May 20, 2026

SDA Chief Gets Broader Role (Source: Space News)
The head of the Space Development Agency is taking on broader roles for missile warning at the Space Force. Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo will serve as both director of the SDA and the portfolio acquisition executive, or PAE, for missile warning and tracking, the agency announced Tuesday. Sandhoo has led SDA as acting director since September 2025 and reports indicated he would be named to the PAE role.

Under the arrangement, Sandhoo will continue overseeing Tranches 1 and 2 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, or PWSA, that remain under SDA management, while also overseeing future tranches of the missile-warning portion of the architecture as those programs transition into the Space Force's new acquisition structure. The Transport Layer of communications satellites that SDA had also been overseeing will not continue, and that work will be folded into a larger initiative known as the Space Data Network. (5/20)

Isaacman: Chinese Astronauts to Orbit Moon Next Year (Source: Space News)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says he expects China to send astronauts around the moon next year. Isaacman on Tuesday said the next people to fly around the moon after Artemis 2 will be Chinese taikonauts in 2027, meaning the U.S. "will no longer be the exclusive power to send humans into the lunar environment." He did not elaborate on that assessment, but repeated it at another event later in the day. China has not formally announced plans for a circumlunar mission but is rumored to be considering one as part of efforts to land humans on the moon by the end of the decade. Isaacman has previously warned of a space race between China and the United States to be the next to land humans on the moon, stating that "the difference between success and failure will be measured in months, not years." (5/20)

Contrivian Argues Against Combined-Orbit Constellations (Source: Space News)
A startup argues that combining multiple low Earth orbit satellite constellations will provide better communications services than multi-orbit approaches. Some satellite operators have promoted systems that combine satellites in low, medium and geostationary orbits to produce more resilient systems. However, Contrivian, a telecommunications software company founded in 2023, says that approach introduces technical complications that degrade performance for modern internet applications, and instead believes a better approach is to combine multiple LEO networks. The company is developing technology to combine LEO networks, offering it to military customers in a ruggedized case slightly larger than a carry-on suitcase. (5/20)

Quindar to Manage Portal Space Missions (Source: Space News)
Quindar will provide mission management services for Portal Space Systems' maneuverable spacecraft. The agreement announced Tuesday covers multiple missions, including operations support for Portal's planned launches of its Starburst and Supernova spacecraft. Quindar provides cloud-hosted mission operations software that automates satellite command, planning and ground operations, replacing traditional customized solutions. (5/20)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission From California on Tuesday (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites Tuesday night. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:46 p.m. Eastern, placing 24 Starlink satellites into orbit. With this launch, SpaceX now has nearly 10,500 working Starlink satellites in orbit. (5/20)

Goldman Sachs Expected to Lead SpaceX IPO (Source: CNBC)
Goldman Sachs is expected to be the lead bank for SpaceX's IPO. According to multiple reports, Goldman will have the "lead left" position on the IPO, overseeing the process of taking the company public. Other banks expected to be involved include Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase. SpaceX is expected to publicly release its IPO prospectus as soon as today ahead of going public around June 12. (5/20)

Germany's OHB Partners with Helsing for AI-Supported Reconnaissance From Space (Source: OHB)
German space company OHB is partnering with AI firm Helsing on a space-based reconnaissance system. The joint venture between the companies, called KIRK from the German acronym for Artificial Intelligence and Space Competence, would involve satellite systems from OHB utilizing AI technologies from Helsing to provide near-real-time tactical targeting. It builds on an earlier agreement among Helsing, Kongsberg and Hensoldt. The companies did not provide a timeline or cost for fielding the system KIRK would develop. (5/20)

Firefly Aerospace Accelerates Spacecraft Production with Expanded Campus and Innovation Lab in Central Texas (Source: Firefly)
Firefly Aerospace has moved into a new headquarters and expanded its cleanroom space, along with an innovation lab to support Firefly’s growing workforce, to accelerate spacecraft production and enable breakthrough space technologies. The expansion includes two new buildings adjacent to Firefly’s existing spacecraft facility in Cedar Park, Texas, enabling one robust campus with 144,000 total square feet for spacecraft assembly and testing, mission control, avionics and component production, engineering, and business operations.

