August 4, 2026

NOAA Extends $3 Million Contract to Evaluate Spire’s Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder Data (Source: Space News)
NOAA will continue evaluating data from Spire Global’s Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder under a $3 million contract extension announced Aug. 4. The agreement extends the agency’s assessment of Spire’s commercial data for potential use in NOAA’s meteorological and environmental observation activities. (8/4)

Military Demand Shapes Market for Satellite Propulsion (Source: Space News)
An increasingly competitive market is forming around a capability military satellites have historically used sparingly: propulsion after launch. Startups and established spacecraft manufacturers are investing in engines designed to give small satellites more freedom to change orbit, maintain lower altitudes and respond to changing conditions in space. Recent tests, product launches and acquisitions suggest that companies see an opening in national security programs focused on what the military calls dynamic space operations — the ability to move spacecraft as part of an operational mission rather than simply keep them in a predetermined orbit.

The development of the market is in its early stages. Many of the systems are still in ground testing, flight demonstration or initial production. The Space Force is also working through how frequently satellites would maneuver, which missions would benefit and what supporting technologies would be required. The trend is closely tied to the military’s adoption of smaller satellites. Most propulsion systems are intended to perform routine station keeping or minor collision avoidance maneuvers, but not the larger or more frequent orbital changes envisioned in emerging military concepts. (8/4)

Starship Launch 13 Exposed Its Fatal Achilles Heel (Source: Medium)
Starship’s flight test 13 wasn’t the huge leap forward SpaceX needed. But this launch demonstrated something crucial that the media has barely even noticed, let alone discussed: a major flaw with Starship’s promised future. A fundamental problem so catastrophic, we will look back and wonder why anyone thought this launch vehicle would ever work.

Orbital refueling is arguably the single most important remaining capability because both NASA's Artemis program and Mars missions depend on it. And booster landing reliability still needs improvement. Starship is making progress, but the remaining challenges are so numerous and interconnected that schedule promises are becoming increasingly difficult to meet. (8/2)

L3Harris Confirms Successful Deployment for First Perimeter Truss Reflector on ViaSat-3 (Source: Via Satellite)
L3Harris Technologies confirmed a successful deployment for its first perimeter truss reflector onboard the ViaSat-3 Flight 3 satellite. SpaceX launched the satellite in late April, the third deployment in Viasat’s trio of high-capacity Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites. The satellite will be positioned over the Asia-Pacific region.

L3Harris builds large, deployable mesh reflector apertures and antenna systems for UHF-Band through Ka-Band. Its perimeter truss reflectors have a reflective mesh surface designed to maximize antenna gain and improve performance for advanced communications services. (8/4)

Endeavor Optical Networks Emerges From Stealth with Plans for an Optical MEO Data-Transfer Network (Source: Via Satellite)
Startup Endeavor Optical Networks has emerged from stealth with plans to build an optical satellite network in medium Earth orbit for space-based data transfer. The company’s announcement adds a new entrant to the developing market for high-capacity intersatellite and space-based communications infrastructure. (8/4)

EchoStar’s Hughes Wins Court Approval to Use Lender Cash During Bankruptcy (Source: Bloomberg)
A judge has authorized Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. to access noteholders’ cash for the next four weeks, following a two-day court dispute over how the company will fund operations and pay bills while proceeding through bankruptcy. (8/4)

NASA Selects Lunar Outpost to Advance Starweave Autonomous Robotic Swarm Software (Source: Spacewatch Global)
NASA selected Lunar Outpost’s proposal to advance Starweave, an autonomous robotic swarm software platform, under the agency’s Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity. The effort adds to NASA’s work on coordinated robotic systems for future lunar operations, though the announcement provides no details on funding, schedule or mission assignment. (8/4)

Jupiter's Moon Europa May Have Signs of Life in its Buried Ocean, But Can Our Sensors See Them? (Source: Space.com)
A new study suggests any shallow water the Europa Clipper detects may not necessarily be a direct window into the moon's ocean after all. Research indicates that Europa's icy shell acts as a far more formidable barrier than previously assumed. Computer simulations modeling the physics of water traveling through fractures in the ice reveal that liquid rising from the ocean would move turbulently, shed heat rapidly and freeze the cracks shut — often in a matter of hours — long before reaching shallow depths. (8/3)

Leidos to Equip Golden Dome Satellites With Infrared Sensors (Source: Defense Post)
Leidos will provide flight-proven infrared sensors for 18 missile defense satellites being built by Sierra Space, expanding the space-based tracking network supporting the US Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Sierra Space selected Leidos to supply the sensing payloads for satellites designed to detect and track hypersonic and other advanced missile threats from low Earth orbit. The satellites are part of the Advanced Missile Detection and Tracking Tranche 3 program. Sierra Space will integrate the payloads into the satellite constellation, while Leidos will supply ground support equipment, mission expertise, operational support, and sustainment. (8/4)

