June 4, 2026

Why Americans Land Spacecraft In The Ocean While The Russians Go For Solid Ground (Source: Jalopnik)
All vehicles coming back from space use parachutes, but that only gets you so far. Orion's final speed before splashdown was still 20 mph, enough to cause damage and injury if it hit a solid object. So for as long as NASA has been sending people into space, it's been dunking them in the ocean as a kind of giant pillow to catch them. There's another advantage to the sea: if your landing is off by a few miles, it doesn't particularly matter.

While Russia may have plenty of coastline, nearly all of it is in the Arctic circle, where ice and stormy conditions make a water landing unpalatable. For solid ground landings, Soviet engineers needed to find a way to slow down their Soyuz capsule more than parachutes could. Their solution, still in use by Russian cosmonauts today: once the last set of parachutes have deployed, the Soyuz spits off its own heat shield where hidden underneath are six retrorockets, which gives the flight one final ignition before touchdown. (6/3)

This Clever New Engine Could Send Briefcase-Size Spacecraft to Mars (Source: Gizmodo)
Engineers at MIT have developed a two-in-one propulsion system that can fuel both traditional chemical thrusters and electrical thrusters, combining speed and power with slower, more precise maneuverability for small satellites. The key to their research is a type of green monopropellant that was originally developed by the U.S. Air Force for use in chemical propulsion. In a new paper published in the Journal of Propulsion and Power, the researchers show that this propellant can also power tiny electrospray thrusters. (6/4)

Freedom 250 vs America 250 At NASA (Source: NASA Watch)
NASA HQ now has a new public visitor facility with some cool stuff. On the front windows of HQ are some big banners – one mentions some sort of sponsorship by/affiliation with “Freedom 250”. Meanwhile I got a press release from the Federal Circuit Center for Innovation & Law that said “America 250 program takes visitors from Dolley Madison’s parlor and NASA’s first DC headquarters …” So what is the intent of Freedom 250 vs America 250 things involving NASA?

America 250 (United States Semiquincentennial) is a non-political entity created by Congress to ensure all 350 Americans can participate. America 250 was established by Congress as a bipartisan committee in 2016 focusing mostly on historical and educational events nationwide. “Freedom 250“ was created under an executive order by the President and supports fireworks, Patriot Games National Competition, the White House UFC mega cage fight thing and that Indy 250 race through the streets of DC. Some in Congress now accuse Freedom 250 of using a portion of the $150 million allocated by Congress for America 250 to fund events under the executive branch i.e. Freedom 250. (6/2)

What the Blue Origin Incident Reveals About Spaceport Resilience (Source: Global Spaceport Alliance)
The recent explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket serves as a reminder that spaceflight remains a challenging endeavor. Investigations will determine the technical causes, and the industry will learn from the event as it has from countless anomalies throughout the history of aerospace. The incident also highlights a broader issue that extends beyond any single company or vehicle. It underscores the growing importance of resilient spaceport infrastructure and the need for a stronger national network of launch and landing facilities.

According to reports, the explosion caused substantial damage to Launch Complex 36, the primary launch site supporting New Glenn operations. The resulting delays have implications that extend beyond Blue Origin itself. Launch schedules, commercial customers, government missions, supply chains, and workforce planning can all be affected when a critical piece of infrastructure becomes unavailable.

Additional spaceports create geographic diversity that helps mitigate risks from severe weather, natural disasters, infrastructure failures, and operational incidents. They provide flexibility for different vehicle classes, launch trajectories, and mission requirements. They strengthen national security by ensuring multiple pathways to orbit. They also distribute economic opportunities across more communities, creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting advanced manufacturing. (6/4)

Special Treatment for SpaceX Friends and Families (Source: Fortune)
On June 1, SpaceX issued an amended registration statement for its upcoming IPO that contains a couple of noteworthy additions to the original filing submitted two weeks earlier. In one new provision, the rocket and AI giant announced that it will reserve 5% of the offering’s shares for “certain employees and persons… which may include parties with whom we have business relationships and friends and families of our executive officers.” The document adds that these grants “will not be subject to a lockup restriction.” In other words, the folks who receive these allocations, unlike Elon Musk and top execs who can’t sell for around a year, are free to unload their holdings any time after SpaceX’s debut, slated for mid-June. (6/4)

Europe Advances Pu-238 Supply Chain for Deep Space (Source: ESA)
An ESA-backed study confirmed that an independent European supply of the gold-standard fuel for deep-space missions, plutonium‑238 (Pu‑238), can be achieved using capabilities already in place today. The study outlines how a shift from concept to action could transform Europe's existing nuclear expertise into a strategic space capability.