The new campus is twice the size of Firefly’s former Cedar Park facilities and is less than 30 miles from Firefly’s 200-acre Rocket Ranch in Briggs, Texas, where the company operates six test stands and 217,000 square feet of facilities for launch vehicle engineering, manufacturing, and integration. (5/19)

Sweden Joins India for Venus Mission (Source: Times of India)
Space collaboration got a big boost during PM Modi’s visit to Europe. Sweden has formally joined India's orbiter mission to Venus after signing an MOU with ISRO. The Swedish Institute of Space Physics will develop a Venusian Neutrals Analyzer (VNA) instrument for the mission. (5/20)

Sri Lanka to Formulate Space Policy (Source: Newswire)
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution presented by the Minister of Science and Technology to appoint an expert committee tasked with formulating Sri Lanka’s first National Space Policy. According to the government, space technology has become a critical driver of national development, delivering benefits across disaster management, communication, security, environmental monitoring, and economic innovation. (5/20)

Intuitive Machines Announces Two Prime Lunar Contracts (Source: Douglas Messier)
Intuitive Machines has won contracts worth $20 million to operate NASA cameras aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO). Intuitive Machines will operate the LRO Camera under a three-year, $15.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The company will also operate NASA’s ShadowCam instrument aboard the South Korean orbiter under a three-year, $4.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. (5/20)

Mach Industries Acquires Exquadrum to Advance Defense and Space Systems Capabilities (Source: Mach Industries)
Mach Industries, a defense manufacturer building advanced unmanned systems for modern defense, and Exquadrum, Inc., a leading innovator in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced that they have completed a definitive agreement under which Mach Industries has acquired Exquadrum, Inc. The acquisition expands Mach Industries' ability to design, manufacture, and rapidly iterate on next-generation unmanned systems by integrating energetics system development and manufacturing infrastructure directly into its platform architecture. (5/19)

The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Test Model Vibration Testing (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Exploration Company has completed a series of vibration tests on a Nyx Structural Test Model (STM) to assess how the capsule will perform during launch conditions. Nyx is a modular space capsule designed to initially transport cargo to and from low Earth orbit destinations. Planned future iterations of the capsule are expected to be capable of transporting crews to low Earth orbit and cargo to the surface of the Moon. (5/20)

After NASA Contract Change, Sierra Space Seeks Path Forward for Dream Chaser (Source: Aerospace America)
Nearly nine years ago, a helicopter hoisted a prototype of the Dream Chaser spaceplane into the sky above Edwards Air Force Base, California, then dropped it. The winged vehicle ultimately skidded — by design — to a successful runway landing. That drop test was a milestone in a deal between what’s now Sierra Space and NASA to conduct a minimum of seven cargo resupply flights to the International Space Station. (5/20)

NASA, Lockheed Martin Say Artemis III Advancing, Facing Milestones This Year (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA and its contractors, moving forward with manufacturing components for the Artemis III mission, now expect several key milestones to occur this calendar year. “We’re looking at stacking in the next two months,” Administrator Jared Isaacman told the audience here during a Tuesday morning keynote, referring to the SLS rocket for Artemis III. (5/20)

Northrop Grumman’s First MRV Readies for Summer Launch to Expand the Space Servicing Toolkit (Source: Via Satellite)
Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics is scheduled to launch its next-generation space vehicle for on-orbit refueling and satellite life extension this summer, program leaders told reporters Tuesday. The company said it secured a dedicated SpaceX launch for its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), which is in testing at the company’s satellite manufacturing facility in Virginia. It will launch along with three Mission Extension Pods (MEP) for Geostationary (GEO) satellite life extension services.

The MRV will be the first commercial robotic in-space servicing mission in the emerging and increasingly competitive market for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing. The vehicle, outfitted with two robotic arms and a suite of advanced technologies, sets a baseline capability for satellite life extension and refueling, program leaders said, while paving the way for future services, such as in-orbit inspection, repairs and assembly. (5/19)

Lasers in Moon Craters Could Create a Lunar GPS System (Source: Space.com)
Placing ultrastable lasers inside some of the coldest, darkest lunar craters could help scientists establish a GPS-like navigation system on the moon, allowing future Artemis astronauts and spacecraft to navigate the lunar surface more easily. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have proposed that permanently shadowed craters near the moon's south pole may offer the perfect natural environment for extraordinarily precise laser systems.

Those lasers could one day provide the timing backbone needed for future astronauts, rovers and spacecraft to navigate the moon without relying so heavily on Earth-based tracking systems. (5/19)

“I’ll Buy 10 of Those”—NASA Science Chief Yearns for Mass-Produced Satellites (Source: Ars Technica)
There are more opportunities to access space than ever, thanks to a bevy of commercial rockets, some with reusable boosters, led by SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9. So why is NASA launching fewer telescopes and planetary science missions than it did a quarter-century ago?

