May 3, 2026

SpaceX Admits AI Data Centers in Space May Be a Really Terrible Idea (Source: Futurism)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been adamant that putting enormous AI data centers in Earth’s orbit is a “no-brainer.” Yet many experts remain unconvinced that sending up to a million satellites, each bigger than the International Space Station, makes any sense, citing concerns over economic feasibility and physical limits. Some warn they could even cause an environmental catastrophe, with aging and failing hardware doomed to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere while releasing copious amounts of ozone-depleting chemicals.

Even SpaceX itself isn’t fully sold on the idea its mercurial CEO is pushing hard — and prioritizing over his decades-old wish of sending humans to Mars. In excerpts of the company’s pre-IPO filing, the company admitted that its “initiatives to develop orbital ​AI compute and in-orbit, lunar, and interplanetary industrialization are in early stages, involve significant technical complexity and unproven technologies, and may not achieve commercial viability.”

It’s a significant tonal shift ahead of the company’s blockbuster IPO. SpaceX acknowledged that sending sensitive AI chips into space may cause them to wear out much faster. Orbital data centers will operate “in the harsh and unpredictable environment of space, exposing them to a wide and unique range of ​space-related risks that could cause them to malfunction or fail.” (4/22)

Artemis II Exposes Legal Black Hole (Source: Mayer Brown)
As states and commercial enterprises set their sights on exploring and exploiting the moon's resources, Rachael O'Grady offers insight into the legal framework underpinning it all. She explains that International space law rests on five key treaties, with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty as its cornerstone, drafted during the Cold War, long before today's commercial space ambitions.

Rachael is clear that these treaties have served their purpose well and remain vital in international space law. Looking ahead. the path forward likely isn't a new treaty but rather nonbinding agreements on debris mitigation, sustainable operations, and satellite end-of-life plans. (4/30)

Blue Origin’s Moon Mission Progresses Despite New Glenn Challenges (Source: WFTV)
The Blue Moon Mark 1 cargo lander is presently being tested at Cape Canaveral, with a possible test launch scheduled before year’s end. It is designed to deliver cargo to the lunar surface and is anticipated to support upcoming NASA missions. Experts say progress is encouraging, but not without challenges. “I suppose the key is if they can get the New Glenn rocket to work,” said Don Platt. “It’s one step forward, one step back, but it’s encouraging that they’re making progress.”

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is currently grounded after a problem during an April 19 launch involving an AST SpaceMobile satellite. Initial reports indicate that the rocket’s second stage did not produce sufficient thrust to achieve the desired orbit for the satellite. The company is now leading an investigation with the FAA. Meanwhile, NASA continues to rely heavily on commercial partnerships as it works toward returning astronauts to the Moon through the Artemis program. (5/2)

SpaceX Sends 45 Satellites to Orbit in Launch From California (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX launched 45 satellites to orbit from California early Sunday morning, including a South Korean spacecraft that was originally supposed to fly in 2022. SpaceX called the mission CAS500-2, after the primary payload going up — the CAS500-2 Earth-observation satellite, which was developed by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute. (5/3)

Polish Military Satellite Now in Orbit (Source: TVP World)
Poland’s newest military satellite reached Earth orbit on Sunday morning on board a SpaceX rocket, with officials promising it will boost the country’s defenses. Built by Polish-Finnish company ICEYE for the Polish Armed Forces, the satellite – Poland's fourth such device – is intended to strengthen Warsaw’s ability to observe the ground in both daylight and darkness, as well as in poor weather. It was delivered into space by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which left the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (5/3)

The Clandestine Network Smuggling Starlink Tech Into Iran (Source: BBC)
The Iranian man is visibly anxious, speaking to the BBC outside Iran, as he carefully explains how he is part of a clandestine network smuggling satellite internet technology - which is illegal in Iran - into the country. Sahand, whose name we have changed, fears for family members and other contacts inside the country. "If I was identified by the Iranian regime, they might make those I'm in touch with in Iran pay the price," he says. (5/2)

