March 13, 2026

Amid Crowded Skies, FAA Kills Rule Aimed at Regulating Space Junk (Source: ProPublica)
The Trump administration is backing off a rule aimed at stopping commercial space companies from leaving rocket bodies in Earth’s orbit, a practice that experts say could threaten public safety and telecommunications.

The Federal Aviation Administration first proposed the measure in 2023, under the Biden administration, in hopes of curbing the growing junkyard of debris circling the planet. It would have required companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX to safely remove such spacecraft within 25 years of launch, saying they “pose a significant risk to people on the ground due to their mass and the uncertainty of where they will land.” (3/12)

Vandenberg Space Force Base Eyes Record Launch Year (Source: KBSY)
Vandenberg Space Force Base could soon surpass its single-year launch record of 123, set in 1967, with Col. James Horne predicting launch rates could double or triple within 10 years. The base conducts three to four intercontinental ballistic missile tests annually. (3/12)

Northrop Grumman Advances Solid Rocket Motor Development (Source: Interesting Engineering)
Northrop Grumman is advancing next-generation rocket motors with an emphasis on compact, high-powered solid propulsion. The company has doubled tactical motor production at its Allegany Ballistics Laboratory since 2021 and aims to triple output by 2027. These innovations are designed to support faster, more maneuverable missiles without increasing their size, addressing the evolving requirements of modern defense. (3/11)

AIAA Picks Priorities for 2026, Including Golden Dome (Source: AIAA)
AIAA CEO Clay Mowry announced the 2026 Priority Issues confronting the aerospace industry spanning aviation, national security, research and development, and space domains. The list is designed to inform policymakers and industry leaders on the most pressing issues affecting U.S. aerospace competitiveness, leadership and safety. Space-related priorities include Golden Dome; NASA budget growth, and preserving science leadership; The race to the Moon and Mars, including norms of behavior in cislunar space; and Space traffic management and space situational awareness for orbital safety. (3/9)

From Steel Rolls to Starship at the Starfactory (Source: NSF)
In early 2022, SpaceX broke ground on a massive new facility known as the Starfactory at its Starbase site in South Texas. This permanent, high-volume manufacturing building replaced the temporary tents once used for assembling Starship barrel sections, representing a pivotal upgrade that enabled far greater production efficiency and scale. Today, as SpaceX ramps up production of Block 3 (V3) Starship hardware—the upgraded design set to debut with Flight 12 in the coming weeks—the Starfactory stands as the beating heart of the program.

Central to the Starfactory’s operations are advanced automated systems that handle critical fabrication tasks. These include robotic cutters for shaping stainless steel, high-accuracy robotic welders—now standard for Block 3 vehicles to achieve lighter, stronger, and more consistent seams—and specialized installers for the Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles, which protect the vehicle during reentry. Click here. (3/13)

Russia Aims To Reclaim Soviet Space Glory With 2036 Launch of Ambitious Venus Mission (Source: Space.com)
Russia is apparently getting ready to return to the searing surface of Venus. The nation wants to launch Venera-D — a multi-vehicle mission involving a lander, balloon and orbiter — to Venus in 2036, Russian state media said. Venera-D has been in the works since 2003. Once upon a time, before Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Venera-D was even considered as a possible joint mission with NASA. (3/13)

NASA Begins Building Nuclear-Powered Dragonfly Drone for 2028 Launch to Saturn Moon Titan (Source: Space.com)
NASA is one step closer to sending a drone mission to another world. Technicians at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland have begun building and testing the nuclear-powered Dragonfly rotorcraft, which will launch toward the huge Saturn moon Titan in 2028. "This milestone essentially marks the birth of our flight system," Elizabeth Turtle, Dragonfly principal investigator at APL, said in a NASA statement. (3/13)

Isar Aerospace to Launch Astroscale ELSA-M Orbital Debris Removal Mission (Source: European Spaceflight)
Tokyo-headquartered Astroscale Holdings has selected Isar Aerospace to launch its ELSA-M orbital debris removal demonstration mission no earlier than 2028. Isar Aerospace is preparing for the second flight of its two-stage rocket, Spectrum, after the first flight failed shortly after liftoff in early 2025. The launch is currently scheduled for no earlier than 19 March from the Andøya Spaceport in Norway. (3/13)

‘The Race is On’: will Elon Musk Be the First to Put a Data Center in Space? (Source: Financial Times)
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is aggressively pursuing a first-mover advantage in space-based AI data centers, aiming to launch solar-powered, orbital compute hubs within 2–3 years to bypass terrestrial energy and regulatory constraints. While competing with firms like Blue Origin and StarCloud, Musk’s vertical integration with Starship launch capacity positions him as the likely leader, though experts suggest massive-scale, fully operational orbital data centers may take longer than his proposed 2026–2028 timeline.

