April 15, 2026

Isaacman ‘Gaining Confidence’ Both Landers will Participate in Artemis III (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA is increasingly optimistic that both lunar lander providers will be able to participate in next year’s Artemis III test, Administrator Jared Isaacman said. “I’m gaining confidence by the day that it’ll be both,” Isaacman said. Isaacman in late February announced NASA’s decision to convert Artemis III from the program’s inaugural lunar landing to a crewed demonstration in low-Earth orbit. An Orion crew capsule will practice rendezvous and docking with one or both of the lunar landers in development: SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon.

That test is slated for mid-2027, which NASA hopes will set up two landings in 2028 with the Artemis IV and V missions. Artemis III hardware is already arriving at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The largest component of the SLS core stage is slated to ship April 20 from New Orleans and arrive in Florida on April 28. (4/14)

The Bezos Vs. Musk Space Race Is Heating Up (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Jeff Bezos earlier this year signed into X to post a photo of a tortoise. No explanation. Space industry nerds, though, immediately read between the lines, seeing the Amazon.com founder as the steadier, if slower, competitor in a two-person race to the stars. Bezos-founded companies are pushing ahead in satellite connections and rocket launches; Musk’s SpaceX has dominated both businesses for years. (4/14)

Exploring the Moon's Shadowy Craters With Nuclear-Powered Rovers (Source: Universe Today)
Nuclear-powered robotic explorers are the best Artemis option, according to a recent study by two scientists from the commercial space sector, A.C. Charania at Zeno Power, and Charlie Crouse at Advanced Space. The two concepts they recommended include an initial mission that uses Americium-sourced Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) and a larger system that uses an Americium-sourced Radioisotope Stirling Generator (RSG).

The former consists of an RHU-Powered Compact Lander optimized for descent into a selected crater in the Moon's southern polar region. This will be followed by the RSG-Powered Enhanced Lander featuring a more complex design and a robust suite of scientific instruments. While previous mission concepts have focused on robotic rovers entering permanently shadowed craters by traversing the rim and descending into the crater, their proposed missions call for direct landing and entry into the crater.  (4/15)

Seagate Space and Oceaneering Join Forces to Build the Future of Offshore Launch Infrastructure (Source: Space News)
Oceaneering International, Inc. and Seagate Space Corporation today announced a strategic relationship to advance the development of Seagate Space’s offshore launch platform design. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a long-term collaboration spanning system development, engineering maturation, integration support, and future production opportunities.

Oceaneering provides advanced engineering services and products across offshore energy, defense, aerospace, and science. Its space systems division has supported major programs including the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and NASA’s Artemis mission. Seagate Space recently received Approval in Principle (AiP). from American Bureau of Shipping, the first to do under the classification society’s offshore spaceport requirements. The company successfully completed wave basin testing at MIT’s Parsons Hydrodynamics Laboratory earlier this year, with initial offshore missions targeted as early as 2027. Seagate Space is based out of spARK Labs in St. Petersburg, Florida. (4/14)

ESA Advances Laser Comms Demonstration With Kepler Contract (Source: Aviation Week)
The European Space Agency (ESA) is moving forward on a program to advance space-based laser communications across multiple orbital planes with a contract to Kepler Communications. Under the €18.5 million ($21.8 million) contract, Kepler will provide a satellite to host payloads from several European partners. (4/14)

Amazon's $11.6 Billion Globalstar Deal Will Not Fix Rocket Launch Bottleneck, Analysts Say (Source: Reuters)
Amazon's $11.6 billion deal to buy Globalstar ​bolsters its space ambitions with satellites and wireless airwaves, but will not fix the crippling shortage of ‌rocket launches needed to build out a network capable of rivaling SpaceX, analysts said. Rocket shortages, manufacturing disruptions and launch setbacks mean Amazon has deployed just 243 of the 3,236 satellites it promised in 2019 to beam internet to consumers, businesses ​and governments.

The shortage has even compelled the tech giant to tap rival SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets for ​launches, highlighting its dependence on third-party providers and the constraints this places on how fast ⁠it can build out its network. SpaceX, by contrast, has deployed Starlink at a rapid pace using its own rockets, ​building a commanding lead in scale and coverage with a network of 10,000 satellites. Both Amazon and SpaceX are battling for ​a lucrative market for internet from space, with potential customers ranging from airlines and cruise ships to remote businesses and the billions without reliable broadband. (4/14)

SpaceX Launches Tuesday Starlink Mission From California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California Tuesday night. The rocket carried another 25 satellites for its Starlink internet service. The Falcon 9 departed from the central California coast on a southerly trajectory, targeting an orbit of 258 x 246 km, with a 97-degree inclination. (4/15)

CLD Companies Say NASA Is Wrong. NASA Says Prove It (Source: Payload)
Commercial space station builders say NASA’s wrong about the lack of commercial business case in LEO. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says, “So, prove we got it wrong.” Last month, NASA announced a proposal to make major changes to the CLD acquisition, saying the market is not strong enough to sustain commercial stations—and that in any case, NASA did not have the money to provide more support.