York Space Systems to Acquire Terminal Developer All.Space in $355M Deal (Source: Via Satellite)
York Space Systems has moved to acquire terminal developer All.Space in a $355 million deal to make York a “complete communications ecosystem.” All.Space is a leading terminal developer and manufacturer based in the U.K., known for terminals that can connect with multiple satellite networks at once. Once the acquisition closes, All.Space will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of York and will continue to serve other customers. (4/30)

Iridium Prepares to Unleash Certus 100 Safety for Civil Aviation (Source: Runway Girl)
As Iridium Communications works with key partners to secure clearance from the US FAA to support safety services with its next-gen Certus safety satcom, the L-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator is fielding strong interest from OEMs for solutions that will utilize its Certus 200 pipe. With speeds of up to 176 Kbps, Certus 200 satcom solutions are lightweight, easy to install, and presently under linefit consideration by Airbus and Boeing to support safety services. (4/30)

How Realistic Are NASA's Moon Goals? (Source: CBC)
Last month's Artemis II mission captured attention around the world. The roughly 10-day mission sent Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, on a trip around the moon. NASA's original 2015 plan was to have the first crewed lunar mission in 2023. But years of delays and cost overruns got in the way.

And that's the thing: NASA has rarely, if ever, met deadlines for lofty goals. The development of the space shuttle and the ISS also faced delays. "I don't know how they can do it. It doesn't mean that they can't do it, I'm just guessing based on past performance," said space launch historian Paul Fjeld. "I don't think at any time in the history of NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, that they have done this level of work that quickly. They've never proven it." (5/3)

India Advances Talks with Russia for Semi-Cryogenic Engines for Next-Gen Rockets (Source: India Today)
India’s space ambitions may receive a significant boost as the Indian Space Research Organization advances discussions with Russia’s Roscosmos for the procurement of semi-cryogenic rocket engines. According to ISRO’s Annual Report, senior officials recently traveled to Moscow for detailed technical deliberations, with a draft contract for engine delivery currently under approval. The semi-cryogenic engine is considered a critical technology for India’s next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicles. (5/3)

Federal Agencies Warn of Conflicts in SpaceX’s Starbase Plan (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
At least two federal agencies balked at SpaceX’s plan to have its city of Starbase manage more than a thousand acres of South Texas land meant to offset the environmental effects of the company’s development. Records obtained by Hearst Newspapers show that in addition to public opposition, officials within the Commerce and Interior departments voiced concern to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during permitting deliberations for the Rockhands Mitigation Bank last year.

With funding from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the city of Starbase annexed a 1,050-acre swath of land northwest of town in August and is responsible for keeping it untouched as the property’s easement holder and long-term steward. The space firm previously has been cited and fined for environmental and worker safety issues at its operations in South Texas and criticized for an approach to expansion and testing that some see as reckless. 

The fisheries service said it “does not support” the proposal for Starbase to manage the land and recommended “the sponsor use a non-profit conservation bank holder, such as The (Texas) Land Conservancy or the (Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program).” It called third-party management “a long-term protection” that “prevents harmful activities that could jeopardize the bank’s purpose.” (5/3)

How the Space Community is Rallying to Save NASA From Trump’s Budget Cuts (Source: Guardian)
It should have been a victory lap for Jared Isaacman. Instead, last week began with some difficult questions in Congress about the Trump administration’s unpopular plan to slash the space agency’s budget. It ended at the White House with the president appearing to poke fun at his prominent ears, watched by four bemused Artemis II astronauts waiting in vain for any question about their historic mission.

There could have been no better illustration of how Donald Trump has tarnished the aftermath of NASA’s greatest moment in five decades, and is singularly focused on dismantling the agency’s science programs even as he urges it to plant a Stars and Stripes flag back on the moon before he leaves office in January 2029. At least part of Trump’s hostility to NASA’s science programs appears to stem from his animus towards the agency’s role in climate research.