Optimum Pro, as the Endure project is known, conducted by Tractebel Engie with support from SCK CEN, examined the scientific, technical, regulatory, safety, economic and infrastructure needs of establishing a European supply chain for Pu-238. The final report confirmed that production by ESA’s Member States is mainly technically and economically feasible with key existing infrastructure and sets out a road map from now until 2039 to ramp up production. (6/3)

New Glenn Setback Not Slowing Blue Origin Expansion Plans (Source: WESH)
The New Glenn rocket explosion may have put Blue Origin launches on hold, but it's not stopping the company from expanding its footprint on the Space Coast. During a Tuesday board meeting, Space Florida's board of directors approved $24.4 million for Blue Origin's Project Horizon. Prior to the vote, board members were asked if they had any questions or concerns. There weren't any. However, two board members opposed funding the aerospace company. (6/3)

The Exploration Company is Developing a Reusable Heavy-Lift Rocket (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Exploration Company has revealed that it is developing a reusable heavy-lift rocket powered by its Storm engines. Beyond a brief mention on its updated homepage, the company has not made any public statements about the project. The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 with the aim of developing a reusable space capsule called Nyx to transport cargo and, potentially, crew to low Earth orbit and beyond. While Nyx is designed to be launched aboard any number of heavy-lift rockets, in November 2025, CEO Hélène Huby said the company wanted to “master the whole chain of space transportation.”

An image included on the company’s new website appears to show the rocket’s first stage powered by nine Storm engines, which are described as being capable of producing 180 tonnes of thrust each. The company’s Storm engine appears to be an evolution of its Huracán rocket engine project. All mention of the engine, which was designed to produce up to 250 tonnes of thrust, has been removed from its website. (6/4)

AstroForge Completes DeepSpace-2 Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
AstroForge, an asteroid mining startup, has successfully completed the assembly of its most recent spacecraft, scheduled for launch later this year, integrating insights derived from a previous mission that did not achieve its objectives last year. (6/4)

Canada and ESA, Both Buffeted by NASA’s Sidelining of Lunar Gateway, Must Decide How to Respond. Canada Already Has (Source: Space Intel Report)
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and former NASA Chief Economist Alexander MacDonald, a Canadian citizen, said Canada is well placed to profit from NASA’s sudden shift in priorities and the cancellation of the Lunar Gateway program. But Canada needs to move quickly to get maximum benefit. They both urged that Canada’s industry adopt the urgency of NASA’s new Ignition lunar-focused program to leverage Canada’s expertise in robotics. (6/4)

Axiom Space Raises $525 Million With MUFG Bank as New Investor (Source: Bloomberg)
Axiom Space announced that it had secured roughly an additional $175 million from investors, bringing the startup’s most recent fundraising round to more than $525 million as it works to develop a commercial space station. Co-founded by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian, Axiom Space is among several firms competing to build a commercial replacement to the International Space Station, which is set to be decommissioned by 2030. (6/4)

Infinite Orbits Selects Open Cosmos’ Platforms for its “Tom & Jerry” LEO Space Domain Awareness Demo (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Infinite Orbits and Open Cosmos have announced their partnership on the former’s new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission aiming to advance autonomous inspection and operational Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities. Bringing together two complementary spacecraft platforms nicknamed Tom & Jerry, the project will see two satellites, Tom, a larger satellite, and Jerry, a smaller satellite, work together to demonstrate close-range maneuvers and in-orbit interaction scenarios. (6/4)

The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Drop Test (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Exploration Company has completed a key milestone in the development of its Nyx spacecraft after successfully conducting a drop test designed to validate the performance of its recovery system. Nyx is designed as a reusable space capsule that will be used to transport cargo and, potentially, crew to low Earth orbit. The company is currently working toward an initial demonstration of Nyx in 2028 with support from the European Space Agency through its LEO Cargo Return Service initiative. (6/4)

