October 15, 2026

ClearSpace Wins UK Government Contract to Deorbit Smallsats (Source: Space News)
ClearSpace won a contract from the British government for a mission to deorbit two smallsats. Luxembourg-based ClearSpace beat out Japan-headquartered Astroscale and U.S.-based Starfish Space for the contract announced Thursday, worth around 61 million British pounds ($80 million). It covers the final phase of an Active Debris Removal (ADR) program that is more than five years in the making. The mission, scheduled for launch in 2029, will approach two undisclosed U.K.-licensed satellites and grapple them, then maneuver to a lower orbit and release them. The servicer is similar to the one ClearSpace's Swiss unit is helping develop to remove the Proba-1 imaging satellite from LEO for the European Space Agency, an OHB-led mission slated to launch in 2029 after the U.K. ADR mission. (10/15)

Rocket Lab Pushes Neutron Debut to 2027 (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab has pushed back the first launch of its Neutron rocket to sometime in 2027. The company said in an update posted after the markets closed Wednesday that it encountered a problem producing a large carbon composite structure called the forward dome for the rocket's first stage propellant tanks. Rocket Lab said it has identified and corrected the problem but that effort means the company won't be able to launch Neutron this year. The company will wait until after it has completed and tested the fully assembled first stage, a milestone planned for the first quarter of 2027, before setting a new launch date. This is the latest in a series of schedule slips for Neutron, Rocket Lab's medium-class reusable rocket, which was originally scheduled to start launching in 2024. (10/15)

Firefly and Voyager Detail Upcoming Lunar Lander Plans (Source: Space News)
Two companies are planning lunar lander missions that will attempt to touch down near other spacecraft. At a conference Wednesday, Firefly Aerospace said a Blue Ghost lander mission scheduled for 2028 will attempt to land near the site of its first lander, which successfully landed in March 2025. Voyager Technologies said two Peregrine landers scheduled for launch months apart in 2028 will attempt to land a few kilometers apart from each other. Those missions will test precision landing capabilities needed for NASA's lunar base plans but also will gather data on how the clouds of regolith kicked up by the landers' engine plumes could damage nearby spacecraft, a key concern for a lunar base. (10/15)

Army to Expand Space Operations Branch (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Army plans to expand the number of soldiers working on space systems as it builds capabilities to counter threats. The Army established its Space Operations Branch in June and formally launched the enlisted 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist career field on Oct. 1, reclassifying more than 600 soldiers. That group could reach 1,000 enlisted personnel, said Lt. Gen. John Rafferty, commander of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. He said the service's role in space is expanding beyond using satellites to support ground combat operations into areas like navigation warfare and stratospheric warfare, the latter involving the use of high-altitude balloons. (10/15)

TrustPoint Tests C-Band Antenna (Source: Space News)
Satellite navigation startup TrustPoint said it has successfully tested a C-band antenna developed by Canadian technology company Calian. That antenna, the company said Wednesday, received and maintained reception of navigation signals transmitted by a TrustPoint satellite in orbit during multiple tests. The demonstration addresses one of the challenges facing TrustPoint as it develops its navigation network, ensuring that commercial equipment can receive signals transmitted at frequencies different from those used by conventional GPS receivers. (10/15)

Tests Confirm Improved Detection of Methane Plumes (Source: Space News)
Space-based instruments accurately detected methane plumes in large-scale tests led by researchers at Stanford University. Researchers found that instruments designed for methane monitoring from GHGSat and Planet correctly identified 92% to 100% of plumes released during testing. Other hyperspectral satellites and instruments repurposed to detect methane were successful 62% to 68% of the time. The results, scientists said, should give regulators and other government officials confidence in the capabilities of methane-monitoring satellites. (10/15)

China Launches 10 Satellites on Zhuque-2E (Source: Xinhua)
A Zhuque-2E launched 10 satellites on Wednesday. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan spaceport at 7:40 a.m. Eastern and placed the satellites into their planned orbits. Eight of the satellites are orbital data center spacecraft developed by Adaspace Technology Co., designed to test technologies needed for a future constellation of such spacecraft. (10/15)

Arianespace to Resume Amazon Leo Launches in November (Source: Arianespace)
Arianespace will resume launches of Amazon Leo satellites next month. Arianespace said its next Ariane 6 launch is scheduled for no earlier than November 23, carrying 36 Amazon Leo satellites. This will be the fifth Ariane 6 launch of the year, four of which have been for Amazon Leo. The launch had been expected in early October but was reportedly postponed by issues with the rocket's engines. (10/15)

ISS Spacewalks Planned to Install Solar Arrays (Source: NASA)
NASA will conduct two spacewalks in the coming weeks to install new solar arrays on the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk will perform one spacewalk Oct. 29 to install an IROSA array, with the two performing a second spacewalk a week later to install a second array. The arrays, being delivered to the station this week on a Dragon cargo spacecraft, will be the final two of eight IROSA arrays added to the station to increase its power output by 30%. (10/15)

Outlook Improves for Proposed NASA Venus Missions (Source: Ars Technica)
Prospects are improving for a pair of NASA missions to Venus that have faced years of budget uncertainty. NASA selected the DAVINCI and VERITAS missions in 2021 as part of its Discovery program, but both encountered delays and threats of cancellation in recent budget proposals. At a meeting last week, officials with both missions said they are now moving ahead, with DAVINCI working to move up its launch by a year to December 2030 while VERITAS is targeting a late 2032 launch. The progress on the two missions, though, comes at the expense of a planned NASA contribution to Europe's Envision Venus orbiter, with NASA canceling a radar it had planned to provide for that mission. (10/15)

Oklahoma Breaks Ground on $7.5 Million Aerospace Facility (Source: Fox 25)
State leaders joined Dawn Aerospace on Tuesday to break ground on a new mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport in Burns Flat. The $7.5 million project includes a 5,000-square-foot mission control and operations facility and a 10,000-square-foot hangar to support Dawn Aerospace and its reusable, rocket-powered Aurora spaceplane. (10/14)

China's Space Program Opens New Frontiers for International Collaboration (Source: People's Daily)
On Sept. 14, a special gift from the far side of the moon went on display at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Lunar regolith samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 mission, formally donated to the United Nations, will be permanently exhibited there. Brought back to Earth by a Chinese spacecraft, this carefully preserved material symbolizes humanity's collective pursuit of cosmic discovery. (10/15)

Here’s a “Good Deal” for NASA and the European Space Agency (Source: Ars Technica)
It’s no surprise that NASA’s new tack toward foreign partnerships—good deals only, please—is challenging preconceived notions of international cooperation in space. Without a massive budget hike, the US space agency’s emphasis on building a Moon Base and winning a competition for lunar real estate and resources with China will inevitably leave lesser priorities behind. Gone is the Lunar Gateway, considered an unnecessary distraction and expense as NASA goes all-in on placing a surface station near the Moon’s south pole.

NASA also canceled the Mars Sample Return mission after its budget ballooned beyond $10 billion. Both projects involved extensive cooperation with NASA’s international partners, but NASA was the leader on both. So what does a good deal in international spaceflight look like in the Trump era? Isaacman cited a couple of examples: Japan’s commitment to provide a pressurized rover for astronauts on the Moon and Italy’s agreement to build what will likely be the first habitat for the Moon Base.

Here’s another one. Scientists are in the early stages of developing the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, the world’s first space-based observatory for detecting and studying gravitational waves. As currently envisioned, the LISA mission will be led by the European Space Agency, with significant contributions from the United States. The mission will use three spacecraft flying in a triangle formation in heliocentric orbit, positioned nearly 1.6 million miles (2.5 million kilometers) apart to pick up the faint signals of low-frequency gravitational waves. Launch is scheduled for around 2035. (10/8)

Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to Advance Space Weather Science (Source: Virgin Galactic)
Virgin Galactic announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Space Warfare Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico — the Department of the Air Force's primary organization for space environment research and technology development. The 24-month agreement will explore the use of Virgin Galactic's next-generation Spaceship to capture space weather data and accelerate understanding of its effects on space-based infrastructure. Under the agreement, researchers will evaluate the integration of sensor systems with Virgin Galactic’s next-generation Spaceship to collect space weather data during flight. (10/14)

Massive New Industrial Park Planned Near Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
A developer plans to build a 720,000-square-foot industrial park in Cocoa, with construction expected to begin early next year. It sits near Interstate 95, Port Canaveral and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Smith Development has acquired 46.5 acres and plans to build Space Coast Business Park, a five-building complex of Class A industrial space, a designation for the highest-quality commercial property. The park is designed for aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, logistics and distribution companies. (10/14)

Ukraine's Starlink Restrictions Raise Suspicions of Musk, Trump Retaliation (Sources: Axios, Politico, BBC)
The rupture between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over last week's diesel deal deepened Wednesday after an Elon Musk-owned satellite system used by Ukraine unexpectedly restricted service — undercutting Ukraine's fight against Russia. When Starlink doesn't operate at full capacity, Ukraine's ability to gather intelligence, use interceptor drones and conduct long-range strikes against Russia is impeded.

“This is comparable to a nuclear strike against us. All operations are on hold. This will cost many of us our lives,” an experienced Ukrainian officer said. “Since last night, all Starlink and Starshield terminals used by our forces have been subject to a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour,” the officer said.