The space agency asked for industry’s input on the new plan, which would see NASA purchase a core module that would attach to the ISS, where commercial CLD providers could dock modules. When CLD tech matures, the modules could detach and become free flying commercial stations. The CEOs of Axiom Space and Vast said they had submitted feedback on NASA’s proposed changes to the CLD program. While there’s usually no love lost between CLD competitors, the two executives agreed on one key thing: NASA is wrong that the commercial market isn’t ready for private stations.

“We’ve flown 166 payloads to date. I think that’s evidence of a market,” Axiom Space CEO Jonathan Cirtain said in a press briefing. “We do that, and generate revenue and income as a consequence of those payloads. We’ve flown 14 astronauts….That’s a marketplace.” (4/14)

Xoople and L3Harris Team to Build Satellites for ‘Earth AI’ (Source: Space News)
L3Harris Technologies and Madrid-based AI data infrastructure startup Xoople have announced a partnership to co-develop an AI-optimized satellite constellation designed to provide "Earth AI" capabilities, according to announcements made in April 2026.This initiative, which follows seven years of stealth development, aims to deliver a "System of Record" for the physical world, intended to feed AI models with real-time, high-accuracy data rather than traditional imagery for human analysis. (4/14)

Blue Origin Moves Toward Launches at Vandenberg (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force has initiated final negotiations with Blue Origin to lease Space Launch Complex 14 at Vandenberg Space Force Base for New Glenn rocket launches, marking a significant step in developing heavy-lift capabilities. This move aims to expand national space operations, with SLC-14 serving as a key site for future missions. (4/14)

How STEM Organizations Are Turning Artemis Excitement Into Workforce Pipelines (Source: Higher Orbits)
When Artemis II launched, millions of people around the world looked up, some in awe, some in curiosity, and many young people seeing, perhaps for the first time, a future they could be part of. Moments like this matter. They always have. But inspiration alone has never built a spacecraft, written code, or solved the complex challenges of human spaceflight. Inspiration is the spark. What we do with it determines everything that follows.

For those of us working in STEM education and workforce development, Artemis II is not just a milestone, it’s a responsibility. We often assume that when students are inspired, they will naturally find their way into STEM careers, but that assumption overlooks a critical reality: access, exposure, and guidance are not evenly distributed.

Organizations like Higher Orbits exist to bridge the gap between inspiration and action. We translate moments like Artemis II into meaningful, hands-on experiences that give students not just excitement, but direction. At Higher Orbits, we see the impact immediately. After major space events, student interest spikes. Questions change. Confidence grows. The idea of “this could be me” becomes real, but capturing that moment requires intentional design. (4/14)

Dawn Aerospace Selected to Power Lunar Navigation Satellite for ArkEdge (Source: Telemetry)
Dawn Aerospace has been selected by ArkEdge Space to provide propulsion for a next-generation lunar navigation satellite. The effort supports Japan’s broader initiative to establish positioning infrastructure around the Moon as part of its national space strategy. The contract includes development of a customized SatDrive propulsion system for a roughly 100 kg-class satellite. The spacecraft is part of ArkEdge’s Lunar Navigation Satellite System (LNSS), a program aligned with the international LunaNet initiative alongside NASA and ESA. (4/14)

RTX’s Blue Canyon Technologies Expands Reaction Wheel Production Capacity (Source: Space News)
Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies, part of RTX’s Raytheon business, is increasing reaction wheel production capacity to support growing demand for spacecraft subsystems and components. The company has allocated more than $1 million to expand production capability from 650 reaction wheels per year to 2,400 wheels per year – a planned increase of nearly 400% increase. (4/14)

White House Unveils National Initiative for Space Nuclear Power (Source: Douglas Messier)
The White House unveiled a new National Initiative for America Space Nuclear Power to guide NASA and other federal agencies as they develop and deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon and in lunar orbit. The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) initiative provides guidance to federal agencies on how to implement the Ensuring American Space Superiority executive order issued in December 2025.

The order called for the United States to lead the world in the deployment of space nuclear power. OSTP’s initiative calls for NASA to initiate a program to develop a mid-power space reaction with a lunar fission surface power variant. NASA will also work on developing a high-power space nuclear reactor that would be deployed in the 2030s.