Meteor Over Cape Cod Was Unusually Dense (Source: Boston Globe)
New analysis by NASA suggests the meteor that plunged into Cape Cod Bay on Saturday may be made of iron, with data indicating the object was unusually dense and is theoretically recoverable from the ocean floor. NASA said calculations from radar observations found the meteoroid broke apart at an unusually high altitude of about 31 miles and produced very few small fragments, and likely entered the atmosphere at a steep entry angle as opposed to a more typical trajectory. Researchers also estimated a density of roughly 8,000 kilograms per cubic meter, a figure consistent with iron meteorites. (6/3)

Morningstar Says SpaceX Should be Valued Nearly 50% Lower Than What the Market is Estimating (Source: Business Insider)
Morningstar just launched its research coverage of SpaceX — and it says the company's current estimated valuation should be nearly 50% lower than the low end of the market's estimated range. SpaceX is set to go public this month in a much-anticipated IPO, seeking to raise $75 billion at a valuation of $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion. But Morningstar says its analysis of the firm's projected cash flows puts its fair value at $780 billion — 48% below a more conservative valuation estimates of $1.5 trillion — and that SpaceX's stated growth opportunities are ambitious. (6/3)

AT&T Downgraded Ahead of SpaceX IPO on Coming Broadband Competition from Starlink (Source: CNBC)
Oppenheimer downgraded AT&T, with analyst Timothy Horan warning that low-earth orbit satellite networks are starting to threaten longer-term broadband subscriber growth and, eventually, mobile services. The bank says regulatory and technology trends are increasingly favoring satellite internet over older systems such as fixed wireless and fiber. (6/3)

Should We Store Mars Samples on the Moon to Keep Alien Germs Away From Earth? (Source: Space.com)
A team of researchers is advocating to use the moon as a secure site for biocontainment of extraterrestrial samples, particularly those from Mars, but also from other potential worlds like Enceladus, a moon of Saturn. The researchers contend that our moon offers a naturally sterile and isolated environment that can act as humanity's first line of biological defense against organisms perhaps harmful to Earth and its life. (6/3)

SpaceX Vets Comment on Blue Origin Pad Rebuild (Source: Ars Technica)
After the AMOS-6 failure at LC-40, SpaceX was also without an active launch pad for the Falcon 9. SpaceX then focused on completing modifications to Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, which it had leased from NASA. SpaceX was not immediately allowed to begin LC-40 reconstruction work due to the ongoing investigation, which included a grid-by-grid examination of debris, cataloging recovered materials, and launch site remediation. SpaceX engineers spent these four months redesigning the launch pad.

Trip Harriss, who managed the Falcon 9 fleet operations in 2016, said everyone at the company pitched in to support the investigation and then the reconstruction of LC-40. SpaceX pulled out all of the stops, deploying drones and aircraft with sensitive equipment. “At one point, I got a submersible to take into the flame trench, where there was an accumulation of water, to see if we could find any rocket debris,” Harriss said. “But it was just large chunks of concrete.”

One of Blue Origin’s massive launch towers toppled, and the other appears to be seriously damaged. The concrete underneath the rocket also appears to have collapsed in some places. From a structural standpoint, there is likely a significant amount of work ahead. There is an incredible amount of electrical wiring that almost certainly got fried by the fireball. And then there is the intricate tubing that provides gas and liquids to fill not just the rocket’s propellant tanks but also smaller pressurized vessels throughout the vehicle for various purposes. (6/3)

Swedish Suborbital Launch Used German Engines (Source: European Spaceflight)
SSC Space launched its SubOrbital Express-5 mission on 31 May from the Esrange Space Centre in northern Sweden. The rocket carried 12 individual experiments. The 13-meter-tall rocket was powered by Red Kite rocket motors on both its first and second stages. The Red Kite motor was developed by Germany's Bayern-Chemie under a DLR contract and was first launched in 2023. While the motor has now been used on six missions, SubOrbital Express-5 was only the second to use Red Kite for both stages, with previous flights having used Improved Malemute and Black Brant upper stages. (6/3)