Musk said that Starshield, the military-grade sister service to Starlink, is controlled by the US government, and "any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately [the US president]". Musk had been responding to pleas from Ukrainian officials to restore connectivity. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky told UK media: "I hope that it's a mistake, maybe [a] huge technical problem. I don't know, but we are asking to... switch [it] on." (10/14)

Ukraine Says Starlink Partially Restored After Zelensky Warned ‘People Will Die’ From Satellite Slowdown (Source: The Hill)
Ukraine’s former defense minister said on Wednesday afternoon that SpaceX was working to restore satellite speeds in the country after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of dire consequences following reported slowdowns in Starlink services. Mykhailo Fedorov announced SpaceX was reinstating speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour. The former defense minister expressed hope that the company would next “remove Starshield’s speed limit entirely,” saying this move is “now critical for Ukraine’s defense.” (10/14)

Army’s Space Command Became a ‘Huge Believer’ on High-Altitude Surveillance Balloons (Source: Washington Examiner)
The head of the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command is a “huge believer” in the service’s exploration and development of high-altitude surveillance balloons despite his initial skepticism. The idea of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance high-altitude balloons “sounded crazy to me,” said Lt. Gen. John Rafferty, commanding general of Space and Missile Defense Command. His opinion changed quickly after he and SDMC Command Sgt. Maj. Rickey Jackson went to Morocco for a training exercise on the ISR balloons a while back. (10/14)

Starlink Sabotage Suspected Again—This Time, 11 Antennas Set on Fire in Bulgaria (Source: United 24)
Bulgarian authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack targeting 11 of 17 antennas used to communicate with the Starlink satellite network near Sofia, raising concerns over the security of critical satellite communications infrastructure. Bulgarian lawmaker Ivaylo Mirchev of the Yes, Bulgaria party first reported the suspected attack before raising the issue in parliament. Mirchev demanded that Bulgaria's intelligence services and Interior Ministry clarify whether they had been aware of the incident, accusing the government of withholding information from the public. (10/14)

General Dynamics Awarded $138 Million Across Space Architecture And Navy R&D Contracts (Source: Pulse 2.0)
General Dynamics businesses received two U.S. defense contract awards with a combined value of approximately $138 million for work spanning space architecture and advanced naval research and development. General Dynamics Mission Systems received an $88.06 million ceiling increase modification to a previously awarded contract supporting the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. (10/13)

Starfighters Space Eyes Cecil Spaceport for December Rocket Test Flight (Source: Jacksonville Business Journal)
Starfighters Space is planning a December captive-carry flight to test its new STARLAUNCH 1 suborbital rocket design. The flight will run between the company’s Kennedy Space Center base and the FAA-licensed Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville. The inert hardware is due at the KSC hangar in November, after which the team will assemble and test the rocket-aircraft interface. The rocket stays attached to the F-104 the whole way, letting engineers study its aerodynamics and develop procedures for later flights. (10/13)

Act for More Sustainable Space (Source: ESA)
The ESA-sponsored Assessment and Comparison Tool (ACT), developed by a consortium led by the EPFL Space Center, can generate life cycle assessments for space hardware, spacecraft, launchers, ground stations and even complete missions. It can be used from the earliest design stages as well as later in a project’s lifetime. ACT combines data from life cycle assessments and incorporates guidelines such as the EU’s Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and provides expert advice on the development of ESA’s latest space system’s life-cycle assessment guidelines. (10/15)

Flying Under the Radar: Russia’s Tacit Reliance on Chinese SAR Satellites (Source: Space Review)
Russian companies have claimed to be operating radar-imaging satellites to fill gaps in limited Russian government systems. Bart Hendrickx examine the links between these companies and China’s commercial space industry. Click here. (10/13)
 
Bounders and RAMs: Satellites Track a Unique Bomber at the Soviet Ramenskoye Flight Test Center (Source: Space Review)
Reports in the late 1950s claimed that the Soviet Union was developing a nuclear-powered bomber. Dwayne Day and Harry Stranger explain that the bomber wasn’t nuclear powered, but it was a rare design whose whereabouts were closely tracked by spy satellites. Click here. (10/13)
 
The Tragedy of the Orbital Commons: Megaconstellations, Space Weapons, and Debris (Source: Space Review)
The US military’s announcement last month that it has deployed space control weapons has raised new concerns about conflicts that could litter orbits with debris. Alexander William Salter revisits an older paper of his to see how his assessment of the issue stood the test of time. Click here. (10/13)
 
UK Deepens Reliance on Musk's SpaceX, Spending Nearly $40 Million on Satellite Services (Source: Reuters)
Britain has spent nearly $40 million on SpaceX satellite services, deepening its reliance on Elon Musk's company for military communications despite growing European concerns about dependence on U.S. ​security infrastructure. The spending was disclosed to Reuters in response to a freedom of information request and makes Britain the first country outside the ‌U.S. to publicly acknowledge adopting Starshield, SpaceX's service for military and intelligence missions. Starlink is marketed to consumer and commercial users. (10/10)
 
Starship’s Real Test May Begin After Launch (Source: Space Review)
As SpaceX’s Starship begins orbital launches, the space industry debates the impact the vehicle will have. Inna Galinger argues that will depend in part on how effectively the industry can use it. Click here. (10/13)
 
After the ISS: What Happens When Humanity Loses its shared Home in Space? (Source: Space Review)
The International Space Station is heading towards a retirement as soon as the end of the decade. Alex Kennedy ponders the effects of ending a decades-long experiment in international space cooperation. Click here. (10/13)

ArbaLabs Validates In-Orbit AI Verification Payload Aboard South Korea’s Nuri Rocket (Source: SatNews)
On October 13, 2026, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) confirmed that the SD-1 Sat nanosatellite established successful two-way ground communications on its initial attempt following an October 7 launch from the Naro Space Center. Orbiting aboard SD-1 Sat, a 3U CubeSat operated by Korean space startup Space & Bean, is ArbaLabs’ ArbaEdge payload—an edge-computing module conducting an in-orbit proof-of-concept demonstration for autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) verification. (10/13)

NASA Deputy Hints At Big Ambitions For Aeronautics Portfolio (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA may use its inaugural air show next month to reveal plans to revitalize its aeronautics portfolio, particularly around experimental aircraft, the agency’s No. 2 official said Oct. 13. Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson confirmed that the agency plans to bring the X-59 quiet supersonic experimental aircraft to its inaugural MAX Power air show—to be held Nov. 7-8 at the Kennedy Space Center—while linking those comments to recent reports about plans to revive the SR-71 Blackbird.

Anderson stopped short of confirming the agency’s plans. “But that’s the type of things we’re working on,” he said, noting that he has spent more time in his new job than he expected working on classified projects with Administrator Jared Isaacman. “We are in the SCIF all the time, and a lot of that is in that portfolio,” he said, referring to a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. NASA is “leaning in” on national security efforts, while respecting the statutory and legal authorities that separate the U.S. military, intelligence and civil space agencies, he added. (10/13)

US Lawmakers Demand Pause to AI-Powered Air Traffic Management System (Source: Aerospace Global News)
Twenty-five US lawmakers want the FAA to suspend a new AI-powered air traffic management system, questioning whether it was adequately tested before entering service. The Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) system began operating on 21 September at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International airports.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, the lawmakers demanded details of the safety assessments carried out before deployment. They also questioned whether air traffic controllers and other aviation personnel had received sufficient training. (10/14)

How Europe Plans to Squeeze Out Starlink (Source: Politico)
Stepping on stage at the International Space Summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron called on top European players to forge a new “alliance” to strengthen collective satellite capacity. The real target of the let’s-team-up message? Elon Musk’s Starlink. Macron’s speech last month was a public endorsement of a behind-the-scenes push that would see the bloc’s major telecoms companies make an aggressive play on direct-to-device connectivity — mobile signals beamed directly from satellites to phones.

The push would see Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica join forces to secure critical and coveted frequencies that will become available next year, as the European Commission eyes a new allocation procedure that would reserve frequencies for European players. With the EU set to reallocate the 2GHz satellite communications band in 2027, the proposal being discussed Tuesday would see the licensing process favor European operators. Legislators in Brussels are increasingly determined to make sure Musk doesn’t achieve his ambitions to dominate globally. (10/12)

October 14, 202

Physics Nobel Highlights Antarctica’s Role in Exploring the Cosmos (Source: The Conversation)
When Belgian American particle physicist Francis Halzen was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics “for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin,” it was a reminder that for more than a century, scientists have treated Antarctica’s environments as windows onto worlds beyond Earth.

Antarctica has offered scientists a means of reaching and researching beyond Earth without leaving it. Various harsh and challenging Antarctic environments have served as testing sites for equipment destined for the Moon, Mars and beyond. Its ice has collected meteorites that arrive from extraterrestrial sources. And it is one of the best places on Earth from which to observe the universe. (10/12)

Jay Stratton: We Are Not Alone in the Universe (Source: Douglas Messier)
Jay Stratton discussed his bombshell memoir, “Revealing the Truth About Non-Human Intelligent Life,” on Fox News. Stratton is a former high-level Defense Intelligence Agency who claims: We’re not the only intelligent life in the universe; We don’t know the intent of the non-human beings; Alien craft fly in ways that exceed our capabilities; U.S. government and contractors have recovered alien flying vehicles; U.S. government has recovered non-human beings; United States is in “a secret Cold War race” with China and Russia to reverse engineer advanced alien technologies; The government has been hiding the truth for the past eight decades; and Extreme efforts have been taken to silence whistleblowers. (10/13)

SpaceX Eyes 456 Starship Launches From Starbase (Source: Douglas Messier)
The FAA has announced plans to conduct a programmatic environmental impact statement on a SpaceX plan to launch 456 Starship rockets from the company’s Starbase spaceport in Texas. SpaceX is currently authorized to conduct up to 25 Starship launches and 50 landings at Starbase. The FAA notice said the expansion would be done in two phases.

