March 25, 2026

NASA Makes Big Changes to Artemis (Source: Space News)
NASA rolled out a major revamp of its exploration plans Tuesday, including development of a lunar base. At a day-long event at NASA Headquarters, agency leaders discussed changes to its Artemis architecture that include halting work on the lunar Gateway. In its place, NASA proposed spending $20 billion over the next seven years to start development of a lunar base, including landers, rovers and other infrastructure. The base would leverage some existing programs, although with modifications, along with new projects. NASA also proposed increasing the cadence of crewed and robotic lunar lander missions and developing a nuclear electric propulsion demonstration mission that would launch to Mars in late 2028. (3/25)

NASA Wants SLS and Orion Out After Artemis 3 (Sources: Spectrum News, Payload)
NASA is moving to retire the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule after the Artemis III mission to reduce costs, shifting toward commercial alternatives like SpaceX's Starship for lunar missions. The SLS is considered too expensive—roughly $4 billion per launch—and prone to delays, prompting a pivot toward more sustainable commercial partnerships for long-term exploration.

The Trump administration would add $647 million to NASA’s human space exploration budget compared to the fiscal 2025 enacted level. Total spending on crewed lunar exploration would top $7 billion. The plan would also add $1 billion in new investments “for Mars-focused programs.” This is just the first volley in the debate over the fiscal 2026 budget. Congress will draft and consider its own proposals before ultimately approving a spending plan for the next fiscal year. (3/25)

SES Orders 28 Satellites From K2 (Source: Space News)
SES has ordered an initial 28 satellites from manufacturing startup K2 Space for a future medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation. SES said Tuesday the meoSphere satellites would deliver high-speed broadband, support optical intersatellite links for data relay and enable hosted payloads across commercial and government missions.

SES is co-developing meoSphere with K2, providing payloads built in Luxembourg for integration with K2's satellite bus in California. SpaceX is slated to launch an initial SES-K2 meoSphere pathfinder March 30 on a rideshare mission. The pathfinder, which at 2,200 kilograms would be the same size as the operational spacecraft, includes optical technology designed primarily to test links between satellites and an optical ground station supplied by France's Cailabs. (3/25)

Geopolitics Clouds Space Business Plans (Source: Space News)
Geopolitical shifts are creating new opportunities but also new challenges for satellite operators. As countries increasingly prioritize national security and sovereignty, satellite operators are being forced to rethink a historical push toward globalized supply chains in favor of less efficient, more regionally aligned models. That pressure to adapt is matched by a surge in demand tied directly to geopolitical tensions as space becomes an increasingly strategic domain. That surge in national security demand, though, brings new risks to operators as they potentially become targets. (3/25)

Electronic Warfare a Growing Space Threat (Source: Space News)
Electronic warfare is a growing threat to U.S. space systems. During a threat briefing, U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, senior enlisted advisor to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, said China and Russia are developing electronic warfare technologies, such as jamming satellite communications services with drones. Another recent Chinese research paper described a high-power ground-based microwave to target satellites. (3/25)

Russia Docks Progress Cargo Craft to ISS (Source: NASA)
A Russian Progress cargo spacecraft docked to the ISS Tuesday. The Progress MS-33 spacecraft, called Progress 94 by NASA, docked with the station's Poisk module at 9:40 a.m. Eastern. Russian cosmonauts on the ISS handled the docking manually after one of the antennas for the spacecraft's automated docking system failed to deploy after launch on Sunday. (3/25)

NASA to Provide Neutron Spectrometer for Indian/Japanese Lunar Lander (Source: NASA)
NASA will provide an instrument for a joint Indian-Japanese lunar mission. NASA said it will provide a neutron spectrometer for the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission being developed by ISRO and JAXA. LUPEX will land near the south pole of the moon in 2028 and deploy a rover to identify and characterize water ice. (3/25)

Payload Processing Scarcity is a Launch Industry Bottleneck (Source: Via Satellite)
At a conference on Tuesday, launch providers reported strains from growing commercial demand from multiple megaconstellation deployments, sovereign launch and ambitious civil space programs. According to Stephanie Bednarek at SpaceX, the launch vehicle is not the only bottleneck. “A unique situation that we’re looking at right now is that rockets don’t seem to be the limiting factor. It’s more about payload processing space,” she said.

Satellite manufacturers that initially contract for launch are posting delays, requiring flexibility on the part of launch providers, Bedneck continued. (3/25)

Kratos Scores $447M Space Force Award for Missile Tracking Ground System (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force has awarded Kratos Technology and Training Solutions a new award worth up to $446.8 million to build the ground system for the service’s medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation to track ballistic and hypersonic cruise missiles. Kratos Technology and Training Solutions will support launch of the first two iterations of the Space Force’s Resilient Missile Warning Tracking (MWT) architecture in MEO, called Epoch 1 and 2. (3/24)

Space Company Execs Outline Supply Chain Challenges (Source: Defense Daily)
Solar panels, electric propulsion systems, software, and increasing production of subsystems and components are core supply chain challenges for spacecraft companies, industry executives said on Monday. The number of satellites and related hardware that industry is building for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) are beyond anything previously imagined, said Melanie Preisser at York Space Systems. (3/25)

Launchers Cite Busy Manifests as Commercial Demand Grows (Source: Via Satellite)
“Really, really busy.” That’s how launch providers described manifests for the next two years during a conversation on heavy-lift launch competition on Tuesday. SpaceX is looking at a “packed” manifest from 2026 through 2028, and a “very busy” 2029, said Stephanie Bednarek, vice president of Commercial Sales at SpaceX. After launching 165 missions in 2025, the company is continuing to execute on Falcon 9 while working toward operational Starship launches.

At Blue Origin, the company continues to ramp up capacity and cadence on New Glenn. Laura Maginnis anticipates the new super-heavy New Glenn 9×4 will be rolled out “in the coming years,” with four boosters and a larger 8.7-meter fairing to deliver 70 metric tons to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).

At ULA, Mark Peller says the company is “burning off” its Atlas V backlog in the early part of this year and working to transition customers from Atlas to Vulcan. “Beyond our initial flights, we’ve been putting a tremendous amount of effort into increasing our capacity,” Peller said. ULA has doubled payload processing infrastructure at its Eastern launch site and will bring its West Coast launch site online later this year with modifications to serve Vulcan, Peller said. (3/25)

Third Indian Spaceport Planned (Source: Times of India)
After Sriharikota spaceport and the upcoming launch port at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, India’s third satellite launch centre is likely to come up in Gujarat.
Gujarat science and technology minister Arjun Modhwadia recently announced in state assembly that a proposed launch site near Gir Somnath district along the Arabian Sea coast has been identified. Modhwadia said the site was identified after consultations with space regulator and promoter Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). (3/25)

Texas Quietly Approves Starbase Expansion (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
State regulators have signed off on SpaceX’s plan to expand its Starbase launch site even farther into the surrounding wetlands amid lawsuits and a record of violations at the complex near Boca Chica Beach. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently said it had approved the project that would add 21 acres to the launch site. The agency was required to complete a review under the Clean Water Act to certify the project wouldn’t harm state waters as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ permitting process. (3/24)

'Fufill That Need': Cecil Spaceport to Expand, Applying to Become a Reentry Site (Source: First Coast News)
Space Florida CEO, Rob Long, says each spaceport serves its own unique purpose. To keep up with the growing demand for more space travel, the Cecil spaceport is working with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority on expanding their facilities eastward.

"The goal for that area is for aerospace-related development," said Cecil Airport and Spaceport Director Matt Bocchino. "So things are not necessarily aviation-centric, like you would see around the rest of the airport, but businesses that will come here because we're a spaceport, that wouldn't come here otherwise."

In addition to the expansion, the spaceport is also in the initial stages of applying to become a reentry site, creating a new pathway from space to right here on the first coast. "There's a huge benefit to the community for the type of payloads that could come through here," said Bocchino. Spaceport leadership says the application process is pretty lengthy and takes around two years to complete. (3/24)

Texas Supreme Court Weighs Constitutional Beach Access in Case Against SpaceX (Source: Texas Standard)
The issue is whether Texas is violating the state constitution by frequently closing Boca Chica Beach to allow SpaceX to conduct rocket launches. This is a constitutional issue because access to beaches is constitutionally protected in the state of Texas. But the Texas Legislature passed a provision that allows beach closures for spaceflight, which is part of what drew SpaceX to set up Starbase.

A lawsuit led by environmentalist and Indigenous groups claims this permission violates the beach access clause in the state constitution. All nine of the Texas Supreme Court justices are Republicans. Joe Pappalardo said it is unclear exactly how that will factor into this case. "They have to weigh the economics, they have to weigh the politics. They have to weigh the fact that NASA is counting on SpaceX to deliver a lander for their lunar lander, for their Artemis program.

“Police power", meaning zoning laws and fire code restrictions and local laws that allow or disallow certain things, is at issue here, says Joe Pappalardo. “How far does that police power go when it comes to economic development, fostering the economy, making sure that the beaches can be used for that greater good or that public good? The public good of economic growth was a direct argument made during this case.” (3/24)

Orbital Data Centers: There’s No Way This is Economically Viable, Right? (Source: Ars Technica)
Instead of being stored in 19-inch racks, the individual server elements would instead be built around—and attached to—a “satellite bus.” This is a spacecraft with large solar arrays to gather energy, thermal systems to manage heat (in a vacuum, heat must be radiated away), propulsion for orbit-keeping and maneuvering, and high-bandwidth communications gear. Historically, building things in space has been enormously expensive. The ISS, which has about the same amount of habitable space as the average American home, cost more than $150 billion to construct in space.

The biggest and most obvious advantage of putting data centers in space is the abundant energy provided by the Sun. Another significant advantage comes on the regulatory side. People on Earth don’t like living near data centers, considering them noisy neighbors that affect local water supplies and electricity prices. The biggest affordability factor is launch costs. Then there’s the cost of the satellites. Starlinks are an order of magnitude cheaper than previous satellites.