Yet, even as Trump tries for the second time in two years to slash almost a quarter of the NASA budget, he finds himself opposed by a powerful and united space community determined not to let him dictate the Artemis legacy. On Thursday, in an act of deep disobedience, the Republican-led House commerce, justice, and science subcommittee snubbed Trump’s 2027 $18.8bn budget request for NASA – a 23% cut on 2026 funding – and advanced its own $24.4bn plan that would keep alive the science projects the president is looking to kill. (5/3)

Foxconn Launches Second-Generation Satellites Via SpaceX Falcon 9 (Source: Reuters)
Taiwan’s Foxconn said  its ‌second-generation low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites were launched, marking the ​electronics manufacturer’s latest ​push into space technology. The company’s PEARL-1A and PEARL-1B ​satellites entered ​their intended orbits and will ‌conduct ⁠on-orbit missions for five years, it said. Foxconn said the ​two ​satellites ⁠are primarily designed to verify ​payload technologies ​in ⁠the fields of communication and space ⁠science. (5/3)

Viet Nam and Japan Agree on Space Cooperation (Source: Nhandan)
Leaders of the Viet Nam National Space Centre (VNSC) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signed and exchanged the amended agreement on satellite data sharing between the VNSC under the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency at a ceremony held in Ha Noi on May 2. (5/3)

South Korean Earth-Observation Satellite Now in Orbit (Source: Korea Herald)
A South Korean Earth-observation satellite has successfully entered low-Earth orbit following its launch from a US space base in California, authorities said Sunday, in a move expected to help bolster Seoul's satellite development capabilities. The satellite, called Compact Advanced Satellite (CAS) 500-2, was developed for disaster monitoring and agricultural observation. (5/3)

Artemis 3 Plans Remain Uncertain as Schedule Slips (Source: Space News)
More than two months after NASA announced revised plans for the Artemis 3 mission, the agency has provided few details about the mission itself amid signs its schedule may be slipping. Following the February 2026 announcement to revamp the Artemis 3 mission into a low-Earth orbit test flight rather than an immediate lunar landing, signs indicate potential further schedule slippage beyond the newly proposed 2027 timeframe. The mission, now aiming for a, late 2027, date, will test SpaceX/Blue Origin landers, with actual landings pushed to 2028 or later. (5/3)

America Needs a Space Alliance (Source: Space News)
The United States needs a new approach to building space alliances that last, updating foundational agreements like the Outer Space Policy while adding more binding mechanisms for enforcement than the Artemis Accords. TerraSpace co-founder and CEO Eric Sundby believes a new space treaty should "create common standards for interoperability, clearer rules for technology-sharing among trusted partners and coordinated mechanisms for economic development from low Earth orbit to cislunar space and beyond. It could lower legal and political barriers between allies while giving commercial firms more predictable rules of the road."

He recommends avoiding building "NATO in space," arguing that a security alliance would be counterproductive to commercial activity. Rather, Sundby wrote, "the best framework is narrower: formalize cooperation in exploration and economic development, while keeping security cooperation more informal." Retired astronaut and former Navy captain Scott Kelly joked that this could be the start to a Starfleet, in reference to Star Trek’s central spacefaring institution. It’s an inspiring vision. It’s also, at least for now, improbable in the current geopolitical environment. (4/30)

Isaacman on Climate Change: See No Warming, Speak No Warming (Source: Douglas Messier)
Science did a Q&A with Jared Isaacman in which the NASA administrator was asked about the space agency’s support for Earth science and climate change/global warming. Isaacman said “we should probably do everything we possibly can to understand” the planet. He noted bipartisan support for NASA to perform Earth science missions “because it matters to agriculture and floods and wildfires, real humanitarian issues.”

