May 3, 2026

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)