalies and current wildfire smoke coverage. (7/16)
Most Canadians Don’t Know We Can’t Launch a Rocket or Satellite From Our Own Soil (Source: David Coletto Substack)
There are some things Canadians simply assume about their country. We assume we can patrol our own Arctic. We assume we can defend our borders. And, as it turns out, most of us assume that a country with its own space agency, a world-class aerospace sector, and an astronaut who flew around the Moon can launch a satellite from Canadian soil. But in reality we can’t. That disconnect showed up in a new survey my firm Abacus Data conducted for Maritime Launch Services, the Nova Scotia company developing Canada’s first commercial spaceport. (7/16)
Space Force Taps True Anomaly for Kronos Integration (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics)
The US Space Force has chosen True Anomaly to provide capabilities for the Kronos Family of Systems, a program to enhance space command, control and battle management. Mosaic will support target pairing and asset orchestration, using AI to analyze interactions among assets and offer decision-support information. (7/17)
Florida Members Introduce Space Ready 2.0 Act in House and Senate (Source: Rep. Haridopolos)
Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act to modernize the roads, utilities, and other critical infrastructure that support NASA's missions and America's growing space industry. The bill would launch a pilot program allowing NASA to partner with public and private entities to improve shared infrastructure at NASA centers.
It aims to modernize critical infrastructure, including roads, utilities, pipelines, and other shared facilities, to support growing government and commercial space operations. It requires cost estimates, project timelines, annual reports to Congress, and clear cost-sharing agreements. Unused private contributions would be refunded or redirected to eligible projects. The program would sunset on December 31, 2031. (7/15)
Orbital “Tow Truck” Could Tackle Space Debris Problem (Source: CASIS)
New technology from Kall Morris Inc (KMI), tested through the ISS National Laboratory, may offer a solution. The startup used the ISS to successfully demonstrate its REACCH system—an orbital “tow truck” designed to safely capture and maneuver unprepared objects in space. The technology supports applications ranging from satellite servicing and orbital mobility to debris management.
REACCH, short for Responsive Engaging Arms for Captive Care and Handling, uses tentacle-like arms with gecko-inspired adhesive pads to capture objects of various shapes, sizes, and materials. REACCH does not need to wrap around an object but merely attach to it and push, allowing the system to move objects much larger than itself. (7/16)
AST SpaceMobile Defers Commercial Direct-to-Device Timeline to Early 2027 (Source: SatNews)
AST SpaceMobile announced in a regulatory filing that it has rescheduled its commercial Direct-to-Device (D2D) service launch to early 2027. The revision shifts the Texas-based operator’s target away from its previous late-2026 commercial timeline. Despite schedule changes, the company is continuing to manufacture and deploy its “Block 2” BlueBird satellite configuration designed to deliver continuous space-based cellular broadband. (7/16)
York Space Readies 21 Satellites for US Space Development Agency Launch (Source: Defense Post)
York Space Systems has completed a second batch of 21 satellites for the US Space Development Agency (SDA), with the spacecraft scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Built at York’s US production facilities, the satellites are designed to expand the SDA’s low Earth orbit communications network and provide secure tactical data links for US and allied forces. York said the production lot reflects investments in manufacturing capacity intended to support higher-volume spacecraft production for national security programs. (7/17)
ESA Selects Ariane 6 to Launch Deep Space CubeSat (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has awarded a contract to launch its solar storm-monitoring CubeSat on an Ariane 6 rocket. Scheduled for launch in early 2027, the Henon CubeSat will be flown as a secondary passenger alongside ESA’s PLATO telescope, which will be tasked with finding Earth-like exoplanets. According to the agency’s 16 July press release, a feasibility study was first conducted with Arianespace to confirm that CubeSats could be safely accommodated as secondary payloads aboard an Ariane 6 flight. (7/16)
Astronomers Discover Landslides on Pluto Large Enough to Bury Entire Cities on Earth (Source: Space.com)
The aftermath of landslides have been found in images of Pluto's surface taken when the New Horizons mission flew past the dwarf planet in 2015. The landslides are evidence that the icy world is still active, albeit on geological timescales. Images taken by New Horizons' LORRI (Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager) instrument, which was capable of detecting surface features as small as 984 feet, provided evidence for six landslides that have taken place down the inner walls of three craters on the western edge of Sputnik Planitia. (7/16)
NASA Mars Plans Hit Budget Wall (Source: Politico)
Mars researchers are warning congressional appropriators that without an increase to NASA’s budget, a new flagship program could imperil other science efforts. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced a mission earlier this year to send three helicopters to Mars aboard a nuclear-powered spacecraft. The mission, dubbed “SkyFall,” aims to launch in late 2028 and investigate the geology and climate history of Mars.
Scientists are excited about the unprecedented mission. But they warn NASA’s science budget is already strapped for cash, and there isn’t enough to go around. Adding a new project to NASA’s flat budget could compel the agency to “prematurely terminate active missions,” according to a letter shared with POLITICO that was sent to appropriators this week by the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group, a community-based forum that provides input on Mars missions. (7/17)
SpaceX has announced a new target date for the thirteenth test flight of Starship: Monday, July 20, with the launch window opening at 6:45 p.m ET/5:45 p.m. CT. This is the first rescheduling attempt of Starship’s 13th test flight. It was set to launch last night, but SpaceX scrubbed the launch attempt. (7/17)
‘Asteroid’ Tracked Since 1998 Made an Unexplained Orbital Shift—Now Astronomers Say It’s Something Far More Mysterious (Source: The Debrief)
Last summer, astronomers were observing the near approach of a space object believed to be an asteroid that had been tracked since its discovery in 1998. However, in a surprising development, the object failed to appear where it was predicted to be after decades of observations. Now, a team of researchers reports in a new study that this mysterious orbital body is no asteroid at all, but instead may be an elusive class of space objects that scientists are still working to fully understand.
1998 SH2 was likely steered off course as a result of jets of gas escaping from beneath the object’s surface—a phenomenon known as weak cometary outgassing—meaning that the suspected asteroid is actually probably a type of comet. (7/16)
Space Force Welcomes First Part-Time Guardians (Source: FNN)
The Space Force welcomed its first part-time troops on Wednesday, bringing in 18 Air Force Reservists as the service rolls out a more flexible personnel model designed to help recruit and retain experienced staff. The Space Force is the first military branch to let troops move between full-time and part-time work without transferring to the National Guard or Reserves, instead keeping both under a single chain of command.
The new approach will test how far military service can go to accommodate members’ needs without compromising critical national security missions. Part-timers will serve in a new status dubbed “nonsustained duty” — an option that allows them to hold a private-sector job or care for ailing family, for instance. (7/17)
Beyond Reach Labs Raises $10M Seed, Moves to NYC (Source: Payload)
Beyond Reach Labs, a startup building hardware to help satellite operators deploy large solar arrays, announced a $10M seed round to meet an expected massive wave of incoming demand. Beyond Reach was founded in 2023 to commercialize a technology that has its roots in a NASA grant intended to support large scale space structures. They have narrowed their focus—at least in the short term—on solar arrays.
Today’s solar-array tech faces an upper limit, according to officials at Beyond Reach: larger arrays make the spacecraft more susceptible to vibrations as the craft maneuvers and passes through wild temperature swings. But making arrays more rigid—to avoid vibrations—often means increasing the spacecraft’s weight, threatening the bottom line. Beyond Reach’s remedy is a patented solar array deployer that can stretch 100 m long, and flat pack into a typical launch fairing, thus solving the SWaP conundrum. (7/17)
Terraforming Mars May be More Realistic Than Once Thought (Source: Science Daily)
Scientists say new technologies have reopened the debate over whether Mars could someday be terraformed, turning a once impossible idea into a serious research topic. Before anyone tries to reshape the Red Planet, though, researchers say we must understand the risks, including what might be lost if Mars already harbors its own forms of life.
Potentially dramatic reductions in launch costs from SpaceX's Starship, along with breakthroughs in synthetic biology and climate modeling, have shifted the discussion. Rather than asking whether terraforming violates the laws of physics, researchers believe the more important questions are whether humanity should pursue it and what the safest path would look like. (7/17)
China’s Reusable Rocket Breakthrough Demands a Private Space Response (Source: National eview)
China’s achievement should be qualified: This wasn’t its first attempt at launching a reusable orbital booster, and it hasn’t reused the booster yet. Still, this development demands serious attention and reflection from our side. History shows that when the United States faces a technological challenge from a rival, the fastest path to American dominance is unleashing private ingenuity backed by smart government demand signals, not recreating Soviet-style central planning or slow bureaucratic programs.
China’s success, achieved via state-owned enterprises like China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, should not prompt the U.S. to double down on slow and expensive government hardware. It should encourage the opposite and accelerate the model that already works: a private-sector led overhaul of America’s space program.
That must include expanding commercial partnerships and streamlining the regulatory processes involved in launches, as well as streamlining licensing, which would cut reusable rocket launch and landing approval timelines from months to weeks with predictable, risk-based rules that are modeled on successful SpaceX iterations. Additionally, NASA and Pentagon spending should be shifted from cost-plus to fixed-price milestone contracts for crew, cargo, and lunar logistics, to repeat the Commercial Crew model that built SpaceX at scale. (7/18)
APL Installing Electronics, Readying to Add Insulation on NASA’s Dragonfly Spacecraft (Source: Aerospace America)
Technicians at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland are installing electronics inside NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft in preparation for its 2028 launch toward Titan. “We just finished the spacecraft structure qualification here,” said Simmie Berman, APL’s thermal-mechanical subsystem lead for Dragonfly, on the broadcast. This consisted of tests of “the entire structure” to verify that Dragonfly will be able to withstand the stress of launch, landing on Titan and flying on another planetary body.
The spacecraft is slated to reach Titan in 2035 and spend at least three years traversing the Saturnian moon via a series of short flights resembling leapfrog hops. No spacecraft has visited this icy body — which features liquid methane rain, sand dunes and slushy bodies of water — since 2005. The European Space Agency’s Huygens probe was not designed to operate on Titan’s surface, instead sending back atmosphere data during its descent and surface photos shortly after touching down. (7/16)
Skyroot Aerospace Achieves India’s First Private Orbital Launch (Source: Douglas Messier)
India has joined the growing club of countries with a private orbital launch capability after startup Skyroot Aerospace successfully flew its Vikram-1 rocket. The rocket took off at 2:36 a.m. ET from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, carrying six research payloads.
Vikram-1 is 22 meters tall and has a diameter of 1.7 meters. The rocket is built of carbon composite and features a 3D printed engine. Vikram-1 is designed to place 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO). Skyroot named the mission Aagaman, which means arrival in Sanskrit. Skyroot is also developing the more powerful Vikram-II launch vehicle capable of placing 900 kilograms into LEO. (7/18)
British Taxpayers Lose Millions on Rival to Starlink (Source: Telegraph)
British taxpayers have lost more than £340m after an investment in a rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink turned sour. The UK’s £517m investment in Eutelsat OneWeb, the satellite business, slumped by two thirds, government accounts reveal. Originally championed as a taxpayer investment by Dominic Cummings, OneWeb is struggling against rivals such as Starlink, owned by Mr Musk’s SpaceX.
Ministers last year put a further £143m into the company, but its value has since fallen further. Boris Johnson’s government agreed to invest £374m in OneWeb in 2020, to rescue the UK-headquartered satellite provider from bankruptcy. However, it took longer to launch its commercial services than Starlink, and in 2022 was merged with the French satellite company Eutelsat, which is state-backed. (7/18)
China is SpaceX’s Biggest Long-Term Competitive Threat (Source: Investing.com)
SpaceX’s biggest long-term competitive threat is China, even though the U.S. rocket company retains a commanding lead in reusable launch technology and satellite operations, Bernstein said in a research note. The brokerage said China’s recent successful landing of the first-stage booster from its Long March 10B rocket marked a significant milestone that arrived around six months earlier than it had expected, highlighting the country’s accelerating progress in space launch capabilities.
Bernstein said China remains well behind SpaceX, noting the Long March 10 has yet to demonstrate booster reuse, while SpaceX has been reusing Falcon 9 boosters for nearly a decade and completed 165 launches last year. China will need to prove rapid relaunch capabilities and develop high-rate manufacturing before it can match SpaceX’s launch cadence, the brokerage said. (7/18)
The War on ‘Woke Science’ Comes for Space Research (Source: The Verge)
The Trump administration is waging a culture war on science, and the latest salvo is in the form of a dry, bureaucratic proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that could threaten the future of US science as we know it. The proposal would give political appointees unprecedented control over grant funding, the method through which scientists receive federal money to perform groundbreaking space research such as the search for evidence of organic compounds on Mars or the discovery of some of the earliest galaxies in the universe.
A typical proposed rule from the OMB garners less than 100 public comments. This rule has netted over 500,000 comments, the large majority of which appear to be negative, including a response from respected nonprofit The Planetary Society, which has criticized everything from the proposal’s rules around publication to its move away from peer review to its chilling effect on scientists in every field. “Nearly every proposed aspect of these rule changes has some deleterious or negative consequence for the practice of science,” said Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society. (7/17)
Women Astronauts’ Chances for Space Flight (Source: PBS)
From the dawn of NASA’s space program in 1958, an astronaut prerequisite was to be a graduate of the test pilot school of the U.S. military, which didn’t permit its female pilots to attend. All military test pilots were men, so that was the immediate barrier to any woman reaching outer space. It was not until NASA began recruiting scientists and doctors as astronauts for the Shuttle program in the 1970s that women would be considered for the job, just like men. Simultaneous, in the mid-1970s the U.S. military began accepting women into test pilot schools of the Navy and Air Force.
According to the astronaut directory of the site Orbital Radar, which tracks all things space-related, more than 580 people have flown in space, and approximately 90 have been women. For the first time in its 66-year history, NASA’s new class of astronaut candidates has more women than men. The 10-person cohort that began training in September 2025 has six women and four men. (7/17)
The U.S. Wants to Turn Abandoned Oil Rigs Into Spaceports (Source: Vice)
The U.S. government sounds like it took a huge bong rip and dared ask the question no one really cared to ask or even wanted answered: What if America’s abandoned offshore oil rigs became rocket launch pads? The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently requested public feedback on whether inactive oil and gas platforms in federal waters could be repurposed for commercial space launches, spacecraft re-entry, and recovery operations.