A third significant factor is the cost of silicon. Whereas startup companies like Starcloud may seek to use Nvidia chips, SpaceX is likely to develop its own microchips to avoid paying a premium for a name brand. “This is not physically impossible; it’s only a question of whether this is a rational thing to scale up economically,” Andrew McCalip said. “The answer is it’s really close. And if you own both sides of the equation, SpaceX and xAI, it’s not a terrible place to be. I wouldn’t bet against Elon.” Yet betting on Elon also requires a giant leap of faith. (3/24)

Launch Services To Gain From Artemis Moon Mission Revamp (Sources: Aviation Week, Va Satellite)
NASA’s repositioning of the Artemis program and efforts to build a Moon base should be a boon to the rocket industry, launch service executives said shortly after the agency announced changes in plans. “The lunar plans present a great opportunity,” ULA COO Mark Peller said.

Even with tight manifests and soaring demand, launch providers are excited by NASA’s announcement that it would build a $20 billion ‌base on the Moon’s surface over the next seven years. “It is going to require a lot of mass into space, a lot of mass to the surface of the moon,” said Stephanie Bednareck of SpaceX's support for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. (3/24)

NASA Pushes Space Industry to Use the ISS as a Test Ground for Future Stations (Source: Scientific American)
NASA officials announced that a formal request for information would open on March 25, kicking off a race for private space industry players to weigh in on potential future stations. NASA has long said that it will not build another space station itself. It is instead intent on supporting the construction of commercial outposts that NASA astronauts would be able to visit while the agency focuses its efforts on destinations farther in space. But despite a lot of space start-ups aiming to build orbiting habitats, no commercial space station has materialized, and NASA leadership is losing patience.

The agency is expanding its approach to fostering independent stations by considering proposals to build new orbital outposts directly onto the ISS. Once docked, these fledgling stations could be tested thoroughly before they would detach to fly independently. From there, NASA envisions that it will be just one of many customers that will make use of commercial space stations—and that they will allow the agency to retain access to low-Earth orbit beyond the ISS’s lifetime, which is currently set to end in 2030.

Any awardees under the program would presumably join existing partners that are already working with NASA to develop commercial stations. These include Texas-based Axiom Space, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, space industry powerhouse Northrop Grumman and long-standing ISS partner Nanoracks. (3/24)

Space Force Adds Cyber Units to Guard Rocket Launches (Source: Breaking Defense)
Space Force has established two new cyber squadrons to defend against potential cyberattacks during launches, the service’s Space Systems Command (SSC) announced. SSC Space Launch Delta (SLD) 30 at Vandenberg Space Force Base activated 630 Cyberspace Squadron (CYS) March 10 while SLD 45 at Patrick Space Force Base 645 CYS was reassigned from Delta 6 in September. (3/23)

L3Harris Delivers 100,000 Military GPS Units (Source: UK Defense Journal)
L3Harris Technologies has delivered more than 100,000 next-generation military  GPS receivers to U.S. and allied forces under the Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 program, the company stated. The milestone reflects ongoing efforts to modernize positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities as military forces face increasing threats from jamming, spoofing and cyber interference. The receivers use Military-Code (M-Code), designed to provide secure and resilient GPS access in contested electromagnetic environments, according to the company. (3/23)

NASA's '1st Nuclear Powered Interplanetary Spacecraft' Will Send Skyfall Helicopters to Mars in 2028 (Source: Space.com)
Skyfall is happening, and it will get to Mars in a totally new way. Last summer, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Virginia company AeroVironment unveiled their Skyfall mission concept, which would send a fleet of tiny helicopters to explore the skies of Mars. NASA announced that it will develop Skyfall for a 2028 launch, and that the mission will journey to the Red Planet on a spacecraft that uses nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) — what NASA is referring to as "the first nuclear powered interplanetary spacecraft." (3/24)

A Rare Active Volcano on Mars May Be Causing the Whole Planet To Spin Faster (Source: Live Science)
Scientists know that Mars spins a little faster each year, but the cause has been a mystery. Now, a new study published Feb. 18 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets suggests the reason may lie deep underground, where a huge plume of buoyant rock could be stirring beneath the Red Planet's crust. This strange plume could help to explain not just Mars' quicker rotation but also how the planet holds on to geologic heat far longer than expected — forcing scientists to rethink how small, rocky worlds cool and die. (3/24)

Chandra Resolves Why Black Holes Hit the Brakes on Growth (Source: Phys.org)
Astronomers have an answer for a long-running mystery in astrophysics: why is the growth of supermassive black holes so much lower today than in the past? A study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other X-ray telescopes found that supermassive black holes are unable to consume material as rapidly as they did in the distant past.

Ten billion years ago, there was a period that astronomers call "cosmic noon," when the growth of supermassive black holes (those with millions to billions of times the mass of the sun) was at its peak across the entire history of the universe. Between cosmic noon and now, however, astronomers have seen a major slowdown in how rapidly black holes are growing. (3/24)

Former Astronaut Mae Jemison: 'Space Accessibility Has to Be Expanded' (Source: France 24)
In 1992, Mae Jemison became the first woman of colour to go to space. Three decades later, she looks back on what's changed, how space helps advance research and what is still to be done. Her main concern is making space more accessible, but also including the humanities and social sciences in developing space exploration. 'Space accessibility has to be expanded', Jemison tells FRANCE 24, at an age where going to space is often reduced to billionaires. (3/23)

Ramon Space and Ingrasys Expand Partnership to Deliver Scalable Orbital Data Center Infrastructure (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Ramon Space and Ingrasys are expanding their ongoing collaboration to develop data center infrastructure for space by moving space computing from prototype to production-ready infrastructure. The expanded collaboration aims to build and scale data center capabilities in space to support emerging applications.

As data generated in orbit continues to grow, traditional Earth-based infrastructure faces increasing limitations due to latency, bandwidth constraints, power availability, and environmental challenges. Space-based data centers address these limitations by bringing compute, storage, and connectivity into orbit, enabling a new architecture for processing space data in real-time and at scale, as well as supporting new classes of satellite missions. (3/24)

Parabolic Flight Experiments Delve into Planetary Formation (Source: Universe Today)
To see if these instabilities can form in protoplanetary disks (or, if other conditions keep them from forming), Holly Capelo's team built an instrument called TEMPusVoLa in 2020. It contains high-speed cameras to track the behavior of dust particles in an extremely thin gas under vacuum conditions, and the team built it specifically to fly in microgravity parabolic flights. "On Earth, gravity influences the behavior of the dust and gas," said team member Lucio Mayer from the University of Zurich "Only conditions that simulate the absence of gravity allow us to probe an extremely dilute flow regime, similar to the gas and dust disks orbiting around young stars." (3/23)

SpaceX's Orbiting Data Center Satellites are Huge (Source: PC Mag)
Elon Musk offered a first look at his plans for orbiting data centers this weekend, and they will be longer than the ISS. The satellites stand out for their exceptionally large solar arrays. The SpaceX CEO's presentation didn't give an exact length, but each one is significantly longer than the Starship V3 rocket, which stands at 124.4 meters. The satellites also dwarf the length of the ISS, which spans 109 meters and is visible in the night sky. Musk indicated the satellites can capture plenty of solar energy to power the high-density AI processing inside. The rendering shows "the solar panels and radiator to scale,” he said. (3/23)

From Missions to Systems: The Architecture Enabling a Sustained Lunar Economy (Source: Space News)
At Voyager Technologies, habitation systems, life-support architectures, airlock operations, and orbital infrastructure represent decades of operational experience already validated in space. Platforms such as Starlab — the company’s planned commercial space station for research, manufacturing and long-duration habitation — are intended to support government missions, commercial activity and scientific research in orbit.

Succeeding on the moon requires systems built for constant radiation, extreme temperatures, abrasive regolith, intermittent power and autonomous operation. It also means integrating habitation, logistics, power, computing and mobility into a broader, expandable system — a clear departure from convention.

The company delivers scalable life-support systems, durable airlocks designed to handle regolith contamination or radiation-hardened electronics and in-situ computing designed to minimize dependence on traditional Earth-based operations. The reason: future crews will need to operate with local processing capability comparable to their terrestrial counterparts. (3/24)

Moog Taps Redwire to Provide Solar Arrays for Meteor (Source: Redwire)
Jacksonville-based Redwire has been awarded a $12.8 million contract to deliver Extensible Low-Profile Solar Array (ELSA) wings to Moog. The wings will be integrated with Moog’s METEOR satellite bus in support of a LEO mission for an undisclosed national security customer. This marks the first sale of Redwire’s ELSA, a new high-performance, low-mass solar array product. ELSA expands Redwire’s power technology portfolio to support customers with low to medium-power applications across all orbits, including volume production programs with faster delivery timelines. (3/24)

March 24, 2026

Scientists Narrow Down the Hunt for Aliens to 45 Planets (Source: 404 Media)
Scientists have discovered more than 6,000 exoplanets, which are planets that orbit other stars, but most of these worlds are hopelessly inhospitable to life. To home in on the best candidates for habitability, a team combed through the catalogue of exoplanets to identify the best potential alien homes.