SpaceX plans to use an upgraded Starlink (version 3) to create AI-focused, solar-powered satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), exploiting 5x higher solar energy efficiency compared to Earth. Blue Origin is also developing technology for orbital AI hubs. Meanwhile, startups like StarCloud are already testing prototypes. Experts warn that although pilot projects are possible within three to five years, massive-scale orbital computing faces significant challenges with maintenance, heat rejection, and communication latency. (3/13)

Who’s Working With China on Space? (Source: Payload)
There is a wide spread of nations, across three continents, especially engaged in China’s burgeoning international space network, according to a January report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Pakistan, Egypt, and Venezuela led the pack when the study was published, with 61 other countries claiming at least some space-based relationship with China.

China is using those relationships to prep markets for its emerging commercial space sector, study authors say. Still, all three of the leading countries have openings for US or European competition with Chinese firms. The pros of China: Chinese companies could gain a unique competitive edge in cost, speed, and training services. Chinese products are often cheaper and come with more perks than Western ones. (3/13)

Kazakhstan Must Choose: Be Eurasia’s Tech Broker or Become a Pawn in the New Global Space Race (Source: Space News)
Kazakhstan is approaching a moment of strategic truth. It can either become Eurasia’s indispensable broker of space, AI and advanced technology solutions or risk being used as a pawn in a geopolitical power competition it does not control. To be sure, Kazakhstan’s position has complex dependencies: Its historical ties with Russia’s cultural, education and science communities must be respected.

Its proximity to China with its fast and frugal scaling strength and position in global supply chains is important for Kazakhstan’s trade balance and its position as a transit hub. Europe is another indispensable science, education and trade partner, as well as governance anchor for Kazakhstan’s young democracy. And the United States has the greatest legacy asset base as a frontier innovator and space explorer, as well as the most transparent and sizable capital markets. (3/13)

Better Signal: 1,600 Starlink Satellites Move Into Lower Orbits (Source: PC Mag)
Starlink subscribers can expect lower latency and improved signal quality as the company moves 1,600 satellites into lower orbits. Jonathan McDowell reported that a large collection of Starlink satellites has been descending, cutting the distance for the satellite beams to reach Earth. The satellites were previously orbiting the Earth at 550 kilometers (341 miles). But now McDowell says 652 of the satellites have been lowered to 480-kilometer orbits, while another 972 satellites “are currently on the way down,” he wrote. In response, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted back: “Tighter beams and better signal quality.” (3/12)

A Battle Over Texas Beaches Could Ground Elon Musk’s Rockets (Source: Texas Monthly)
The nine justices of the Supreme Court of Texas sat on stage behind four long tables that had been pushed together and draped with black cloth to make the theatrical setting appropriately somber. In their ebony robes, they looked like crows perched along a power line as they heard oral arguments over a lawsuit that pits environmental activists against the richest man in the world. “I think David and Goliath kind of understates it,” said Jim Chapman, a founding board member of Save RGV, the local nonprofit that is the lead plaintiff in the case. “I don’t think we’re even David.”

Hundreds of undergrads and schoolkids, dozens of collegiate officials, and a score of local politicians were on hand for the event last week. Nearly all the hall’s one thousand seats were filled. University VIPs and busloads of students sat downstairs, while members of the general public were corralled in the balcony.

Those seated upstairs seemed only interested in the first case on the docket, a consolidated set of appeals brought by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Cameron County, and the Texas General Land Office against Save RGV, the Sierra Club, and the Indigenous Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas. At stake—depending on whom you ask—is either the right of all Texans to visit public Gulf beaches without interference or the state’s burgeoning role in the future of spaceflight. The Court is expected to issue a ruling sometime around June, before its summer recess. (3/12)

ISRO Conducts Sea-Level Test of CE20 Cryogenic Engine at 22-Tonne Thrust (Source: Deccan Chronicle)
ISRO successfully conducted a sea-level hot test of India's CE20 cryogenic engine at a thrust level of 22 tonnes on March 10 at the ISRO Propulsion Complex. The test was carried out using a Nozzle Protection System (NPS) and a multi-element igniter. Earlier sea-level tests using the nozzle protection system had been conducted at a thrust level of 19 tonnes.

The CE20 cryogenic engine powers the upper cryogenic stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle. To enhance the payload capability of LVM3, future missions are planned to operate with an upgraded C32 stage capable of producing 22 tonnes of thrust. In line with this objective, the latest test was conducted for a duration of 165 seconds at the enhanced thrust level. ISRO said the engine and the test facility performed as expected throughout the test. (3/13)

China Launches Twice in Three Hours (Source: Space News)
China conducted a pair of launches hours apart Thursday. A Long March 8A lifted off at 3:48 p.m. Eastern from the commercial spaceport on Hainan carrying the 20th set of Guowang broadband constellation satellites. Officials did not disclose the number of satellites on the launch, but previous Long March 8A launches for Guowang carried nine satellites each. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 6:33 p.m. Eastern and placed into orbit the Shiyan-30 03 and 04 spacecraft. Official media said the satellites will be used to test Earth observation technologies. The launches were the first in a month from China after a break for the Chinese New Year holiday. (3/13)