No official policy has been proposed yet, and there’s no clear indication that plans of any kind are moving forward, but the simple act of requesting public feedback reflects the acknowledgment of a growing need to quickly expand the country’s roster of rocket launch sites as the commercial space industry rapidly expands. (7/18)
I’m Proud of my Utterly Insignificant Association with NASA (Source: The Spectator)
Even though my career has been almost entirely in front of the camera, rather than behind it, I’ve long been obsessed with film equipment. How, then, can I resist a party in LA for Cine Gear, a trade show for new film kit? It’s a good place for the ‘creatives’ to meet the technical guys. The director Dan Trachtenberg is there, and we handle the latest Cooke glass.
Cooke has been making lenses in Leicester since 1893, and they are still the best cine lenses in the world. I bought my set of Cooke Speed Panchros in the 1980s, when nobody wanted them because they were ‘slow’, but now they are back in fashion. They have a warmth and softness that modern lenses strive to emulate because their coatings involved radio-active elements that are not permitted in manufacture now. But Cooke glass and Cine Gear’s cameras can’t compete with NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. Click here. (7/18)
Will Russia’s Answer to the Falcon 9 Rocket Ever Take Flight? (Source: Ars Technica)
Everyone seems to be launching and landing rockets these days. Last week, China joined the club of countries that have launched an orbital mission and brought its booster safely back to Earth, which is just the beginning of public and private ventures in that country aggressively pushing into rocket reuse. Also in Asia, Japan’s space agency has been conducting hop tests, and Honda recently performed vertical reuse tests.
In the United States, of course, SpaceX launches and lands reusable rockets every few days. Blue Origin, although its New Glenn booster is temporarily grounded, has also demonstrated the ability to both land and re-launch a large orbital booster. Other US companies, including Stoke Space, Rocket Lab, and Relativity Space, are all making credible progress toward partially or fully reusable rockets.
So what about Russia, which boasts a storied history of spaceflight and conducted the world’s first orbital launch nearly seven decades ago? There was some news this week from Russian space officials, but it does not exactly bolster confidence. Nearly six years have now passed since the state-backed Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, unveiled plans to develop a reusable rocket called “Amur-LNG.” Amur was intended to have a reusable first stage, methane-powered engines, and be capable of delivering 10.5 metric tons to low-Earth orbit in reusable mode. Dmitry Baranov, Roscosmos’ Deputy Director General for Rocket Programs, said the current focus is on developing a “demonstrator” for the first stage of the rocket. (7/17)
Google-Backed Satellites for Wildfire Detection Launch as Smoke Chokes US, Canada (Source: Ars Technica)
As smoke from hundreds of burning wildfires spread across Canada and the United States, the first three operational satellites in the Google-backed FireSat program successfully launched into orbit. The satellites will begin providing wildfire detection capable of spotting even small fires in the United States, Australia, and Europe before the end of the year.
The launch of the microsatellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 7, 2026 marks a transition to “initial operational capability” for the FireSat constellation managed by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance. After a three-month testing period, the three satellites will begin actively providing data to fire agencies while covering every fire-prone region on Earth at least twice per day. (7/17)
The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency Hasn’t Moved as Fast as Anyone Would Like (Source: Ars Technica)
The Space Development Agency was established in 2019 to help speed up the deployment of US military space systems by sidestepping the Pentagon’s traditional sluggish bureaucracy. Seven years later, SDA is finally launching its first batches of operational satellites, just as the Pentagon plans to shutter the semi-autonomous agency and fold it back into the Space Force’s procurement pipeline, newly reorganized under several program acquisition executives in a bid to streamline weapons buying.
SDA’s fate is not a surprise, and lawmakers in both houses of Congress have backed the agency’s closure in drafts of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. SDA’s strategy was to cast a wide net across the US space industry, using satellites and sensors developed by many companies. Launches of SDA’s new satellites were supposed to occur at a cadence of about once per month. Much of SDA’s mission will continue under a different banner within the US Space Force.
Thursday’s launch was the second SDA launch of York’s data transport satellites, and the third for Tranche 1 overall. Seven more launches will complete Tranche with 63 additional data transport satellites and 28 missile tracking satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris. None of the Tranche 1 tracking satellites have launched yet. Sandhoo said the schedule for the next series of SDA satellites is “still constrained” by the availability of optical communication terminals, the laser transmitters and receivers needed to connect the transport and tracking satellites into one integrated mesh network. (7/17)
NASA Ends Draper Lunar Lander Effort (Source: Space News)
NASA and Draper have terminated plans for a lunar lander mission following significant delays in development of the spacecraft. The cancellation marks a setback for the program’s timeline and underscores continuing schedule risk in lunar surface systems procurement. (7/17)
AST SpaceMobile Discloses Delays to Launch Campaign, Explores Vertical Integration (Source: Via Satellite)
AST SpaceMobile has pushed back the expected timing of its launch campaign to early 2027, the company disclosed this week. The company also launched a share sale to raise $1 billion, mentioning it may consider vertical integration in launch. The company needs 45 to 60 BlueBird satellites in orbit to provide continuous service in key markets including the United States, Europe, Japan, leadership told investors in May.
In addition, AST SpaceMobile announced a share sale to raise up to $1 billion, indicating it could look to pursue vertical integration in launch. The capital raise could potentially fund “partnerships and/or acquisitions to further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers,” the filing said.
It also disclosed “advanced discussions” with Japanese company Rakuten about a joint venture related to the Japanese Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) program J-LEO to build a sovereign direct-to-device (D2D) constellation in Japan. The Japanese government is awarding Rakuten 148 billion yen (nearly $1 billion) to build a satellite communications network. (7/16)
BosonQ Psi Federal (BQP) Wins SpaceWERX Funding to Advance Quantum-Assisted AI for Space Domain Awareness (Source: Via Satellite)
BosonQ Psi Federal LLC (BQP) has secured SpaceWERX funding to advance the company’s quantum-assisted AI platform to improve space domain awareness (SDA). This is the company’s first federal contract. The award is part of the SpaceWERX Open Topic Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Under the award announced Friday, BQP will develop and validate a new software application designed to improve the speed and accuracy of identifying unknown objects and behaviors in space.
Its software platform, Physics-Constrained Quantum-Assisted Machine Learning (PC-QAML), combines physics-based modeling with quantum-inspired computational techniques to perform AI inference. It is designed to run directly on directly on space-qualified processors rather than cloud computing or GPUs. (7/17)
Arianespace CEO Urges the EU to Procure Large Blocks of Ariane 6 Flights (Source: European Spaceflight)
Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès has called on either the European Commission or the German government to place block orders for 10 to 20 Ariane 6 launches, arguing that such a commitment would transform how the company approaches its supply chain. Cavaillolès made the comments amid a broader discussion of rising demand for military satellite launches.
He pointed specifically to a September 2025 speech by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in which he announced €35 billion in spending on space-related defense projects as a “turning point” for launch demand. However, he cautioned that the political decisions needed to enable European launch providers to meet that demand would have to come quickly, warning that waiting until 2027 or 2028 would be too late. (7/17)
Sky Perfect JSAT and ispace Sign MoU to Collaborate on Lunar Exploration (Source: Via Satellite)
Sky Perfect JSAT is linking up with ispace in a new MoU in the area of lunar exploration. The two companies will exchange technical information and conduct system compatibility studies with the aim of establishing communications between JSAT Space Line ground stations and ‘ULTRA’, ispace’s next-generation lunar lander planned for Mission 3, currently targeted for launch in 2028. The collaboration will also explore the feasibility of demonstration activities between the spacecraft and ground stations. The two companies announced the MoU, July 16.
ispace is seeking to expand its options for ground station services and mission support capabilities. ispace will explore the feasibility of leveraging JSAT Space Line’s ground station infrastructure to support communications for future lunar exploration missions. The study will also examine the potential use of the service as a backup to the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) ground station network operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). (7/17)
SDA backs ‘Golden Dome’ Missile-Warning/Tracking with $1.75B in New Agreements; Includes $7.1M for Protective Glass for Solar Cells (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Development Agency awarded two agreements totaling $1.75 billion for additional space vehicles supporting missile warning, missile tracking and missile defense. Separately, the Pentagon awarded $7.1 million to Martin Materials Solutions to expand U.S. manufacturing of space-qualified cover glass used to protect satellite solar-cell power systems. (7/18)
A Century of Aerospace and Defense Growth Places Dayton Near the Top in New Ranking (Source: Dayton Daily News)
Long before Dayton was ranked among the nation’s best places for aerospace and defense manufacturing, the region spent decades building the ingredients for that success — military research, engineering talent, advanced manufacturing and a network of companies drawn to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Now, a new national site-selection study says that ecosystem has made Dayton the third-strongest city in America for defense and aerospace manufacturing. The region has an array of strengths that are tough to match, with the presence of Air Force planners and decision-makers at Wright-Patterson Air Base, a cadre of contractors and manufacturers drawn to that Air Force presence, as well as universities like the University of Dayton and Wright State University. (7/16)
Aerospace and Defense Industry Undergoing Major Shift in US Regions (Source: National Defense)
The report ranked the 387 most competitive U.S. metropolitan regions for aerospace and defense manufacturing, analyzing public and private data from over 120 categories, including demographics, workforce and engineering talent, research and development and defense support assets, core infrastructure, business and regulatory environment and livability. According to the report, Wichita, Kansas is the top metropolitan area for aerospace and defense investment, scoring a 92.18 on the report’s rubric. Ogden, Utah; Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, Ohio; Salt Lake City-Murray, Utah; and Huntsville, Alabama rounded out the top five, respectively.
Nationwide, industry employment has grown about 11% since 2021, compared with roughly 4% for manufacturing overall, underscoring the sector's continued workforce expansion. Weekly job postings nearly doubled between January 2025 and May 2026, reflecting rapidly growing demand for engineers, technicians, skilled trades workers, and security-cleared personnel. 76% of companies in the sector say engineering jobs are both the most needed and the hardest to fill, and skilled manufacturing roles face similar challenges. About one-quarter of the industry's workforce is age 55 or older, indicating a significant potential labor gap over the coming decade.
Editor's Note: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville (basically the Space Coast) was ranked at #6 among the top 10. No other Florida region made the top 10. (7/16)
Ecuador and Peru Discuss Space Collaboration (Source: Forbes)
The space industry continues to generate discussion. Last Monday, the Ecuador: Space, Business & Diplomacy event took place, focusing on the opportunities the country has in this sector. “The space economy is not a matter of the future, it is a matter of the present.” The phrase belongs to the Peruvian ambassador to Ecuador, José Eduardo Zevallos, who was one of the guests at the Ecuador: Space, Business & Diplomacy meeting, which took place last Monday in Quito.
The diplomat pointed out that this industry represents an opportunity for countries like Ecuador and Peru. For Zevallos, the key lies in reaching an agreement among the states and countries that wish to participate in this economy. The meeting was organized by Global Diplomacy, the Embassy of Peru in Ecuador, and the Ecuador Space Society. (7/14)
Stoke Second Stage Makes for an Unusual Fully Reusable Rocket (Source: Rich Nicholls)
Stoke Space rebuilt the launch pad that carried John Glenn to orbit in 1962, and its first rocket flies from it later this year. Nova's second stage carries 24 thrust chambers ringed around a regeneratively cooled metallic heat shield, a design that removes the need for thermal tiles entirely. The rocket lifts 3,000 kg to low Earth orbit with both stages recovered, and 7,000 kg when expended, against a target of cutting launch cost by a factor of 20
Stoke gives up more than half of every payload to bring its hardware home, and that only pays back if the same rocket flies many times over. The heat shield is what allows it: metal, self-cooling, and free of the tile-by-tile inspection that slowed every reusable vehicle before it. The payload Stoke gives up on the first flight, it earns back on the tenth. (7/15)
Don't Lose Sleep Over Reports Of 260 Starlink Satellites Deorbiting (Source: Engadget)
SpaceX recently submitted the semi-annual report for its satellite constellation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), revealing that it deorbited 260 Starlink satellites over the course of six months. From December 2025 until May 2026, it brought down 176 first-generation Starlink satellites and 84 of its bigger second-generation ones.
While 260 sounds like a lot, it's not unusual for the company to deorbit that many within a six-month period. It wasn't even the largest number of satellites it deorbited within a similar timeframe. In 2024, SpaceX identified a common issue in a small population of version-one satellites that could increase the probability of failure. It deorbited 406 satellites in response to that finding and followed that up with nearly 500 satellites from December 2024 to May 2025. (7/16)
Scientists Discover Atmosphere Around Potentially Habitable Planet for First Time (Source: Independent)
Scientists have discovered an atmosphere around LHS 1140 b, a rocky exoplanet in its star's “habitable zone.” This marks the first time an atmosphere has been detected on a potentially habitable, Earth-like planet. The discovery was made by observing escaping helium from the planet's upper atmosphere using a telescope in Chile. The presence of an atmosphere is considered essential for a planet to potentially support extraterrestrial life. Researchers plan to use the James Webb Space Telescope to confirm the atmosphere's stability and see if there is water in the atmosphere. (7/17)
Several Space Stocks Aren't Soaring Lately (Source: Space News)
It’s been about one month since SpaceX’s IPO... But how's that been going for the other publicly traded space stocks the last couple of weeks? The short answer is: not great. Intuitive Machines, York Space Systems, Redwire, Firefly, Rocket Lab and Voyager are all down about 25% or more in the past month. AST Space Mobile, Planet and MDA, which recently announced it would acquire French data analytics company CLS, are all down more than 10%. Yes, there are a few winners as well, Iridium, which is being acquired by Rocket Lab, and Viasat are both up during that time period. But broadly it’s been a rough month. (7/15)
GOES-19 Satellite is Down at a Bad Time (Source: WRAL)
The GOES-19 weather satellite is down at a critical time for meteorologists across the U.S. According to NOAA: “Engineers report GOES-19 is in a Safehold. They are working to recover the satellite and will share a recovery timeline when available. Engineers are investigating the suspected source of anomaly is the satellite/instrument.” The good news is that GOES-16 is already operational and in orbit. The bad news is that it can take extended periods of time (up to weeks) to move the satellite into proper positioning.