SpaceX Fixes Its IPO at $135 a Share Before the Bookbuild for a Record $75B Raise (Source: Mach 33)
SpaceX plans to fix its IPO price at $135 a share to raise a record $75 billion, selling 555.6 million shares at a targeted $1.75 trillion valuation. Companies have historically set a price range to frame expectations and let the bookbuild settle the final number. SpaceX, however, has elected to fix share prices prior to the roadshow. The all-primary offering will result in all capital proceeds being allocated to SpaceX rather than to selling shareholders. The stock is set to trade on Nasdaq under SPCX with a debut targeted for 12 June.

At $1.75 trillion on $18.67 billion of 2025 revenue, SpaceX would price at 93.7 times trailing revenue, below Rocket Lab's 118, above Palantir's 81 and Tesla's 17. However, the multiple includes xAI and X from this year's merger, so it understates the standalone launch and Starlink business. (6/3)

SpaceX Starfall Capsule Will Serve Point-to-Point Delivery (Source: Douglas Messier)
The FAA has given SpaceX the OK to conduct two flight tests of its new Starfall capsule, which will serve the in-space manufacturing and point-to-point cargo delivery markets. The FAA concluded that the two flights, which would see Starfall capsules splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, would have no significant impact on the environment. The FAA issued the environmental assessment and a record of decision in May.

Starfall would “(1) enable point-to-point delivery of critical cargo through space on rapid timelines and (2) create a self-sustaining commercial in-space manufacturing market by offering access to microgravity and vacuum, loiter on orbit, and safe return from orbit as a service at scale,” the FAA said. (6/1)

Impulse Space Raises $500 Million to Build Out Fleet of Ultra-Mobile Spacecraft (Source: Space.com)
Impulse Space just got a lot more money to help finance its big ambitions in the final frontier. The California-based company — which was founded in 2021 by propulsion expert Tom Mueller, the first person Elon Musk ever hired at SpaceX — announced today (June 2) that it has raised $500 million in a "Series D" investment round. It will use the funds to scale up the production and deployment of its ultra-mobile spacecraft, which Impulse Space thinks will help transform the off-Earth economy. (6/2)

General Dynamics Communication Contract Hits $294.9M (Source: GovConWire)
General Dynamics Mission Systems has received a $106 million task order from Space Systems Command to sustain and modernize the ground segment of the Mobile User Objective System, a military satellite communications system. The task order, under a sole-source contract, could extend through May 2031 with a total value of $294.9 million. (6/1)
 
Gagarin Never Landed Inside Vostok 1, and the Soviets Kept it Quiet (Source: Space Daily)
The record stands. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth. His spacecraft, Vostok 1, completed a single circuit in 108 minutes, lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in what is now Kazakhstan and reentering the atmosphere over Soviet territory. However, what was not said — for roughly a decade — was that Gagarin never actually landed inside his spacecraft, and that the omission was deliberate, because admitting it risked losing him the record entirely.

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), a body that certifies aviation and spaceflight records, had carried one particular rule over from aviation: a pilot must land inside their craft for a flight to qualify as an official record. The logic, applied to aircraft, was reasonable enough. No one wanted to encourage pilots to fly machines that couldn’t bring them safely home. (5/26)

Amazon Leo Surpasses 330 Satellites with Atlas V Launch (Source: SatNews)
Amazon has expanded its broadband constellation, Amazon Leo, to over 330 satellites after a successful United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket deployment. Amazon is racing to meet a Federal Communications Commission requirement to deploy half of the 3,236-satellite constellation by July and has secured more than 100 launches from United Launch Alliance, Arianespace and SpaceX. (6/1)

Another Branch: Cyber Force Commission Suggests $10B Budget (Source: Breaking Defense)
A new report from the Commission on U.S. Cyber Force Generation suggests an independent Cyber Force would require an initial budget of $10 billion, reallocated from existing military funds. The report envisions a force of 33,000 personnel, primarily officers and warrant officers, and a launch timeline of 12 to 18 months. (6/3)

Lithuania's Astrolight Wins Startup World Cup Regional, Heading to Silicon Valley to Compete for $1M Investment (Source: Astrolight)
Astrolight, a Lithuanian space and defense company developing laser communication solutions for space, ground, and maritime applications, has won the Lithuanian regional competition of the Startup World Cup, the world’s leading startup pitch contest. The company will head to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco on November 6, 2026, and compete with finalists from around the world for the title of global champion and a $1 million investment prize.