The answer is complex. It is not necessarily the money. The space agency’s science budget this year is $7.25 billion, roughly the same as it was in 2000, adjusted for inflation. This is despite attempts by the Trump administration to drastically reduce NASA science funding. A future with numerous robotic probes spread throughout the Solar System sounds thrilling to space scientists and space enthusiasts, but you can’t get there with flat budgets and billion-dollar missions that take a decade to get off the ground. (5/19)

Sky Perfect JSAT Invests in Astroscale to Partner on On-Orbit Servicing (Source: Via Satellite)
Sky Perfect JSAT is investing in Astroscale as part of a strategic partnership between the companies to work together on on-orbit servicing initiatives. Through the partnership announced Tuesday, the companies will cooperate on on-orbit servicing initiatives led by Astroscale, including satellite inspection, repair, and life-extension, and plan to work together jointly on new business. Sky Perfect JSAT did not disclose the specific terms of the investment. (5/19)

“Autonomous Human Spaceflight is Not a Luxury,” Says ESA Chief (Source: European Spaceflight)
European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher argues that Europe must develop an independent human spaceflight capability. Prior to 2022, ESA astronauts were transported to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Russian Soyuz and US Dragon spacecraft. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ESA suspended its cooperation with Russia. This left the agency reliant on its barter arrangements with NASA to secure seats for its astronauts.

Director General Josef Aschbacher explained that recent changes to the Artemis architecture by the United States “signal a rapidly shifting landscape in human space exploration,” adding that “Europe has become too exposed to decisions beyond its control.” (5/19)

NASA Satellite will Test Orbital 'Gas Station' Tech to Help Astronauts Reach the Moon and Mars (Source: Space.com)
A new NASA satellite will test critical technologies for storing and transferring super-chilled, cryogenic fuels in space in order to help astronauts reach the moon and potentially Mars someday. The Liquid Oxygen Flight demonstration (LOXSAT) will launch to orbit around the Earth later this year to test the fluid management capabilities that will be needed to maintain cryogenic fuels in microgravity, which come with additional challenges compared to other propellants. (5/19)

York Space Systems to Acquire Solestial (Source: Payload)
York Space Systems’ M&A team is having a busy year. York announced a definitive agreement today to acquire Solestial, the space-solar-cell manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is York’s third this year. In April, York announced it planned to acquire terminal manufacturer All.Space for $355M. In March, York acquired Hall-effect electric propulsion manufacturer Orbion Space Technology for approximately $74.9M, according to the company’s latest SEC filing.

Based in Arizona, Solestial builds ultra-thin, radiation hardened silicon solar cells that are 95% sourced from the US. As the number of satellites in orbit has ballooned in recent years, demand for space-rated solar cells has often put a strain on domestic supply chains. Solar cells remain expensive, and lead times can often exceed two years, according to York. By bringing Solestial into the fold, York is attempting to reduce its supply chain risk to build more complex systems at lower cost. (5/19)

Super Heavy Block 3 the Booster of the Future (Source: NSF)
The first stage of Starship, the Super Heavy booster, has already undergone many changes during its development. This most recent design change, from Block 1/2 boosters to Block 3, is by far the biggest leap. This new design we are about to cover is a clean-sheet design built from the ground up, informed by lessons learned over the last seven years.

One of the most visual changes is the integrated hotstage truss, a big improvement over the old add-on hotstage ring that SpaceX used for Boosters 9 through 16. This new design uses an N1 rocket-style hotstage truss system, which is more open, and instead of a separate surface for the ship exhaust to hit, the exhaust hits the booster’s forward dome. The forward dome also has added steel plating for additional protection from the ship’s exhaust plume. (5/18)

Portal Space Taps Quindar for Ground Mission Support of its Maneuvering Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Quindar, a Denver-based startup specializing in satellite ground systems, signed an agreement with Portal Space Systems to provide mission management services for upcoming missions involving maneuverable spacecraft. The agreement covers multiple missions, including operations support for Portal’s planned launches of its Starburst and Supernova spacecraft, Quindar said.

Portal Space Systems, based in Washington state, is developing spacecraft designed for in-space mobility, or the ability to move satellites and payloads between orbits. The company’s Starburst spacecraft is designed as a maneuverable satellite bus, while Supernova is being developed as an orbital transfer vehicle that uses solar thermal propulsion to move between orbital regimes. Portal plans to launch its first Starburst spacecraft later this year aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission. The first Supernova mission is scheduled for 2027. (5/19)

Space Launch and Reentry Environmental Concerns are Real, but Can Be Mitigated (Source: Space Review)
The sharp increase in launches has led to warnings about the environmental impacts of emissions from those launches and subsequent reentries on the upper atmosphere. Michael Puckett discusses how those analyses don’t include changes in launch systems that can mitigate those impacts. Click here. (5/19)
 
The Isaacman Honeymoon (Source: Space Review)
Despite a budget request that proposed steep cuts to NASA, administrator Jared Isaacman still remains popular on Capitol Hill and in industry. Jeff Foust reports on how long those good feelings might last. Click here. (5/19)
 