He said NASA will look at commercial options for obtaining Earth science data in order to save money for missions to the moon and planets. Isaacman made it clear that NASA under the Trump Administration would take a see no warming, hear no warming, speak no warming approach to climate change. (5/2)

Viasat Edges Closer to Starlink (Source: San Diego Union-Tribune)
Viasat announced a successful launch of ViaSat-3 F3 on Wednesday, which will provide better internet service over the Asia-Pacific region. The launch marks the final step in the three-satellite constellation, which aims to compete with Starlink, providing broader internet connection across continents. It’s a consequential launch for the company, as its first satellite mission resulted in a technical failure. (5/1)

ESA Selects Hungarian Firm for Lunar Orbit Mission (Source: Hungarian Conservative)
The European Space Agency has selected REMRED Ltd. to lead a consortium responsible for the MoonRAD research project, a key initiative within Europe’s expanding lunar ambitions. The MoonRAD program aims to develop a satellite of roughly 300 kilograms designed to operate in lunar orbit. As interest in the Moon intensifies, the surrounding space is increasingly viewed as a critical operational and economic zone for the coming decade.

The planned satellite will provide essential services in the lunar environment, including communication, navigation, and space weather monitoring. It will also study the Moon’s surroundings, with a particular focus on radiation conditions—an area considered crucial for the safety and planning of future space missions. (5/2)

SpaceX Settlement Sparks Vandenberg Launch Oversight Fears (Source: KSBY)
A new legal settlement involving SpaceX could reshape how rocket launches move forward on the Central Coast, and residents in Lompoc are already weighing in on what that might mean for their community. The aerospace company sued the California Coastal Commission after the agency opposed a plan to increase the number of launches out of Vandenberg Space Force Base. Court documents also show the commission will no longer require a coastal development permit for SpaceX launches at Vandenberg, a change that could remove a key layer of oversight as launch activity continues to grow.

For some residents, that possibility is raising concerns. Jacquie Tortolani, who has lived in Lompoc since 2020, said launches have already disrupted her daily life. “I still think that there should be regulation,” Tortolani said. “It’s already too much and the risk is already there. They shouldn’t be allowed to just do whatever they want.” Tortolani said nighttime launches often wake her up and frighten her pets. (4/30)

Texas Homeowners Sue Musk’s SpaceX Over Starship Launches (Source: Reuters)
More than 70 Texas residents have sued billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies, alleging that noise and vibrations from its Starship rocket ​launches and landings damaged their homes near the company's Starbase facility.
The lawsuit, opens new tab, filed ‌on Thursday in the federal court in Brownsville, Texas, alleged the homes and other properties were damaged during 11 SpaceX-led test flights conducted between April 2023 and October 2025. (5/1)

JAXA Completes Japan’s 1st Clean Room for Assembling Spacecraft Under Planetary Protection Standards (Source: Japan Times)
A first-of-its-kind clean room in Japan where space probes can be assembled while being sterilized has been completed in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Its purpose is planetary protection, the practice of preventing Earth’s microorganisms from contaminating other celestial bodies. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to use the facility to manufacture a probe it hopes to land on Mars around 2030. Operations are scheduled to begin this autumn. (4/28)

San Antonio Contractor Tied to SpaceX Work Files for Bankruptcy (Source: San Antonio Express News)
A San Antonio general contractor embroiled in lawsuits over unpaid work at SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas has filed for bankruptcy. Alpha Building Corp. filed for Chapter 7 liquidation last month in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio. The petition lists 46 creditors with claims against the company, including some that had done work under Alpha’s contracts to build 18 homes at Starbase as well as a bathroom and break room at the Starship launch site.

Those deals went sour sometime in 2024 with Alpha and its subcontractors filing at least 27 liens worth more than $2 million against SpaceX related to unpaid work and materials on the projects. They’ve also led to a flurry of lawsuits targeting SpaceX, Alpha and its president, Jonathan Rogero. At least nine civil cases against Alpha remain pending, according to bankruptcy documents. (5/1)