The short-list includes 45 rocky worlds that are no bigger than twice the size of Earth and orbit within the habitable zone (HZ) of their stars, which is the region where liquid water might exist on the surface. The most exciting destinations include four planets that orbit the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, about 40 light years away, or Proxima Centauri b, which is the closest known exoplanet, located just four light years from Earth. (3/23)

Russia Launches Broadband Constellation Satellites on Soyuz From Plesetsk (Source: Bloomberg)
Russia launched the first satellites of a new broadband constellation Monday. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, placing 16 Rassvet satellites into orbit for Russian company Bureau 1440. That company is planning a constellation of broadband satellites to serve as a competitor to systems like Starlink and Amazon Leo, but with few details on the constellation's capabilities or schedule. (3/24)

Missile Warning/Tracking Capabilities Require Data Sharing (Source: Space News)
Missile warning and tracking could be improved if U.S. government agencies shared the raw data they gather. Experts said missile defense is fundamentally a big-data problem, with a wide range of data form ground- and space-based sensors that need to be effectively combined. However, panelists said that data structures and, in some cases, classification issues keep agencies from collaborating on data sharing and analysis. (3/24)

German Comsat Constellation Worries IRIS² Supporters (Source: Reuters)
The German military's plans for a satellite constellation are raising concerns in the EU. Germany plans to spend 10 billion euros ($11.6 billion) on a 100-satellite constellation for communications, which would run in parallel to the EU's IRIS² constellation. Some European officials worry the planned German system could create inefficiencies as it will provide many of the same services as IRIS². Italy is also studying its own constellation, but at a much earlier phase of development. (3/24)

Namibia Rejects Starlink (Source: Business Insider Africa)
In a rare move, a country has said no to Starlink. The telecommunications regulator in Namibia said Monday it denied a SpaceX application for a license to provide Starlink services in the African nation. The regulator did not give a reason for the denial. SpaceX was accused in 2024 of operating Starlink in the country without a license. (3/24)

SpaceShipOne Pilot Pelvill Passes at 85 (Collect Space)
The first person to fly to space on a privately funded vehicle has died. Mike Melvill was a test pilot at Scaled Composites when he flew that company's SpaceShipOne suborbital vehicle to just above the Kármán Line, or 100 kilometers altitude, on a suborbital flight in June 2004. He flew it again in September 2004 on the first of two spaceflights needed to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize. He was 85. (3/24)

Arianespace Picked to Launch Katalyst Servicing Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Arianespace won a contract to launch a startup's satellite servicing spacecraft. Katalyst Space Technologies will launch its Nexus-1 spacecraft on an Ariane 64 in the second half of 2027, the companies announced Monday. Nexus-1 will be deployed into geostationary transfer orbit and install a space situational awareness sensor on a U.S. Space Force satellite in geostationary orbit, and later serve commercial customers. Katalyst is working on a separate mission to reboost NASA's Swift astrophysics spacecraft; that is scheduled to launch in June on a Pegasus XL. (3/24)

Amazon Set to Increase Leo Production and Launch Cadence (Source: Space News)
Amazon said Monday it would ramp up deployment of its broadband constellation. The company vowed to double the annual launch rate for its low Earth orbit broadband constellation to more than 20 missions, including three in the coming weeks. The next launch, an Atlas 5 on Sunday, will carry 29 satellites, two more than previous Atlas launches, thanks to engine upgrades. Another Atlas 5 is due to fly next month, along with a second Ariane 64 launch for the constellation. Amazon is facing pressure to accelerate deployment of its 3,232-satellite constellation as it asks the FCC to extend or eliminate a July deadline to have half the constellation in orbit. (3/24)

Space Force Sending Cyber Teams to Spaceports (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force is deploying dedicated cybersecurity teams at its primary launch sites. Two units known as Defensive Cyber Operations Squadrons will monitor activity during launch operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base, Space Systems Command announced on Monday. Those units will be tasked with detecting and countering attempts to interfere with launches via cyberattacks. The move reflects rising concern that adversaries could disrupt rocket launches through digital means rather than physical interference. (3/24)

York Scaling Up Satellite Production (Source: Space News)
York Space Systems is scaling up satellite production but faces uncertainty from its major customer. The Denver-based satellite manufacturer said last week annual revenue rose 52% to about $386 million in 2025, driven largely by work on the Space Development Agency's proliferated low Earth orbit constellation. The company has built a sizable backlog tied to that work, with roughly 140 satellites ordered to date. However, the future of its work with the SDA is uncertain, with the SDA Transport Layer constellation likely to be absorbed into a broader Space Force effort known as the Space Data Network, a concept still being defined. The transition raises questions about how future contracts will be structured and when they will be awarded. (3/24)

Space Force to Issue First Kronos C2 Contracts Next Month (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force is set to issue the first contracts for the Kronos project next month, aiming to modernize operational command, control, and battle management systems for space domain awareness. Kronos was separated from the troubled Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System project, which has struggled to replace the outdated Space Defense Operations Center. The Space Force will use Other Transaction Authority contracts for Kronos, starting with prototyping efforts. (3/23)
 
Ground-Based Radar Digitization Program Expands (Source: Breaking Defense)
The US Space Force has expanded its Ground-Based Radar Digitization program to all eight legacy radar systems, aiming to enhance missile defense and space monitoring. The initiative will provide a unified software architecture and modernize both the front-end and back-end components of the radars. Initial operational capability is expected by early 2030, with full completion by mid-2031. (3/23)

The Science of Artemis 2 (Source: Space Review)
Artemis 2 is back on the pad for a launch as soon as next week. Jeff Foust reports that while the mission is primarily a test flight, there will be opportunities to do lunar and other science along the way. Click here. (3/24)
 
NavIC: India’s “Jinxed” Navigational Program, or a Cornerstone of India’s Misplaced Space Priorities? (Source: Space Review)
A recent in-orbit failure has deprived India of a functioning navigation satellite system. Ajey Lele says what appears to be bad luck may instead be a sign of management flaws. Click here. (3/24)
 
Zarya: the Super-Soyuz That Only Lived Twice (Source: Space Review)
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union proposed a spacecraft that could be a successor to the Soyuz, only to see it cancelled, revived, and cancelled again. Maks Skiendzielewski examines the history of the Zarya spacecraft. Click here. (3/24)
 
The Legal Aspects of Outer Space Settlers and Settlements (Source: Space Review)
Any future with humans living permanently in space raises some key legal issues. Dennis O’Brien explores those issues, from existing space treaties to the prospects of independent settlements. Click here. (3/24)

ISS-Affiliated Accelerator Expands Capital and Startup Resources (Source: CASIS)
The ISS National Laboratory® is about to launch the 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator program in partnership with returning global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc., E2MC, and Stellar Ventures, as well as leading industry participants. Now entering its second year, the one-of-a-kind program expands access to capital, business mentorship, and orbital flight opportunities for startups developing market-changing, space-enabled technologies. Click here. (3/24)

Artemis II Launch May Bring $160 Million Impact to Florida's Space Coast (Source: Florida Today)
NASA's milestone Artemis II launch to the moon from Kennedy Space Center may draw 400,000 visitors to Florida's Space Coast — generating $160 million in Brevard County economic impact, a national consulting firm projects. “Most folks are going to spend a few days in town. They’re going to spend money in restaurants, hotels, bars. All of that drives economic impact, and it all creates new tax revenue," said John Boyd, principal with The Boyd Company Inc. of Boca Raton. (3/23)

Giant Craters May Reveal if Psyche is a Lost Planetary Core (Source: Universe Today)
One asteroid approximately the size of the State of Massachusetts called 16 Psyche is made of metal, which planetary scientists hypothesize could be the remnants of a protoplanet’s core that didn’t build into a full-fledged planet. But how did such a unique asteroid form?

Now, an international team of scientists might be one step closer to answering that conundrum, as they attempted to ascertain how a large impact in the north polar region of 16 Psyche might have formed. In the end, the researchers developed several hypotheses regarding the interior of 16 Psyche, which they note they will confirm once the Psyche spacecraft arrives at the asteroid. (3/24)

Scrubbing Away Lunar Dust (Source: Aerospace America)
The engineers and scientists behind the Lunar SCRUB (Surface Cleaning Robotic Unit with electron-Beam) project propose to solve the dust problem with an electrostatic cleaning device. A smaller version of the toaster-sized metal box prototype could be mounted on the robotic arm of an autonomous lunar terrain vehicle or carried by an astronaut and passed over surfaces at an arm’s length distance to lift the dust away, said David Asner, chief science officer of Orbital Mining Corp. The Colorado company is developing the device with another startup as subcontractor, Space Dust Research & Technologies (SDRT), under a $150,000 NASA contract. (3/23)

NASA Reduces Support for Commercial Space Stations (Source: Douglas Messier)
NASA has announced that it will no longer support the development of two separate commercial space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) that are currently in development to follow the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030. Instead the space agency will procure a module that will be attached to ISS that will host commercial modules and serve as the core of a separate station. (3/24)

Eutelsat Expands LEO Connectivity for Global Rail Market (Source: Runway Girl)
Eutelsat today highlighted the growing adoption of its OneWeb LEO connectivity service in the global rail market, including the development and testing of new terminals by Kymeta and Hughes Network Systems. Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO service is available to rail operators worldwide through a broad network of distribution partners, specialized rail integrators, and direct relationships with train operators. (3/24)

Future Artemis Missions Could Use Fiber-Optic Cables to Monitor Moonquakes (Source: Space.com)
The moon may soon get a high-tech seismic sensing system — and it could be as simple as rolling out cables across the lunar surface. Two recent studies suggest that fiber-optic cables laid directly on the lunar ground could double as sensitive detectors for moonquakes, offering a lightweight, low-cost alternative to traditional seismometers. The idea builds on a technique called distributed acoustic sensing in which laser pulses sent through optical fibers can pick up tiny vibrations along the entire length of the fibers. (3/24)

China’s Astronstone Raises $29 Million for Reusable Rocket with Chopstick-Style Recovery (Source: Space News)
Astronstone, a Chinese launch startup founded only in 2024, has secured new funding as it builds toward the first flight of its reusable AS-1 rocket. Last year it secured over $13 million in early-stage funding to develop its AS-1 rocket — a stainless steel, methane-fueled, fully reusable launch vehicle. Clearly, the company is mirroring SpaceX’s design philosophy, as shown by its plan to implement “chopstick”-style arms for catching the rocket’s first stage during landing.