“Phase 1 would include up to 100 annual launches and up to 200 annual landings (100 of the Starship and 100 of the Super Heavy). Launches and landings could occur at any day or time of the week,” the FAA said. “Phase 2 would include up to 456 launches originating from, and 912 annual landings at the Boca Chica Launch Site at Starbase, TX. Launches could occur at any time of day, but would only occur Monday through Friday.” (10/13)

Texas Vying for NASA-Led Space Academy, Pentagon's 'Base of the Future' (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
Texas is chasing two of the Trump administration’s newest space and defense projects: a NASA-led Space Academy and a futuristic military installation that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls the “Next Great American Base.” Though details about what the government wants for both projects are scarce, Gov. Greg Abbott has named a team to build the state’s pitch for the Space Academy. And the Texas Space Commission has discussed devoting $100 million to the effort. (10/12)

Korea Joins ESA Mission to Track Jupiter Probe JUICE (Source: Seoul Economic Daily)
South Korea's radio telescopes will be deployed in an international mission to precisely track the position of the European Space Agency's Jupiter probe, JUICE. The observational data to be gathered will be used for joint research and academic papers. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute is signing a memorandum of understanding to that effect with the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE). JUICE is an ESA probe launched in April 2023 to explore Jupiter's icy moons. Its mission is to investigate whether oceans exist beneath the surface of those moons and whether they offer conditions that could support life. (10/13)

Amazon Leo Tested for US Army (Source: Space News)
Amazon Leo demonstrated its satellite internet service for the U.S. Army in recent tests. The demonstration, hosted by the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, used Amazon Leo's customer antenna to establish a connection with satellites in low Earth orbit. The system achieved peak download speeds exceeding 400 megabits per second, according to Amazon. The test comes as Amazon seeks to break into a military satellite communications market overwhelmingly dominated by SpaceX's Starlink network and defense-focused Starshield. (10/14)

Capacity Crunch Drives Investment in Launchers (Source: Space News)
A looming launch capacity shortage is helping drive record investment in the space economy. Stoke Space and other "pure launch" providers have collectively raised a record $7.8 billion over the first nine months of the year, according to figures released Tuesday by early-stage investor Space Capital. The venture capital firm tracked 58 funding rounds in this category, already matching last year's record. Companies the report classifies as infrastructure have raised $40.8 billion so far this year, nearly double the amount from all of 2025. (10/14)

US Startup Reflect Orbital Buys Two Launches From India's Skyroot (Source: Space News)
Reflect Orbital announced Wednesday it is buying two launches from Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian company whose Vikram-1 small launch vehicle reached orbit on its first launch in July. One launch will be on a Vikram-1 and the other on an upgraded Vikram-1U. The companies did not disclose the schedule for the launches or financial terms. Reflect Orbital, which is developing a constellation of satellites that will redirect sunlight to specific locations on the ground, cited a "real launch capacity shortage" as part of its decision to launch with Skyroot. Reflect Orbital's first satellite is scheduled to launch in the near future on a SpaceX rideshare mission. (10/14)

Australia's HEO Snaps Images of Satellogic Spacecraft in Orbit (Source: Space News)
Australian non-Earth imagery company HEO has taken images of a new Satellogic spacecraft. The companies released the images Tuesday of Merlin.01, a Satellogic high-resolution imaging satellite launched earlier this month on the Transporter-18 rideshare mission. The images of Merlin.01 were taken by NewSat-47, another Satellogic spacecraft that HEO uses to perform non-Earth imaging of satellites and debris, as a demonstration of the use of that technology to help in checkouts of satellites after launch. (10/14)

Ukraine Says SpaceX is Now Throttling Starlink Access (Source: Reuters)
The Ukrainian military claims that SpaceX has put new limitations on its use of Starlink. Military officials said Wednesday that SpaceX imposed restrictions that prevent the use of Starlink on platforms traveling more than 160 kilometers per hour. That limits how Starlink can be used for controlling some drones, impacting military operations.  SpaceX has not disclosed why it imposed the new limitations, but they come as the U.S. government has been pressuring Ukraine to halt its strikes on Russian oil facilities. [Reuters]

India's Mittal Says OneWeb Closer to Indian Approval Than Starlink (Source: Bloomberg)
The Indian billionaire who helped rescue OneWeb from bankruptcy says that system is ahead of Starlink in getting approval from the Indian government. Sunil Bharti Mittal said he believed Eutelsat OneWeb was "significantly ahead" of Starlink in getting approval from Indian regulators to operate in the country. Mittal invested in OneWeb as part of its bankruptcy restructuring and holds a stake in Eutelsat OneWeb. His comments come as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk continues to criticize India for delaying approval of Starlink. (10/14)

Griffin-1 Lunar Lander Passes Tests at JPL (Source: Voyager Technologies)
The Griffin-1 lunar lander is one step closer to launch. Voyager Technologies said Tuesday that the lander successfully completed acceptance testing at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, confirming it will operate in the space environment. The lander is being shipped back to the Pittsburgh facility where it was built for final preparation before going to Cape Canaveral for launch on a Falcon Heavy late this year. (10/14)

Kock Named NASA's Acting Deputy Chief Engineer (Source: NASA)
An Artemis 2 astronaut has a new job in NASA. The agency announced Tuesday that it named Christina Koch acting deputy chief engineer, effective Nov. 1. She will succeed Katherine Van Hooser, who is retiring from NASA later this month after 35 years at the agency. Koch, who started her career at NASA as an electrical engineer before becoming an astronaut, was a mission specialist on the Artemis 2 mission in April. Koch is the only crewmember from that mission still on active service, after fellow NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover became "emeritus" astronauts last month, along with the retirement of Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. (10/14)

Starfighters Space Advances STARLAUNCH 1 Toward Planned December Flight (Source: Starfighters Space)
Starfighters Space announced it is advancing STARLAUNCH 1 toward a planned December captive-carry flight. STARLAUNCH is the Company’s air-launch program, with STARLAUNCH 1 serving as its initial suborbital development vehicle.

Starfighters has finalized the STARLAUNCH 1 airframe design and has ordered the flight hardware from Italian engineering company RME. The December flight would be conducted between Starfighters’ base at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the FAA-licensed Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, expecting to provide a demonstration of the rocket’s flight characteristics while also allowing the Company to test aircraft integration and establish procedures for future STARLAUNCH missions.

With STARLAUNCH 1 attached under one wing, the flight may provide an opportunity to fly the Company’s recently-completed Wind Tunnel in the Sky™ hardware under the other wing on a customer-funded rideshare mission, while also serving as a counterweight to improve aerodynamic stability. Data and experience from the December flight will also support work by Starfighters’ propulsion partner, Vaya Defense & Space, in their development of a hybrid rocket motor aligned with the STARLAUNCH 1 flight-hardware specifications. (10/13)

Amazon Leo to Debut Satellite Broadband This Year (Source: Advanced Television)
Amazon Leo plans to launch its initial broadband-by-satellite service before the end of the year after completing its 1,000th satellite. The company is waiting for launchers to become available, including United Launch Alliance's Vulcan and Blue Origin's New Glenn. (10/12)

SwRI Adds 12-Foot Thermal Vacuum Chamber to Space Systems Integration Facility (Source: SwRI)
Chamber can depressurize in approximately one hour to simulate vacuum, heat and cold of space
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has added a 12-foot-diameter, 10-foot-long thermal vacuum (TVAC) chamber to simulate the vacuum and extreme temperatures of space to ensure spacecraft can survive that harsh environment. The chamber, which weighs roughly 40,000 pounds, is the newest edition to SwRI’s 74,000-square-foot Space Systems Integration Facility in San Antonio. (10/13)

SwRI-Led Team Develops Improved Model for Mapping the Sun (Source: SwRI)
A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)-led team has developed an improved model for predicting solar events that incorporates activity on the far side of the Sun. The team studied near-simultaneous maps of the whole solar surface from 2010 to 2014, combining Earth observations with data from space-based assets showing the opposite side. The resulting framework constructs surface flux transport (SFT) models that are more complete and accurate than any previous model. (10/13)

JAXA’s MMX Mission Will Include the First Wheeled Rover to Drive in Ultra-Low Gravity (Source: Aerospace America)
The first surface rover to attempt wheeled locomotion on an ultra-low-gravity celestial body is slated to begin its voyage across the solar system next week, when the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe. The 4,200-kilogram spacecraft is scheduled to lift off at 4:41 a.m. Japan Standard Time on Oct. 20. (10/13)

CSG Sets Sights on Space With Around $434 Million Stake in Canada’s MDA Space (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Czech arms maker CSG said became the largest shareholder in Canadian space technology company MDA Space with a stake worth around $434 million as it looks to venture into the space sector. CSG said Tuesday that it bought a 9.5% stake in MDA Space, which builds robotics and satellite systems for space. (10/13)

The Architectural Imperative of Connecting Orbit and Surface (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA’s evolution from lunar return to sustained lunar evolution and human Mars missions makes the relationship between orbit and surface newly consequential. The central issue is no longer simply how a spacecraft reaches the moon, but how an interconnected architecture can support occupancy — first on the moon and ultimately on Mars. Click here. (10/9)

ispace and ALTEC Partner for Lunar Rover Testing and Mission Simulations (Source: SatNews)
On October 12, 2026, Luxembourg-based ispace-EUROPE S.A. and Italian space engineering firm ALTEC S.p.A. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on lunar rover testing, mission simulations, and operator training. (10/13)

Celeste In-Orbit Results Confirm LEO Ranging Performance (Source: Inside GNSS)
Early in-orbit measurements from ESA’s Celeste Pathfinder A mission are confirming the ability of a Septentrio receiver prototype to acquire and track dual-frequency ranging signals from low Earth orbit. The Pathfinder A demonstration comprises two satellites, IOD-1 from GMV and IOD-2 from TAS, operating at roughly 510 km altitude. Launched March 28, 2026, from New Zealand, the mission provides an opportunity to test LEO-PNT technology under actual orbital conditions. (10/12)

York Space Systems to Support Interoperability Demonstration for Space Data Network (Source: Via Satellite)
York Space Systems will support a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration as part of a recent U.S. Space Force award for the Space Data Network (SDN). York Space was one of five companies selected in August for demonstrations for the SDN. York will support part of an in-orbit demonstration. The first phase of which will define the bus-to-payload interfaces and payload-integration planning associated with the Space Exchange Point (SEP) demonstration. This will also include planning toward a later on-orbit prototype. (10/12)

Bolivia Prepares Waskiri-Sat, Its First Homegrown Satellite, and a Framework Space Law (Source: Aviacionline)
The Waskiri-Sat, the first satellite developed in Bolivia, and a framework law on civil space policy are the core of the two agreements that the Bolivian Space Agency (ABE) and the Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo (UCB) will sign on Tuesday, October 13, at the Amachuma Ground Station, in El Alto. The signing will take place during the event “Hacia el Espacio por Bolivia”, where the agency will present the first results of its institutional restructuring.