Cygnus Cargo Craft Departs ISS (Source: Space.com)
A Cygnus cargo spacecraft departed from the ISS Thursday. The NG-23 Cygnus was unberthed from the station by the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The spacecraft had been at the station for nearly six months and will perform a destructive reentry on Saturday. A new Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to launch to the station next month. (3/13)

UK Space Chief Prioritizes National Security (Source: Space News)
The new head of the U.K. Space Agency is prioritizing growth of the country's space sector and national security. In an interview, Rebecca Evernden said the focus on growth and national security is because the government believes those areas will have the most impact, particularly in topics such as satellite communications and in-space servicing. Launch also remains a priority despite the bankruptcy of Orbex. The agency is in the process of being absorbed into the U.K. government's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, but Evernden said the agency will maintain its technical expertise and collaborate with other nations' space agencies. (3/13)

Freeman Departs Amazon Leo (Source: Breaking Defense)
The head of Amazon Leo's government services business has left the company. Rick Freeman, who had been vice president at Amazon overseeing Amazon Leo for Government, left the company in late February, the company confirmed. Amazon Leo for Government is the unit charged with sales of Amazon Leo broadband services to government customers. Amazon has not announced a replacement for Freeman. [Breaking Defense]

SPARCS Cubesat Begins Exoplanet Search (Source: NASA JPL)
A cubesat designed to help look for habitable exoplanets has returned its first images. The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat, or SPARCS, cubesat launched in January on a SpaceX rideshare mission. The 6U cubesat carries an ultraviolet camera that astronomers will use to monitor low-mass stars to measure the amount of stellar activity they have. That will help them determine how suitable any planets that orbit them are for hosting life. (3/13)

Artemis 2 Aims Officially for April 1 Launch (Source: Space News)
NASA announced Thursday it now plans to launch the Artemis 2 mission as soon as April 1. The agency concluded a flight readiness review and officials said they were ready to proceed with a launch in a window between April 1 and 6. The decision comes after completing repairs to a helium line for the Space Launch System upper stage that suffered a blockage, requiring rolling the vehicle from the pad for repairs. The vehicle is scheduled to roll back out to the pad March 19. (3/13)

Voyager Joins Long Beach CA Aerospace Cluster (Source: Space News)
Voyager Technologies is opening a new manufacturing facility in Southern California. The company announced Thursday it set up the 140,000-square-foot site in Long Beach, California, to support development and production of electronics, software and propulsion technologies used in spacecraft and defense systems. The move places Voyager alongside a growing cluster of aerospace firms in Long Beach and the broader Los Angeles region. The company is expanding in California and elsewhere as it seeks roles in the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. (3/13)

China Developing Mars Sample Return Hardware (Source: Space News)
A Chinese Mars sample return mission is entering the construction phase. Work on the Tianwen-3 mission is on track for a launch in late 2028 after engineers achieved breakthroughs in key technologies, officials said Thursday. The multi-spacecraft mission will use two Long March 5 launches from Earth in late 2028, one carrying a lander and ascent vehicle and the other a Mars orbiter and Earth return spacecraft. Tianwen-3 is designed to return at least 500 grams of Martian samples to Earth in 2031. (3/13)

Austria's Another Earth Raises $4 Million to Train AI Models with Synthetic Satellite Imagery (Source: Space News)
A startup that generates synthetic satellite imagery to train AI models has raised a seed round. Vienna-based Another Earth raised $4 million this week to accelerate the deployment of software it is already providing commercially to geospatial analysis firms. That software creates large amounts of synthetic satellite imagery to train AI models that are then used to analyze actual imagery. The company seeks to assist the broader Earth observation industry that it believes is bottlenecked by a lack of high-quality training data. (3/13)

Senate Advances Anderson Nomination as NASA Deputy Administrator (Source: Space News)
The Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance the nomination of Matt Anderson as NASA deputy administrator. The committee voted 23-5 to send Anderson's nomination to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. The five no votes all came from Democratic members of the committee. The vote came a week after Anderson faced little opposition from committee members at a confirmation hearing. (3/13)

KSC and Space Force's SLD45 Step-Up Collaboration to Meet Critical Spaceport Needs (Source: NASA KSC)
"Through ongoing engagements with the Space Force and our commercial partners, teams from Kennedy and Space Launch Delta (SLD) 45 have identified five areas where our unified efforts will drive targeted improvements to address the spaceport’s most critical needs: infrastructure and utilities, commodity supply, transportation and access, process alignment, and facility demand," according to a March 13 status report from KSC Director Janet Petro.

"This week, Kennedy and SLD 45 met for another collaborative working discussion focused on these support areas, aligning priorities, reviewing policy, and identifying actions to truly unite two installations under one combined spaceport. This ongoing initiative will truly put us in lock step as we work together to amplify the spaceport’s needs, advocate for strategic investment, and maximize operational ability at the busiest spaceport on the planet." (3/13)