March 28, 2026

Space Force May Need Uptick In Wallops Island Launches (Source: Defense Daily)
While the Space Force has used NASA's site at Wallops Island, Va., to launch niche missions, including small-satellite orbital and sounding rocket hypersonic suborbital launches, the service may need to ensure that it is able to ramp up launches there significantly, the head of U.S. Space Command said on Thursday. Wallops "has been an amazing story over the last decade," Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting said. (3/26)

National Defense Strategy ‘Falls Short’ on Nuclear, Space Threat (Source: Defense One)
Count the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee among the defense-policy experts who say the National Defense Strategy is inadequate in key ways. At a Thursday hearing, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-MS, said the defense policy’s tepid treatment of satellites and nuclear weapons might encourage Chinese and Russian ambitions.

“It’s no secret that I believe this NDS falls short in several areas,” Wicker told U.S. Strategic and Space Command leaders gathered to testify. “I am particularly concerned that the current strategy does not address space and nuclear threats with anywhere near the urgency they deserve.” (3/26)

Continuity in Low Earth Orbit: The Foundation of a Thriving Space Economy (Source: CASIS)
For decades, activity in space had been driven almost entirely by government priorities, with a focus on exploration and the technologies required to sustain human life beyond Earth. Research was conducted for space, not for Earth. The ISS, while remarkable, risked becoming a symbol of achievement rather than a platform for continuous innovation. Then something changed. We changed the paradigm.

We stopped treating the ISS as a rare, inaccessible asset and began to see it for what it could truly be: a national laboratory. The progress we’ve made over the past decade did not happen overnight. It required sustained investment, consistent access, reliable launch capabilities, and a stable platform for research and development. The ISS has provided that continuity. It has allowed ideas to mature, companies to iterate, and an ecosystem to take root. T

But continuity is not just about infrastructure, it is about demand. As we approach the transition from the ISS to commercial LEO destinations (CLDs), we face a critical inflection point. It is not enough to build the next generation of platforms; we must ensure there is a robust, sustained pipeline of research and development ready to utilize them from day one. CLDs should not come online and then scramble to find customers. They must launch into an environment where demand is already strong. (3/26)

Krispy Kreme Launches Artemis II Doughnut (Source: Krispy Kreme)
The dream of enjoying Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the Moon is about to take a giant leap forward. To celebrate NASA’s planned launch of Artemis II, Krispy Kreme is debuting a limited‑edition Artemis II doughnut, available only March 31 through April 2 at participating Krispy Kreme shops nationwide. (3/27)

ESA Member States Call for Cancellation of Earth Return Orbiter (Source: European Spaceflight)
European Space Agency Member States have called for the cancellation of the Earth Return Orbiter, a key element of plans to return samples from the surface of Mars. The Earth Return Orbiter was to be ESA’s primary contribution to NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission, responsible for capturing samples launched from the Martian surface and returning them to Earth. ESA awarded Airbus Defence and Space a €491 million contract in October 2020 to develop and deliver the Earth Return Orbiter. (3/28)

Defending the Invisible Space Backbone of Canada’s Economy (Source: SpaceQ)
When most Canadians think of space, they picture astronauts or Star Wars, not grocery supply chains or debit cards. But space isn’t just “out there”—it’s the invisible infrastructure powering daily life. Brigadier-General Christopher Horner, Commander of the 3 Canadian Space Division, discusses what Canada is actually doing in orbit. When most Canadians think of space, they picture astronauts or Star Wars, not grocery supply chains or debit cards. But space isn’t just “out there”—it’s the invisible infrastructure powering daily life.

Many equate space infrastructure with the GPS map on their phones. Horner notes the scale is much larger. Drawing on recent UK and US data, he estimates that roughly 20 percent of the Canadian economy operates on a “space backbone.” “Data suggests that about a billion dollars of GDP for Canada per day would be lost without access to space,” Horner explained. (3/26)

To Meet NATO Spending Target, Canada's $51.7 Billion Plan for 2026-27 Includes a New Space Rocketry Challenge (Source: SpaceQ)
In achieving the 2% of GDP defense spending target long sought by NATO and the U.S., Canada has made modest but historic investments in space defense. According to the 2026-27 Department of National Defense (DND) Departmental Plan, that pivot will continue with new targeted funding, including a Space Rocketry Challenge slated to receive $25 million in 2026-27 and up to $50 million annually thereafter. To support its initiatives, DND’s total planned spending for 2026-27 is set at $51.7 billion, distributed across eight core responsibilities and internal services. (3/27)