According to the ABE, the UCB will lead the development and operation of the satellite. The agency will contribute its ground infrastructure, the backing of its technical team and internships for students. The satellite will also be used for data exchange in the fight against forest fires. The project already has a track record. In July 2025, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Exolaunch selected the Waskiri-Sat for a funded launch under the Access to Space for All initiative.

On the regulatory front, the UCB will join the ABE’s efforts for a framework law on civil space policy, which the Plurinational Legislative Assembly has already declared a priority. According to the agency, the regulation will seek to attract foreign investment, provide the State with satellite information for food security, risk management and forest monitoring, and maximize the value of its space assets. (10/12)

Space Force Establishes Special Operations Headquarters (Source: Axios)
The U.S. Space Force has stood up a new special operations headquarters, a move intended to further integrate the service branch into future high-level missions. It wasn't immediately clear where the Space Force's new component field command will be based. (10/13)

Varda Has Two Spacecraft in Orbit and Plans Eight More Missions Over the Next Year (Source: Space.com)
Varda Space Industries is currently operating two spacecraft in Earth orbit and plans eight additional missions in the coming year, signaling a rapid expansion of its in-space manufacturing and reentry cadence. The plans put execution, spacecraft availability and recovery operations at the center of the company’s next phase. (10/13)

In Space, No One Can Hear Your Data Center Scream (Source: Bloomberg)
Proposals to move data centers into orbit seek access to abundant solar energy and room to expand, including for military operations. But concentrating computing infrastructure in space could expose it to missile attacks, jamming and cyberattacks, raising questions about the security and resilience of the concept. (10/13)

Bezos and Musk: Battle of the Galactic Overlords (Source: The Atlantic)
For most of human history, “the power to decide where a civilization went next belonged to governments, monarchs, or despots. It’s a measure of how much has changed that a retail executive from Seattle and a South African–born engineer are well positioned to exercise that power. Nobody voted for either of them. And they may be the only ones who can check the other’s power.” Needing Bezos’s extraordinary concentration of private power to mitigate Musk’s extraordinary concentration of private power is probably not what the Founders had in mind.

Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, when asked whether he trusted either man completely, Kelly replied, “Kind of a loaded question.” Kelly says he wants SpaceX to “continue to be a successful company because it is in our national-security interest that that’s the case. I also want to see Blue Origin be successful.” The pragmatist’s position, shared by most of the national-security community, is that one company capable of getting you to space is better than none, and two is better than one. But even if Bezos is the less mercurial billionaire, Blue Origin is not yet a reliable substitute for SpaceX. So the government can’t use Blue Origin as leverage.

Bezos and Musk have a shared vulnerability: Both say they would like to go to the moon—for their empires, for glory, and because their youthful love of space has never settled into something more rational. To put it in terms they and the president would all understand, the moon is leverage.” And in their race to the moon, most people I spoke with have reached the same conclusion: On this, Blue Origin is ahead. (10/13)

Balerion Surpasses $200 Million Goal for Second Space Fund (Source: Payload)
Balerion has raised more than $200 million for its second fund, exceeding its target. The firm had closed about $90 million as of May, according to Venture Capital Journal; co-founder and General Partner Daniel Kleinmann attributed subsequent momentum to portfolio companies reaching milestones and raising up-rounds that resonated with limited partners. (10/13)

STAR.VISION Unveils Four AI Satellites for Orbital Computing and Earth Observation (Source: Spacewatch Global)
STAR.VISION has unveiled four satellites combining orbital computing with Earth-observation capabilities at the 2026 International Astronautical Congress. The program includes a partnership with Oman Lens, linking the satellite deployment to an Omani Earth-observation effort. (10/13)

October 13, 2026

Neil Armstrong Apollo 11 Jacket Could Fetch $1.2 Million at Auction (Source: Florida Today)
The custom-sewn white flight jacket with the NASA meatball logo used to fit over the shoulders of legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong while he trained to become the first man to walk on the moon. Fifty-seven years after NASA's historic Apollo 11 lunar mission , Charles Jeffrey carefully slid the sleeves of Armstrong's coverall jacket over the arms of a mannequin inside the American Space Museum in Titusville. The exceptionally scarce garment is up for sale in the museum's Oct. 17 online charity auction — and Jeffrey estimated it could sell for $800,000 to $1.2 million. (10/6)

SpaceX Launches Tuesday Dragon Mission to ISS from Florida (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo mission to the International Space Station this morning. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, putting the Dragon into orbit on the CRS-35 mission. The Dragon is scheduled to dock with the ISS Thursday morning. It is carrying about 2,870 kilograms of cargo, including the final pair of new solar arrays that will be installed on the ISS on an upcoming spacewalk to augment the station's power supply. Dragon will remain at the ISS for a month before returning to Earth. (10/13)

Perseverance Rover Breaks Martian Driving Record (Source: NASA)
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover now holds the off-Earth driving record. The rover's odometer reached 45.22 kilometers on Sunday, breaking the record for greatest distance driven on another world that had been held by the Opportunity Mars over at 45.16 kilometers. Perseverance reached the record in five and a half years while it took Opportunity nearly 15 years to reach the previous record. Perseverance benefits from AutoNav, its autonomous driving system that allows the rover to plot the best course between waypoints selected by controller. Perseverance has driven more than 400 meters in a single Martian day using AutoNav. (10/13)

European Officials Support Human Spaceflight Development (Source: Space News)
European officials signaled support last week for ESA's proposals to develop a human spaceflight capability. During a panel session at the International Astronautical Congress, leaders of several national space agencies in Europe said they believed Europe needed to be more autonomous in space, citing in part NASA's decision earlier in the year to stop work on the lunar Gateway, to which ESA had planned to contribute modules. They also said that having greater capabilities would lead to stronger partnerships. ESA member states will meet in Rome in December to discuss the proposal although funding decisions will not come until 2028. (10/13)

Space Force Must Increase in Size (Source: Space News)
The Space Force, with a growing budget, now faces the challenge of increasing the size of the force. The Trump administration's proposed fiscal 2027 budget would increase the service's military end strength from 10,400 to 13,200 in a single year. Space Force leaders say they want roughly 25,000 uniformed guardians within five years. While increased funding will support the infrastructure needed for training new guardians, it can't compress the time required to turn thousands of new recruits into experienced personnel. Space Force officials said there is strong interest in joining the service, but that they can't sacrifice quality of training for quantity of recruits. (10/13)

Army Tools to Combine Satellite and Drone Imagery (Source: Space News)
The Army is expanding the use of tools that combine satellite and drone imagery. Reveal Technology said Monday it has introduced an upgraded geospatial intelligence platform that combines satellite and drone imagery into 3D terrain models. The software allows U.S. Army soldiers to analyze terrain and plan missions even when military communications are disrupted. The company received a $9.5 million Army order to expand deployment of the software, called Farsight 2.0, to additional infantry brigades. The contract reflects growing military interest in making satellite-derived intelligence more accessible to tactical forces. (10/13)

Starlink Satellites Launched From California on Monday (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX launched Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 Monday in the first such launch in three weeks. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, placing 27 Starlink satellites into orbit. This was the first Falcon 9 launch to deploy Starlink satellites since Sept. 19, although advanced V3 Starlink satellites launched on SpaceX's latest Starship launch Sept. 28. SpaceX had, until recently, been launching Starlink satellites two to three times a week on Falcon 9 vehicles, but is starting to shift to using Starship for V3 Starlink satellites that are designed specifically for Starship. (10/13)

Turkish Men Arrested for Damaging Starlink Ground Station in Poland (Source: TVP World)
German police have arrested two Turkish men on charges that they started a fire at a Starlink ground station in Poland. Polish government officials said they believe the men started the fire at the ground station near Warsaw in late September in a bid to disrupt Starlink services in the region. The first damaged a power unit and generator at the ground station. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk claimed the fire was "another act of hybrid war" by Russia. (10/13)

Musk Says Starlink will be Affordable in India; Govt Officials Call Claims on License ‘Blatantly False' (Source: The Week0
Elon Musk has said that SpaceX will need to make Starlink pricing affordable in India to take on Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, which offers some of the lowest prices in the country per gigabyte. Jio's own satellite venture is also awaiting final security clearance from the government before launch. Musk had claimed, “Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license?"

The government officials said that Musk's claim was blatantly false and that the company revived key approvals s for Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) services and from IN-SPACE only around two years ago. (10/11)

SpaceX Has a Plan to Make your Phone Carrier Obsolete (Source: The Street)
Challengers have tried to enter the mobile market. Cable companies resell access on Verizon’s network. Dish spent years trying to become the fourth national carrier before selling much of its spectrum, including a roughly $17 billion package that went to a rocket company. That rocket company just made its next move. On Oct. 8, SpaceX agreed to buy a nationwide portfolio of low-band airwaves from investment firm Grain Management. The deal targets the one thing Starlink’s satellites can’t do well today: reach your phone when you’re indoors. (10/11)

Air Force Secretary’s Space Weapons Confirmation Raises Concerns About Planned Hawaii Telescopes (Source: Maui Now)
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink’s confirmation that the United States has deployed weapons in orbit has raised new concerns on Maui about the Air Force’s plan to build up to seven more telescopes atop Haleakalā, a summit many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Meink said the United States has “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.” It was the first time the United States has confirmed deploying weapons in space.