GOES-18 is another backup that is already transmitting data but the coverage is limited. JPSS satellites are not geostationary, but they provide high-resolution snapshots that can be useful in detecting tropical anomalies and current wildfire smoke coverage. (7/16)
Most Canadians Don’t Know We Can’t Launch a Rocket or Satellite From Our Own Soil (Source: David Coletto Substack)
There are some things Canadians simply assume about their country. We assume we can patrol our own Arctic. We assume we can defend our borders. And, as it turns out, most of us assume that a country with its own space agency, a world-class aerospace sector, and an astronaut who flew around the Moon can launch a satellite from Canadian soil. But in reality we can’t. That disconnect showed up in a new survey my firm Abacus Data conducted for Maritime Launch Services, the Nova Scotia company developing Canada’s first commercial spaceport. (7/16)
Space Force Taps True Anomaly for Kronos Integration (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics)
The US Space Force has chosen True Anomaly to provide capabilities for the Kronos Family of Systems, a program to enhance space command, control and battle management. Mosaic will support target pairing and asset orchestration, using AI to analyze interactions among assets and offer decision-support information. (7/17)
Florida Members Introduce Space Ready 2.0 Act in House and Senate (Source: Rep. Haridopolos)
Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act to modernize the roads, utilities, and other critical infrastructure that support NASA's missions and America's growing space industry. The bill would launch a pilot program allowing NASA to partner with public and private entities to improve shared infrastructure at NASA centers.
It aims to modernize critical infrastructure, including roads, utilities, pipelines, and other shared facilities, to support growing government and commercial space operations. It requires cost estimates, project timelines, annual reports to Congress, and clear cost-sharing agreements. Unused private contributions would be refunded or redirected to eligible projects. The program would sunset on December 31, 2031. (7/15)
Orbital “Tow Truck” Could Tackle Space Debris Problem (Source: CASIS)
New technology from Kall Morris Inc (KMI), tested through the ISS National Laboratory, may offer a solution. The startup used the ISS to successfully demonstrate its REACCH system—an orbital “tow truck” designed to safely capture and maneuver unprepared objects in space. The technology supports applications ranging from satellite servicing and orbital mobility to debris management.
REACCH, short for Responsive Engaging Arms for Captive Care and Handling, uses tentacle-like arms with gecko-inspired adhesive pads to capture objects of various shapes, sizes, and materials. REACCH does not need to wrap around an object but merely attach to it and push, allowing the system to move objects much larger than itself. (7/16)
AST SpaceMobile Defers Commercial Direct-to-Device Timeline to Early 2027 (Source: SatNews)
AST SpaceMobile announced in a regulatory filing that it has rescheduled its commercial Direct-to-Device (D2D) service launch to early 2027. The revision shifts the Texas-based operator’s target away from its previous late-2026 commercial timeline. Despite schedule changes, the company is continuing to manufacture and deploy its “Block 2” BlueBird satellite configuration designed to deliver continuous space-based cellular broadband. (7/16)
York Space Readies 21 Satellites for US Space Development Agency Launch (Source: Defense Post)
York Space Systems has completed a second batch of 21 satellites for the US Space Development Agency (SDA), with the spacecraft scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Built at York’s US production facilities, the satellites are designed to expand the SDA’s low Earth orbit communications network and provide secure tactical data links for US and allied forces. York said the production lot reflects investments in manufacturing capacity intended to support higher-volume spacecraft production for national security programs. (7/17)
ESA Selects Ariane 6 to Launch Deep Space CubeSat (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has awarded a contract to launch its solar storm-monitoring CubeSat on an Ariane 6 rocket. Scheduled for launch in early 2027, the Henon CubeSat will be flown as a secondary passenger alongside ESA’s PLATO telescope, which will be tasked with finding Earth-like exoplanets. According to the agency’s 16 July press release, a feasibility study was first conducted with Arianespace to confirm that CubeSats could be safely accommodated as secondary payloads aboard an Ariane 6 flight. (7/16)
Astronomers Discover Landslides on Pluto Large Enough to Bury Entire Cities on Earth (Source: Space.com)
The aftermath of landslides have been found in images of Pluto's surface taken when the New Horizons mission flew past the dwarf planet in 2015. The landslides are evidence that the icy world is still active, albeit on geological timescales. Images taken by New Horizons' LORRI (Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager) instrument, which was capable of detecting surface features as small as 984 feet, provided evidence for six landslides that have taken place down the inner walls of three craters on the western edge of Sputnik Planitia. (7/16)
NASA Mars Plans Hit Budget Wall (Source: Politico)
Mars researchers are warning congressional appropriators that without an increase to NASA’s budget, a new flagship program could imperil other science efforts. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced a mission earlier this year to send three helicopters to Mars aboard a nuclear-powered spacecraft. The mission, dubbed “SkyFall,” aims to launch in late 2028 and investigate the geology and climate history of Mars.
Scientists are excited about the unprecedented mission. But they warn NASA’s science budget is already strapped for cash, and there isn’t enough to go around. Adding a new project to NASA’s flat budget could compel the agency to “prematurely terminate active missions,” according to a letter shared with POLITICO that was sent to appropriators this week by the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group, a community-based forum that provides input on Mars missions. (7/17)
July 17, 2026
Slingshot Wins $69 Million From Space
Force for AI Training Environments (Source: Space News)
Slingshot Aerospace won a $69.2 million U.S. Space Force contract to develop artificial intelligence-based training environments. The Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract, spanning four and a half years, supports the service's Operational Test and Training Infrastructure program, or OTTI. That effort aims to give Space Force units more realistic tools for testing systems and preparing personnel for increasingly complex operations in space. Slingshot said it will provide AI-enabled environments in which Space Force operators can rehearse scenarios involving the protection and defense of U.S. space systems, compare possible responses and practice making decisions under conditions designed to resemble an actual conflict. (7/16)
Space Commerce Office Says Mission Authorization Scheme Gives Certainty (Source: Space News)
The Office of Space Commerce says its proposal for mission authorization of novel space activities would give companies regulatory certainty without burdensome requirements. At a House Science Committee hearing Wednesday, Taylor Jordan, director of the office, said the voluntary "Space Commerce Certification" system would ensure companies working on concepts not clearly regulated today could get government approvals quickly. The proposal, announced in March, is awaiting approval by the White House; if that comes, the office will put out a call for applications to help test the process. (7/16)
India's ISRO Takes Steps to Curb Resignations (Source: NDTV)
The Indian space agency ISRO is limiting the ability of key staff to depart after a surge of resignations. An internal memo directed ISRO centers not to accept resignation or retirement requests from key scientists and engineers, referring those requests instead to agency leadership. The order came after more than 100 people left the agency recently, some to join space startups in the country. (7/16)
Former ISRO Chief Joins Launch Startup's Board (Source: The Hindu)
A former chairman of ISRO is joining the board of an Indian launch startup. Agnikul Cosmos said that S. Somanath, ISRO chairman from 2022 to 2024, will be an observer on its board. The company is developing a small orbital launch vehicle with plans to recover and reuse the first stage. The company says it is preparing for an orbital launch attempt called Mission 02, but did not disclose the schedule for that mission. (7/16)
New Jersey Meteorite Contained Amino Acids (Source: Space.com)
A meteorite that hit a New Jersey home two years ago contains amino acids. The meteorite fell through the roof of a house in Hillsborough, New Jersey, and the homeowner carefully preserved the pieces. Scientists said that made the carbonaceous chondrite samples unusually pristine, allowing for detailed analysis. That analysis found traces of amino acids and other organic compounds, and evidence that the asteroid it came from had been altered by water. It adds to evidence that the building blocks for life to form on Earth came from similar asteroids. (7/16)
ISU Founder Pitches Virtual Reinvention Plan (Source: Douglas Messier)
The International Space University (ISU) is looking to reinvent itself as a virtual university in the wake of the bankruptcy of the school’s French organization and the closing of its Central Campus in Strasbourg, ISU Co-founder Bob Richards said. Although ISU France is being liquidated, the university has a separate incorporation in Massachusetts that dates back to its founding in 1987. ISU would be rebuilt under that organization.
Richards said the structure being considered involves the establishment of three to five regional hubs connected to a network of educational institutions around the world. He said he wants Strasbourg to continue to play an important part of ISU even though it will no longer host the Central Campus. Richards stressed that restructuring the university in its very early stages. The primary focus is on winding down ISU France, which is in the hands of a court-appointed liquidator, and assisting more than 100 students who were impacted by the university’s bankruptcy. (7/16)
SpaceX Scrubs Starship Launch at T-0 (Source: Space News)
The launch of Starship on its 13th suborbital test flight was aborted Thursday just as the Super Heavy booster's engines ignited. SpaceX later said that not all of the booster's 33 engines ignited, causing the scrub. SpaceX is targeting early next week for the next launch attempt after replacing two engines. Flight 13 is designed to fly the same suborbital profile as Flight 12 in May, with plans to address issues seen on that earlier flight. Shares in SpaceX, which closed below its IPO price for the first time Thursday, fell several more dollars in after-hours trading immediately after the scrub. (7/17)
SpaceX Launches SDA Mission From California (Source: Space News)
SpaceX successfully launched a set of Space Development Agency communications satellites earlier in the day. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the T1TL-E mission for SDA, carrying 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer spacecraft built by York Space Systems. This was the third launch of Tranche 1 Transport Layer but the first since last October. SDA said the pause was driven by hardware and software issues found on the first 42 Tranche 1 satellites. The agency, which previously planned a monthly cadence of launches, is now moving to a readiness-based model, launching "whoever is ready" rather than holding to a fixed schedule. (7/17)
Schiess Says Massive Space Force Budget Needed to Counter China (Source: Space News)
The nominee to be the next commanding general of the U.S. Space Force said the service's proposed massive budget increase is needed to counter China. Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess said at a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing Thursday said the proposed $71.1 billion budget for the Space Force, more than double its 2026 budget, is "exactly what we need." He said most of the proposed increase would pay for weapons, facilities, training and other equipment rather than personnel. If confirmed, Schiess would succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman as the third chief of space operations. He currently serves as the Space Force's deputy chief of operations. (7/17)
DIU Wants Power Beaming (Source: Space News)
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking commercial proposals to beam electrical power between spacecraft and from orbit to the ground. Companies selected for the project would be expected to complete a laboratory demonstration within 12 months of receiving an award. The government would then assess whether the technology is ready for an on-orbit prototype demonstration within 24 months. The technology could allow spacecraft to operate for longer periods or support more power-intensive payloads without relying exclusively on their own solar arrays and batteries. The Pentagon wants access to an operational space power-beaming capability by fiscal 2030, either by operating its own system or buying it as a service. (7/17)
Serbia Signs Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Serbia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords, two years after joining a Chinese lunar initiative. Serbia's foreign minister signed the Artemis Accords Thursday at NASA Headquarters. The country is the 10th so far this year to sign the Accords and the 69th overall. The Artemis Accords outline best practices for space exploration, and NASA plans to use the Accords to coordinate cooperation on its lunar base plans. In 2024, Serbia joined the Chinese-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) effort but did not disclose what role it might play in that lunar base effort. Two other ILRS countries, Senegal and Thailand, have also signed the Artemis Accords. (7/17)
AST SpaceMobile Raising $1 Billion, Including for Launches (Source: AST SpaceMobile)
AST SpaceMobile is planning to raise $1 billion as it seeks alternative launch options. The company announced this week it would raise $1 billion in convertible senior notes, with an option to sell an additional $150 million in notes. The company said it would use the net proceeds of the sale to pursue growth options "and secure additional access to orbit for its space-based cellular broadband network, including partnerships and/or acquisitions to further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers."
AST's rollout of its commercial broadband direct-to-device service has slipped to 2027 because of launch delays, including the grounding of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. There are, however, limited launch company acquisition options for AST given the amount of money it has available. (7/17)
NASA to Use Starlink to Augment Artemis 3 Comms (Source: NASA)
NASA plans to use Starlink to augment communications for the Artemis 3 mission. NASA said Thursday it will install optical intersatellite terminals on the Orion spacecraft to enable it to communicate with Starlink satellites, allowing Orion to download 4K video and images. Orion will remain in low Earth orbit for Artemis 3, allowing it to use the Starlink constellation in addition to other ground and satellite communications systems. (7/17)
Isaacman Donates $500K to Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is making a record-setting donation to a scholarship program. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation announced this week that Isaacman had donated $500,000, the largest one-time personal donation in the foundation's history. The foundation, established in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, awards scholarships to students pursuing STEM degrees. (7/16)
ASI Chief (and COPUOS President) Dies (Source: ASI)
The head of the Italian space agency ASI has died. The agency announced Thursday the "untimely passing" of Teodoro Valente but did not disclose any additional details. Valente had been president of ASI since 2023 and was a professor who did research in composite materials and nanotechnology. Earlier this year he was named president of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or COPUOS, for a two-year term. ASI's vice president, Elda Turco Bulgherini, will take over as president. (7/17)
$10B Defense Investment Boosts Pennsylvania Aerospace/Defense Workforce (Source: GovCon Wire)
President Trump announced nearly $10 billion in new defense-related investments at the Pennsylvania Defense & Innovation Summit, supporting more than 4,000 jobs. The announcements span defense manufacturing, emerging technologies, workforce development and R&D initiatives. Major projects include facility expansions, new production capabilities and significant shipbuilding, aerospace and autonomous systems investments. Defense leaders emphasize the effort will strengthen the industrial base and accelerate innovation across the national security ecosystem. (7/17)
Amazon Leo Targets South Africa (Source: Independent)
Amazon has announced that its new satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, will launch in South Africa by 2027, positioning the tech giant to potentially outpace Elon Musk’s rival Starlink in Africa’s most developed economy. The tech giant, founded by Jeff Bezos, confirmed a partnership with South African internet provider Herotel to roll out the service in the nation of 62 million people.
This marks Amazon’s inaugural satellite internet agreement on the African continent. Financial specifics of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Amazon’s announcement comes amid sharp criticism from Elon Musk regarding South Africa’s regulatory environment. The world’s wealthiest individual has previously stated that South African regulations have prevented Starlink’s launch there, attributing the issue to his race and accusing the government of racism. (7/15)
SWISSto12 Raises $70 Million for Small GEO Satellite Production (Source: Payload)
European space company SWISSto12 has raised a $70M Series C, which will help it scale to meet the global demand for sovereign hardware in orbit. The Swiss company, founded in 2011, sells two main products: HummingSat: a small sat intended to operate in GEO, which is expected to launch for the first time next year; and HummingLink, a multi-orbit satcom payloads and terminals. (7/16)
Move Over, GPS: Navigation Satellites in Low-Earth Orbit are Making a Comeback (Source: Ars Technica)
New navigation satellites in low-Earth orbit could provide 100 times stronger signal strength compared to GPS and other global navigation satellite systems operating from higher orbital altitudes—enabling greater location accuracy within dense cities, under thick foliage, and even inside buildings. Such signals would also likely prove more resilient to interference at a time when commercial flights, maritime shipping, and even various smartphone apps face increasingly widespread disruption from GPS jamming.