NASA will collaborate with the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy (DOE) and commercial companies in developing the reactors. NASA and DOE signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear reactors earlier this year. (4/14)

Why We Need to Work Out Like Astronauts (Source: The Times)
Now that the Artemis II crew are back on Earth, more work — or at least workouts — will commence. In space an astronaut’s body is tested to new limits. Time spent in the low gravity of space can wreak havoc on unchallenged “antigravity” muscles in the limbs, back and neck which, along with bones, shrink in size and get weaker. Balance and co-ordination are derailed, cartilage is broken down and the heart, which doesn’t work as hard in space, can become smaller. Many astronauts return with poor posture and back pain.

Presumably most of us will never experience the after-effects of floating around in space. And yet the physiological outcomes are relevant to everyone as they are not dissimilar to the outcome of inactivity or long daily hours of sitting. Nick Caplan says changes that happen in space are akin to accelerated ageing on Earth. “Much of what we have learnt from studying the effects of space travel on the human body applies to everyday life, particularly to people who have enforced bed rest or lead very sedentary lives,” Caplan says. “With long-term inactivity our bodies become weakened in a similar way to those of astronauts and it gets worse the longer it goes on.” (4/13)

Ukraine Has Been Secretly Air-Launching, Lawmaker Says (Source: Business Insider)
A senior Ukrainian lawmaker said his country quietly launched two rockets into space some time ago using a flying carrier, touting it as a potential means to one day counter Russia's hypersonic missiles. "During the war, Ukraine launched a space rocket from a transport aircraft at an altitude of approximately 8,000 meters, which could potentially also be used to launch various types of spacecraft into orbit," Fedir Venislavskyi said. (4/14)

After PSLV Setbacks Stall Launches, ISRO Hopes to Bounce Back (Source: Indian Express)
Two successive launch failures of the Indian Space Research Organization's workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), in 2025 and 2026, have delayed several key programs. These include satellite launches to revive India’s indigenous navigation system NavIC, the first privately manufactured PSLV mission, and progress on the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Back-to-back failures of PSLV, which has failed only four times in 64 missions, including its maiden flight in 1993, PSLV-C39 in 2017, PSLV-C61 in 2025, and PSLV-C62 in 2026, have temporarily stalled ISRO’s launch plans in 2026. However, sources said an expert panel has identified solutions to the issues, and launches are expected to resume soon. (4/14)

OQ Technology Secures €1m ESA Contract for 5G Satellite Services (Source: Luxembourg Times)
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a €1 million contract with Luxembourg’s OQ Technology, the company has told the Luxembourg Times. OQ specializes in low-earth-orbit 5G connectivity and has been a European pioneer in providing service to unmodified smartphones when ground-based service is either non-existent or has been knocked out by disasters or malfunctions.

The Beamsat-5G contract with the ESA, under the agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (Artes) program, will allow OQ Technology to continue its work, “aimed at accelerating the convergence of terrestrial 5G technologies and satellite communications,” the company said. Beamsat stands for “bringing 5G beamforming technologies” to satellite communications “through breadboarding and validation.” (4/14)

Slingshot Introduces AI-Powered Portal Platform (Source: Payload)
Slingshot Aerospace introduced a new platform today that will allow operators to spot anomalies—and make decisions—in an AI-powered, one-stop-shop. Slingshot Portal brings together data from a variety of sources. The goal of fusing this data with AI and analytics tools is to let customers monitor space missions in near real time, quickly spot any problems, and plan out maneuvers—all in a single platform. (4/14)

Move Over Omega – Breitling is Championing its Own Space-Flight History with an Artemis II Edition (Source: T3)
The recent Artemis II space flight reignited the lunar interests of many watch lovers. Many look to the iconic Omega Speedmaster as the figurehead for wrist-mounted space travel. But it's far from the only noteworthy model. The Breitling Navitimer was actually the first Swiss wristwatch worn in space, as part of Scott Carpenter's mission on the Aurora 7 spacecraft.

Now, the brand has celebrated the latest Artemis II mission with a version of its commemorative Navitimer Cosmonaute. That features the Artemis II mission logo printed on the case back, and also engraves it along with 'One of 450' to denote the limited edition nature. (4/14)

Magellan to Contribute Critical System Concepts for Canada’s Lunar Utility Rover (Source: Mission Control)
Mission Control has selected Magellan Aerospace Corp. to support the development of concepts for Canada’s lunar utility rover. Working alongside a consortium of Canadian partners, Magellan will design key subsystems helping ensure the rover could operate in the Moon’s extreme environment. Mission Control has selected Magellan to join their team developing concepts for Canada’s lunar utility rover, a key contribution to the future human exploration of the Moon.