Protect Haleakalā ʻOhana, a community collective that opposes the telescopes, raised its concerns in an email to Maui Now. “This is a military expansion into more sacred space, not a scientific addition to it,” the group wrote. “Haleakalā is a sacred site in a conservation district. Haleakalā is the piko. Hawaiians return there to connect with kūpuna.” The Air Force is “deploying find, fix track and target sensors, not just astronomy telescopes,” and that Meink’s announcement “makes plain what the chain is for,” the ʻOhana group said. “We do not want Maui to be a larger target in an escalation we had no say in.” (10/11)

Committee to Focus on Bringing U.S. Space Academy to Arizona (Source: KTAR)
Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Friday a statewide effort to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Arizona — through the creation of the Arizona U.S. Space Academy Steering Committee. The U.S. Space Academy is a proposed service academy for space-related operations, announced by President Donald Trump in an executive order on Aug. 28. NASA will lead the academy, and it wants classes to start by 2028.

Hobbs’ proposal for Arizona to host the academy comes from the belief that the state is a leader in aerospace and defense industries, in addition to having a cutting-edge science, research and high-tech manufacturing economy. (10/12)

Musk, Not Starlink: The Strategic Risk India Must Assess (Source: Sunday Guardian)
Taken together, Musk’s concentrated power,  political interventions, and overall conduct create a  strategic warning. The enthusiasm for Starlink should not make India, or any other nation, to treat this record as irrelevant. More so when Musk has self-recognized himself as George Soros.

Musk is not an ordinary investor. He commands extraordinary influence—political, financial and infrastructural. He is the world’s first trillionaire, with extraordinary influence and proximity to the American state. The amount of wealth, control of critical infrastructure, algorithmic and AI power, and political pull concentrated in one man is much more than what any nation-state should be comfortable with. (10/11)

Is LEO Where Regulation Is Not A Dirty Word? (Source: Aviation Week)
There are few topics that unite aerospace and defense industry officials—or, frankly, industry officials of any ilk—as much as a loathing for regulations, particularly when it comes to new sectors where they are frequently blasted as barriers to innovation. In some cases, though, the only thing worse than excessive regulation may be no regulation at all. One example may be the emerging space economy, industry officials suggest, at least as it applies to certain areas.

“I think regulation, while it may be a dirty word in a lot of places, it's something that, for those of us that have been executing experiments in space to date, that lack of regulation is the impediment for some types of commercial sales,” Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain says. In particular, he notes that there are uncertainties when it comes to pharmaceutical development. That field is seen as among the most promising for early low-Earth-orbit (LEO) research and development and potential production. (10/9)

Antimatter Is Leaking Out of Our Galaxy Into Intergalactic Space (Source: BBC)
Antimatter could be escaping from the Milky Way before annihilating in clouds of gas beyond our Galaxy, according to a new study of 20 years of gamma-ray observations. The research, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, suggests our Galaxy could produce two to three times more antimatter than currently thought. Researchers identified faint hotspots emitting the 511 keV (kilo­electronvolt) gamma rays produced when positrons – the antimatter counterparts of electrons – annihilate with ordinary matter. (10/10)

Moon Rovers in the Fast Lane (Source: ESA)
Today, a field test in Fuerteventura, Spain, concluded for a new lunar rover Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) system, FASTNAV, that will makes lunar rovers faster, allowing them to cover ten times more ground. Over eleven days, engineers tested whether the GNC system could autonomously move a rover quickly across a volcanic desert, traversing over lava boulders and dunes. The system aims to get rovers travelling across the lunar landscape at 1 meter per second – roughly 3.6km/h. Previously most rovers have only been able to crawl along at 0.2km/h so this marks a dramatic increase in exploration efficiency. (10/8)

Strengthening India’s Space Sovereignty (Source: PIB)
India’s space ecosystem has expanded rapidly, with registered space start-ups rising from 1 in 2014 to around 440 in 2026 (till August). This expanding ecosystem is strengthening India’s space economy, valued at USD 9 billion, as of August 2026. It is projected to reach USD 40–45 billion over the next decade. Private investment in India's space sector surged nearly six-fold, climbing from USD 100.5 million in 2021–22 to USD 618.5 million by March 31, 2026, with USD 187 million recorded during 2026 alone. By mid-2026, 113 authorizations had been granted to 52 Non-Government Entities (NGEs) out of which 18 are start-ups for satellite operations, payload establishment and launch services. (8/14)

October 12, 2026

The Space Industry Needs to Look Under the Hood (Source: Better Futures)
The tendency of experts to express strong opinions on matters outside their areas of expertise is becoming borderline toxic. Everyone has opinions beyond their expertise and locus of control. But having an opinion does not make someone an expert, nor does it make them right. Expertise in one domain does not automatically confer authority in another, yet that distinction is increasingly ignored, even in professional settings.

Elon Musk is a case in point—or, as I like to call him, the South African. I use that description not to besmirch him, but to acknowledge that many people hold extraordinarily strong opinions about him. I am not interested in speculating about the origins of those opinions. What concerns me is the inability to separate personal feelings from professional assessment. In a professional setting, a neutral starting point matters. Calling him the South African acknowledges one dimension of who he is without tipping the scales toward either fanboy admiration or outright vilification.

The point is that professional competence and personal likability are entirely different things. We do ourselves, our businesses, and the industry a disservice when personal feelings replace a serious evaluation of what someone has accomplished, what they are trying to accomplish, and what we can learn from their successes and failures. The same principle applies to politics. While the current administration leaves much to be desired for many people, its approach to commercial space presents significant opportunities. (10/8)

Vandenberg Test Launches Missile That Will Carry Next-Generation Nuclear Weapon  (Source: San Luis Obispo Tribune)
The Air Force conducted a missile test from Vandenberg Space Force Base early Friday morning as part of the ongoing efforts to develop a next-generation weapon system that may see its debut flight next year. Few details were released late Thursday night, but base officials announced the test involving a Minotaur launch vehicle would occur before 6 a.m. Friday. (10/10)

Artemis II's Victor Glover Says Oklahoma is Key to America's Future in Space (Source: The Oklahoman)
Glover was in the state as a guest of the Oklahoma Aerospace Forum, an annual event that highlights Oklahoma's workforce and aerospace companies that support the space program and aviation. There's a lot more that can be done, and the people living, studying and working here have a great chance to join the industry, he said. "You know that saying, 'Houston, we have a problem?' Oklahoma, you have a solution," Glover said. (10/11)

NASA Demonstrates Next-Generation Heat Shield Technologies (Source: NASA)
NASA is testing heat shields that can keep astronauts safe as they return from missions to the Moon and Mars in an unusual way: by taking out the trash. When Northrop Grumman 24th cargo resupply mission for NASA undocked from the International Space Station, it carried a fleet of 12 small, experimental capsules designed to test the next generation of thermal protection materials that could serve as the foundation for future heat shields.

The experiment, called the Kentucky Reentry Probe Experiment (KREPE-3), is the third in a series of low-cost, high-impact missions that use the final moments of the cargo spacecraft’s lifespan to gather valuable data. (10/9)

Russian Satellite Activity Raises Concerns for Starlink, German Space Commander Says (Source: Reuters)
The shadowing of a Western satellite supporting ​Ukraine by a cluster of Russian military satellites earlier this year demonstrates capabilities that could threaten commercial constellations such as ‌Elon Musk's Starlink, Germany’s space commander said. In May, Russia maneuvered four military satellites, known as Cosmos 2610 through 2613, close to a commercial radar-imaging satellite, according to the US Space Force. Finland's ICEYE, which supplies data to the US and its allies, confirmed that it was one of their satellites. (10/9)

Can a Kevlar Tether Create Artificial Gravity in Space? (Source: Big Think)
So could we use a specific type of rotating, low-cost artificial acceleration — with two separate craft connected by a tether — to provide that artificial gravity? “How long would a Kevlar cable need to be for astronauts to feel centripetal acceleration as comfortable as gravity? Why don’t we send up a mile-long Kevlar cable, stretch it between two capsules, spin it up, and have artificial gravity?” In principle, we could do it. In principle, we could even make it equivalent to Earth’s surface gravity in strength. But in practice, it faces some major obstacles.

If you want to create a significant amount of artificial gravity, something close to Earth’s g, for example, you have to have your spacecraft rotate at a particular rate, where the centripetal acceleration is defined by the formula a = v²/r. Since angular velocity is v/r by itself, that means that if you want to reproduce Earth’s gravitational acceleration, a set of capsules separated by a tether that’s: 1) 20 meters long requires spinning at just under 10 revolutions-per-minute, 2) 200 meters long requires spinning at right around 3 revolutions-per-minute, or 3) and 2000 meters long requires spinning at just under 1 revolution-per-minute.

The problem is that the spacecraft needs to rotate quite quickly in all cases, and has to build up a lot of angular momentum while maintaining that balance around the center-of-mass. The faster the speed you have to go at and the larger a radius you’re at from the center-of-mass (or the center-of-rotation), the greater your angular momentum is, and these three examples all have a lot of it. The 20 meter tether requires a speed of about 9.9 m/s, the 200 meter tether requires a speed of about 31.3 m/s, and the 2000 meter tether requires a speed of an impressive 99 m/s. As you can see, greater distances require the buildup of greater amounts of angular momentum, and that’s an enormous challenge to keep delicately balanced. (10/9)

Cygnus XL Cargo Spacecraft Released from Station by Canadarm2 (Source: NASA)
At 12:44 p.m. EDT, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL was released from the Canadarm2 robotic arm after it detached from the Earth-facing port of the International Space Station’s Unity module. At the time of release, the space station was flying about 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean. Cygnus XL successfully departed the orbiting laboratory nearly six months after arriving with about 11,000 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, commercial products, hardware, and other cargo for NASA and its international partners.