That vision may start to take shape when the first six production satellites of California-based Xona Space Systems are scheduled to launch in October 2026, with early service starting in 2027. Once the full constellation of 258 Pulsar satellites has been launched in the following years, Xona claims that customers will be able to accurately pinpoint their locations anywhere on Earth to within several centimeters. (7/16)
Mission Authorization Hearing Puts Office of Space Commerce Framework Costs Under Scrutiny (Source: Payload)
A hearing to review the Office of Space Commerce’s (OSC’s) proposed framework for novel mission authorization became a referendum on whether the office can afford to run it. On Wednesday, OSC Director Taylor Jordan appeared before a House Science Space and Technology Subcommittee to discuss the mission authorization proposal OSC released in March. Instead, lawmakers spent much of the hearing criticizing the proposed OSC budget cuts— and Jordan conceded that the budget request would not cover the mission authorization plan.
The FY27 budget proposal, released in April, included just $11M for OSC—and no dedicated funding to continue the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), an SSA tool that opened the pilot phase to satellite operators in May. Altogether the cuts represent a ~80% markdown from the $52.5M Congress enacted for FY26.
Despite the cuts, Jordan said that the office was still pursuing TraCSS alongside its mission authorization proposal. But Democratic lawmakers weren’t buying that the office could make its budget stretch that far.
(7/16)
Eutelsat FCC Filing Suggests its 440-Satellite Airbus OneWeb Order Could Add New Capabilities (Source: Space Intel Report)
Eutelsat’s FCC filing tied to its Airbus Defence and Space order for 440 OneWeb satellites indicates the batch may not be a straight continuation of the current 640-satellite fleet. The filing points to potential additional features—such as optical inter-satellite links—that are not present across today’s satellites. (7/15)
Commercial Space Federation Launches State and Local Council to Tackle US Commercial Space Capacity Constraints (Source: Space News)
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) announced the launch of its State and Local Council (SLC), a new membership body aimed at convening state and regional stakeholders. The group will address the industry’s most pressing capacity challenges and align regional capabilities to strengthen the national industrial base. (7/15)
Slingshot Aerospace won a $69.2 million U.S. Space Force contract to develop artificial intelligence-based training environments. The Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract, spanning four and a half years, supports the service's Operational Test and Training Infrastructure program, or OTTI. That effort aims to give Space Force units more realistic tools for testing systems and preparing personnel for increasingly complex operations in space. Slingshot said it will provide AI-enabled environments in which Space Force operators can rehearse scenarios involving the protection and defense of U.S. space systems, compare possible responses and practice making decisions under conditions designed to resemble an actual conflict. (7/16)
Space Commerce Office Says Mission Authorization Scheme Gives Certainty (Source: Space News)
The Office of Space Commerce says its proposal for mission authorization of novel space activities would give companies regulatory certainty without burdensome requirements. At a House Science Committee hearing Wednesday, Taylor Jordan, director of the office, said the voluntary "Space Commerce Certification" system would ensure companies working on concepts not clearly regulated today could get government approvals quickly. The proposal, announced in March, is awaiting approval by the White House; if that comes, the office will put out a call for applications to help test the process. (7/16)
India's ISRO Takes Steps to Curb Resignations (Source: NDTV)
The Indian space agency ISRO is limiting the ability of key staff to depart after a surge of resignations. An internal memo directed ISRO centers not to accept resignation or retirement requests from key scientists and engineers, referring those requests instead to agency leadership. The order came after more than 100 people left the agency recently, some to join space startups in the country. (7/16)
Former ISRO Chief Joins Launch Startup's Board (Source: The Hindu)
A former chairman of ISRO is joining the board of an Indian launch startup. Agnikul Cosmos said that S. Somanath, ISRO chairman from 2022 to 2024, will be an observer on its board. The company is developing a small orbital launch vehicle with plans to recover and reuse the first stage. The company says it is preparing for an orbital launch attempt called Mission 02, but did not disclose the schedule for that mission. (7/16)
New Jersey Meteorite Contained Amino Acids (Source: Space.com)
A meteorite that hit a New Jersey home two years ago contains amino acids. The meteorite fell through the roof of a house in Hillsborough, New Jersey, and the homeowner carefully preserved the pieces. Scientists said that made the carbonaceous chondrite samples unusually pristine, allowing for detailed analysis. That analysis found traces of amino acids and other organic compounds, and evidence that the asteroid it came from had been altered by water. It adds to evidence that the building blocks for life to form on Earth came from similar asteroids. (7/16)
ISU Founder Pitches Virtual Reinvention Plan (Source: Douglas Messier)
The International Space University (ISU) is looking to reinvent itself as a virtual university in the wake of the bankruptcy of the school’s French organization and the closing of its Central Campus in Strasbourg, ISU Co-founder Bob Richards said. Although ISU France is being liquidated, the university has a separate incorporation in Massachusetts that dates back to its founding in 1987. ISU would be rebuilt under that organization.
Richards said the structure being considered involves the establishment of three to five regional hubs connected to a network of educational institutions around the world. He said he wants Strasbourg to continue to play an important part of ISU even though it will no longer host the Central Campus. Richards stressed that restructuring the university in its very early stages. The primary focus is on winding down ISU France, which is in the hands of a court-appointed liquidator, and assisting more than 100 students who were impacted by the university’s bankruptcy. (7/16)
SpaceX Scrubs Starship Launch at T-0 (Source: Space News)
The launch of Starship on its 13th suborbital test flight was aborted Thursday just as the Super Heavy booster's engines ignited. SpaceX later said that not all of the booster's 33 engines ignited, causing the scrub. SpaceX is targeting early next week for the next launch attempt after replacing two engines. Flight 13 is designed to fly the same suborbital profile as Flight 12 in May, with plans to address issues seen on that earlier flight. Shares in SpaceX, which closed below its IPO price for the first time Thursday, fell several more dollars in after-hours trading immediately after the scrub. (7/17)
SpaceX Launches SDA Mission From California (Source: Space News)
SpaceX successfully launched a set of Space Development Agency communications satellites earlier in the day. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the T1TL-E mission for SDA, carrying 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer spacecraft built by York Space Systems. This was the third launch of Tranche 1 Transport Layer but the first since last October. SDA said the pause was driven by hardware and software issues found on the first 42 Tranche 1 satellites. The agency, which previously planned a monthly cadence of launches, is now moving to a readiness-based model, launching "whoever is ready" rather than holding to a fixed schedule. (7/17)
Schiess Says Massive Space Force Budget Needed to Counter China (Source: Space News)
The nominee to be the next commanding general of the U.S. Space Force said the service's proposed massive budget increase is needed to counter China. Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess said at a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing Thursday said the proposed $71.1 billion budget for the Space Force, more than double its 2026 budget, is "exactly what we need." He said most of the proposed increase would pay for weapons, facilities, training and other equipment rather than personnel. If confirmed, Schiess would succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman as the third chief of space operations. He currently serves as the Space Force's deputy chief of operations. (7/17)
DIU Wants Power Beaming (Source: Space News)
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking commercial proposals to beam electrical power between spacecraft and from orbit to the ground. Companies selected for the project would be expected to complete a laboratory demonstration within 12 months of receiving an award. The government would then assess whether the technology is ready for an on-orbit prototype demonstration within 24 months. The technology could allow spacecraft to operate for longer periods or support more power-intensive payloads without relying exclusively on their own solar arrays and batteries. The Pentagon wants access to an operational space power-beaming capability by fiscal 2030, either by operating its own system or buying it as a service. (7/17)
Serbia Signs Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Serbia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords, two years after joining a Chinese lunar initiative. Serbia's foreign minister signed the Artemis Accords Thursday at NASA Headquarters. The country is the 10th so far this year to sign the Accords and the 69th overall. The Artemis Accords outline best practices for space exploration, and NASA plans to use the Accords to coordinate cooperation on its lunar base plans. In 2024, Serbia joined the Chinese-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) effort but did not disclose what role it might play in that lunar base effort. Two other ILRS countries, Senegal and Thailand, have also signed the Artemis Accords. (7/17)
AST SpaceMobile Raising $1 Billion, Including for Launches (Source: AST SpaceMobile)
AST SpaceMobile is planning to raise $1 billion as it seeks alternative launch options. The company announced this week it would raise $1 billion in convertible senior notes, with an option to sell an additional $150 million in notes. The company said it would use the net proceeds of the sale to pursue growth options "and secure additional access to orbit for its space-based cellular broadband network, including partnerships and/or acquisitions to further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers."
AST's rollout of its commercial broadband direct-to-device service has slipped to 2027 because of launch delays, including the grounding of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. There are, however, limited launch company acquisition options for AST given the amount of money it has available. (7/17)
NASA to Use Starlink to Augment Artemis 3 Comms (Source: NASA)
NASA plans to use Starlink to augment communications for the Artemis 3 mission. NASA said Thursday it will install optical intersatellite terminals on the Orion spacecraft to enable it to communicate with Starlink satellites, allowing Orion to download 4K video and images. Orion will remain in low Earth orbit for Artemis 3, allowing it to use the Starlink constellation in addition to other ground and satellite communications systems. (7/17)
Isaacman Donates $500K to Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is making a record-setting donation to a scholarship program. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation announced this week that Isaacman had donated $500,000, the largest one-time personal donation in the foundation's history. The foundation, established in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, awards scholarships to students pursuing STEM degrees. (7/16)
ASI Chief (and COPUOS President) Dies (Source: ASI)
The head of the Italian space agency ASI has died. The agency announced Thursday the "untimely passing" of Teodoro Valente but did not disclose any additional details. Valente had been president of ASI since 2023 and was a professor who did research in composite materials and nanotechnology. Earlier this year he was named president of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or COPUOS, for a two-year term. ASI's vice president, Elda Turco Bulgherini, will take over as president. (7/17)
$10B Defense Investment Boosts Pennsylvania Aerospace/Defense Workforce (Source: GovCon Wire)
President Trump announced nearly $10 billion in new defense-related investments at the Pennsylvania Defense & Innovation Summit, supporting more than 4,000 jobs. The announcements span defense manufacturing, emerging technologies, workforce development and R&D initiatives. Major projects include facility expansions, new production capabilities and significant shipbuilding, aerospace and autonomous systems investments. Defense leaders emphasize the effort will strengthen the industrial base and accelerate innovation across the national security ecosystem. (7/17)
Amazon Leo Targets South Africa (Source: Independent)
Amazon has announced that its new satellite internet service, Amazon Leo, will launch in South Africa by 2027, positioning the tech giant to potentially outpace Elon Musk’s rival Starlink in Africa’s most developed economy. The tech giant, founded by Jeff Bezos, confirmed a partnership with South African internet provider Herotel to roll out the service in the nation of 62 million people.
This marks Amazon’s inaugural satellite internet agreement on the African continent. Financial specifics of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Amazon’s announcement comes amid sharp criticism from Elon Musk regarding South Africa’s regulatory environment. The world’s wealthiest individual has previously stated that South African regulations have prevented Starlink’s launch there, attributing the issue to his race and accusing the government of racism. (7/15)
SWISSto12 Raises $70 Million for Small GEO Satellite Production (Source: Payload)
European space company SWISSto12 has raised a $70M Series C, which will help it scale to meet the global demand for sovereign hardware in orbit. The Swiss company, founded in 2011, sells two main products: HummingSat: a small sat intended to operate in GEO, which is expected to launch for the first time next year; and HummingLink, a multi-orbit satcom payloads and terminals. (7/16)
Move Over, GPS: Navigation Satellites in Low-Earth Orbit are Making a Comeback (Source: Ars Technica)
New navigation satellites in low-Earth orbit could provide 100 times stronger signal strength compared to GPS and other global navigation satellite systems operating from higher orbital altitudes—enabling greater location accuracy within dense cities, under thick foliage, and even inside buildings. Such signals would also likely prove more resilient to interference at a time when commercial flights, maritime shipping, and even various smartphone apps face increasingly widespread disruption from GPS jamming.
That vision may start to take shape when the first six production satellites of California-based Xona Space Systems are scheduled to launch in October 2026, with early service starting in 2027. Once the full constellation of 258 Pulsar satellites has been launched in the following years, Xona claims that customers will be able to accurately pinpoint their locations anywhere on Earth to within several centimeters. (7/16)
Mission Authorization Hearing Puts Office of Space Commerce Framework Costs Under Scrutiny (Source: Payload)
A hearing to review the Office of Space Commerce’s (OSC’s) proposed framework for novel mission authorization became a referendum on whether the office can afford to run it. On Wednesday, OSC Director Taylor Jordan appeared before a House Science Space and Technology Subcommittee to discuss the mission authorization proposal OSC released in March. Instead, lawmakers spent much of the hearing criticizing the proposed OSC budget cuts— and Jordan conceded that the budget request would not cover the mission authorization plan.
The FY27 budget proposal, released in April, included just $11M for OSC—and no dedicated funding to continue the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), an SSA tool that opened the pilot phase to satellite operators in May. Altogether the cuts represent a ~80% markdown from the $52.5M Congress enacted for FY26.
Despite the cuts, Jordan said that the office was still pursuing TraCSS alongside its mission authorization proposal. But Democratic lawmakers weren’t buying that the office could make its budget stretch that far.