ESA to Decide by June on Europe’s Gateway Contributions (Source: Space News)
For more than a year, questions have swirled about Artemis changes and the Gateway’s role in U.S. lunar ambitions. Following NASA’s March 24 decision to halt work on Gateway, the lunar-orbiting station that had been intended to support astronauts before and after lunar surface missions, Europe now faces the challenge of redefining its contributions to the program. (3/27)

He Suddenly Couldn’t Speak in Space. NASA Astronaut Says His Medical Scare Remains a Mystery (Source: AP)
The astronaut who prompted NASA’s first medical evacuation earlier this year said Friday that doctors still don’t know why he suddenly fell sick at the ISS. Four-time space flier Mike Fincke said he was eating dinner on Jan. 7 after prepping for a spacewalk the next day when it happened. He couldn’t talk and remembers no pain, but his anxious crewmates jumped into action after seeing him in distress and requested help from flight surgeons on the ground.

“It was completely out of the blue. It was just amazingly quick,” he said in an interview at Johnson Space Center. Fincke, 59, a retired Air Force colonel, said the episode lasted roughly 20 minutes and he felt fine afterward. He said he still does. He never experienced anything like that before or since. (3/27)

Space Force Seeks Proposals for Physical Test and Training Range (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The Space Force is moving ahead with plans to build a physical test and training range that will feature a mix of ground and space-based systems, releasing a formal solicitation for a multi-vendor contract worth $981 million to design, develop, integrate, and sustain those capabilities.

Space Systems Command issued its request for proposals for the National Space Test and Training Complex Innovative Technology and Engineering-Space Test and Range, or NITE-STAR, on March 18 and plans to award initial contracts this summer. According to SSC’s program executive officer for operational test and training infrastructure, Col. Corey Klopstein, the intent is to identify a pool of companies to compete to build elements of that physical environment on the ground or to provide live, on-orbit range capabilities—like satellites or instrumentation—either for dedicated use or as a service. (3/26)

US-Taiwan Space Cooperation Proposed in New Bill (Source: Politico)
In March 2026, U.S. senators advanced the bipartisan Taiwan and American Space Assistance (TASA) Act, aimed at deepening space cooperation with Taiwan to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific. Passed by the Senate Commerce Committee, it enables joint satellite development and personnel exchanges between NASA/NOAA and Taiwan. Led by Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Schmitt (R-MO), and Bennet (D-CO), this legislation directly counters Chinese space ambitions by boosting alliances with Taiwan. (3/27)

Breakthrough Propulsion System Lets Satellites Use Earth’s Atmosphere as Fuel in Low Orbit (Source: Interesting Engineering)
A significant step in satellite propulsion is paving the way for a new era in space technology. The new efforts in air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) systems promise to revolutionize how satellites operate—especially in extremely low Earth orbits.

Conventional satellites rely on onboard fuel to maintain their orbit and perform maneuvers. However, this approach comes with limitations: fuel adds weight, restricts mission duration, and increases costs. Over time, satellites lose altitude due to atmospheric drag and must expend fuel to stay in orbit. (3/27)

When Satellite Data Becomes a Weapon (Source: WIRED)
Last month, Iran’s Tehran Times posted what appeared to be damning satellite proof: a before-and-after image of “American radar,” supposedly “completely destroyed.” It wasn’t. The image was an AI-manipulated version of a year-old Google Earth shot from Bahrain—wrong location, wrong timeline, fabricated damage. Open source intelligence researchers debunked it within hours, matching it to older satellite imagery and identifying identical visual artifacts, down to cars frozen in the same positions.

A small act of disinformation, quickly debunked. But it pointed to a challenge that becomes more difficult during active conflict: The satellite infrastructure that journalists, analysts, pilots, and governments rely on to see conflict clearly in the Gulf is itself becoming contested terrain—delayed, spoofed, withheld, or simply controlled by actors whose interests don’t always align with public access. (3/25) 

Federal Budgeting May Be a Challenge for Isaacman's Artemis (Source: Politico)
The ambitious plans NASA unveiled this week — including a multibillion-dollar outpost on the moon — may get grounded by earthly constraints. A new budget for the agency is heading to Congress, and it may not give the agency the boost it needs. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlined a host of changes to the agency’s highest-profile missions Tuesday, including a new moon base that will cost $20 billion over the next seven years and $30 billion over the next decade — about $3 billion a year. Isaacman says he’s confident that the agency will have the cash it needs to build its new moon base. (3/27)

Artemis II ‘Closeout Crew’ Ready to be Astronauts’ Final Contact Before Launch (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Nine people will take the ride to the top of the launch tower for the Artemis II moon mission, but only five will ride back down. That’s if NASA’s plans to launch four astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System rocket go as planned. Targeting liftoff as early as next Wednesday, the quartet will strap into the spacecraft safe and sound thanks to the five people that are part of the closeout crew. (3/26)