The AS-1 will be powered by a customized version of the 80-ton-thrust Longyun engine, developed by Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ). With a diameter of 4.2 meters, a length of 70 meters, and a liftoff mass of 570 metric tons, the rocket is designed to deliver 10,000 kg to low Earth orbit in reusable mode, or 15,700 kg when expended. (3/24)

Space Development Agency Slows Satellite Launches to Focus on On-Orbit Performance (Source: Space News)
The Space Development Agency is slowing the pace of launches for the Pentagon’s low Earth orbit satellite constellation, stepping back from an earlier plan for frequent deployments as it works through technical issues with spacecraft already in orbit. (3/24)

NASA Second X-59 Flight Cut Short from Warning Light (Source: AIN)
NASA’s X-59 supersonic demonstrator returned to the skies on Friday morning for a nine-minute flight that was cut short after a warning light illuminated. However, NASA officials said they were still able to gather data during the second flight from the aircraft built in collaboration with Lockheed Martin at its Skunk Works facility in California. The aircraft first flew on October 28, reaching 12,000 feet and 200 knots. Plans for the second mission called for an hour-long flight that would expand the envelope to 20,000 feet and 225 knots.

This would be followed by a series of successive flights to further expand the flight profile as it prepared to participate in the NASA Quesst program to examine the effect of quieter supersonic technologies on a variety of communities. This data would be used internationally to contemplate whether supersonic flight over land could once again become possible.

The second flight was initially delayed after a caution light for a vehicle system went off at around 10 a.m. Friday morning, according to Cathy Bahm, project manager for the low boom flight demonstrator at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The system was reset, and “we were good to go,” Bahm said. At 10:54 a.m., the aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, but landed at 11:03 a.m. after a separate, unrelated vehicle system warning illuminated. (3/23)

March 23, 2026

Space Force C2 Upgrade Faces Issues, Delays (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The US Space Force continues to face challenges in decommissioning its SPADOC command-and-control system, despite the introduction of the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System last year. A report from the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation reveals that ATLAS does not yet meet the minimum requirements for SPADOC decommissioning, highlighting system immaturity and deficiencies. The Space Force is working with Space Systems Command to address these issues and aims to decommission SPADOC by year's end as part of the broader Space C2 modernization effort. (3/21)

Parsons Unveils New Satellite Antenna Aimed at Military Market (Source: Space News)
Parsons Corporation is rolling out a new satellite ground antenna, targeting a market opening left by the Space Force's recent cancellation of a planned antenna procurement. Developed in collaboration with Raven Defense, the SPARTAN antenna — short for S-Band Phased Array Receive and Transmit Antenna Node — combines a six-meter parabolic dish with an electronically steered phased-array feed. (3/23)

Sovereign Demand and Institutional Capital Reshape Space Economy (Source: Space News)
Large infrastructure funds are "carefully looking" into entering the space sector, Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett said March 23, giving early-stage investors more confidence to back ambitious startups that may later need billions of dollars to scale. (3/23)

Arianespace to Launch Katalyst Servicing Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Arianespace announced March 23 that it won a contract to launch Katalyst's Nexus-1 servicing spacecraft on an Ariane 6 in the second half of 2027. The companies did not disclose terms of the contract, including whether the launch would be shared with other customers. (3/23)

NASA Cuts Short Second Flight of X-59 Experimental Plane (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA is investigating the root cause of a warning light that popped up minutes into the second flight of its X-59 research plane, prompting the pilot to make an early landing. After taking off from NASA’s Armstrong Research Center in California, the demonstrator was to fly subsonically for roughly an hour over the Mojave Desert to check out aircraft handling and systems, prior to its first supersonic flight later this year. Pilot Jim “Clue” Less was to take the needle-nosed jet up to about 415 kilometers per hour and 20,000 feet. (3/23)

NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Will Put These Technologies to the Test (Source: Aerospace America)
For its first crewed spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit since 1972, NASA plans to evaluate a range of technologies and techniques critical to the Artemis IV landing and other future lunar expeditions. “This is an exciting time to fly humans around the moon for the first time in over 50 years, send them further than any humans since Apollo 13, and continue paving the road of human exploration to the moon and beyond,” NASA’s Norm Knight, director of the Flight Operations Directorate, said during a March 12 press conference following the flight readiness review for Artemis II. (3/23)

Russian Space Craft Antenna Problem Forces Manual Docking with ISS (Source: Yahoo News UK)
An unmanned Russian cargo spacecraft has a problem with an ‌antenna so it will have to ‌be manually docked when it reaches the ISS, Russia's Roscosmos state space corporation said in a statement. A Soyuz-2.1a rocket launched the Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft on Sunday from Baikonur in Kazakhstan but ‌a problem with ⁠one of the KURS automated rendezvous antennas was identified, Roscosmos said. (3/23)

Methalox Explosive Testing Could Reshape Launch Pad Accessibility (Source: Ars Technica)
About 15 years ago, rocket companies started serious development of large methane-fueled engines. SpaceX and Blue Origin now build the most powerful of these new engines—the Raptor and BE-4—each capable of generating more than half a million pounds of thrust. Burning methane in combination with liquid oxygen, these “methalox” engines have several advantages. Methane is better suited for reusable engines because it leaves less behind sooty residue than kerosene and is easier to handle than liquid hydrogen. ULA, Rocket Lab, Stoke Space, and Relativity Space also use, or will use, methalox.

But rockets sometimes blow up. Regulators want to better understand how the hazards from an exploding methalox rocket might differ from those of other launchers. This is important as launches become more routine, with companies foreseeing multiple flights per day from launch pads that are, in some cases, just 1 or 2 miles apart. Companies have raised concerns that SpaceX Starship operations could disrupt activities on neighboring launch pads. Ongoing explosive yield tests are meant to help officials fine-tune their hazard analyses to determine the proper size of the danger areas for methalox rockets. The Space Force currently treats any methalox rocket with “100 percent TNT blast equivalency” and maintains a “maximized keep-out zone” for safety.

Liquid oxygen and methane are highly miscible, meaning they mix together easily, raising the risk of a “condensed phase detonation” with “significantly higher overpressures” than rockets with liquid hydrogen or kerosene fuels. Small-scale mixtures of liquid oxygen and liquified natural gas have “shown a broad detonable range with yields greater than that of TNT,” NASA wrote in 2023. The explosive-yield tests (including at Florida's Eglin AFB) began in January to examine multiple failure modes. Engineers will extrapolate the results to assess the explosive potential of a huge rocket like Starship, which contains more than 10.8 million pounds of propellant at liftoff. Editor's Note: The results could have profound impacts on the usability of multiple launch pads at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. (3/20)

Rice University Wins $22.3 Million to Launch Two New Space Research Centers (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Rice University is boosting its space research after securing $22.3 million from two agreements. The Texas Space Commission approved a $14.2 million grant in February to create the Center for Space Technologies, which will lay the groundwork for systems that could eventually turn the moon’s dirt into hand tools or vehicle parts. The U.S. Space Force likewise approved $8.1 million in funding last month to create the Center for Advanced Space Sensing Technologies. This center, despite its similar name, will be focused on creating cameras that can observe and identify objects in space or on the ground and provide real-time data analysis. (3/16)

China’s Space Development is Outpacing Expectations and Gaining Momentum, Space Force Official Says (Source: Via Satellite)
China’s space asset developments are coming fast and furious as China drives toward the goal of becoming a major space power, outpacing Russia and causing more focused analysis by U.S. Space Command, according to U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch. China’s 14th five year plan for economic and social development emphasizes strengthening national strategic scientific and technological capabilities and achieving self-reliance in key technologies. Space technologies — satellites, launch systems, deep-space exploration — are treated as strategic high-tech domains within this push. (3/23)

Isar Aerospace in Talks to Raise €250 Million Ahead of Launch (Source: Bloomberg)
German rocket startup Isar Aerospace is in talks to raise €250 million ($289 million) in funding ahead of a key launch attempt planned for this week, according to a person familiar with the matter. The investment round would value the company at €2 billion, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. (3/23)

Contrivian Launches New Product Bundling Amazon Leo & Starlink (Source: Payload)
Customers looking for satellite connectivity are often forced to choose between one provider or another. Those days are over. Managed connectivity provider Contrivian announced a new product today—Contrivian Constellation—which combines Amazon Leo and Starlink connectivity into one solution, offering customers both services under a single data plan, contract, and IP address. (3/23)

Katalyst Planning Ambitious Swift Rescue Mission (Source: Ars Technica)
One of NASA’s oldest astronomy missions, the Swift Observatory, has been out of action for more than a month as scientists await the arrival of a pioneering robotic rescue mission. The 21-year-old spacecraft is falling out of orbit, and NASA officials believe it’s worth saving. Swift was never designed to be captured or reboosted in orbit. This mission is the first time Katalyst will attempt to dock with another satellite in space. And third, NASA gave Katalyst a daunting timetable of just nine months to build, test, and launch the rescue mission before Swift’s altitude falls too low for a safe rendezvous.

“This is really technically ambitious,” said Ghonhee Lee, founder and CEO of Katalyst. Launch is scheduled for June 1, and there’s little margin for error. By late summer or early fall, Swift will slip below 200 miles (320 kilometers), too low for Katalyst to have confidence in controlling its spacecraft. (3/23)

Dawn’s ‘Aurora’ Spaceplane Completes Radar Tracking Experiment with New Zealand Defense and Navy (Source: Spacewatch Global)
The Royal New Zealand Navy, Defense Science and Technology, and Dawn Aerospace, have completed a live radar tracking experiment using a reusable rocket-powered aircraft during the Dawn Aerospace Radar Tracking Experiment. The trial, involving Dawn's Aurora spaceplane, evaluated the surveillance radar’s ability to detect and track a high-altitude, high-speed air vehicle under controlled conditions. (3/23)

EchoStar Moves Into Chinese, Korean Mobile Video Markets (Source: Space News)
U.S. satellite-television broadcaster EchoStar Communications Corp., in what appears to be a major expansion of its business, confirmed that it is providing an S-band mobile video satellite through a Chinese subsidiary to be launched in time for the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, and partnering with an already successful satellite mobile video business in South Korea.