Mission controllers will command the spacecraft to deorbit Monday, Oct. 12, carrying several thousand pounds of disposal items and other unneeded cargo into Earth’s atmosphere, where it will harmlessly burn up during re-entry. NASA will not provide coverage of the deorbit. (10/9)

Black Holes Could Have Planets, New Simulations Suggest (Source: EarthSky)
Astronomers have found thousands of planets orbiting other stars. They’ve even found some rogue planets, or planets without a star. Now, fascinating new research says more planets could be lurking elsewhere. They could, the study says, be forming around black holes. They revealed that massive planets could form in the dusty regions around supermassive black holes, similarly to how planets form around stars. (10/8)

Billionaire Jeff Bezos: ‘Success is Not Villainy' (Source: Geekwire)
When Jeff Bezos sat down on Blue Origin’s Cape Canaveral factory floor for an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier earlier this week, he laid out an unapologetic defense of free enterprise and wealth creation. “Success is not villainy,” Bezos said. The Amazon founder’s point was simple: building a massively successful enterprise isn’t something society should apologize for or view with suspicion, it’s the natural result of creating something people actually want. (10/9)

Engineers at Johnson Space Center Modeled a Mars Propellant Plant Turning Martian Air and Buried Ice into 300 Metric Tons of Methane and Oxygen (Source: EcoNews)
How much hardware that refining would take is the question behind a Mars propellant plant study from engineers working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “The SIMA team conducted analyses on a full-scale Martian ISRU production system for oxygen and methane cryopropellant, with the goal of recycling as much material as possible,” the authors wrote. SIMA is the Systems Engineering and Integration ISRU Modeling and Analysis project.

The study looks at 33 tons (30 metric tons) and 331 tons (300 metric tons) of liquid oxygen and methane “produced during the course of a Martian year (~687 Earth days), at a ratio of approximately 3.5:1, respectively.” That works out to 25.7 tons (23.3 metric tons) of oxygen and 7.4 tons (6.7 metric tons) of methane in the small case, and ten times as much in the large one. (10/10)

NASA to Conduct Flyover, Engage NFL Fans at MetLife Stadium (Source: NASA)
As part of the agency’s Inspiration Tour flyover, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman piloted one of three F-5 fighter jets to kick off the New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Oct. 11. (10/10)

Retired Widebody Airliner Now Cheaper Than Building A New Hypersonic Carrier Aircraft (Source: Simple Flying)
Stratolaunch Systems is an aerospace company best known for operating the Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch, or 'Roc', a twin-fuselage testbed aircraft that still holds the record for having the largest wingspan of any aircraft in history. The monstrous-looking aircraft was originally intended to carry air-launch-to-orbit rockets, but is now used for hypersonic vehicle testing, and it's flown 25 times since its introduction in 2019. However, this isn't the only aircraft used by Stratolaunch Systems.

In 2023, the company announced that it would acquire a Boeing 747-400 to complement Roc for hypersonic vehicle testing. The aircraft, now named the 'Spirit of Mojave', has been used multiple times as a more cost-effective and flexible option alongside Roc, as it's essentially a standard 747-400 repurposed for this mission. Meanwhile, in September 2026, Stratolaunch announced that it would be acquiring a third aircraft, selecting a used Boeing 777-200ER to be the company's third carrier platform. (10/10)

Bezos Is Closing the Net Worth Gap With Elon Musk, Thanks to Blue Origin (Source: Benzinga)
Bloomberg data shows that Bezos has a net worth of $372 billion, making him the second-richest person in the world. He has gained over $122 billion from the same point this year. In contrast, Musk has a net worth of over $1 trillion, having gained $548 billion in wealth in the same period, thanks to the SpaceX IPO that raised over $85 billion in June. Jeff Bezos’s wealth jumped after Blue Origin raised new capital at a $130 billion valuation. (10/10)

NASA Releases Finalized RFP for Commercial Space Stations (Source: Space News)
NASA released Friday the final request for proposals for the next phase of its effort to help develop commercial space stations. NASA issued the RFP for the Commercial LEO Destinations, or CLD, program, with proposals due in early December and a selection of two or more companies planned by mid-April. One change from the draft RFP from this summer is that NASA will handle transportation of crews and cargo to commercial stations at least for an initial series of missions, rather than require companies to make their own arrangements. Industry officials previously said they were concerned about the ability to obtain transportation given SpaceX's intent to retire the Dragon spacecraft. (10/12)

SpaceX Launches SDA Satellites From California (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched on Saturday the first set of Space Development Agency (SDA) satellites built by Northrop Grumman for a communications network. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the Tranche 1 Transport Layer A mission for SDA. The rocket carried 21 satellites built by Northrop. The 21 satellites are the first half of a $692 million contract the Space Development Agency awarded Northrop Grumman in 2022 to build 42 spacecraft for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, or PWSA. York Space Systems and Lockheed Martin previously launched their own satellites for the Transport Layer. The launch was scheduled for Monday but postponed by technical issues with the rocket and range conflicts. (10/12)

Arms Race: Russian Anti-Satellite Weapons Could Counter Golden Dome (Source: Space News)
Russia could develop nuclear weapons and electronic-warfare systems to counter missile defense systems like Golden Dome. A report published last week by U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) argues that Russia's efforts to protect its nuclear arsenal from U.S. weapons and missile defenses could drive Moscow toward anti-satellite weapons designed to disable or disrupt large numbers of spacecraft in orbit. Its conclusions are based on an analysis of Russian military doctrine, technical research and the economic constraints shaping Moscow's weapons investments, and not any evidence of deployment of such weapons. RUSI's assessment comes more than two years after U.S. officials publicly accused Russia of developing a nuclear anti-satellite capability. (10/12)

Kapta Raises $24 Million for Radar Tracking From Orbit (Source: Space News)
Kapta Space has raised $24 million to advance the development of radar technology designed to help the U.S. military track moving targets from orbit. The Seattle-based company said Friday it raised a Series A round led by Washington Harbour Partners and co-led by Bison Ventures, with participation from several other investors. Kapta unveiled plans last year for a less expensive and less power-intensive alternative to conventional satellite radar systems, targeting the military market for space-based surveillance capabilities that can detect and follow moving targets. The company said it has won several classified contracts this year for moving target indication systems, but did not disclose the customers or the contracts' values. (10/12)

Andrenam and AnySignal Partner for Submerged System Satellite Links (Source: Space News)
An undersea tracking company and a space communications startup are teaming up to build a new link between submerged systems and satellite networks. Andrenam and AnySignal announced a partnership Friday to develop a family of underwater acoustic communications modems. The agreement would extend AnySignal's satellite communications technology into the maritime domain while expanding the capabilities of Andrenam's network of ocean-monitoring buoys. Those buoys would serve as relays between vehicles and sensors underwater and satellite and terrestrial networks. (10/12)

Spain's EarthPulse Raising Money for Geospatial Intel Growth (Source: Space News)
EarthPulse, a six-year-old geospatial analytics company, is working on its first funding round. To date, the Barcelona-based startup has grown through sales of geospatial-intelligence products, software-as-a-service and APIs that pair satellite observations with terrestrial data and algorithms. The company says it is raising money now because demand for its services is growing faster than it can accommodate on revenue alone. The company's customers range from the European Union Agency for the Space Program to telecommunications giant Telefónica and personal care company L'Oréal. (10/12)

October 10, 2026

From ‘Pinky Promises’ to Reality: SpaceX Admits 30 Launches a Day Will Block Louisiana Local Access (Source: The Lens)
Residents of Pecan Island — fishers and hunters, many of whom could trace their family’s presence here back generations -- met with SpaceX officials. Mark Soltys, chief engineer, began telling the crowd about SpaceX’s advances in aerospace technology. Craig Pitre, a retired welder sitting in the front row, said: “I don’t think too many of us are worried about the flagship rocket and recoverability. We are worried about the ecological damage. All this stuff goes out and it’s going to pollute the waters. I mean, is there going to be any accountability for anything? That’s mostly what we are concerned about.

For the next two hours, residents peppered SpaceX representatives with questions about the incoming impacts of the company’s planned spaceport. Will they be able to stay in their homes? Will it kill off the wildlife? Will it worsen flooding and endanger their lives? SpaceX reps repeatedly tried to reassure those present that the massive project would have no negative impact on their lives whatsoever. But they also were unable to answer many of the questions the residents posed. And in at least two instances, SpaceX reps were forced to backtrack, as locals held up the promises against the sheer, unprecedented scale of the planned rocket launches.

“Am I still going to be able to get down there to my property?” asked “Lil Mark” Broussard, about an hour into the meeting. “Yeah, we’re not going to deny access to property,” a SpaceX rep replied immediately. Broussard was referring to a strip of land between the shoreline and the southern border of SpaceX’s property. He runs horses and manages cattle on the land. But Soltys was soon forced to retract that promise. SpaceX renderings show launch pads in a row towering above the land where Broussard keeps his cattle. The meeting dissolved into worried crosstalk. (10/8)

4 Companies to Vie for NASA Space Station Funding (Source: Douglas Messier)
Four companies — Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Starlab Space and Vast Space — are expected to submit proposals to NASA for funding to develop commercial stations to replace ISS, which is set to be retired in 2030. NASA released a request for proposals for the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination Contract (CLDC) on Oct. 9. Complete proposals are due on Dec. 8; the space agency expects to make an award in spring 2027. NASA has provided limited funding for the Axiom, Blue Origin and Starlab space stations. The space agency has been providing technical support and access to testing facilities to Vast Space, which is developing privately-funded space stations. (10/10)

Payload Shapes for Starship Not Consistent with Many Military Requirements (Source: Politico)
The Space Force hopes SpaceX’s mega-rocket Starship will one day ferry key military satellites after the government stops using the company’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket.