Critiquing and Defending the Overview Effect (Source: Space Review)
A recent essay took issue with claims that seeing the Earth from space can create a meaningful shift in perception. Frank White, who proposed the Overview Effect, defends the concept and its significance. Click here. (5/19)
 
Deep Black on the West Coast: Honoring the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Special Projects and the Star Catchers (Source: Space Review)
The people who worked on NRO spysat programs during the Cold War did so in anonymity. Dwayne Day describes a new monument that finally gives them some public recognition for their achievements. Click here. (5/19)

Record Revenue for Intuitive Machines (Source: Douglas Messier)
Intuitive Machines reported record first-quarter revenue of $186.7 million, which is nearly three times the revenue it earned during the same period last year. The company also closed its $800 million acquisition of spacecraft manufacturer Lanteris Space Systems, and it signed an agreement to acquire Goonhilly Earth Station and its COMSAT subsidiary to provide communications with spacecraft. (5/19)

SwRI Findings Reconsider the Existence of Europa’s Vapor Plumes (Source: SwRI)
May 18, 2026 — Looking back at 14 years of Hubble telescope data for Jupiter’s moon Europa has given Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists a better understanding of its tenuous atmosphere. The findings have cast doubt on previous evidence suggesting that the icy moon intermittently discharges faint water plumes from a presumed subsurface ocean. (5/18)

Delta CEO Says Amazon Leo's Tech, Pricing Beat SpaceX's Starlink (Source: Bloomberg)
Delta Air Lines Inc.’s Ed Bastian rebuffed Elon Musk’s criticism about his airline picking Amazon.com for its in-flight Wi-Fi service, saying the retail giant’s product is cheaper than SpaceX’s Starlink and also includes a suite of streaming content. “Amazon brings a lot more than just satellite technology,” Bastian said. “They bring great retailing capability and Amazon Prime and video gaming technologies, which Starlink does not have.” (5/18)

Starlink Raises Prices Across Satellite Internet Plans (Source: The Verge)
Starlink is raising prices across its satellite internet plans in the US — including Standby Mode — with the cheapest 100Mbps Residential plan going from $50 to $55 / month. Meanwhile, Starlink’s 200Mbps residential plan has jumped from $80 to $85 / month, while the Residential Max plan went from $120 to $130 / month. (5/18)

ESA and CNES Renew Commitment to Europe’s Spaceport (Source: ESA)
On 30 April European Space Agency Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja, and Director of the Guiana Space Centre at CNES, Philippe Lier, signed a contract for the continued operation of Europe’s Spaceport. The signature affirms continued cooperation between the two organizations, supporting the performance, safety and competitiveness of European space activities. (5/18)

All Roads to Space Still Run Through Huntsville, NASA Administrator Stresses (Source: AL.com)
Artemis III is still on target to launch next year with Marshall Space Flight Center playing a major role in the mission. “Their subject matter and expertise are throughout the entire vehicle,” Isaacman said of Marshall’s role in the mission. That also includes expertise with the lunar landers that astronauts will test in lower earth orbit during the mission. “All roads have led through Huntsville, Alabama, since the beginning of America’s space flight program,” Isaacman said. “That’s not changing." (5/18)

One Mars Spacecraft, Two Senators, and a Cloud of Questions (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA released a much-anticipated contract solicitation for a Mars-orbiting spacecraft late last week, kicking off what is sure to be a hotly contested and potentially controversial procurement. At issue is $700 million, already appropriated by Congress, to build a spacecraft, launch it to Mars, and once there to serve as a vehicle to relay communications between the red planet and Earth.

But the stakes may be even bigger than this, including the possible resurrection of the recently canceled Mars Sample Return mission. As part of the new solicitation, NASA says it will conduct the acquisition “as a full and open competition.” But will it? That’s the question that several people involved with this procurement process are asking. And it could turn messy, quickly. (5/18)

French Spacesuit Prototype Delivered to the International Space Station (Source: European Spaceflight)
A European intravehicular activity (IVA) spacesuit prototype developed under a CNES-initiated program was transported to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The spacesuit will be tested aboard the station by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot. The EuroSuit project was initiated by CNES in December 2023 as part of the agency’s Spaceship FR program, which aims to foster the development of core technologies required for future crewed missions beyond low Earth orbit. (5/18)

ispace Moves Forward on Moon Missions After Recording Net Loss (Source: Douglas Messier)
ispace reported a net loss of 8.15 billion yen ($51.36 million) for the fiscal year that ended in March as the company reaffirmed plans to move ahead with three additional lunar landing missions despite failures on its first two attempts in 2023 and 2025. (5/19)