Earlier, Astrolight secured contracts and partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA), industry primes, and leading satellite manufacturers. The company has launched three of its ATLAS-1 laser terminals into orbit for testing, joined a Kepler Communications-led team developing ESA’s HydRON optical multi-orbit transport network, and is working with ESA to build the first Arctic optical ground station in Greenland. (6/3)

Sidus Space to Join Russell 3000 Index (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced it is expected to join the broad-market Russell 3000 Index, the small-cap Russell 2000 Index and the Russell Microcap Index at the conclusion of the June 2026 Russell Reconstitution, according to a preliminary list of additions posted by FTSE Russell on May 22, 2026. Sidus' inclusion will become effective after the U.S. market close on June 26, 2026. (6/1)

Microbes Reveal Missing Link in Space Manufacturing (Source: CASIS)
Manufacturing materials in space may hinge on a simple problem: feeding microbes. New research sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, published in npj Microgravity, shows that microgravity disrupts how cells in engineered microbes absorb nutrients—limiting their ability to produce useful materials but also pointing to solutions.

Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) studied engineered Escherichia coli designed to produce melanin, a pigment that helps shield cells from radiation and other environmental stress. Materials like melanin could one day be manufactured in orbit to protect astronauts and spacecraft systems during long-duration missions. In addition to blocking radiation, melanin can neutralize harmful chemicals and remain stable under extreme conditions, making it a promising material for space applications.

The project, Melanized Microbes for Multiple Uses in Space (MELSP), launched to the ISS in November 2023 to examine whether microbes could reliably produce protective biomaterials in microgravity. While the engineered bacteria expressed the genetic pathway for melanin synthesis, researchers found that microgravity altered how cells absorbed nutrients and responded to metabolic stress. (6/1)

Trump Moves ~8000 Federal Employees to Less-Secure Positions (Source: FNN)
Close to 8,000 career federal employees will be moved into a new employment category with limited job protections, under an executive order President Donald Trump signed Wednesday. It formalizes a long-expected "Schedule Policy/Career" federal employment classification for senior-level positions across government. The move is meant to boost workforce accountability, but has also drawn sharp criticism from federal unions, employee organizations and other stakeholders.

Trump administration officials said the creation of Schedule Policy/Career aims to improve employee accountability and ensure the federal workforce is carrying out the president’s policy agenda. Officials also said it’s currently too difficult to remove federal employees for poor performance. Following Wednesday’s executive order, agencies [including NASA] now have seven days to make conforming changes to the affected employees’ personnel records, OPM said. (6/3)

Artemis III’s Remaining Solid Rocket Booster Segments Shipped From Utah to Florida (Source: NSF)
While there is some uncertainty regarding timelines and landers, the Artemis III mission — currently scheduled for the summer of 2027 — is being prepared for launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Northrop Grumman began shipping all eight remaining solid rocket booster segments for the mission’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Utah on Tuesday, June 2.

The Union Pacific train carrying the eight solid rocket booster segments was christened at a ceremony that also featured several speakers. Northrop Grumman’s vice president and general manager of the launch and exploration division, Wendy Williams, started by congratulating NASA for the successful Artemis II mission. SLS deputy program manager Chris Cianciola stated that the booster segments are to be stacked this summer for Artemis III. (6/3)

Beyond Gravity Releases New Propulsion Pointing Mechanism (Source: Via Satellite)
Beyond Gravity is to bring to market a new ultra-light propulsion pointing mechanism with high maneuverability for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations. The new two-axis mechanism aims to address what Beyond Gravity sees as key industry demands for reduced mass, rapid delivery, and flexible integration. Beyond Gravity announced the new product, June. 3.