In separate announcements Feb. 21 and Feb. 22, Englewood, Colorado-based EchoStar said it is investing $40 million in TU Media of South Korea, which in late 2006 passed the million-customer milestone for its satellite mobile video service. EchoStar also said that its Chinese subsidiary, China Mobile Broadcasting Satellite Ltd., or CMBSat, had won Chinese regulatory approval to launch a similar project in China. (3/1)

SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Others Race to Saturate Orbits Before Someone Says Stop (Source: SPACErePORT)
SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others are aggressively launching thousands of satellites, driven by a race to secure orbital slots and spectrum rights before international regulations tighten. This rapid deployment is motivated by a "use it or lose it" scenario, where companies must populate their authorized orbital shells to prevent regulators from reallocating the space to competitors.
 
The race is characterized by intense regulatory maneuvering on Earth, with companies asking the FCC to restrict competitors while simultaneously filing for massive, even million-satellite constellations themselves. There are valid questions about the feasibility of massive constellations that could turn Low Earth Orbit into a difficult-to-navigate zone. Despite objections, the current outdated regulatory environment allows this rapid buildup, with a focus on managing rather than halting the new "space rush".

There is no central governing body with the absolute authority to stop the sometimes reckless pace of satellite deployment. While the FCC handles U.S. spectrum licensing and debris mitigation, and the FAA handles launch safety, the sheer velocity of the private sector threatens to overwhelm the capabilities of global, often slow-moving agencies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ultimate fear is that before a definitive international treaty or central authority can be established to mandate limitations, companies will have already created untenable debris and navigation risks while severely impeding astronomical research. (3/23)

Musk Says Tesla, SpaceX, xAI Chip Factory Planned in Texas (Source: Bloomberg)
Elon Musk said his Terafab project — a grand plan to eventually manufacture his own chips for robotics, artificial intelligence and space data centers — will be built in Austin and jointly run by Tesla and SpaceX. Musk, the chief executive officer of both companies, said he will start off with an “advanced technology fab” in Austin that will have all of the equipment necessary to make chips of any kind, and test them. Musk, who has no background in semiconductor production and a history of over-promising on goals and timelines, had said before that the company will start with a smaller scale fab before moving to a bigger one. (3/23)

Ran Livne Appointed as the new Director of the Israeli Space Agency (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Mr. Ran Livne has become the newest Director of the Israel Space Agency after the appointment announcement by the Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Gila Gamliel. The national government approved the appointment following the recommendation of a professional search committee. As the new Director of the Israeli Space Agency for the next four years, Livne brings over a decade of experience in the space industry in Israel and worldwide, as well as over 15 years of experience working with the public sector and government ministries. (3/23)

State of Vandenberg: Growth, Transparency, and a Shared Future (Source: Santa Maria Times)
Last week, Vandenberg Space Force Base opened its doors to community leaders, mission partners and stakeholders for the 2026 State of Vandenberg— an annual event in partnership with the Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley chambers of commerce. “We’ve had an incredible year, and as we step into the next era of the space race, Vandenberg stands at the nexus of some of the most critically important strategic capabilities in the Department of War,” said Space Force Col. James T. Horne III. “This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse missions that call Vandenberg and California’s Central Coast home.”

Vandenberg serves as a critical hub for space access and advanced air and space testing, supporting more than 54 mission partners and hosting all three U.S. Space Force field commands. From nuclear deterrence and homeland defense to global command and control of space assets, orbital tracking and the training of Space Guardians and nuclear Airmen, the installation sits at the nexus of capabilities that underpin national and global security.

“There is no question that activity is increasing at Vandenberg,” Horne said. “We understand that comes with more visibility — and at times, more impact— for our surrounding communities. That’s exactly why we are committed to keeping people informed as this growth continues.” That commitment to transparency has become a central line of effort for the installation. (3/21)

Van Horn's Space Tourism Boom Remains Elusive Despite Blue Origin's Presence (Source: El Paso Inc.)
It’s been more than 20 years since then. Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, has purchased about 400,000 acres of land, and his spaceflight company has had 38 successful missions, some carrying scientists and celebrities to the edge of space. But the economic impact the town was anticipating? “That hasn’t happened,” said Brenda Hinojos, director of the Van Horn Convention and Visitors Bureau. “At first we thought it would have an economic impact, and a lot of people do think that we do get that impact from them, but no, we don’t.

“There were a lot of these high-profile people coming, so we were hoping we would get tourists, space tourists, that would want to move to Van Horn to be closer to what was happening. But that hasn’t been the case,” said Cody Davis, a Van Horn native and member of the Van Horn Economic Development Corporation. “We still didn’t get the boom.” Blue Origin announced in January that it was pausing New Shepard flights to focus on developing its lunar capabilities as NASA works to return astronauts to the moon. The company did not respond to inquiries. Even if flights resume, it could take years for Van Horn to see meaningful benefits from space tourism, said one expert on spaceports. (3/22)

Russia Resumes Use of Launch Site Damaged in Accident (Source: AFP)
Russia has launched a rocket from Site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome for the first time since it was damaged during a lift-off last November, video from Russia's Roscosmos space agency showed Sunday. Site 31 was Russia's only operational launch pad for crewed missions to the ISS. Part of the launch site collapsed during lift-off of Soyuz MS-28 in November last year, temporarily preventing Russia from being able to send cosmonauts into space. (3/22)

NASA Is Laying the Legal Groundwork To Build Its Lunar Base in 2027 (Source: The Hill)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman opened his mind about how the space agency intends to start building a lunar base. “We are going to start immediately…we can do this with uncrewed robotic vehicles and landers and we are going to start in 2027. And I think the public is going to be able to tune in and almost watch us build this space in real time as we start landing on the moon,” Isaacman said. While the initial building campaign will involve smaller, Commercial Lunar Payload Services-sized landers, eventually NASA will have to scale things up.

Having some of the infrastructure of a lunar base already in place would be of immense advantage for the first crew of astronauts to land on the moon perhaps a few months later. Equipment, supplies and perhaps even a habitat would greatly enhance what the crew of Artemis IV and subsequent missions can do on the moon’s surface. One reason for starting a lunar base soon may be rooted in space law, both established and evolving, stemming from the question of how to deal with the other great space power, the People’s Republic of China.

The Artemis Accords, a nonbinding agreement between (so far) 61 countries, is meant to revise and extend the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty. Paragraph seven of Section 11 is the relevant provision. It says the treaty’s signers must “provide notification of their activities and commit to coordinating with any relevant actor to avoid harmful interference,” in a dedicated “safety zone” where “nominal operations of a relevant activity or an anomalous event could reasonably cause harmful interference.” (3/22)

How Congress Became NASA’s Partner for the Artemis Return to the Moon (Source: The Hill)
The 2026 version of the NASA authorization bill that passed out of Senate Commerce is as different from the 2010 legislation as day to night. Whereas the 2010 bill imposed the will of Congress on NASA, the 2026 bill has essentially given NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman carte blanche to do what he feels is necessary to get Americans back on the moon before the Chinese and then to build a lunar base. So, what happened in the 16 years between the two pieces of legislation to make them so starkly different?

Jim Bridenstine failed to get the Artemis program out from under the Space Launch System. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) a powerful defender of the giant rocket, informed the NASA administrator in no uncertain terms that any attempt to replace the SLS would mean the death of the Artemis program. Bill Nelson established the theme of a space race back to the moon with China. But Nelson, one of the architects of the SLS, did nothing to try to replace it with a cheaper, commercial launch vehicle.

The difference between the 2026 legislation and the 2010 version reflects Bridenstine’s efforts to sell the Artemis program and Nelson’s warnings about a Chinese victory in a new space race. Also, Shelby, now retired, is no longer the Senate’s arbiter of space policy. Cruz is the new adjudicator of space in the upper chamber, and he understands the importance of space as a source of national greatness and prosperity beyond just being a jobs program. (3/20)

March 22, 2026

Space Force Reassigns Fourth GPS III Launch From ULA To SpaceX (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force is shifting a GPS III launch from United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rockets to the SpaceX Falcon fleet for the fourth time. The service’s GPS III-8 mission was originally due to launch on a ULA Vulcan heavy-lift launch vehicle. But it will now launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9. (3/20)

SpaceX’s Starbase is Flexing Beach Closure Powers Ahead of Next Starship Launch (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
Ahead of the next launch of a SpaceX Starship, the city of Starbase has been flexing its authority to issue beach and highway closures — a first since state lawmakers passed a law that allowed the Texas Space Commission to delegate the powers. It will be the first flight of the third-generation Starship, which are slightly larger, hold more fuel and have updated Raptor engines. (3/21)

Ukraine Is Suddenly on the Offensive, With Help From Starlink (Source: Wall Street Journal)
When Elon Musk flipped the off switch on Russian forces’ Starlink internet connections in February, Ukraine’s military went on the offensive. Russian commanders had lost access to live video of the battlefield and communications with troops. Ukrainian soldiers moved in on Russian positions with little threat from drones—normally an omnipresent danger. (3/20)

Starlink Has Privatized Geopolitics (Source: Foreign Policy)
Starlink is far more than a commercial connectivity service. It is strategic infrastructure that increasingly shapes how wars are fought, how states manage internal unrest, and how criminal networks operate in ungoverned spaces. What makes Starlink so politically consequential is not just its globe-spanning reach but also the governance model behind it.