But it’s unclear how military payloads will fit on the rocket — since it’s designed to launch flat-stacked satellites like Starlink. And SpaceX may not have the capacity, given the company’s ambitious plans to build out huge constellations and orbital data centers.

Detailed design: Starship essentially uses a Pez-style dispenser to push satellites out, ejecting them one by one through a small sliding door — a system that most military payloads aren’t compatible with. And with SpaceX poised to retire Falcon 9 in favor of the larger, more profitable Starship, and new rocket providers slow to get up and running, the government is in a tight spot. (10/9)

GMV Tests in Fuerteventura ESA Lunar Rover Software (Source: Democrata)
The Spanish technology group GMV has carried out tests on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura of a 'software' developed by ESA that makes it possible for rovers or astromobiles to move at greater speed. These trials were completed last Thursday in Lajares with the aim of validating an onboard autonomy framework formed by an advanced guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system, called Fastnav. (10/9)

Congressional Delegation Urges Musk to Expand Starlink Access for Ukraine (Source: NV)
A U.S. congressional delegation backed expanding Ukraine’s access to Starlink and urged Elon Musk to activate additional capabilities of the service for Ukrainian users. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) said during a briefing in Kyiv on Oct. 9 that he personally supports approaching Musk about expanding Starlink’s coverage and capabilities in Ukraine. Other members of the bipartisan delegation also supported the initiative. Crenshaw said Starlink and the recently passed sanctions bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham could serve as tools to increase pressure on Russia. (10/9)

White House on Trump Purchasing SpaceX Debt Before Space Order: ‘No Conflicts of Interest’ (Source: The Hill)
The White House said Friday there was no conflict of interest when President Trump’s accounts bought more than $1 million in SpaceX debt two days before he signed an executive order on space transportation policy. The president’s financial disclosure for August, published Thursday, shows Trump’s accounts purchased between $1 million and $5 million in senior unsecured notes from SpaceX on Aug. 18. (10/9)

SaxaVord Spaceport Earmarked by UK and German Governments for European Launches (Source: Shetland News)
The UK and German governments have identified SaxaVord Spaceport as a potential hub for Europe’s access to space. In a joint statement released following a meeting between prime minister Andy Burnham and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, the countries have agreed to deepen their strategic co-operation in space across their civil, commercial, security and defense interests. A memorandum of understanding between the two countries is set to be signed in early 2027. (10/9)

Canada, Norway Space Agencies Sign First MOU (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has signed its first memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), an Arctic-focused partnership it highlighted on social media this week during the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye. (10/9)

Kapta Space Raises $24M from Bill Gates-Backed Fund and Defense Investors (Source: Geekwire)
Kapta Space, a Seattle startup building lower-cost, steerable radar sensors for satellites, has raised $24 million in a Series A funding round to scale production and meet growing demand for defense intelligence contracts. The investment brings total funding to $30 million. It also previously received a $1.8 million grant from the Department of Defense. (10/9)

China's Long March-12 Rocket Launches New Internet Satellite Group (Source: Xinhua)
China launched a Long March-12 carrier rocket on Saturday from a commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, sending an internet satellite group into space. The rocket lifted off and successfully placed the payload, the 27th group of low-orbit internet satellites, into the preset orbit. (10/10)

Sovereign Skies, Secure India: Why Starlink Must Be Denied Entry (Source: News 18)
Starlink may expand connectivity in remote, mountainous, maritime, border and disaster-affected areas, but India should approach its use with strategic caution. Satellite broadband is not merely a commercial service: it is part of the national information infrastructure through which data, identities, economic activity, public administration and security communications may flow. (10/10)

SpaceX Spectrum Deal Unsettles Investors in AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (Source: Axios)
SpaceX's plan to compete with the major cell phone service providers is coming into sharper focus — and raising investor concerns about the threat it poses to traditional telecom companies. Elon Musk has designs on turning SpaceX's Starlink satellite business into a major player in telecom — and he's using the company's massive market position to put his plan in motion. (10/9)

NASA Signs Space Nuclear Pact, Says Moon Base Is Ahead of Schedule (Source: Payload)
To paraphrase the White House, the US scientific enterprise is so back. On Thursday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hosted the “Science: A New Golden Age Summit,” following up on the July namesake report. The biggest space news came from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who signed an agreement to accelerate cooperation between the two agencies on space nuclear power and propulsion.

Isaacman framed SR-1 as the first step in an “Apollo-like endeavor,” with future missions adding better materials, thrusters, and autonomy on the way to a vehicle that can take astronauts to Mars and back. The MoU formalizes existing plans rather than launching new ones. SR-1 debuted at NASA’s Ignition in March, NASA and DOE signed a lunar reactor MoU in January, and Thursday’s agreement came with no new funding figures or cost estimates for nuclear efforts. Still, industry saw the MoU as an important step. (10/9)

Poland’s SpaceForest Completes Fourth PERUN Suborbital Rocket Flight (Source: Space News)
SpaceForest completed the fourth launch of its PERUN suborbital rocket, describing the flight as the vehicle’s most successful test to date. The launch marks another test milestone for the Polish rocket builder’s suborbital program; the available report provides no further flight results or schedule details. (10/9)

Italy Explores Orbital Platform to Generate Artificial Gravity (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Italian Space Agency is examining the possibility of building an orbital platform capable of generating artificial gravity. The concept would create an in-space research facility, though the available details do not specify its design, timeline, funding or intended research program. (10/9)

The Rideshare Era is Ending: Small-Launch Providers Need Anchor Customers as Small Satellites Seek 2029 Rides (Source: LA Tribune)
Small-satellite operators targeting a 2029 launch may already be struggling to secure a ride, while the lowest-cost rideshare option is no longer accepting bookings. The shift puts renewed focus on whether dedicated small-launch providers can attract anchor customers and establish viable demand. (10/9)

October 9, 2026

The Exploration Company to Test Lunar Hopper Demonstrator in 2027 (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Exploration Company has announced it will test a lunar hopper demonstrator called ONEIROS in the United Arab Emirates in 2027. ONEIROS is a privately funded initiative focused on validating technologies that could eventually support lower-cost access to the lunar surface. The company plans to build a one-tonne demonstrator that will use a throttleable methane-fueled rocket engine, autonomous navigation, and hazard-avoidance systems to demonstrate the capabilities needed for controlled landings on the Moon. (10/8)

Amazon Hits 1,000 Sat Milestone; Blue Origin Bolsters Sat Manufacturing (Source: Via Satellite)
Amazon and Blue Origin — two companies owned by Jeff Bezos with separate satellite constellation plans — reached new manufacturing milestones. Amazon reached the milestone of manufacturing 1,000 Amazon Leo satellites. Separately, Blue Origin is building a new manufacturing facility in Texas to support its TeraWave satellite constellation.

The two companies issued separate releases on Thursday. Amazon has passed the 1,000-satellite mark at its satellite factory in Kirkland, Washington. The operator has deployed 396 satellites in the constellation, reporting that only four of those satellites have been deorbited.

Separately, Blue Origin is building a manufacturing hub in Texas to support its TeraWave satellite constellation and Quartz ground communications network. The facility announced Thursday will encompass 1.3 million square feet. Named “Constellation Park,” it is located in Hutto, Texas, north of Austin. (10/8)

SpaceX Acquires More Spectrum Under $8 Billion Deal (Source: Wall Street Journal)
SpaceX has acquired spectrum that could allow the company to augment its direct-to-device services. The company said Thursday it is paying $8 billion to acquire up to 14 megahertz of spectrum in the 800-megahertz band from Grain Management LLC, an investment company. SpaceX said that will allow the company to provide services indoors, where its current satellite spectrum does not work. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk called the deal "the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America." (10/9)

AIA Flags R&D Impacts From Spectrum Bid (Source: LA Times)
SpaceX is lobbying the Federal Communications Commission for easier access to wireless spectrum to boost rocket launches, raising concerns from the Aerospace Industries Association, Boeing, GE Healthcare and others. AIA cites the disruption to flight tests and other critical operations that would happen should SpaceX's plan move forward. "That would be a pretty significant impact for research and development," said AIA Vice President of Engineering and Technology Tim White. "To not be able to do flight testing at the time you need it in the program, it really shuts us down." (10/7)

Aerospace, Defense Key Drivers of Oklahoma Economy (Source: The Journal Record)
Oklahoma's aerospace and defense industry generate $52.5 billion in economic impact annually and support 250,000 jobs, according to a report from the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. The state's five major military installations contribute $21.8 billion to the total. (10/8)

Astrolight Delivers Its First Space-to-Ground Laser Communication Links for Customers (Source: Astrolight)
Astrolight, a Lithuanian space and defence company developing laser communication solutions across space, ground and maritime domains, the Department of Aerospace of the University of Athens, and the Department of Physics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki have announced today the successful commissioning of a space-to-ground laser communication link. The commissioning marks ATLAS-1’s first in-orbit operation and the first link between the two Astrolight systems. (10/8)

A Lack of Transparency for Space-Based Weapons (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The 2026 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report and other resources help provide an overview of potential space weapons. The report lists five categories of counterspace capabilities. It examines systems being developed by 13 countries, among them the U.S., Russia, China, India, Australia, France, Iran, and Israel. These include satellites designed to maneuver near, inspect, disable, or destroy spacecraft. The report also examines ground, air, or sea-launched missile interceptors designed to destroy satellites kinetically.