(7/16)
Eutelsat FCC Filing Suggests its 440-Satellite Airbus OneWeb Order Could Add New Capabilities (Source: Space Intel Report)
Eutelsat’s FCC filing tied to its Airbus Defence and Space order for 440 OneWeb satellites indicates the batch may not be a straight continuation of the current 640-satellite fleet. The filing points to potential additional features—such as optical inter-satellite links—that are not present across today’s satellites. (7/15)
Commercial Space Federation Launches State and Local Council to Tackle US Commercial Space Capacity Constraints (Source: Space News)
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) announced the launch of its State and Local Council (SLC), a new membership body aimed at convening state and regional stakeholders. The group will address the industry’s most pressing capacity challenges and align regional capabilities to strengthen the national industrial base. (7/15)
July 16, 2026
SDA Resumes Satellite Launches After
Months-Long Pause (Source: Aerospace America)
The U.S. Space Development Agency is slated to launch the latest batch of satellites for its proliferated constellation this week. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is to launch Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base with 21 York Space Systems-built satellites to be placed in low-Earth orbit, said GP Sandhoo, who also serves as the Space Force’s portfolio acquisition executive for missile tracking and warning. (7/15)
Office of Space Commerce’s New Authorization Framework Should Balance Innovation with Safety, Lawmakers Say (Source: Aerospace America)
The Office of Space Commerce’s proposed method to streamline and expedite approvals for novel in-space operations must take into account national security and public safety, members of the U.S. House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee said during a hearing on Wednesday. (7/16)
Slingshot Aerospace Wins Space Force Contract to Expand AI Mission Rehearsal (Source: Via Satellite)
Slingshot Aerospace has won a contract worth almost $70 million with the U.S. Space Force, a contract the company is calling the largest in its history. The contract will see Slingshot Aerospace deliver AI-powered mission rehearsal and operational training capabilities to Space Force Guardians. The $69.2 million award, issued as a SBIR Phase III contract, builds on a previous Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract, which supported development of a digital space twin of the space operating environment. (7/15)
Florida Startup Developing Orbital Debris Removal System (Source: SPACErePORT, Space News)
Fort Pierce-based Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR) is developing PODRS, a passive capture concept for the smallest, fastest, and least trackable objects in low Earth orbit. The goal is to intercept debris 10 centimeters and smaller, slow it, and retain it without active propulsion or capture mechanisms. SOAR announced a partnership July 15 with the University of Texas, El Paso to develop PODRS. (7/15)
Florida Startup Developing "SpaceBox" for Sending Items to Space (Source: Blackstar Orbital)
Titusville-based BlackStar Orbital's SpaceBox will allow users to send products, memorabilia, artwork, prototypes, research, and personal items on a real spaceflight, with eligible payloads receiving BlackStar Orbital Space Certification as verified proof of their journey beyond Earth. Whether for a global marketing campaign, advancing research, commemorating a milestone, or making history with your brand, SpaceBox provides a unique opportunity to access space and turn your vision into a certified space-flown legacy. (7/15)
A Most Improbable Astronaut Fust Went to Space (Source: Ars Technica)
Anil Menon, a NASA flight surgeon, felt crushed nine years ago as his hopes and aspirations collapsed around him. For the fourth time, he had diligently applied to become an astronaut at the US space agency, seeking to fulfill a lifelong dream. Although he made it to the final round, NASA had once again rejected his application at the end of the grueling process. Click here. (7/15)
Update on China's New Launchers and Recovery Plans (Source: NSF)
China reached a major milestone less than a week ago with the first successful recovery of an orbital-class booster, using a novel cable-net catch system at sea. Two years ago this week, LandSpace set a different record when its ZhuQue-2 became the first methane-powered launcher to reach orbit. LandSpace is now expected to launch a second ZQ-3 to orbit in August. If this mission successfully lands the first stage on the pad downrange in Gansu Province, it would mark China’s first land-based propulsive landing of an orbital booster.
Commercial launch provider iSpace has been conducting sea trials of its first autonomous droneship that will support the recovery of boosters for its Shuang Quxian-3 (SQX-3, or Hyperbola-3) vehicle. The Qinglan (“Clear Waves”) measures 100 m long and 42 m wide with a deck area measuring approximately 60 x 40 meters. The droneship was first revealed in August 2025 when it left the Runyang Shipyard in Yangzhou and is the first in a fleet the company has named Xingji Guihang (“Interstellar Return/Homecoming”).
After nine months, OrienSpace is preparing for the third sea-launch of its all-solid motor-driven Gravity-1 no earlier than July 22. The rocket last took flight in October 2025 after a 21-month gap following its debut in January 2024. The company does not have exclusive use of the Dongfang Hangtiangang launch vessel, though the delays are more attributable to slow early production methods and some leadership turbulence between the first and second flights. Meanwhile, the company has been transporting engines to the Haiyang spaceport, potentially for testing ahead of the maiden launch of its Gravity-2 later this year. (7/15)
Short Sellers Notch $8.7 Billion Profit as SpaceX Shares Dip to IPO Price (Source: CNA)
Short sellers targeting SpaceX shares are sitting on an estimated $8.7 billion in paper profit since the rockets-to-AI firm's initial public offering last month, as its stock slipped below the IPO price, according to data and analytics firm Ortex Technologies. Short sellers, who borrow shares to sell them and later buy them back at a lower price for a profit, have pressed their bearish bets on SpaceX as the company's shares slipped toward its IPO price of $135 from a post-IPO high of $225.64. (7/16)
Elon Musk's Audacious Gamble Has Already Swallowed Up More Than $800 Billion in One Month (Source: Numerama)
In June 2026, Elon Musk and SpaceX achieved the largest IPO in history. A month later, the company had almost returned to square one, after a meteoric rise that was as spectacular as it was short-lived. After peaking above $2.7 trillion, SpaceX has almost returned to its IPO level and is now worth $1.792 trillion, as of July 15.
In less than a month, this stock market rollercoaster has swallowed up $863 billion in market capitalization. The operation is not a failure for SpaceX, however. The company did recoup the $75 billion it sought, and its stock price remains slightly above its initial public offering price. The situation is considerably less rosy for investors who joined during the initial euphoria, some of whom are now reporting losses close to 40%. (7/15)
Space Startup Funding Near Record Highs as SpaceX IPO Draws New Investors (Source: Reuters)
Global investment in space startups was near record levels in the second quarter, buoyed by investor enthusiasm following SpaceX's nearly $86 billion initial public offering, according to a Seraphim Space report on Thursday. "We are seeing increased inbound from investors with limited or no prior space exposure, who are now looking to build positions in the category." Space companies raised about $7.5 billion across 141 venture funding deals in the second quarter, compared with a record $8 billion across 159 deals in the previous quarter. (7/16)
Flying blind: NASA’s X-59 Could Bolster the Windowless Cockpit (Source: Aerospace America)
When NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft broke the sound barrier for the first time on June 5, it marked a big step toward the return of commercial supersonic flight. But the aircraft could help foster innovation in another area as well: the cockpit. (7/15)
New Frontier Aerospace Plans Sales of 3D-Printed Hypersonic Rocket Engine (Source: Aerospace America)
Washington state startup New Frontier Aerospace is moving to install by the end of this year its 3D-printed, hypersonic-capable rocket engine onto a drone to demonstrate and gather data on its performance. The company, headquartered in Kent, plans to offer the relatively compact, liquid natural gas-fueled engine, known as Mjölnir, for sale commercially.
New Frontier says it is designing Mjölnir to power small satellites and rockets that fall under NASA’s Venture Class, which includes Rocket Lab’s Electron, for example. New Frontier has been hot-firing the engines since mid-2024. CEO Bill Bruner, a former assistant administrator for legislative and governmental affairs at NASA, founded New Frontier in 2020 with David Gregory, former development lead for Blue Origin’s BE-3 engine, and Jess Sponable, a former DARPA program manager who led spaceplane development. (7/15)
The Space Force Faces Growing Pains. Here’s How the Next Chief Can Help (Source: Breaking Defense)
On July 16, Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a hearing as part of his path towards being the third Chief of Space Operations. Doubling the service from roughly 10,000 to 20,000 military members by 2030 is not a trivial matter. Gen. Schiess and the Space Force must ensure it has the right people, with the right ranks, doing the right functions, and in the right locations — all while preserving the high standards of qualification that make Guardians unique, and in a way that will create a sustainable force structure.
Due to new Pentagon policies, DOGE cuts, and even a few retirements, the Space Force lost many qualified personnel across its military and civilian workforce. While the numbers of people in these categories are likely in the low hundreds for the Space Force, they could offer ready-made talent that could be easily re-integrated. One area where new interservice transfers might be helpful is to grow the existing apparatus responsible for new accessions — recruitment, basic training, skills training, and assignment matching.
Perhaps the most promising option is for the Space Force to direct commission or direct enlist experts from industry and other fields whose specialties the Space Force needs. This would be like the programs the other services employ for medical and legal professionals. The technical nature of many Space Force functions could be ideal for such an approach. By bringing them in at higher ranks than a traditional new member, the Space Force can create a more uniform growth path for itself. (7/14)
Moon Landings Could Destroy Evidence of Life's Origins (Source: Space.com)
Landing spacecraft on the moon could contaminate ancient clues about how life may have originated on Earth, a new study finds. The exhaust from spacecraft involved with these landings could expel enough methane to contaminate the moon's surface — possibly destroying molecules that could help to explain how life may have originated on Earth. (7/14)
Kratos Wins $100M for Space Domain Awareness System Build (Source: ExecutiveBiz)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has secured an approximately $100 million sole-source prime contract to deliver a ground-based space domain awareness system for an undisclosed government customer. CEO Eric Demarco says the company is positioned to deliver space systems quickly at competitive costs. (7/14)
Space Force Aims to Double Personnel (Source: Breaking Defense)
Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, on track to become the third chief of space operations, faces the challenge of doubling US Space Force personnel to 20,000 by 2030. Schiess could consider reinstating members separated for nondisciplinary reasons, increasing interservice transfers, integrating Guard and Reserve forces and direct appointments from industry. Expanding the Space Force's geographic footprint beyond its current states is also recommended to boost awareness and congressional support. (7/14)
Spain’s Pangea Propulsion Opens New Manufacturing Facility (Source: European Spaceflight)
Pangea Propulsion has inaugurated a new 1,000-square-metre manufacturing facility in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona, investing an initial €1 million in its establishment. According to the company’s CEO, Adrià Argemí Samsó, the opening of the new facility marks the company’s shift to serial production. (7/14)
Space Cargo Costs Could Fall More Than 90% by 2040 (Source: University of Cambridge)
The expense of launching cargo into space will plummet over the next few years, with the cost of reaching orbit forecast to more than halve between now and the end of the decade, and fall around 93% by 2040, according to new Cambridge-led research.
The cost of sending a kilogram of payload into low Earth orbit, an average of $3,868 last year, is set to fall more than 58% to just $1,569 by 2030, and could reach as little as 273 US dollars per kilo by 2040, the study suggests. The analysis shows that the cost of reaching space is falling faster than the expense of steamship freight did during the 19th-century transport revolution, and even faster than solar photovoltaics: a benchmark for rapidly affordable “transformative technologies”. (7/14)
First Diagnostic X-Rays in Space (Source: RSNA)
A team of crew members aboard a commercial spaceflight acquired the first diagnostic X-rays during an orbital flight. For more than four decades, ultrasound has been the only reliable medical imaging modality used in spaceflight. As spaceflight missions increase in duration and distance, increasing the risk of adverse medical events, the limitations of ultrasound have become less acceptable. Ultrasound imaging requires substantial operator training and relies on a sound wave transmitting medium.
The Fram2 mission launched on March 31, 2025, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, entering into a 90-degree orbit at 425 to 450 kilometers above sea level. The mission duration was 3 days and 14 hours, and the spacecraft returned to Earth on April 4, 2025. The X-ray generator sustained superficial structural damage during landing and recovery. However, internal hardware components and X-ray output were unaffected. (7/14)
Guardian Astronaut Brings Operational Medicine Experience to ISS Mission (Source: USSF)
U.S. Space Force Col. Anil Menon launched aboard NASA’s Expedition 75 mission to the International Space Station, bringing with him a career shaped by operational medicine, military service and human spaceflight support. Menon is serving as a flight engineer aboard the ISS during his first mission to space, marking another milestone in the growing relationship between NASA and the Space Force as Guardians continue supporting the nation’s expanding role in the space domain. (7/14)
Researchers Map Moon’s Regolith Thickness (Source: Brown University)
New research by lunar scientists from Brown University provides critical new insights into the thickness of the Moon’s regolith, the layer of loose dust and rock that drapes the entire lunar surface. Using an analysis of more than 300 small and freshly formed impact craters across the lunar surface, along with data collected from lunar missions dating back to the 1970s, the researchers created a map of regolith thickness across the Moon. The team has made the data publicly available in the hope that other researchers will add to it, helping to make it a valuable resource for future lunar exploration. (7/14)
SpaceX Data Center Plan Fuels Push to Oust Texas Mayor (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
The debate over data centers on Earth has landed in a small town outside of Waco that’s crucial to Elon Musk’s vision to move the technology to space. Concerns over the closed-door approval of a new data center project and years of water violations tied to SpaceX rocket engine testing have some in McGregor calling for changes at City Hall. More than 60 people have signed a petition to change or remove Mayor Jim Lilley, according to Dennis Fehler, a fourth-generation native of the town who’s leading the recall effort.
Gov. Greg Abbott recently called for blocking new data centers in rural parts of the state. He also has directed the Public Utility Commission and Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the statewide grid, to take steps to reduce the impact of data centers. The fight in McGregor is happening in the town that’s home to SpaceX’s busiest test site, where every one of the company’s rocket engines is test-fired before flight.
Wall Street on SpaceX: ‘Everything Depends on Starship’ (Source: AEI)
What do the banks think about (a) the viability of Starship, and (b) assuming Starship will be a reliable, reusable, high-cadence vehicle, what does that mean for launch costs? Bankers' analyses tend to focus on a single number: dollars per kilogram to orbit. It’s the number that will determine the economic viability of humanity living and working in low-Earth orbit, colonizing the Moon and Mars (and beyond), and whether we can build space-based energy and AI infrastructure.
Given that these reports are from banks that underwrote the SpaceX IPO, you would expect them to be upbeat. But they’re hardly the most optimistic. Goldman Sachs: “We expect Starship to become fully operational and prove out commercial viability in the coming quarters as the vehicle begins deploying internal (and in 2027, external) payloads into orbit.” ... The “total number of Starship launches [is] expected to reach ~2,750 in 2030” and that means SpaceX “will have to manufacture 600 Starships through 2029 to support launches.”
JP Morgan: "Everything Depends on Starship. We view Starship’s path to rapid and complete reusability as the critical enabler underpinning SpaceX’s many long-term growth drivers. Accordingly, any delays, technical setbacks, or regulatory hurdles that constrain the launch trajectory will impede planned growth across multiple business lines. ... While SpaceX has an incredibly strong track record of innovation, with many key “firsts” across Space, Connectivity, and AI, Starship’s scale & complexity will require superior execution." (7/7)
Utah Helicopter Flights Test NASA’s DAVINCI Mission to Venus (Source: NASA)
Before NASA sends its DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) descent probe down through Venus’s thick atmosphere, scientists need to confirm that its cameras and instruments can do the job. During its 60-minute descent at Venus, the probe will capture images, measure the atmospheric chemistry, and explore the environment of a world no one has seen up close in this way.