A private company is now a gatekeeper in orbit, helping decide who connects as well as where, under what conditions, and with what technical constraints. In a growing number of conflicts, these decisions carry military and political effects that states struggle to replicate or control. If many strategic supply chains now depend on private firms, Starlink is an unusually concentrated case of private discretion over public security functions. (3/20)

Canadian Space Agency Cancels Lunar Rover Mission (Source: CNC)
As part of its 2026-2027 departmental plan, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has cancelled its ambitious lunar rover mission. The lunar rover was announced in 2022. It would have been Canada’s first rover, built by Canadensys, and hitching a ride to the moon on a commercial launch vehicle built by Firefly Aerospace. “It was going to be one of the most exciting missions in Canadian space history,” he said. “We were going to send Canada's first-ever rover mission to the surface of another planetary body, which is something that we've been trying to do for decades.” (3/20)

Maritime Launch Introduces Interim Finance Leadership at Key Growth Inflection Point (Source: Maritime Launch Services)
Maritime Launch Services has appointed Gregory Rook as interim finance leadership to support the company's next phase of growth. As infrastructure development accelerates at Spaceport Nova Scotia and long-term customer demand continues to grow, the company has engaged an experienced senior finance team to modernize and streamline existing systems and processes to support disciplined growth and operational readiness. This momentum follows recent progress, including a 10-year agreement with the Government of Canada's Department of National Defense. (3/20)

Second Company Plans Shetland Rocket Launch This Year (Source: BBC)
A second company has signed an agreement to launch a rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland this year. HyImpulse Technologies GmbH (HyImpulse) said it would be the second flight of its SR75 suborbital launch vehicle following a successful "lift off" in Australia. A number of companies hope to use SaxaVord in Unst, the northernmost point in the UK, as a launch site for commercial rockets. (3/21)

Space Coast Hotels Anticipating NASA's Moon Shot (Source: MyNews 13)
NASA’s moon rocket is back at the launch pad, ready for a potential April liftoff. Now that this milestone is complete, it sets the table for local businesses who are prepping for the crowds that will come to witness history, as America looks to slingshot around the moon for the first time since the 60s and 70s.

Hotels in Cape Canaveral and nearby areas report full occupancy. “If you look at our reservations, they are from all over the country,” Wayne Soard said. That has the Space Coast Office of Tourism all grinning. With thousands descending on the area to watch the launch, it means heads in beds at hotels like the Courtyard and cash registers ringing at local shops and restaurants. (3/20)

From Satellites to Space Data Centers: Why Low Earth Orbit Is Attracting Billions in Investment (Source: CNBC)
A new layer of critical infrastructure is emerging above our heads. Low Earth Orbit is rapidly evolving from a niche technical domain into one of the most strategically important environments of the 21st century. It underpins global navigation, telecommunications, defense and worldwide connectivity and is seeing a flood of investment. More than $45 billion worth of investment in the sector was recorded in 2025, up sharply from just under $25 billion in 2024.

LEO satellites, with their relative proximity to Earth, deliver quicker responses, reduced launch costs and faster communication speeds. Unlike satellites in more elevated orbits, they do not stay above a fixed spot on Earth and often work in constellations to maximize global coverage. Higher trajectories, such as Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO), host long‑established satellite infrastructure, but they are subject to more rigid operational constraints.

51,600 More Satellites? Blue Origin Adds Another Twist to the Data Center Space Race With Project Sunrise (Source: Geekwire)
Blue Origin space venture is asking the FCC for authority to send up to 51,600 data center satellites into low Earth orbit, signaling its entry into an increasingly crowded space race. The proposed constellation, dubbed Project Sunrise, would complement Blue Origin’s previously announced plans for a 5,408-satellite TeraWave constellation. TeraWave would provide ultra-high-speed connectivity for Project Sunrise’s satellites — and for terrestrial data centers, large-scale enterprises and government customers as well. (3/21)

As America Turns 250,  The Moon is Testing Our Ambition Again (Source: USA Today)
America got to the moon and planted a flag in 1969. So, as it plans a return and perhaps someday a trip to Mars, the question for many people is: Why? Is peace and "hope for mankind" still the goal? And if not, what is? “The general public doesn't understand how incredibly important space is to them on a daily basis,” Greg Autry said. “Our modern civilization would not continue to operate without our regular investment in space.”

NASA hasn't done a great job of explaining to the average person what its discoveries have meant for them. The space program has led to the invention of heart rate monitoring technology, scratch-resistance lenses, memory foam mattresses, rechargeable batteries, wireless headphones, the Jaws of Life rescue tool, GPS and even banking technology. Our ability to communicate with each other through cell phones and satellite transmissions depends on space-delivered technologies. (3/22)

Possible Meteorite Crashes Into Houston Area Home (Source: CBS News)
A possible meteorite crashed into a Houston area house on Saturday night, tearing through the roof and two stories of the home, officials said. Ponderosa Fire Chief Fred Windisch told CBS News that what "appears to be a meteorite" crashed through a woman's house, landing in the kitchen. Windisch said the meteorite was a little bigger than his hand. Ponderosa Forest is a suburb in north Houston.

NASA said in a social media post that the meteor became visible at 49 miles above Stagecoach, northwest of Houston, at 4:40 p.m. local time. The meteor moved southeast at 35,000 miles per hour, breaking apart 29 miles above Bammel, just west of Cypress Station, NASA said. (3/21)

Scientific Benefits of ESA’s Genesis Mission (Source: ESA)
Genesis is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) navigation mission to measure Earth down to the millimeter. This precise measurement of Earth will have wide-ranging benefits, from satellite navigation to orbit determination to Earth science. Genesis will improve the precision and stability of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), which is the foundation of satellite navigation and Earth science.

Earth is not a static system, instead, everything is moving over time, from ocean water to continents. The ITRF allows researchers to relate changes to Earth across space and time by providing a reference frame for their monitoring. As the backbone for measuring and monitoring Earth, an improved ITRF will benefit navigation applications including aviation and traffic management, but it will also enhance many scientific areas. (3/20)

Astronomers Protest Giant Orbiting Mirror Project and SpaceX’s Million AI Satellites (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers are up in arms, protesting against a proposed constellation of tens of thousands of orbiting mirrors intended to reflect light onto ground-based solar power plants and SpaceX's envisioned one million orbiting data centers. The projects, which have been put forward to the FCC for approval, would destroy the night sky as we know it and obscure the views of astronomical telescopes all over the world, hampering scientific progress, according to experts. "This is really intolerable," Robert Massey. (3/22)

Florida’s Slice of NASA’s Artemis Pie Nets Thousands of Jobs, Billions of Dollars Each Year (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
All told, Florida has reaped more than 13,000 jobs and $3 billion in annual spending from the controversial, oft-delayed but historic Artemis effort, according to the most recent NASA estimates. That makes it one of the most lucrative cash cows in state history — and one that keeps on giving. NASA’s overall Artemis-related annual spending has grown since 2020 to the $6-8 billion range each year, with Florida seeing increased jobs and economic impact as the program grows.

Taxpayers have spent more than $100 billion on the Artemis program across its various platforms, and its costs and continued delays have faced criticism that it’s not so much a space program as a jobs program. Of NASA’s 2,749 government jobs across the nation working on Artemis, 688, or 25%, were based in Florida according to a 2024 report, amounting to $123.2 million in annual income. Adding other direct jobs such as contractors and indirect jobs generated within the community, Florida’s overall total comes to 13,123, amounting to $1.1 billion in annual income for the state with the positions averaging about $84,000 a year.

That translates into $94.2 million in state and local government taxes, NASA says. As far as money flowing to Florida-based companies, NASA tallied $883.9 million in 2023 for contracted work on parts and support for Artemis. All in all, Artemis had a combined economic output total for Florida of $3 billion in fiscal year 2023, the most recent year for which that total has been released, making up more than a third of NASA’s overall economic impact in the state. (3/22)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Missions From California and Florida on Friday and Sunday (Sources: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched its 30th batch of Starlink satellites this year with a Friday afternoon launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Then, on Sunday morning, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, its 37th launch of the year. The Starlink 10-62 mission featured 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites. (3/22)

How Will Martian Gravity Affect Skeletal Muscle? (Source: Universe Today)
An international team of researchers is currently studying how Martian gravity will affect a key aspect of human health: skeletal muscle. This muscle, which is the most abundant tissue in the human body (accounting for more than 40% of total body mass), is essential to movement and metabolic health. What's more, this tissue is especially sensitive, and lower gravity could potentially result in the substantial loss of muscle strength, size, and performance. It is therefore important to determine how this muscle tissue will fare in the Martian environment. (3/21)

Artemis Accords Nations Grapple with How to Handle Emergencies and 'Harmful Interference' on the Moon (Source: Space.com)
Five years after the Artemis Accords were established, key rules for operating on the moon remain unresolved, including how to respond to emergencies and how to define "safety zones" around lunar activities.

"In a lunar scenario, if there is an emergency, regardless of whether it is a [Artemis Accords] signatory or not, how do you behave in that scenario?" said Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the United Arab Emirates minister of sports and chancellor of the higher colleges of technology. The outcomes of the discussions were not shared, though details are expected to follow as signatories continue their work.

Cooperation between Artemis Accords signatories and non-participants during an emergency may be much more complicated politically, in terms of communications, and technology compatibility. Asked if there had been approaches to other lunar actors such as China and Russia regarding joining the Artemis Accords, NASA's Amit Kshatriya said that there had been none, citing constraints that NASA operates under regarding engaging with these parties. (3/21)

Officina Stellare Wins $2 Million Contract for lasercom Ground Station in Spain (Source: Space News)
Officina Stellare, an Italian manufacturer of advanced opto-mechanical systems, has signed a 1.84 million euro ($2.0 million) contract with the Barcelona-based Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), the company announced March 17. The contract covers the design and construction of an optical ground station for future laser and quantum-encrypted space-to-Earth communications. (3/20)

Rocket Lab Launches Latest Satellite for Synspective (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab on Saturday successfully launched a mission for Japan-based constellation operator Synspective, bringing Rocket Lab’s total Electron launch count to 84. It was Rocket Lab's 8th mission for Synspective. (3/21)

NASA Issues Draft Request for Moving Space Shuttle Discovery—or Orion Capsule (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA has taken a step forward to moving an undetermined spacecraft of a various size on an indefinite date to a yet-to-be-decided location. Or to put it another way: NASA is seeking to learn more about what it would take to remove the space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian in Virginia and relocate it to Houston, as compared to transporting a smaller space capsule from anywhere in the country.