STARCOM Completes First HQ Facility at Patrick Space Force Base (Source: Air and Space Forces)
Space Training and Readiness Command officially opened its new headquarters building in Florida as the field command starts to move in earnest from Colorado. The process will hopefully be complete by 2027, said Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna. STARCOM has been temporarily headquartered in Colorado. As one of the Space Force’s three field commands, it’s responsible for educating and training Guardians, developing the service’s doctrine and tactics, and testing Space Force capabilities. The command held a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 10 at a new headquarters “annex” on Patrick Space Force Base. “That was just the first phase; in May, the second phase of the annex will open,” Bentivegna said. (3/26)

Aetherflux Reportedly Raising Series B at $2 Billion Valuation (Source: Tech Crunch)
Aetherflux, the space solar power startup launched by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, is in talks to raise $250 million to $350 million for a Series B round that would value the company at $2 billion. Aetherflux has collected about $80 million since its founding in 2024. Aetherflux has shifted focus in recent months as it pushed its power-generating technology toward space data centers, deemphasizing the transmission of electricity to the Earth with lasers that was its starting vision. (3/27)

China Sends GNSS Augmentation Sats Into Orbit (Source: AzerNews)
China has successfully launched a new group of CentiSpace-2 satellites into orbit from the Haiyang Spaceport, located along the coast of the Yellow Sea in eastern China. The launch took place on March 22 using a Jielong-3 (also known as Smart Dragon-3) rocket. This solid-fuel carrier is specifically designed for rapid and cost-effective deployment of small satellites, reflecting China’s growing focus on commercial space capabilities.

The CentiSpace spacecraft are intended to enhance global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) by operating from low Earth orbit. Their mission is to improve positioning accuracy, particularly in challenging environments such as urban areas, mountainous regions, and remote locations where traditional satellite signals may be weaker. (3/24)

FSU Engineers Crack Mach 1.5 Noise Issue in Supersonic Jets for Safe Landings (Source: Interesting Engineering)
A team of engineers is looking to address the extreme noise problem associated with supersonic military aircraft during takeoff and landing. The researchers, from Florida State University’s FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP), identified the precise mechanisms behind noise feedback loops that threaten military aircraft and personnel during vertical landings. (3/26)

Scientists Stunned as Mars Dust Storms Blast Water Into Space (Source: Science Daily)
Mars may look like a frozen desert today, but new evidence suggests its watery past didn’t simply fade away quietly—it may have been blasted into space by powerful dust storms. Scientists have discovered that even relatively small, localized storms can hurl water vapor high into the atmosphere, where it breaks apart and escapes. (3/27)

Mysterious Missile Launches From Cape Canaveral Spaceport on Thursday (Source: USA Today)
An unidentified missile launched and zoomed across the Atlantic Ocean Thursday, March 26, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, leaving a slim white contrail against the afternoon blue sky. No public announcements have been made about the mysterious launch, which occurred at roughly 12:30 p.m. None of the Space Coast's major rocket-launch providers had missions scheduled on Thursday. Journalists left messages seeking information from the Space Force before and after liftoff, which was foretold by an unusual Coast Guard-Department of Homeland Security launch-hazard zone extending eastward across the sea. (3/27)

Want to Fix Acquisition? Start With the Program Managers (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Air Force and Space Force spend more than $113.8 billion annually developing next-generation fighters, nuclear weapons, and missile defenses, yet history shows that too often these programs arrive late and over budget.

Senior leaders, including Department of the Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, recognize this as an unacceptable reality and are pressing for reform, calling this a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to reshape how we deliver capability. But while disruptive technologies matter, they are most effective when they are delivered to warfighters quickly.

While the Air Force and Space Force are pursuing the right technologies, it is program managers — the equivalent of project managers in industry — who make pivotal decisions that determine whether the force has capability in hand before the shooting starts. And that’s where real disruption can happen, by reconsidering how we prepare, train, and empower the program managers, who are the frontline people responsible for doing it. (3/26)

NASA’s Proposed Post-ISS Pivot Leaves Partners ‘Concerned and Confused’ (Source: Aviation Week)
An industry advocacy organization told Congress its members were “concerned and confused” by the latest pivot in NASA’s plans to ensure continuation of its microgravity research programs in low Earth orbit following the retirement of the ISS. The comments by Commercial Space Federation President Dave Cavossa before the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee followed the announcement that NASA was not only once again delaying release of a solicitation for Commercial LEO Development (CLD) partners, but also considering buying its own module rather than relying on industry for an ISS replacement. (3/25)