To prepare, a team of DAVINCI scientists and engineers traveled to Crater Island, Utah, in late June. There, they simulated the descent imaging part of their Venus mission through slow, near-vertical helicopter descents from altitudes as high as 18,000 feet to make sure they would be able to measure the landscapes using only optical and infrared images taken on the way down. (7/14)
The U.S. Space Development Agency is slated to launch the latest batch of satellites for its proliferated constellation this week. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is to launch Thursday from Vandenberg Space Force Base with 21 York Space Systems-built satellites to be placed in low-Earth orbit, said GP Sandhoo, who also serves as the Space Force’s portfolio acquisition executive for missile tracking and warning. (7/15)
Office of Space Commerce’s New Authorization Framework Should Balance Innovation with Safety, Lawmakers Say (Source: Aerospace America)
The Office of Space Commerce’s proposed method to streamline and expedite approvals for novel in-space operations must take into account national security and public safety, members of the U.S. House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee said during a hearing on Wednesday. (7/16)
Slingshot Aerospace Wins Space Force Contract to Expand AI Mission Rehearsal (Source: Via Satellite)
Slingshot Aerospace has won a contract worth almost $70 million with the U.S. Space Force, a contract the company is calling the largest in its history. The contract will see Slingshot Aerospace deliver AI-powered mission rehearsal and operational training capabilities to Space Force Guardians. The $69.2 million award, issued as a SBIR Phase III contract, builds on a previous Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract, which supported development of a digital space twin of the space operating environment. (7/15)
Florida Startup Developing Orbital Debris Removal System (Source: SPACErePORT, Space News)
Fort Pierce-based Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR) is developing PODRS, a passive capture concept for the smallest, fastest, and least trackable objects in low Earth orbit. The goal is to intercept debris 10 centimeters and smaller, slow it, and retain it without active propulsion or capture mechanisms. SOAR announced a partnership July 15 with the University of Texas, El Paso to develop PODRS. (7/15)
Florida Startup Developing "SpaceBox" for Sending Items to Space (Source: Blackstar Orbital)
Titusville-based BlackStar Orbital's SpaceBox will allow users to send products, memorabilia, artwork, prototypes, research, and personal items on a real spaceflight, with eligible payloads receiving BlackStar Orbital Space Certification as verified proof of their journey beyond Earth. Whether for a global marketing campaign, advancing research, commemorating a milestone, or making history with your brand, SpaceBox provides a unique opportunity to access space and turn your vision into a certified space-flown legacy. (7/15)
A Most Improbable Astronaut Fust Went to Space (Source: Ars Technica)
Anil Menon, a NASA flight surgeon, felt crushed nine years ago as his hopes and aspirations collapsed around him. For the fourth time, he had diligently applied to become an astronaut at the US space agency, seeking to fulfill a lifelong dream. Although he made it to the final round, NASA had once again rejected his application at the end of the grueling process. Click here. (7/15)
Update on China's New Launchers and Recovery Plans (Source: NSF)
China reached a major milestone less than a week ago with the first successful recovery of an orbital-class booster, using a novel cable-net catch system at sea. Two years ago this week, LandSpace set a different record when its ZhuQue-2 became the first methane-powered launcher to reach orbit. LandSpace is now expected to launch a second ZQ-3 to orbit in August. If this mission successfully lands the first stage on the pad downrange in Gansu Province, it would mark China’s first land-based propulsive landing of an orbital booster.
Commercial launch provider iSpace has been conducting sea trials of its first autonomous droneship that will support the recovery of boosters for its Shuang Quxian-3 (SQX-3, or Hyperbola-3) vehicle. The Qinglan (“Clear Waves”) measures 100 m long and 42 m wide with a deck area measuring approximately 60 x 40 meters. The droneship was first revealed in August 2025 when it left the Runyang Shipyard in Yangzhou and is the first in a fleet the company has named Xingji Guihang (“Interstellar Return/Homecoming”).
After nine months, OrienSpace is preparing for the third sea-launch of its all-solid motor-driven Gravity-1 no earlier than July 22. The rocket last took flight in October 2025 after a 21-month gap following its debut in January 2024. The company does not have exclusive use of the Dongfang Hangtiangang launch vessel, though the delays are more attributable to slow early production methods and some leadership turbulence between the first and second flights. Meanwhile, the company has been transporting engines to the Haiyang spaceport, potentially for testing ahead of the maiden launch of its Gravity-2 later this year. (7/15)
Short Sellers Notch $8.7 Billion Profit as SpaceX Shares Dip to IPO Price (Source: CNA)
Short sellers targeting SpaceX shares are sitting on an estimated $8.7 billion in paper profit since the rockets-to-AI firm's initial public offering last month, as its stock slipped below the IPO price, according to data and analytics firm Ortex Technologies. Short sellers, who borrow shares to sell them and later buy them back at a lower price for a profit, have pressed their bearish bets on SpaceX as the company's shares slipped toward its IPO price of $135 from a post-IPO high of $225.64. (7/16)
Elon Musk's Audacious Gamble Has Already Swallowed Up More Than $800 Billion in One Month (Source: Numerama)
In June 2026, Elon Musk and SpaceX achieved the largest IPO in history. A month later, the company had almost returned to square one, after a meteoric rise that was as spectacular as it was short-lived. After peaking above $2.7 trillion, SpaceX has almost returned to its IPO level and is now worth $1.792 trillion, as of July 15.
In less than a month, this stock market rollercoaster has swallowed up $863 billion in market capitalization. The operation is not a failure for SpaceX, however. The company did recoup the $75 billion it sought, and its stock price remains slightly above its initial public offering price. The situation is considerably less rosy for investors who joined during the initial euphoria, some of whom are now reporting losses close to 40%. (7/15)
Space Startup Funding Near Record Highs as SpaceX IPO Draws New Investors (Source: Reuters)
Global investment in space startups was near record levels in the second quarter, buoyed by investor enthusiasm following SpaceX's nearly $86 billion initial public offering, according to a Seraphim Space report on Thursday. "We are seeing increased inbound from investors with limited or no prior space exposure, who are now looking to build positions in the category." Space companies raised about $7.5 billion across 141 venture funding deals in the second quarter, compared with a record $8 billion across 159 deals in the previous quarter. (7/16)
Flying blind: NASA’s X-59 Could Bolster the Windowless Cockpit (Source: Aerospace America)
When NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft broke the sound barrier for the first time on June 5, it marked a big step toward the return of commercial supersonic flight. But the aircraft could help foster innovation in another area as well: the cockpit. (7/15)
New Frontier Aerospace Plans Sales of 3D-Printed Hypersonic Rocket Engine (Source: Aerospace America)
Washington state startup New Frontier Aerospace is moving to install by the end of this year its 3D-printed, hypersonic-capable rocket engine onto a drone to demonstrate and gather data on its performance. The company, headquartered in Kent, plans to offer the relatively compact, liquid natural gas-fueled engine, known as Mjölnir, for sale commercially.
New Frontier says it is designing Mjölnir to power small satellites and rockets that fall under NASA’s Venture Class, which includes Rocket Lab’s Electron, for example. New Frontier has been hot-firing the engines since mid-2024. CEO Bill Bruner, a former assistant administrator for legislative and governmental affairs at NASA, founded New Frontier in 2020 with David Gregory, former development lead for Blue Origin’s BE-3 engine, and Jess Sponable, a former DARPA program manager who led spaceplane development. (7/15)
The Space Force Faces Growing Pains. Here’s How the Next Chief Can Help (Source: Breaking Defense)
On July 16, Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a hearing as part of his path towards being the third Chief of Space Operations. Doubling the service from roughly 10,000 to 20,000 military members by 2030 is not a trivial matter. Gen. Schiess and the Space Force must ensure it has the right people, with the right ranks, doing the right functions, and in the right locations — all while preserving the high standards of qualification that make Guardians unique, and in a way that will create a sustainable force structure.
Due to new Pentagon policies, DOGE cuts, and even a few retirements, the Space Force lost many qualified personnel across its military and civilian workforce. While the numbers of people in these categories are likely in the low hundreds for the Space Force, they could offer ready-made talent that could be easily re-integrated. One area where new interservice transfers might be helpful is to grow the existing apparatus responsible for new accessions — recruitment, basic training, skills training, and assignment matching.
Perhaps the most promising option is for the Space Force to direct commission or direct enlist experts from industry and other fields whose specialties the Space Force needs. This would be like the programs the other services employ for medical and legal professionals. The technical nature of many Space Force functions could be ideal for such an approach. By bringing them in at higher ranks than a traditional new member, the Space Force can create a more uniform growth path for itself. (7/14)
Moon Landings Could Destroy Evidence of Life's Origins (Source: Space.com)
Landing spacecraft on the moon could contaminate ancient clues about how life may have originated on Earth, a new study finds. The exhaust from spacecraft involved with these landings could expel enough methane to contaminate the moon's surface — possibly destroying molecules that could help to explain how life may have originated on Earth. (7/14)
Kratos Wins $100M for Space Domain Awareness System Build (Source: ExecutiveBiz)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has secured an approximately $100 million sole-source prime contract to deliver a ground-based space domain awareness system for an undisclosed government customer. CEO Eric Demarco says the company is positioned to deliver space systems quickly at competitive costs. (7/14)
Space Force Aims to Double Personnel (Source: Breaking Defense)
Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, on track to become the third chief of space operations, faces the challenge of doubling US Space Force personnel to 20,000 by 2030. Schiess could consider reinstating members separated for nondisciplinary reasons, increasing interservice transfers, integrating Guard and Reserve forces and direct appointments from industry. Expanding the Space Force's geographic footprint beyond its current states is also recommended to boost awareness and congressional support. (7/14)
Spain’s Pangea Propulsion Opens New Manufacturing Facility (Source: European Spaceflight)
Pangea Propulsion has inaugurated a new 1,000-square-metre manufacturing facility in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona, investing an initial €1 million in its establishment. According to the company’s CEO, Adrià Argemí Samsó, the opening of the new facility marks the company’s shift to serial production. (7/14)
Space Cargo Costs Could Fall More Than 90% by 2040 (Source: University of Cambridge)
The expense of launching cargo into space will plummet over the next few years, with the cost of reaching orbit forecast to more than halve between now and the end of the decade, and fall around 93% by 2040, according to new Cambridge-led research.
The cost of sending a kilogram of payload into low Earth orbit, an average of $3,868 last year, is set to fall more than 58% to just $1,569 by 2030, and could reach as little as 273 US dollars per kilo by 2040, the study suggests. The analysis shows that the cost of reaching space is falling faster than the expense of steamship freight did during the 19th-century transport revolution, and even faster than solar photovoltaics: a benchmark for rapidly affordable “transformative technologies”. (7/14)
First Diagnostic X-Rays in Space (Source: RSNA)
A team of crew members aboard a commercial spaceflight acquired the first diagnostic X-rays during an orbital flight. For more than four decades, ultrasound has been the only reliable medical imaging modality used in spaceflight. As spaceflight missions increase in duration and distance, increasing the risk of adverse medical events, the limitations of ultrasound have become less acceptable. Ultrasound imaging requires substantial operator training and relies on a sound wave transmitting medium.
The Fram2 mission launched on March 31, 2025, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, entering into a 90-degree orbit at 425 to 450 kilometers above sea level. The mission duration was 3 days and 14 hours, and the spacecraft returned to Earth on April 4, 2025. The X-ray generator sustained superficial structural damage during landing and recovery. However, internal hardware components and X-ray output were unaffected. (7/14)
Guardian Astronaut Brings Operational Medicine Experience to ISS Mission (Source: USSF)
U.S. Space Force Col. Anil Menon launched aboard NASA’s Expedition 75 mission to the International Space Station, bringing with him a career shaped by operational medicine, military service and human spaceflight support. Menon is serving as a flight engineer aboard the ISS during his first mission to space, marking another milestone in the growing relationship between NASA and the Space Force as Guardians continue supporting the nation’s expanding role in the space domain. (7/14)
Researchers Map Moon’s Regolith Thickness (Source: Brown University)
New research by lunar scientists from Brown University provides critical new insights into the thickness of the Moon’s regolith, the layer of loose dust and rock that drapes the entire lunar surface. Using an analysis of more than 300 small and freshly formed impact craters across the lunar surface, along with data collected from lunar missions dating back to the 1970s, the researchers created a map of regolith thickness across the Moon. The team has made the data publicly available in the hope that other researchers will add to it, helping to make it a valuable resource for future lunar exploration. (7/14)
SpaceX Data Center Plan Fuels Push to Oust Texas Mayor (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
The debate over data centers on Earth has landed in a small town outside of Waco that’s crucial to Elon Musk’s vision to move the technology to space. Concerns over the closed-door approval of a new data center project and years of water violations tied to SpaceX rocket engine testing have some in McGregor calling for changes at City Hall. More than 60 people have signed a petition to change or remove Mayor Jim Lilley, according to Dennis Fehler, a fourth-generation native of the town who’s leading the recall effort.
Gov. Greg Abbott recently called for blocking new data centers in rural parts of the state. He also has directed the Public Utility Commission and Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the statewide grid, to take steps to reduce the impact of data centers. The fight in McGregor is happening in the town that’s home to SpaceX’s busiest test site, where every one of the company’s rocket engines is test-fired before flight.
Wall Street on SpaceX: ‘Everything Depends on Starship’ (Source: AEI)
What do the banks think about (a) the viability of Starship, and (b) assuming Starship will be a reliable, reusable, high-cadence vehicle, what does that mean for launch costs? Bankers' analyses tend to focus on a single number: dollars per kilogram to orbit. It’s the number that will determine the economic viability of humanity living and working in low-Earth orbit, colonizing the Moon and Mars (and beyond), and whether we can build space-based energy and AI infrastructure.
Given that these reports are from banks that underwrote the SpaceX IPO, you would expect them to be upbeat. But they’re hardly the most optimistic. Goldman Sachs: “We expect Starship to become fully operational and prove out commercial viability in the coming quarters as the vehicle begins deploying internal (and in 2027, external) payloads into orbit.” ... The “total number of Starship launches [is] expected to reach ~2,750 in 2030” and that means SpaceX “will have to manufacture 600 Starships through 2029 to support launches.”