APPMAX2-XS is a next-generation electric propulsion pointing mechanism designed specifically for small satellites operating in LEO. The mechanism weighs less than seven kilograms, and the time from order to delivery will be less than six months. Beyond Gravity is based out of Zurich, Switzerland. (6/3)

Trump Officials Held Millions of Dollars of SpaceX Ahead of IPO (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX’s initial public offering will likely make President Donald Trump’s already wealthy administration even richer. Ten officials ranging from special envoy Steve Witkoff to Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler reported financial interests in Elon Musk’s rocket company or in xAI, the artificial intelligence and social media firm it merged with in February, according to their most recent public financial disclosures. (6/3)

HyImpulse to Explore Launches in Oman at Etlaq Spaceport (Source: Oman Observer)
Further strengthening Oman’s emergence as an international hub for commercial space launches, European launch services company HyImpulse Technologies GmbH has entered into a partnership with Etlaq Spaceport to explore future launch-related operations from the latter’s facility in Duqm. The collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) during the recent SmallSat Europe conference held in Amsterdam.

Headquartered in Germany with operations in both Germany and the United Kingdom, HyImpulse specializes in commercial suborbital and orbital launch services. The company is known for its hybrid propulsion technology that combines oxygen and paraffin-based fuel in small satellite launch vehicles designed for efficient and sustainable access to low Earth orbit and beyond. (6/3)

Venturi Space Announces New Toulouse Facility for Developing Technologies for Lunar Mobility (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Venturi Space is investing €250 million to establish a 16,000-square-meter technology and manufacturing center in Toulouse, France. This facility will develop and assemble mobility systems for lunar and Martian exploration, and is projected to create nearly 200 highly skilled jobs by 2030. The site will focus on designing and building hyper-deformable wheels, high-performance battery systems, and advanced energy management solutions. (6/2)

NASA Says Farewell to MAVEN Mars Mission (Source: NASA)
The first mission devoted to observing the Martian atmosphere and its evolution, NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution), has ended after more than 11 years in orbit at Mars and a decade beyond its primary, one-year mission. The spacecraft was heard last on Dec. 6, when it experienced an unexpected loss of signal after it passed behind the Red Planet. (6/3)

Texas and the Smithsonian Are Locked in a Custody Battle Over a Space Shuttle (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Texas lawmakers and the Smithsonian Institution are locked in an escalating dispute over the 86-ton Space Shuttle Discovery. Texas senators secured $85 million in federal funding to relocate the orbiter to Houston, but the Smithsonian argues the actual cost to safely move and re-house the shuttle exceeds $300 million. The high-stakes tug-of-war highlights several logistical and political hurdles. Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn championed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which legally mandates the transfer of Discovery to Houston's Johnson Space Center.

In response, several Virginia and out-of-state senators are attempting to block federal funds for the transfer, citing preservation and inefficiency concerns.  Moving an 86-ton shuttle is an immense engineering feat. The modified Boeing 747s once used to "piggyback" the orbiters are retired. Transporting Discovery via a land route would likely require partial disassembly—a move engineers warn could cause irreparable damage.

 The $85 million earmarked by Texas lawmakers falls dramatically short of the Smithsonian's estimates. Museum officials project that dismantling, transporting, and constructing a brand-new, climate-controlled exhibit space in Texas would cost between $300 million and $400 million. (6/3)

AST SpaceMobile Expects Service Delay After Blue Origin Blast (Source: Space News)
AST SpaceMobile expects Blue Origin’s recent launchpad explosion will delay its direct-to-smartphone constellation by three to six months. Scott Wisniewski, AST SpaceMobile’s chief strategy officer, made the estimate June 2 during the bank’s annual growth stock conference in Chicago. Before the loss of a New Glenn, AST SpaceMobile had aimed to start early services at the end of 2026 with at least 45 satellites in low Earth orbit, helping anchor customers such as AT&T and Verizon in the United States plug terrestrial service gaps.

The Texas-based venture had retained that goal even after the loss of its seventh BlueBird satellite on a New Glenn launch April 19. While AST SpaceMobile was planning to rely heavily on New Glenn, Wisniewski reaffirmed “it has a handful of launches over the remainder of the year with launch providers other than Blue Origin,” William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma wrote. (6/3)