Mission Control is one of three companies previously awarded a $4.7 million contract by the Canadian Space Agency to execute the initial phase of the Canadian lunar utility rover. This phase includes defining mission tasks, advancing critical technologies, and laying the groundwork for a full prototype. This contract marks the starting point of Canada’s $1.35 billion investment in the utility rover. Magellan will work in partnership with Mission Control and alongside a consortium of leading Canadian companies to bring the rover — a semi-autonomous, minibus-sized rover to life. (4/14)

Deloitte’s Space Business Reaches New Heights as Two More ‘Project Constellation’ Satellites Reach Orbit (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Deloitte’s two new satellites, Deloitte-2 and Deloitte-3 have been deployed in orbit after launching from the Vandenberg Space Force Base on 29 March, to expand the company's Project Constellation that aims to boost on-orbit space data collection and in-space cyber resilience. (4/14)

Tendeg Produces Antenna From New Colorado Facility (Source; Space News)
Tendeg announced the delivery of the first flight antenna manufactured at Innovation Drive, the company’s new 120,000-square-foot production facility built to support scaled production of deployable space antennas. Innovation Drive brings engineering, precision manufacturing, integration, and environmental testing together under one roof. The facility was designed around repeatability and throughput, with standardized tooling, modular subassemblies, and vertically integrated capabilities including mesh knitting, cord braiding, and environmental testing. (4/14)

NASA Science Faces 'Very Serious Threat' From new White House Budget (Source: Space.com)
A new White House fiscal year 2027 budget proposal for NASA is drawing sharp criticism from space advocates, who warn it could dramatically reshape the space agency by cutting overall funding by 23% and reducing its science programs by nearly half. The newly released FY 2027 top-line budget request for NASA reduces the space agency's Science Mission Directorate from $7.25 billion to $3.9 billion, representing a 47% cut to science funding, coupled with a 23% cut to the agency's overall funding.

"There are two things: the astonishing lack of transparency and the abject refusal to acknowledge political reality," said Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, explaining that the request is a significant break from decades of precedent. "This is the least transparent NASA budget request I've ever seen — and I've literally looked through every single one since 1960." (4/13)

Could Dark Matter be Made of Black Holes From a Different Universe? (Source: The Conversation)
New research suggests that relic black holes from before the big bang may still shape galaxies today. These black holes could explain dark matter, one of the biggest unsolved questions in cosmology. Dark energy can be related to the global structure of a finite universe. Dark matter may be composed of relic black holes —perhaps our own universe started as one. (4/14)

Presidency Tells Elon Musk to ‘Move On’ Amid Starlink Row (Source: The South African)
South African-born billionaire Elon Musk has again claimed that his satellite internet service, Starlink, cannot operate in South Africa because he is not black. Posting on X over the weekend, Musk said authorities blocked Starlink from launching in his home country on racial grounds. He also alleged that officials repeatedly offered the company chances to “bribe” its way into the market by misrepresenting ownership to meet local requirements.

The Presidency of South Africa has dismissed Musk’s claims and urged him to shift focus elsewhere. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Musk should consider opportunities in other countries instead of criticizing South Africa. “There are 193 member states in the United Nations. There is good money to be made in 192 markets. It is okay to move on,” Magwenya said. (4/14)

NASA and Contractors Accelerate Mobile Launcher Refurbishment, Artemis III Hardware to Meet New Schedule (Source: Aerospace America)
Even before the Artemis II lunar flyby had concluded, NASA and its contractors were preparing for the next flight. Slated for mid-2027, that Artemis III mission will test in-space docking to set up lunar landings in 2028 with the Artemis IV and V missions. NASA then wants to transition to annual lunar landings — a noticeable acceleration from the three years between the Artemis I uncrewed demo and Artemis II, which culminated Friday evening when the four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean in their Orion capsule.

The agency’s first step, in late March, was to move up delivery of the SLS rocket’s two solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. These five-segmented boosters, installed on either side of the rocket’s core stage, provide the majority of the thrust at takeoff then separate 2 minutes into flight.

“We immediately called Northrop [Grumman] in Utah and said, ‘Get those boosters out here now,’” Cliff Lanham, NASA deputy manager for the Exploration Ground Systems program, told me during an April 9 interview at Launch Pad 39B. “They were due here in May, and we were talking to them already on the phone about getting them on the train. But we said, ‘We’re accelerating the whole program, immediately.’” (4/13)

BAE Unveils New Spacecraft Line For Dynamic Space Operations (Source: Aviation Week)
BAE Systems is entering the space tug market, debuting a new vehicle it says will be capable of transporting cargo and small satellites to the Moon and of dynamic on-orbit maneuvering. The company has spent the past five years developing the new space vehicle, called Ascent, as a refuellable platform capable of carrying multiple rideshare payloads for missions based in low Earth orbit (LEO) up to cislunar orbits, it announced April 14. (4/14)
 
STARCOM Plans Workforce Ramp Up (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The Space Force's Space Training and Readiness Command has plans in place for the onboarding of 400 civilians covering job roles in acquisition, intelligence, cybersecurity and testing analysis. The hiring surge coincides with STARCOM's move from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado to Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, and is part of Space Force's expected growth. (4/13)