JP Morgan: "Everything Depends on Starship. We view Starship’s path to rapid and complete reusability as the critical enabler underpinning SpaceX’s many long-term growth drivers. Accordingly, any delays, technical setbacks, or regulatory hurdles that constrain the launch trajectory will impede planned growth across multiple business lines. ... While SpaceX has an incredibly strong track record of innovation, with many key “firsts” across Space, Connectivity, and AI, Starship’s scale & complexity will require superior execution." (7/7)
Utah Helicopter Flights Test NASA’s DAVINCI Mission to Venus (Source: NASA)
Before NASA sends its DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) descent probe down through Venus’s thick atmosphere, scientists need to confirm that its cameras and instruments can do the job. During its 60-minute descent at Venus, the probe will capture images, measure the atmospheric chemistry, and explore the environment of a world no one has seen up close in this way.
To prepare, a team of DAVINCI scientists and engineers traveled to Crater Island, Utah, in late June. There, they simulated the descent imaging part of their Venus mission through slow, near-vertical helicopter descents from altitudes as high as 18,000 feet to make sure they would be able to measure the landscapes using only optical and infrared images taken on the way down. (7/14)
July 15, 2026
NRO and USAF Nominees Support Closer
Coordination Between Space Force and Intelligence Agencies
(Source: Space News)
Trump administration nominees for two influential U.S. national security space posts endorsed closer coordination between the Space Force and intelligence agencies as well as acquisition improvements. Erich Hernandez-Baquero, nominated to become the Air Force's top civilian space acquisition official, and Roger Mason, the president's choice to lead the National Reconnaissance Office, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
The two nominees received only limited questions in the hearing as senators focused on other nominees, but Mason said the roles of the NRO and Space Force remained clear as the military shifts airborne and ground moving-target surveillance missions toward satellite-based systems. Hernandez-Baquero said his priorities would be acquisition reform, integration across missions and rebuilding the acquisition workforce, while calling for greater use of commercial technology and new business models. [SpaceNews]
Japan Intends to Increase Launch Cadence (Source: Space News)
The Japanese government wants to sharply increase launches. At the Spacetide conference last week, officials said the government's space policy has a goal of hosting 30 launches per year by the early 2030s. Japan has conducted just two launches so far this year, including the failed launch of the Kairos small rocket. Space One, which operates Kairos, said the company was working on the next Kairos launch despite the failures of all three launches of that rocket to date. Reaching a goal of 30 launches per year could require Japan hosting launches of foreign vehicles. [SpaceNews]
Satellite-Oriented Investments Soar in 2026 (Source: Space News)
Investment in satellite companies so far in 2026 has broken annual records. Investment in satellite companies reached $8.1 billion in the first half of 2026, according to a study by Space Capital, led by Iceye's $1.2 billion Series F round in June. That is more than the investment in satellite companies in any single year. Those companies that the report classifies as infrastructure - defined as the design, manufacture, launch and operation of space-based assets - collectively raised $20.7 billion, which is a quarterly record.
That figure included a $12 billion investment in Prometheus, an industrial artificial intelligence venture backed by Jeff Bezos that Space Capital argues is space-adjacent since it will support the design and development of launch vehicles and space assets. Lines among industry sectors are blurring, Space Capital argues, and it expects standalone launch companies to atrophy over time as more follow moves such as Rocket Lab's planned acquisition of Iridium. [SpaceNews]
Icarus Robotics Picks Kulr Batteries for ISS Joyride (Source: Space News)
Space robotics startup Icarus Robotics has selected Kulr to provide batteries for a payload going to the ISS. Under the agreement announced Wednesday, KULR One Space (K1S) battery systems will power Icarus's Joy as it navigates, maneuvers and assists astronauts on the Joyride-1 mission scheduled for early 2027. KULR batteries, designed to comply with NASA crewed vehicle safety requirements, obtained flight heritage in a cubesat flown aboard NASA's Artemis 2 lunar mission. [SpaceNews]
Frontier Airlines Adopts Starlink for In-Flight Wifi (Source: CNBC)
Discount airline Frontier is the latest to adopt SpaceX's Starlink for in-flight wifi. The airline, which does not currently offer wifi on its aircraft, said Tuesday it will start outfitting its planes with Starlink early next year. The airline has private equity firm Indigo Partners as an investor, and four other airlines Indigo owns stakes in across Asia, Europe and Latin America also announced they would adopt Starlink for in-flight wifi. (7/15)
Bonuses for Reenlisting Guardians (Source: Military Times)
The Space Force is offering big bonuses for guardians willing to enlist for an extended tour of duty. The service announced this week its Initial Enlisted Bonus Pilot program, which will provide a $25,000 bonus to enlistees who commit to serving for eight years. Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna said the longer contracts reflect the additional training needed for guardians to serve in highly technical fields. The Space Force had previously used four- and six-year enlistment terms. (7/15)
Laying the Groundwork for the First Human Mars Mission (Source: Space News)
Developing a Mars mission is not just about designing and building a spacecraft that can get there, land and get back. A successful mission must also be able to carry out science activities at Mars while also understanding, tracking and ensuring human health and performance issues so that astronauts can do what we’re asking of them and do it safely. Very different components must be developed together and integrated from the very beginning into a single mission concept and plan, before some designs have already been fixed.
NASA should begin development of the Mars human mission architecture now to enable identification and development of areas within these four disciplines that require long lead time. It should should coordinate early with the engineering/architecture, science, health and human performance and planetary protection communities so that all have input into architecture and mission planning and to ensure that there is an integrated mission concept and design.
A NASA chartered community group that includes representation from each of these communities should be commissioned to stand up quarterly or semi-annual workshops as follow-ons to our workshop. The goals of these workshops would be to continue to drive toward an actual integrated mission concept and to develop specific landing-site criteria and recommendations. (7/15)
Honeywell Aerospace Leads Consortium for ESA-Funded Compact Quantum Space Magnetometer (Source: Via Satellite)
Honeywell Aerospace will lead a consortium including Quantum Brilliance and Jagiellonian University to develop, test and deliver a compact quantum space magnetometer for the European Space Agency. The project is structured around an ESA-funded contract, with delivery targeted for 2027 to support research into Earth’s magnetic field. (7/14)
New Russian-American Crew Launched to ISS From Russia (Source: Space Policy Online)
Russia launched a new crew to the ISS on Tuesday from the Baikonur spaceport on a Soyuz rocket. Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, docked at the ISS about three hours later for an 8-month mission. (7/14)
Japan's Axelspace Reports 38% Revenue Decline (Source: Space Intel Report)
Small satellite manufacturer and operator Axelspace of Japan reported a 39% decline in revenue and a wider operating loss for the six months ending May 31 compared to the same period a year ago, citing higher costs for construction of a satellite test model, increased personnel charges and a change in revenue recognition for government projects. Elevent months after its introduction onto the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Axelspace reported revenue of 564 million yen for the period, down from 921 million yen a year ago. (7/14)
Regulators Again Rebuff Italy's Request for Extension of Deadline to Operate Sicral 3A, 3B Military Satellites (Source: Space Intel Report)
In its second attempt in four months, Italy was unable to secure regulatory approval of a deadline extension for its Sicral 3A and 3B military telecommunications satellites, both expected to be used by the NATO alliance as well as by the European Union’s GovSatCom program. Sacral 3A, with an SHF/EHF payload; and Sacral 3B with a UHF-band payload are scheduled for launch on separate SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets between mid-2027 and early 2028. (7/13)
Strasbourg Group Plans Revival of ISU France (Source: Douglas Messier)
A group of faculty and staff members are attempting to revive International Space University’s (ISU) operations in France in the wake of a court order liquidating the bankrupt ISU France organization and closing the school’s Central Campus in Strasbourg.
The French effort sets up a potential legal clash over use of the university’s name and intellectual property with a group led by ISU Co-founders Bob Richards and Peter Diamandis. The U.S.-based co-founders went public last week with ISU Global, an organization that aims to develop a virtual global campus system under the university’s original and still active incorporation in Massachusetts. (7/12)
ESA Awards €10M Contract to EMXYS for Don Quijote Asteroid Lander (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has awarded Spanish satellite manufacturer EMXYS a contract to build a small lander that will attempt to touch down on the surface of an asteroid ahead of its close encounter with Earth. Apophis, the asteroid in question, will pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth’s surface, closer than the geostationary satellites orbiting the planet, in April 2029. The Don Quijote lander is aptly named for an ambitious Spanish-led attempt to land on an asteroid.
While not tilting at windmills, the little spacecraft has the odds stacked against it. It will attempt to land on an asteroid that is “likely to be tumbling chaotically,” according to Francesca Ingiosi, the ESA engineer overseeing the mission. Due to the asteroid’s ultra-low gravity, the lander may bounce along its surface before coming to rest. As no one knows what it will encounter on the asteroid’s surface, there is even “a small possibility that Don Quijote sinks into the ground, which,” Ingiosi noted, “would not be good!” (7/11)
NASA Considers Nuclear-Powered Rover for a Lunar Mission (Source: The Hill)
Jared Isaacman has suggested the possibility of sending a spare nuclear-powered Mars rover — an engineering model of the Mars Perseverance rover — to the moon. Such a proposal represents outside-the-box thinking for NASA, which is becoming more common under Isaacman’s leadership. Had someone proposed sending a car-sized nuclear rover to the moon in times past, NASA would have gone through its usual years-long, multibillion dollar process to make it happen. By one estimate, Mars Perseverance cost $2.7 billion, including launch costs and initial operations. (7/12)
Europe’s Space Sovereignty is an Execution Problem (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Europe can set policy routes toward “space sovereignty” but still struggles to build the industrial capabilities to match. European policy and spending can fail to produce the industrial outcomes required for autonomy in space services. The opening of Reflex Aerospace's Berlin facility is a focal point in the debate over Europe's space sovereignty.
Reflex Aerospace has been pushing to shorten lead times and vertically integrate key components, moving away from reliance on non-European supply chains. Whether companies like Reflex can bridge the gap remains a critical test. (7/10)
Parabilis Tests Propulsion System for Maneuverable Cubesats (Source: Space News)
Small satellites have become a staple of military space programs because they are relatively inexpensive and quick to build. Many, however, have little or no ability to maneuver after reaching orbit. The Space Force is working with propulsion startup Parabilis Space Technologies on a system intended to expand the missions those spacecraft can perform. (7/11)
Atoms for Space: Past US Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Programs (Source: Space Review)
Throughout the Space Age the United States worked on space nuclear power and propulsion systems, although very few actually made it to space. Dwayne Day examines those programs and what went wrong. Click here. (7/14)
The Iranian Use of Space Operations During Epic Fury (Source: Space Review)
While the United States has made extensive use of space capabilities in its ongoing conflict with Iran, that country has also made use of space. Three experts examine Iran’s access to satellite imagery and its efforts to jam satellite signals. Click here. (7/14)
The Whole World Looking Up: Inspiration From the Moon (Source: Space Review)
Humanity has long been inspired by the night sky. Richard Logue offers a new way to provide that inspiration through a series of spacecraft that would be visible from the ground while also testing solar sail technologies. Click here. (7/14)
The Mystery of Mission Zero (Source: Space Review)
A payload processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center has been used for dozens of missions over the years, but one of them was not publicly documented. James Behling discusses the secrecy behind the very first mission to use that facility. Click here. (7/14)
Lunar Outpost Europe to Support NUVIEW’s Moonraker Lunar LiDAR Mapping Mission (Source: Payload)
Lunar Outpost Europe—the Luxembourg-based subsidiary of the US lunar terrain vehicle manufacturer—was selected to contribute to ESA’s Moonraker mission launching in 2030. The mission is being led by NUVIEW GmbH, and will feature a lunar orbiting satellite that uses LiDAR to map the lunar surface in 3D, with the goal of gathering more information about potential landing sites at the lunar South Pole.
As part of the consortium, Lunar Outpost Europe will develop thermal management solutions to help Moonraker withstand the wide temperature swings in lunar orbit. Ahead of the Moonraker flight in 2030, Lunar Outpost plans to fly an in-orbit demonstration mission in LEO, funded by the European Commission, to gain flight heritage on thermal components it will use on Moonraker. (7/14)
Tiny Meteorite Hints at Now-Gone Moon-Sized Body (Source: Space Daily)
A small stone from Northwest Africa has become evidence for a much larger absence. In a 2026 paper, researchers argue that the meteorite known as Northwest Africa 12774 may preserve material from a vanished planetary embryo, a body perhaps comparable in size to the Moon and possibly larger, that once orbited the young Sun. The study found clinopyroxene, a crystal common in planetary rocks. The clinopyroxene is unusually rich in aluminum, suggesting it formed under very high pressure. (7/13)
Bezos Doubles Down on Blue Origin with $2 Billion (Source: The Street)
Blue Origin is raising about $10 billion in its first outside funding round, a deal valuing the company at $130 billion, with Bezos personally writing a $2 billion check. Money has been a pressure point inside the company. Blue Origin’s ambitions would “take a lot of capital,” CEO Dave Limp told employees. (7/9)
New Iridium Chip Offers Protection From GPS/GNSS Threats (Source: Iridium)
Iridium Communications announced the commercial availability of the Iridium PNT ASIC, a first-to-market chip designed to help protect GPS- and GNSS-dependent devices from jamming, spoofing, and other growing threats. Iridium has received unprecedented demand from more than 150 organizations worldwide, spanning maritime, unmanned and autonomous systems (UXV), aviation, telecommunications, and other critical infrastructure sectors. (7/14)
SpaceX Plans Contingency Landings for Starship Under New FAA Environmental Assessment (Source: FAA)
The FAA announced a new Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Starship reentry contingency operations. It is proposed that the FAA would modify SpaceX’s vehicle operator license to authorize the expansion of a previously evaluated Hawaii and Central Pacific Landing Area and Southeast Pacific Region Landing Area. Also, a new Northern Pacific Contingency Landing Area in the Northeast Pacific would be established for Florida launches on a trajectory toward intended landings at Starbase in Texas. Also authorized would be temporary airspace closures associated with landings at Starbase. Click here. (7/13)
Most Common Exoplanet Type Doesn't Exist in Our Solar System (Source: Space Daily)
The Solar System gives us a familiar catalogue of planets: small rocky worlds close to the Sun, then gas and ice giants farther out. For a long time, that local inventory shaped the imagination. A planet could be Earth-like, Mars-like, Jupiter-like, Neptune-like. Then exoplanet surveys began finding something that sits awkwardly between those categories.