The space agency on Thursday (March 19) released a draft request for proposal (DRFP) for the “NASA Flown Space Vehicle Multimodal Transportation Multiple Award Contract,” seeking to learn how contractors would approach transporting both “large aerospace vehicles and smaller spacecraft capsules.”

The pre-solicitation request is an effort to meet the letter of the law — specifically the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — that requires NASA relocate a vehicle that flew with humans through space to a non-profit display facility within the vicinity of an agency center with ties to the commercial crew program. Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz had intended their legislation to result in Discovery being exhibited at Space Center Houston, but Senate rules required the wording to be more vague. (3/20)

Solar Storms Pose Risks to Under-Prepared UK, Watchdog Says (Source: Bloomberg)
The UK is not fully prepared for a severe space weather event that could disrupt power systems, air travel and mobile networks, causing billions of economic losses, a government watchdog found. Most solar flares and space weather events are minor, but the risk of disruptions are growing as nations increasingly rely on power grids, satellites, GPS and radio communications. A geomagnetic storm in 2024 shifted thousands of satellites from their orbits, and a burst of radio waves from the sun in 2015 interfered with air traffic control radars across Europe. (3/20)

Bezos Plans AI-Focused Fund for Manufacturing Modernization (Source: Stylecaster)
Jeff Bezos is in early talks to raise $100 billion for a new fund whose purpose would be to buy manufacturing companies and use AI technology to accelerate their path to automation. He recently traveled to the Middle East and Singapore to discuss funding for the project, and is said to be meeting with the world’s largest asset managers as part of his effort.

Described as a “manufacturing transformation vehicle,” the fund will buy companies in major industrial sectors such as chipmaking, defense, and aerospace, and is expected to rival SoftBank’s $100 billion, tech-focused Vision Fund. This all comes after Bezos was appointed co-CEO of Project Prometheus, a new startup that is building artificial-intelligence models that are able to understand and simulate the physical world. The plan is to use the tech to boost the profitability of businesses. (3/20)

A Galaxy Next Door Was Shattered by a Cosmic Crash Millions of Years Ago (Source: IDR)
Scientists have solved a decades-old cosmic mystery: why the stars of the Small Magellanic Cloud refuse to behave normally. The answer, it turns out, is a catastrophic collision with a neighboring galaxy, one that is still reshaping everything astronomers thought they knew about this celestial landmark. The Small Magellanic Cloud, or SMC, features stars that don't orbit the galactic center the way stars in virtually every other galaxy do?

New research suggests the SMC didn’t drift into disorder on its own. It was smashed. The culprit is the Large Magellanic Cloud, the SMC’s larger companion galaxy. According to the study, the SMC passed directly through the LMC’s disk a few hundred million years ago. (3/21)

Blue Origin Ramps Up New Glenn Manufacturing (Source: NSF)
Blue Origin is showcasing the production cadence of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket at its Space Coast facilities, with CEO Dave Limp revealing a rocket factory in full swing. The company has multiple second stages in various phases of assembly, as it attempts to accelerate its launch cadence following two successful flights in 2025, and its opening launch of 2026 in the coming weeks. New Glenn requires a substantial ramp-up in launch cadence to achieve its future goals, including an orbital data center constellation. (3/21)

Satellite Data Confirms Rogue Waves (Source: BGR)
Satellite data were used to analyze ocean storms during 2023 and 2024. One such storm sent waves across the Pacific Ocean, pummeling coastlines all the way from Canada to Peru, and even impacting a big-wave surfing event in Hawaii. For this storm, satellites measured the highest waves they ever recorded.

These observations have revealed new insights into the behavior of the ocean's largest waves, including rogue waves, or megawaves. Using SWOT, the research showed how dominant waves can feed into much longer, more powerful waves far from the storm center that can spring up on ships unexpectedly. (3/21)

Space Coast City Unveils Launch Viewing Website (Source: City of Titusville)
Witnessing a rocket launch is a life-changing event. As the closest public viewing city to the launch pads, Titusville offers spectacular, up-close views across the water. The city has unveiled a new online portal for scheduled launch events, with live video links and recommendations for viewing locations. Click here. (3/20)

March 21, 2026

NASA’s Workhorse Crawler Has Been Hauling Rockets Since Apollo (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
When he’s not at work, Sam Dove drives a Chevy Silverado 1500. But on the job, he gets behind the wheel of a 16-million-pound behemoth that’s been transporting NASA’s rockets for more than 60 years. Dove gets to drive the crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2), which was one of two tracked vehicles originally designed to haul the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo program.

“It’s the enormity of what you’re carrying, right? … Basically, you’re carrying $4 billion of hardware, so you don’t want to really mess up or run into anything,” he said about the most rewarding aspect of the job. “It’s the responsibility to do that and get everything out, and get it there safely in one piece.” 

CT-2, which was revamped to handle the heavier loads of the Artemis program compared to the shuttles and Saturn V rockets, can handle up to 18 million pounds. Without fuel, the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and Mobile Launcher 1 come in at around 15 million pounds. “It’s all mojo, man. This thing’s powerful. There’s no magic dust. It’s all powerful,” he said. (3/19)

L3Harris Technologies completes Space Surveillance Telescope Refurbishment (Source: Australian Defense)
L3Harris Technologies, working alongside its partner nation, Australia, has completed a major mirror refurbishment for the US Space Force’s Space Surveillance Telescope (SST). “Working with our partners in Western Australia, maintainers of the Space Surveillance Telescope have successfully completed their first primary mirror recoat, significantly improving our ability to detect small targets in GEO," Mission Delta 2 commander, Col. Barry Croker, stated. (3/20)

Skyward Africa to Convene African Space Leaders and U.S. Policy Experts in Washington (Source: Asha Strategies)
As space becomes an increasingly important domain for economic development, national security, and technological innovation, African nations are expanding investments in satellite infrastructure, space research, and international partnerships. For this reason Asha Strategies will convene the Skyward Africa Space Salon, examining how Africa's space ambitions intersect with geopolitical competition, commercial space markets, and the role of diaspora talent in shaping the continent's technological future.

"Africa is increasingly becoming part of the global space conversation, from satellite infrastructure to earth observation and international partnerships. The Skyward Africa Space Salon brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and diaspora innovators shaping Africa's role in the global space economy," said Nneka Achapu, CEO of Asha Strategies. (3/19)

Middle Powers On the Move Toward Reduced US Reliance: Canada and Norway Deepen Space Defense Ties (Source: SpaceQ)
Canada and Norway have taken a step toward integrating their space and defence architectures, signing a new Letter of Intent (LOI) to deepen bilateral cooperation in the space domain. The agreement arrives as the two Arctic nations simultaneously move to modernize an 18-year-old free trade pact, signaling a comprehensive alignment of their economic, industrial, and national security interests. (3/19)

NASA Convening Artemis International Partners Next Week (Source: Space Policy Online)
NASA is bringing together the international partners in the Artemis program next week to discuss the program’s new architecture. NASA differentiates Artemis from the Apollo program by emphasizing that this time international partners will be an integral part. But recent changes are raising questions about their role, especially the future of the international Gateway lunar space station. (3/19)

As SpaceX Prepares for Texas Starship Launch, Gigabay Rises in Florida (Source: Florida Today)
As SpaceX prepares for its next Starship launch from Texas — the first version of the rocket that will launch from Florida — the company’s massive Starship maintenance facility continues to rise on the Kennedy Space Center skyline. Its name is Gigabay. The building's looming metal structure with black siding is easily visible from across the Indian River in Titusville. Situated at SpaceX’s Robert’s Road facility within Kennedy Space Center, it stands as a new landmark not too far from NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building. (3/20)

Blue Origin Files FCC Application for Orbital Data Center Constellation (Source: Space News)
Blue Origin is the latest company to propose a giant orbital data center constellation. The company filed an application with the FCC Thursday for what it calls "Project Sunrise," a constellation of up to 51,600 satellites in low Earth orbit that would serve as an orbital data center for AI and other space computing applications. The company provided few technical details about the system other than it would operate in sun-synchronous orbits and use optical intersatellite communications links with its separate TeraWave broadband constellation. Both SpaceX and Starcloud have also filed applications with the FCC in recent weeks for orbital data center constellations of up to 1 million satellites. (3/20)

Kratos Wins $446 Million for Space Force Missile Warning Constellation (Source: Space News)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions won a $446.8 million Space Force contract for the ground system for a new constellation of missile-warning satellites in medium Earth orbit. The contract covers ground management and integration for the service's Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking program, Space Systems Command announced Thursday. Kratos will provide the systems used to operate the satellites after launch, including sending commands, receiving sensor data and processing that information for delivery to military operators. The constellation features 12 satellites being built by Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems and 10 under construction by BAE Systems. (3/20)

Fanning: Space Supply Chain Resiliency a "National Imperative" (Source: Breaking Defense)
The space manufacturing supply chain is facing significant challenges, including a lack of capacity for nine specialized components such as rocket motor nozzles and optical intersatellite links, according to a study by the Aerospace Industries Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Without deliberate steps to strengthen suppliers and modernize regulations, we risk turning today's momentum into tomorrow's bottlenecks. A resilient space supply chain is not optional -- it's a national imperative," said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. (3/19)

ESA Plans to Buy a Dragon Mission to ISS for European Crew (Source: Space News)
ESA is planning to fly a dedicated Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station. The ESA Council endorsed Thursday a proposal for a project called EPIC, the ESA Provided Institutional Crew. Under EPIC, ESA would charter a Crew Dragon mission to the ISS in early 2028, spending a month at the station. The four-person crew would include ESA astronauts and potentially those from international partners. ESA said it developed EPIC to create more flight opportunities for its astronaut corps, including five career astronauts selected in 2022. (3/20)

