August 23, 2026

Blue Origin’s Record-Speed Rebuild at LC-36: From Pad Blast to Dual Pads and Hundreds of Open Jobs (Source: Cocoa Beach Local)
eff Bezos was out at Launch Complex 36 earlier this month shaking hands with the crew in hard hats. His post was simple: the team is moving at record speed out at the pad. Gradatim Ferociter. That Latin motto has been Blue Origin’s thing for years. Step by step, ferociously. Right now it fits the work happening just up the coast from Cocoa Beach.

They just committed another $600 million through Project Horizon for an 830,000-square-foot upper-stage factory. The company now lists more than 4,500 employees in Florida and more than $3 billion invested across 500-plus Florida suppliers. The state and Space Florida are helping with the infrastructure. Blue Origin is the only company that both builds and launches its orbital rockets entirely in Florida.

Right now Blue Origin has well over 200 open positions listed for the Space Coast alone. A big chunk of them are engineering and technician roles tied to the lunar lander work: fluids test engineers, lunar assembly and integration technicians, mechanical systems engineers, CNC programmers, composite manufacturing techs, and more. These are the kinds of high-skill aerospace jobs that keep people on the Space Coast instead of leaving for other states. (8/23)

Das Appointed as President of Titans Space Industries and Space Economic Forum (Source: TSI)
Titans Space Industries Inc. (TSI) and the Space Economic Forum LLC (SEF) are pleased to announce the appointment of Dipanjan Das as President of both organizations, bringing together commercial space development with an international platform for space-economy leadership. The appointment marks a deliberate transition from a primarily European ecosystem-building role toward a broader international platform focused on sovereign partnerships, strategic industry, investment, defense, Earth observation, security and resilience, and the emerging Earth–Moon economy.

That means connecting European startups with global space companies; SMEs with major industrial players; universities with commercial organizations; technology developers with investors; defense and civilian markets; Earth-based infrastructure with orbital infrastructure; Earth observation with strategic intelligence; and European innovation with emerging lunar markets. The objective is therefore not simply to represent Europe internationally, but to use European capability as one part of a much broader global platform. (8/22)

Japan's Letara Raises ¥2.6 Billion to Accelerate Development of Low-Cost Rocket Engines (Source: Letara)
Letara, led by co-CEOs, Shota Hirai and Landon Thomas Kamps, announced the completion of approximately ¥2.6 billion Pre-Series A round through a third-party allotment of shares and other means. Letara's mission is to build low-cost rocket engines that can “deliver anything, anywhere, within 24 hours.” Letara is developing a "hybrid rocket engine," which stores fuel (e.g., plastic) and oxidizer separately. Because the propellant does not fall under the legal category of explosives, it is safer than conventional engines that rely on explosive liquid or solid propellants, while also keeping the overall design simple. (8/20)

Tackling Construction’s Toughest Jobs on Earth — and the Moon (Source: Texas A&M)
What do Texas highway work zones and future moon landings have in common? For Dr. Patrick Suermann, both point to the same challenge: how to make construction safer, smarter and more autonomous. That vision recently earned Suermann, a professor of construction science at Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture and a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, seed funding for a new project exploring how autonomous earthmoving could improve safety on Earth while helping build infrastructure on the moon. (8/21)

ESA Research Leads to Space Snacks Product (Source: Collect Space)
A ESA research project has resulted in the launch of a new market for space commercialization: snacks. Space Snacks from the Lithuania-based company UAB Geld Baltic are colorful, freeze-dried cubes enriched with spirulina, pea protein and other innovative ingredients. Developed with the French Space Agency (CNES), the Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology (MEDES) in Toulouse and Lithuanian R&D company Biordico, Space Snacks are the evolution of a concept with a potential for use in space. (8/18)

Johnson Space Center Prepares for the Commercial Space-Station Era (Source: Space.com)
What does NASA's astronaut training hub look like these days, as the agency aims to bring more commercial space stations into the fold? It's an interesting mix of government and private companies, of space agency personnel and of contractors, all working together to keep U.S. and international astronauts flying through the end of the ISS — currently expected around 2030 — and the new breed of commercial space stations expected to take its place.

Teams are already thinking about "lessons learned" when the ISS retires for a new generation of mission planners, which would include an even greater focus on companies. Companies like Vast Space have their own self-funded modules almost ready to fly, while Bigelow Aerospace has an inflatable module on ISS that is being tested, long-duration wise, to make sure the concept holds up for a future free-flying destination. No matter who hosts astronauts, however, NASA officials on the tour said they are prepared to offer expertise and help. Click here. (8/22) 

CNES Seeks Industrial Partner for Mass-Produced Compact Optical Telescope (Source: European Spaceflight)
France’s CNES is seeking an industrial partner to develop and qualify a compact, low-cost optical telescope designed for mass production. The effort points to a focus on reducing unit costs and industrializing optical payload manufacturing for future satellite and space applications. (8/22)

Chinese RF-Intelligence Startup StarRF Gains Investment (Source: Space News)
A Chinese startup building a constellation to detect and geolocate radio-frequency emissions from orbit has closed a funding round as China’s commercial sector expands. StarRF has secured new fundinG as China’s commercial space sector expands and as orbital RF intelligence capabilities attract growing interest. (8/21)

Novaspace Forecasts More Than 6,500 Earth-Observation Satellites Launching by 2035 (Source: Space News)
A new Novaspace forecast projects that more than 6,500 Earth-observation satellites will launch by 2035, with demand for sovereign capabilities helping drive a satellite market valued at $155.9 billion. The outlook underscores the expanding role of space-based intelligence and national control of orbital assets. (8/21)

Space Norway Appoints Rune Jensen as Acting CEO With Morten Tengs Departure (Source: Via Satellite)
Space Norway CEO Morten Tengs is stepping down from the role at the end of August, and the company will begin the search for a new permanent CEO. Rune Jensen has been appointed the acting CEO of the company. Space Norway is a wholly state-owned enterprise that develops space and satellite infrastructure for secure broadband, maritime surveillance, and communication services across the Arctic, Europe, and globally. (8/21)