These worlds are often called sub-Neptunes, or sometimes grouped with super-Earths depending on their size and mass. They are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. They appear again and again in data from missions such as Kepler, yet there is no example of one orbiting the Sun. Planets between Earth and Neptune are among the most common types revealed by exoplanet surveys, but the Solar System gives astronomers no nearby specimen to inspect.
That absence is part of the difficulty. We can measure some of these planets’ sizes and, for a smaller set, their masses. But a radius between Earth and Neptune does not by itself tell us whether the planet is a rocky core with a thin hydrogen envelope, a water-rich world under high pressure, a mini-Neptune with a deep atmosphere, or something more complicated. The category is observationally common and physically unresolved. (7/13)
Trump administration nominees for two influential U.S. national security space posts endorsed closer coordination between the Space Force and intelligence agencies as well as acquisition improvements. Erich Hernandez-Baquero, nominated to become the Air Force's top civilian space acquisition official, and Roger Mason, the president's choice to lead the National Reconnaissance Office, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
The two nominees received only limited questions in the hearing as senators focused on other nominees, but Mason said the roles of the NRO and Space Force remained clear as the military shifts airborne and ground moving-target surveillance missions toward satellite-based systems. Hernandez-Baquero said his priorities would be acquisition reform, integration across missions and rebuilding the acquisition workforce, while calling for greater use of commercial technology and new business models. [SpaceNews]
Japan Intends to Increase Launch Cadence (Source: Space News)
The Japanese government wants to sharply increase launches. At the Spacetide conference last week, officials said the government's space policy has a goal of hosting 30 launches per year by the early 2030s. Japan has conducted just two launches so far this year, including the failed launch of the Kairos small rocket. Space One, which operates Kairos, said the company was working on the next Kairos launch despite the failures of all three launches of that rocket to date. Reaching a goal of 30 launches per year could require Japan hosting launches of foreign vehicles. [SpaceNews]
Satellite-Oriented Investments Soar in 2026 (Source: Space News)
Investment in satellite companies so far in 2026 has broken annual records. Investment in satellite companies reached $8.1 billion in the first half of 2026, according to a study by Space Capital, led by Iceye's $1.2 billion Series F round in June. That is more than the investment in satellite companies in any single year. Those companies that the report classifies as infrastructure - defined as the design, manufacture, launch and operation of space-based assets - collectively raised $20.7 billion, which is a quarterly record.
That figure included a $12 billion investment in Prometheus, an industrial artificial intelligence venture backed by Jeff Bezos that Space Capital argues is space-adjacent since it will support the design and development of launch vehicles and space assets. Lines among industry sectors are blurring, Space Capital argues, and it expects standalone launch companies to atrophy over time as more follow moves such as Rocket Lab's planned acquisition of Iridium. [SpaceNews]
Icarus Robotics Picks Kulr Batteries for ISS Joyride (Source: Space News)
Space robotics startup Icarus Robotics has selected Kulr to provide batteries for a payload going to the ISS. Under the agreement announced Wednesday, KULR One Space (K1S) battery systems will power Icarus's Joy as it navigates, maneuvers and assists astronauts on the Joyride-1 mission scheduled for early 2027. KULR batteries, designed to comply with NASA crewed vehicle safety requirements, obtained flight heritage in a cubesat flown aboard NASA's Artemis 2 lunar mission. [SpaceNews]
Frontier Airlines Adopts Starlink for In-Flight Wifi (Source: CNBC)
Discount airline Frontier is the latest to adopt SpaceX's Starlink for in-flight wifi. The airline, which does not currently offer wifi on its aircraft, said Tuesday it will start outfitting its planes with Starlink early next year. The airline has private equity firm Indigo Partners as an investor, and four other airlines Indigo owns stakes in across Asia, Europe and Latin America also announced they would adopt Starlink for in-flight wifi. (7/15)
Bonuses for Reenlisting Guardians (Source: Military Times)
The Space Force is offering big bonuses for guardians willing to enlist for an extended tour of duty. The service announced this week its Initial Enlisted Bonus Pilot program, which will provide a $25,000 bonus to enlistees who commit to serving for eight years. Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna said the longer contracts reflect the additional training needed for guardians to serve in highly technical fields. The Space Force had previously used four- and six-year enlistment terms. (7/15)
Laying the Groundwork for the First Human Mars Mission (Source: Space News)
Developing a Mars mission is not just about designing and building a spacecraft that can get there, land and get back. A successful mission must also be able to carry out science activities at Mars while also understanding, tracking and ensuring human health and performance issues so that astronauts can do what we’re asking of them and do it safely. Very different components must be developed together and integrated from the very beginning into a single mission concept and plan, before some designs have already been fixed.
NASA should begin development of the Mars human mission architecture now to enable identification and development of areas within these four disciplines that require long lead time. It should should coordinate early with the engineering/architecture, science, health and human performance and planetary protection communities so that all have input into architecture and mission planning and to ensure that there is an integrated mission concept and design.
A NASA chartered community group that includes representation from each of these communities should be commissioned to stand up quarterly or semi-annual workshops as follow-ons to our workshop. The goals of these workshops would be to continue to drive toward an actual integrated mission concept and to develop specific landing-site criteria and recommendations. (7/15)
Honeywell Aerospace Leads Consortium for ESA-Funded Compact Quantum Space Magnetometer (Source: Via Satellite)
Honeywell Aerospace will lead a consortium including Quantum Brilliance and Jagiellonian University to develop, test and deliver a compact quantum space magnetometer for the European Space Agency. The project is structured around an ESA-funded contract, with delivery targeted for 2027 to support research into Earth’s magnetic field. (7/14)
New Russian-American Crew Launched to ISS From Russia (Source: Space Policy Online)
Russia launched a new crew to the ISS on Tuesday from the Baikonur spaceport on a Soyuz rocket. Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, docked at the ISS about three hours later for an 8-month mission. (7/14)
Japan's Axelspace Reports 38% Revenue Decline (Source: Space Intel Report)
Small satellite manufacturer and operator Axelspace of Japan reported a 39% decline in revenue and a wider operating loss for the six months ending May 31 compared to the same period a year ago, citing higher costs for construction of a satellite test model, increased personnel charges and a change in revenue recognition for government projects. Elevent months after its introduction onto the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Axelspace reported revenue of 564 million yen for the period, down from 921 million yen a year ago. (7/14)
Regulators Again Rebuff Italy's Request for Extension of Deadline to Operate Sicral 3A, 3B Military Satellites (Source: Space Intel Report)
In its second attempt in four months, Italy was unable to secure regulatory approval of a deadline extension for its Sicral 3A and 3B military telecommunications satellites, both expected to be used by the NATO alliance as well as by the European Union’s GovSatCom program. Sacral 3A, with an SHF/EHF payload; and Sacral 3B with a UHF-band payload are scheduled for launch on separate SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets between mid-2027 and early 2028. (7/13)
Strasbourg Group Plans Revival of ISU France (Source: Douglas Messier)
A group of faculty and staff members are attempting to revive International Space University’s (ISU) operations in France in the wake of a court order liquidating the bankrupt ISU France organization and closing the school’s Central Campus in Strasbourg.
The French effort sets up a potential legal clash over use of the university’s name and intellectual property with a group led by ISU Co-founders Bob Richards and Peter Diamandis. The U.S.-based co-founders went public last week with ISU Global, an organization that aims to develop a virtual global campus system under the university’s original and still active incorporation in Massachusetts. (7/12)
ESA Awards €10M Contract to EMXYS for Don Quijote Asteroid Lander (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has awarded Spanish satellite manufacturer EMXYS a contract to build a small lander that will attempt to touch down on the surface of an asteroid ahead of its close encounter with Earth. Apophis, the asteroid in question, will pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth’s surface, closer than the geostationary satellites orbiting the planet, in April 2029. The Don Quijote lander is aptly named for an ambitious Spanish-led attempt to land on an asteroid.
While not tilting at windmills, the little spacecraft has the odds stacked against it. It will attempt to land on an asteroid that is “likely to be tumbling chaotically,” according to Francesca Ingiosi, the ESA engineer overseeing the mission. Due to the asteroid’s ultra-low gravity, the lander may bounce along its surface before coming to rest. As no one knows what it will encounter on the asteroid’s surface, there is even “a small possibility that Don Quijote sinks into the ground, which,” Ingiosi noted, “would not be good!” (7/11)
NASA Considers Nuclear-Powered Rover for a Lunar Mission (Source: The Hill)
Jared Isaacman has suggested the possibility of sending a spare nuclear-powered Mars rover — an engineering model of the Mars Perseverance rover — to the moon. Such a proposal represents outside-the-box thinking for NASA, which is becoming more common under Isaacman’s leadership. Had someone proposed sending a car-sized nuclear rover to the moon in times past, NASA would have gone through its usual years-long, multibillion dollar process to make it happen. By one estimate, Mars Perseverance cost $2.7 billion, including launch costs and initial operations. (7/12)
Europe’s Space Sovereignty is an Execution Problem (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Europe can set policy routes toward “space sovereignty” but still struggles to build the industrial capabilities to match. European policy and spending can fail to produce the industrial outcomes required for autonomy in space services. The opening of Reflex Aerospace's Berlin facility is a focal point in the debate over Europe's space sovereignty.
Reflex Aerospace has been pushing to shorten lead times and vertically integrate key components, moving away from reliance on non-European supply chains. Whether companies like Reflex can bridge the gap remains a critical test. (7/10)
Parabilis Tests Propulsion System for Maneuverable Cubesats (Source: Space News)
Small satellites have become a staple of military space programs because they are relatively inexpensive and quick to build. Many, however, have little or no ability to maneuver after reaching orbit. The Space Force is working with propulsion startup Parabilis Space Technologies on a system intended to expand the missions those spacecraft can perform. (7/11)
Atoms for Space: Past US Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Programs (Source: Space Review)
Throughout the Space Age the United States worked on space nuclear power and propulsion systems, although very few actually made it to space. Dwayne Day examines those programs and what went wrong. Click here. (7/14)
The Iranian Use of Space Operations During Epic Fury (Source: Space Review)
While the United States has made extensive use of space capabilities in its ongoing conflict with Iran, that country has also made use of space. Three experts examine Iran’s access to satellite imagery and its efforts to jam satellite signals. Click here. (7/14)
The Whole World Looking Up: Inspiration From the Moon (Source: Space Review)
Humanity has long been inspired by the night sky. Richard Logue offers a new way to provide that inspiration through a series of spacecraft that would be visible from the ground while also testing solar sail technologies. Click here. (7/14)
The Mystery of Mission Zero (Source: Space Review)
A payload processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center has been used for dozens of missions over the years, but one of them was not publicly documented. James Behling discusses the secrecy behind the very first mission to use that facility. Click here. (7/14)
Lunar Outpost Europe to Support NUVIEW’s Moonraker Lunar LiDAR Mapping Mission (Source: Payload)
Lunar Outpost Europe—the Luxembourg-based subsidiary of the US lunar terrain vehicle manufacturer—was selected to contribute to ESA’s Moonraker mission launching in 2030. The mission is being led by NUVIEW GmbH, and will feature a lunar orbiting satellite that uses LiDAR to map the lunar surface in 3D, with the goal of gathering more information about potential landing sites at the lunar South Pole.
As part of the consortium, Lunar Outpost Europe will develop thermal management solutions to help Moonraker withstand the wide temperature swings in lunar orbit. Ahead of the Moonraker flight in 2030, Lunar Outpost plans to fly an in-orbit demonstration mission in LEO, funded by the European Commission, to gain flight heritage on thermal components it will use on Moonraker. (7/14)
Tiny Meteorite Hints at Now-Gone Moon-Sized Body (Source: Space Daily)
A small stone from Northwest Africa has become evidence for a much larger absence. In a 2026 paper, researchers argue that the meteorite known as Northwest Africa 12774 may preserve material from a vanished planetary embryo, a body perhaps comparable in size to the Moon and possibly larger, that once orbited the young Sun. The study found clinopyroxene, a crystal common in planetary rocks. The clinopyroxene is unusually rich in aluminum, suggesting it formed under very high pressure. (7/13)
Bezos Doubles Down on Blue Origin with $2 Billion (Source: The Street)
Blue Origin is raising about $10 billion in its first outside funding round, a deal valuing the company at $130 billion, with Bezos personally writing a $2 billion check. Money has been a pressure point inside the company. Blue Origin’s ambitions would “take a lot of capital,” CEO Dave Limp told employees. (7/9)
New Iridium Chip Offers Protection From GPS/GNSS Threats (Source: Iridium)
Iridium Communications announced the commercial availability of the Iridium PNT ASIC, a first-to-market chip designed to help protect GPS- and GNSS-dependent devices from jamming, spoofing, and other growing threats. Iridium has received unprecedented demand from more than 150 organizations worldwide, spanning maritime, unmanned and autonomous systems (UXV), aviation, telecommunications, and other critical infrastructure sectors. (7/14)
SpaceX Plans Contingency Landings for Starship Under New FAA Environmental Assessment (Source: FAA)
The FAA announced a new Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Starship reentry contingency operations. It is proposed that the FAA would modify SpaceX’s vehicle operator license to authorize the expansion of a previously evaluated Hawaii and Central Pacific Landing Area and Southeast Pacific Region Landing Area. Also, a new Northern Pacific Contingency Landing Area in the Northeast Pacific would be established for Florida launches on a trajectory toward intended landings at Starbase in Texas. Also authorized would be temporary airspace closures associated with landings at Starbase. Click here. (7/13)
Most Common Exoplanet Type Doesn't Exist in Our Solar System (Source: Space Daily)
The Solar System gives us a familiar catalogue of planets: small rocky worlds close to the Sun, then gas and ice giants farther out. For a long time, that local inventory shaped the imagination. A planet could be Earth-like, Mars-like, Jupiter-like, Neptune-like. Then exoplanet surveys began finding something that sits awkwardly between those categories.
These worlds are often called sub-Neptunes, or sometimes grouped with super-Earths depending on their size and mass. They are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. They appear again and again in data from missions such as Kepler, yet there is no example of one orbiting the Sun. Planets between Earth and Neptune are among the most common types revealed by exoplanet surveys, but the Solar System gives astronomers no nearby specimen to inspect.
That absence is part of the difficulty. We can measure some of these planets’ sizes and, for a smaller set, their masses. But a radius between Earth and Neptune does not by itself tell us whether the planet is a rocky core with a thin hydrogen envelope, a water-rich world under high pressure, a mini-Neptune with a deep atmosphere, or something more complicated. The category is observationally common and physically unresolved. (7/13)
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