Kayhan Space Unveils Situational Awareness Terminal (Source: Space News)
Kayhan Space has unveiled a new software platform that turns data about orbital activities into business insights for investors and insurers. The Satcat Terminal is modeled on the Bloomberg terminal used by financial professionals and lets users query orbital activity in plain language, such as whether a constellation is expanding on schedule or if there have been unusual events around a specific satellite. The terminal is an expansion of Kayhan's work providing space situational awareness data for satellite operators. (3/20)

Portal Space Systems and Paladin Space Plan Debris Removal Service (Source: Space News)
Portal Space Systems is partnering with an Australian startup on a debris removal service. Portal announced Thursday an agreement with Paladin Space to include that company's Triton debris removal payload on a Starburst satellite launching in 2027. Triton is designed to detect and capture small debris and, mounted on the highly maneuverable Starburst bus, could capture between 20 to 50 pieces on a single mission. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement or details about the commercial model they are proposing for debris removal, but did announce a letter of intent with commercial space station developer Starlab Space to be a customer of that service. (3/20)

Artemis 2 SLS Rolls Out to Florida Launch Pad (Source: CBS)
Artemis 2 is heading back to the pad for a launch in early April. The rollout of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft started at 12:20 a.m. Eastern Friday, nearly four and a half hours late because of high winds. It will take about 12 hours for the vehicle to reach Launch Complex 39B, where workers will then begin final preparations for a launch scheduled as soon as April 1. [CBS]

Hubble Captures Comet Breakup (Source: New York Times)
Breaking up is not necessarily hard to do for a comet. Images from the Hubble Space Telescope captured the breakup of the nucleus of comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) in November, shortly after the comet made a close approach to the sun. While comet breakups are not unusual, Hubble was able to see the initial phases of the breakup as the icy nucleus split into several pieces. (3/20)

Platypi Prepare for Space (Source: Collect Space)
NASA's latest astronaut class now has its nickname: the Platypi. NASA said this week that the 10 members of the class, announced last September and formally known as Class 24, would be known as the Platypi. The nickname is part of a tradition of the NASA astronaut corps, with the name selected by the previous class, in this case the Flies. The Platypi nickname is intended to reflect diverse and sometimes hidden talents of the new astronaut class, like the platypus. (3/20)

103 Members of Congress Seek $9B for NASA Science (Source: Douglas Messier)
103 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a bipartisan letter calling for $9 billion for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in the fiscal year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The letter, led by Congressional Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Don Bacon (R-NE) and Judy Chu (D-CA), is another sign of the breadth of congressional support for NASA’s science activities ahead of the impending release of the administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request. (3/20)

NASA Armstrong to Host Partnership Days (Source: NASA)
Companies, government agencies, and organizations are invited to explore collaboration opportunities in advanced research and technology development with NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center at Partnership Days on 15-16 April. (3/20)

Spire Targets 50% Growth in 2026 After Adjustments in 2025 (Source: Satellite Today)
After divesting its maritime business and paying down its debt in 2025, Spire Global has set a large revenue growth target for 2026 of 50%, CEO Theresa Condor told investors on Thursday. Condor called 2025 a “transformational year” for Spire, as it closed the acquisition of its maritime business and used the proceeds to pay down its debt. Excluding the impact of the maritime divestiture, Spire delivered 44% year-over-year revenue growth in the fourth quarter. (3/20)

ESA Awards OHB a €248 Million Contract to Build Weather Satellite Constellation (Source: European Spaceflight)
German space technology company OHB has been awarded a €248 million contract by the European Space Agency to develop and build 20 small satellites for EUMETSAT’s EPS-Sterna weather satellite constellation. The EPS-Sterna constellation is an expansion of the capabilities successfully demonstrated by the Arctic Weather Satellite, which was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in August 2024. (3/20)

JUICE is Planning To Do Science On Jupiter's "Minor" Moons Too (Source: Universe Today)
ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe is on its (very long) way to Jupiter, and will finally arrive at the King of Planets in 2031. Its primary mission is to focus on the “big three” icy moons - Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto. But while JUICE is busy mapping Ganymede’s magnetic field, it will also be keeping a sharp eye on the other 94 moons in the Jupiter system. (3/19)

The Moon's Going To Get Crowded - We Should Protect Our Heritage On It While We Still Can (Source: Universe Today)
On Earth, protecting historical buildings is a relatively straightforward process - at least in developed countries. There are zoning laws and heritage registries - things that maintain the history but frustrate new developers. In space, things are much more complicated. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty dictates that nations retain jurisdiction over the hardware they send into space. It also requires countries to avoid “harmful interference” with other states’ activities. However, as the paper points out, that doesn’t stop a country from visiting an old site to retrieve material, or disrupt a culturally significant lunar landscape.

More recently, the Artemis Accords introduced principles specifically intended to preserve historically significant landing sites and artifacts. But the Accords are a non-binding multilateral agreement with no enforcement mechanism. And crucially, major spacefaring nations like China and Russia haven’t signed them, meaning they have no legal obligation to abide by them. In other words, the Accords, which were originally drawn up by America, which arguably has the most heritage to lose on the Moon, suffer from a distinct lack of global consensus. (3/19)

HyImpulse Signs Launch Agreement with SaxaVord (Source: Payload)
Germany’s HyImpulse Technologies announced a launch service agreement to begin flying from SaxaVord Spaceport, in the Shetland Islands. The suborbital flight, which is expected to lift off in Q3, is the latest in a  broader, European-wide push for sovereign launch capabilities much closer to home than French Guiana, which requires many of Europe’s launchers today—including Arianespace and Avio—to cross an ocean before passing the Kármán line. (3/19)

Modified Vulcan Expected to Launch This Summer (Source: Payload)
ULA is expecting to fly its first modified Vulcan this summer, interim CEO John Elbon told Payload. The upgrades will improve the performance of the nozzle and solid rocket boosters. The company was already planning the modifications before ULA suffered an anomaly with its Vulcan booster during a February mission for the Space Force. (3/18)

OHB Sweden to Build Sterna Weather Constellation (Source: ESA)
Thanks to the success of the Arctic Weather Satellite prototype and Eumetsat’s recent greenlight to develop a full constellation of similar satellites called Sterna, the European Space Agency has awarded OHB Sweden with the contract to build 20 satellites. This marks a major step toward better monitoring rapidly evolving weather, improving forecasts of severe events in vulnerable regions such as the Mediterranean, and closing critical data gaps over the Arctic – the fastest-warming region on Earth and a key driver of Europe’s weather systems. (3/18)

Canada-Japan Agreement Signals Shift to Dual-Use Space Defense Tech (Source: SpaceQ)
Canada and Japan are moving to integrate their space and defence industrial bases through a new “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” that prioritizes the co-development of frontier technologies and dual-use aerospace systems.

Building on the momentum of January’s Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement (ETTA), Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae signaled a shift toward joint defense procurement, specifically targeting space communications, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. For the Canadian space sector, the agreement marks a transition from traditional scientific collaboration to a security alliance aimed at ensuring resilient orbital infrastructure and “sovereign” technological advantages in a contested Indo-Pacific. (3/19)

Intuitive Machines Misses on Revenue After Government Shutdown (Source: Bloomberg)
Intuitive Machines Inc., a provider of space services and maker of spacecraft, reported worse-than-expected financial results as the government shutdown in late 2025 hurt revenue. Houston-based Intuitive Machines announced on Thursday that it posted revenue of about $45 million for the final three months of 2025, lower than the average of $53.6 million expected by analysts polled by Bloomberg. (3/19)

French launch company acquires component manufacturer. French launch startup Sirius Space Services has acquired the high-precision metal-component manufacturer AMM-42, part of the company’s vertical integration efforts to bring key manufacturing capabilities in-house, European Spaceflight reports. This is Sirius’ second such purchase in less than a year, following its acquisition of SERM in June 2025. That acquisition specialized in advanced metal manufacturing and is bolstering its parent company’s additive manufacturing capacity, particularly for combustion chambers and turbopumps.

Sirius Acquires AMM-42 (Source: Ars Technica)
French launch company acquires component manufacturer. French launch startup Sirius Space Services has acquired the high-precision metal-component manufacturer AMM-42, part of the company’s vertical integration efforts to bring key manufacturing capabilities in-house, European Spaceflight reports. This is Sirius’ second such purchase in less than a year, following its acquisition of SERM in June 2025. That acquisition specialized in advanced metal manufacturing and is bolstering its parent company’s additive manufacturing capacity, particularly for combustion chambers and turbopumps. (3/20)

NASA Won’t Give Up Hope on Silent MAVEN Mars Probe: ‘We’re Still Looking for It’ (Source: Space.com)
NASA has yet to reestablish contact with its MAVEN Mars spacecraft despite ongoing efforts, agency officials said Monday. NASA lost contact with MAVEN on Dec. 6, 2025, after the spacecraft was expected to emerge from Mars' far side. Communications received two days earlier showed the spacecraft was operating normally — with "no indications of problems whatsoever." However, analysis of a fragment of tracking data from the day contact was lost suggests MAVEN was rotating in an unexpected manner as it emerged from behind Mars and was no longer in its planned orbit, according to NASA.

NASA resumed attempts to contact MAVEN after the solar conjunction ended, but those efforts have so far been unsuccessful, Louise Prockter said. "We haven't officially said MAVEN is lost yet. We're still looking for it." NASA has deployed additional assets to locate the spacecraft, including the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Observatory. (3/20)

For Satellite Startups, War Pays Better Than Climate Change (Source: Wall Street Journal)
A flock of companies sent satellites into space in recent years promising to beam down crucial new insights into the Earth’s fast-changing climate. But many are increasingly focused on scanning warzones. “Most of the demand right now—I would say probably two thirds, maybe more—is defense-related,” said Max Gulde, chief executive of German satellite startup Constellr. (3/19)

Cyprus Becomes Associate Member of the European Space Agency (Source: AeroMorning)
The Republic of Cyprus became an Associate Member of the European Space Agency (ESA) on 17 March 2026, following the entry into force of the Association Agreement signed on 23 October 2025. The seven year agreement opens the way for Cyprus’s participation in ESA’s optional programs. (3/19)