Furthermore, the report highlights electronic warfare, such as jamming, in addition to lasers or high-power microwaves meant to blind or damage satellite sensors. The report also lists cyber operations targeting space networks. The U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs supports transparency in space by maintaining a register which links each object to its responsible country. States who signed on to a 1976 agreement are required to provide information on launches by governments and private companies as well as the general function of the space object, but are not required to provide details on their purpose.

As an example of something that could be used for both military and non-military purposes, it became known in 2021 that China had tested a satellite with a robotic arm that can maneuver to a system, grab it, and move it out of orbit. In 2022, China used such a system for the first time to tow one of its dead satellites out of orbit. (10/5)

Iceye Moves into Satcom With Nokia Partnership (Source: Via Satellite)
Iceye, the Finnish space company known for building synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites is venturing into communication satellites — planning to build sovereign satcom satellites for governments through a new partnership with Nokia. Iceye announced the move Thursday and said the first communications satellites are expected to be launched in 2028. An Iceye spokesperson said the existing Iceye satellite platform is “flexible” and now being used for satcom. (10/1)

Space Station Developers Have Mixed Degrees of Optimism for Crew Access (Source: Space News)
Commercial space station developers have varying degrees of optimism that crew access to their stations will be possible once SpaceX retires Crew Dragon. During a panel discussion at the International Astronautical Congress this week, executives from companies working on commercial space stations, such as Starlab Space and Vast, said they expect NASA to ensure there is crewed access through vehicles like Starliner, noting the importance of human spaceflight to low Earth orbit extends beyond their stations.

However, Axiom Space expressed concern, noting their planning has focused on Crew Dragon with no alternative options. Blue Origin has been working on designs for its own crewed vehicle, but a company executive said on the panel it does not plan to fund work on it internally, noting the need to work with NASA to ensure it meets agency certification requirements. (10/9)

Space Force and SpaceWERX Support USAX Development of Provenance Engine (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force is looking for new ways to track emerging technologies and the flow of private capital. The service's innovation arm, SpaceWERX, selected startup USAX for a $1.49 million Direct-to-Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research contract to develop its Provenance Engine, aimed at giving decision makers a clearer picture of technology development, investment activity and opportunities for government and private-sector collaboration. The platform combines information from multiple sources into a common analytical framework, then applies weighting and scoring to help decision makers assess financial relationships and investment exposure. (10/9)

Planet's Berlin Satellite Plant to Support Sovereign Markets (Source: Space News)
Earth observation company Planet is moving to address growing sovereign demand. The company recently opened a satellite production line in Berlin to support European customers and announced a series of deals with European and Japanese customers. As Planet addresses increasing defense and intelligence demands, company leaders are developing tools to pair the extensive Earth observation data provided by their fleet of 150 to 200 satellites in low Earth orbit with the analytical power of artificial intelligence for commercial and civil applications. (10/9)

Trump Bought SpaceX Debt While Approving New Space Policy (Source: Washington Post)
President Trump bought at least $1 million in SpaceX debt around the time he approved a new national space transportation policy. According to financial disclosures, Trump bought between $1 million and $5 million of SpaceX bonds in August that the company sold this summer to finance its artificial intelligence data centers. Two days later, Trump signed the new space transportation policy that features measures designed to support increased launch rates, with a goal of 1,000 launches and landings a year by 2030. A White House spokesperson said that Trump's portfolio is managed independently by third parties but did not say who decided to buy the SpaceX bonds. (10/9)

South Korea Plans Space Command (Source: Seoul Economic Daily)
South Korea is preparing to establish a space command in its military. The chairman of South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said the military was planning to create a space command. The military first plans to create a dedicated electromagnetic warfare unit next year whose activities would include space. (10/9)

Jared Has the Receipts to Counter Apollo Skeptics (Source: WCVB)
Drake Maye committed another turnover by suggesting NASA didn't land on the moon more than 50 years ago. In a sports talk radio interview this week, the New England Patriots quarterback said he was "a little bit skeptical" about the Apollo landings when asked about conspiracy theories, adding "I'm not really sure 200% if we went there or not." His comments prompted a response from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on social media: "I quite literally have the receipts." (10/9)

Airbus to Build ESA's Sentinel-3 (Source: Aviation Week)
Airbus secured a $619 million contract from the European Space Agency to build the Sentinel-3 Next-Generation Topography satellite. The agreement, announced at an event in Antalya, Turkey, outlines plans for a satellite launch in 2034, with the possibility of adding a second spacecraft. (10/6)
 
Congress Debates Pentagon's $53.7B Unfunded List (Source: Legis1)
The Department of War has submitted a $53.7 billion unfunded priorities list for fiscal year 2026, reigniting a debate in Congress over the value and impact of such lists. The Congressional Research Service notes that while some lawmakers see the lists as essential for identifying military risks, others view them as undermining budget discipline. The Government Accountability Office reports that the value of these lists has increased by 73% since 2020.

Editor’s Note: Earmark-seekers try hard to be included on the Unfunded Priorities list, as it’s the easiest path toward getting projects funded if they aren’t included in the original appropriation. (10/7)

GE Aerospace Foundation Invests $1M in Alabama Workforce (Source: Alabama Political Reporter)
The GE Aerospace Foundation will invest $1 million in workforce training in Alabama's Auburn-Montgomery region, benefiting more than 400 people in the first year. The funding will support Southern Union State Community College, the Industrial Development Board of Auburn and the Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, focusing on aerospace and advanced manufacturing careers. (10/7)

Amazon Builds its 1,000th Satellite, with Project Kuiper Internet Rollout Weeks Away (Source: Ars Technica)
Amazon says it has built its 1,000th satellite and is weeks from beginning its space-based internet rollout. The milestone puts the focus on the manufacturing scale and deployment cadence behind Project Kuiper as the company moves from satellite production toward service launch. (10/8)

Astrolight Commissions its First Space-to-Ground Laser Communications Link for a Client (Source: Space News)
Lithuanian space startup Astrolight says it has successfully commissioned a space-to-ground laser communication link for a client. The announcement marks the company’s delivery of its first such link, though the available report does not identify the client or provide technical details, operating parameters or the system’s intended use. (10/8)

BlackSky Claims Six-Figure Pilot Contract to Supply Imagery to International Intelligence Agency (Source: Space News)
BlackSky Technology said it has secured a six-figure pilot contract with an international intelligence agency for global, on-demand, high-resolution imagery. The announcement signals a trial engagement for the company’s satellite-imagery services, but the agency and the contract’s duration were not identified. (10/8)

Starlink Says Satellite Operators’ Maneuver-Data Nondisclosure is LEO’s Biggest Collision Risk (Source: Space Intel Report)
SpaceX’s Starlink says the greatest safety risk to its constellation and other low Earth orbit operators is satellite owners’ refusal to share ephemeris data, including satellite positions and planned maneuvers. The company has updated its debris and collision-risk mitigation measures, according to the report. (10/8)

Study Suggests Earth and Mars Formed Through Different Processes (Source: Universe Today)
A new study finds that Earth and Mars may have formed through different processes. The discovery could help scientists assess whether exoplanets are habitable, linking evidence from the formation of neighboring planets to broader efforts to understand which worlds beyond our solar system might support life. (10/8)

Bezos Says Blue Origin IPO Could Come Within the Next Few Years (Source: Bloomberg)
Blue Origin is likely to pursue an initial public offering within the next several years, founder Jeff Bezos said, following the company’s first outside funding round, which raised billions of dollars. The comments signal a potential future shift in the ownership and financing of the space company. (10/8)

NASA Selects GIMLI Proposal to Investigate Whether Marius Lunar Pit Opens Into a Larger Cave (Source: Universe Today)
NASA has selected a Planetary Science Institute-led proposal to examine whether an underground cave extends beyond the opening of the Marius lunar pit. The investigation will assess a feature that could be relevant to identifying future lunar base sites; the available report does not specify the mission’s timeline or methods. (10/8)

South Korean Spaceport Evolves to Space City (Source: SBS)
Naro Space Center is the outpost of South Korea's space development, completed in 2009. With three Naro rocket launches and five Nuri rocket launches over the past 17 years, Goheung's role is expanding beyond a mere launch site to the broader space industry. Around 50 space companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, plan to move into the Goheung Space National Industrial Complex by 2030. (10/8)

Second New Zealand Spaceport: Big Rockets Could Launch a Dozen Times a Year in Initial Canterbury Plan (Source: RNZ)
Large rockets weighing up to 100 tonnes each could be launched a dozen times a year from a planned national aerospace center near Christchurch. Tāwhaki and a French company are now working on getting capital, consents and customers from Europe to build the spaceport. The few details of the attempt to tap the burgeoning world of the space launch market have been released to RNZ. "Launch facility to cater for up to 100-tonne launch vehicles, with an initial consent for up to 12 launches per year," said an executive summary. (10/8)

Tenerife Submits Bid to Host a Spaceport for the European Iris II Satellite Constellation (Source: Tenerife Weekly)
Tenerife has officially announced its bid to host a ground station for the European Iris II satellite constellation, a project designed to enhance secure satellite communications within the EU. The public authorities on the island revealed the proposal during a council meeting in early October. A territory of Spain, Tenerife is among the Canary Islands. (10/7)

NASA Says Russia, China Could Join Artemis Accords if They Align with Principles (Source: AA.com)
Russia and China could one day join the US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration if they come to share its principles, but they do not today, NASA's deputy administrator said. "If one day, Russia and China were like-minded in those principles, which we don't see them as that right now, then there would be a possibility to join the Artemis Accords," Matt Anderson told reporters at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. (10/7)