Rocketdyne Reemerges as Standalone Space Company (Source: Space News)
Rocketdyne is returning as an independent company as AE Industrial Partners completes its purchase of L3Harris Technologies’ space propulsion, power and electronics units, separating a 1,300-person space supplier from the missile businesses L3Harris plans to keep. AE Industrial said AJupiter's Moon Europa May Have Signs of Life in its Buried Ocean, But Can Our Sensors See Them? (Source: Space.com)
A new study suggests any shallow water the Europa Clipper detects may not necessarily be a direct window into the moon's ocean after all. Research indicates that Europa's icy shell acts as a far more formidable barrier than previously assumed. Computer simulations modeling the physics of water traveling through fractures in the ice reveal that liquid rising from the ocean would move turbulently, shed heat rapidly and freeze the cracks shut — often in a matter of hours — long before reaching shallow depths. (8/3)

ISRO Conducts Gaganyaan Parachute, Crew Module & Engine Tests (Source: Douglas Messier)
ISRO has been making steady progress toward the first uncrewed flight test of its Gaganyaan crew vehicle. The Indian space agency published the following update on its pre-flight testing. ISRO has successfully conducted a critical Integrated Main parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) for the Gaganyaan missions. Recently ISRO also successfully accomplished three major qualification tests for Crew Module (CM) systems of Gaganyaan, as well as the Crew Module Up-righting System (CMUS) for ensuring up-right position for Crew Module after splashdown. (8/4)

Crew Dragon's Long-Term Future Uncertain (Source: Space News)
While SpaceX's Crew Dragon has become a workhorse for NASA and commercial human spaceflight, its long-term future remains uncertain. The upcoming Crew-13 mission to the ISS, scheduled for launch next month, with be the 18th SpaceX crewed mission to the station. At a briefing Monday, SpaceX said there is a "significant" amount of life left in its fleet of five Crew Dragon spacecraft to support NASA and commercial missions to the ISS. However, the spacecraft's long-term future, including its availability for commercial stations that will succeed the station, is in question as SpaceX moves to shift to Starship. SpaceX declined to confirm if the company was continuing to sell Crew Dragon missions beyond those already under contract to NASA and others. (8/4)

Spain's Kreios Space Developing VLEO Propulsion System (Source: Space News)
Spanish startup Kreios Space will fly a spacecraft in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) to test an air-breathing electric propulsion system. Kreios said Tuesday it signed an agreement with smallsat manufacturer Kongsberg NanoAvionics for a microsatellite bus for that mission, scheduled for 2027. The mission will test an electric thruster that uses the tenuous atmosphere in VLEO as propellant. A second mission is planned for 2028. (8/4)

Western Militaries Concerned About Launch Site Shortage (Source: Aviation Week)
Western military leaders are increasingly concerned about range infrastructure as they seek to launch spacecraft quickly during crises, with Germany exploring the possibility of securing a space launch facility to address this issue. Sweden is upgrading the Esrange Space Center to support orbital launches starting in 2028. (8/4)

Upper-Stage Lunar Crash Drives Discussion of Future Mitigation Approaches (Source: Space News)
The unintentional collision of a Falcon 9 upper stage with the moon is prompting SpaceX and others to study ways to avoid similar situations in the future. The upper stage, used for the January 2025 launch of two commercial lunar landers, will hit the moon at 2:35 a.m. Eastern Wednesday near the western limb. The impact itself may not be visible from the ground but the plume it creates may be seen in telescopes. SpaceX said Monday that "a mixture of solar activity and gravity forces" pushed the upper stage from its disposal orbit onto a lunar impact trajectory. The company said it is talking with NASA and others on the best disposal approaches for upper stages on similar missions in the future. (8/4)

SpaceX Working to Retrieve Floating Starship (Source: CNN)
Satellite images have captured SpaceX's efforts to retrieve the Starship upper stage floating in the Indian Ocean after its latest test flight. Unlike previous flights, the Starship upper stage, designated Ship 40, remained intact after splashdown, floating in the ocean west of Australia. SpaceX said it would attempt to recover Ship 40 but has provided few updates on those efforts. Recent satellite images showed two vessels in the vicinity of Ship 40, working to tow the vessel to shore. (8/3)

Google Removes Tool on Google Earth for Manipulating Imagery (Source: NPR)
Google has pulled back a tool that allowed for AI manipulation of satellite images after concerns they could be used to generate deepfakes. The update to Google Earth last week allowed people to manipulate satellite imagery in Google Earth with a simple prompt. Analysts warned that this could result in a flood of fake imagery, such as depictions of explosions and other catastrophes, with nothing in the product to prevent that. They warned it could also undermine trust in real satellite imagery. Google rolled back the AI tool after a day, saying it would work on "implementing stronger guardrails." (8/4)

Air Show Planned at KSC (Source: Florida Today)
NASA appears to be planning an air show at the Kennedy Space Center this fall. The agency announced Friday it would hold a briefing at KSC on Aug. 14 about an upcoming event at the center "showcasing American leadership in aviation, space exploration, and emerging technologies." NASA did not provide details about the event, but local officials said they have been told NASA is planning an air show at KSC and are starting preparations for aspects of it, like dealing with traffic. An updated schedule for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds team includes appearances at KSC on Nov. 7 and 8. (8/4)

Florida Legislative Aerospace Group Plans Spaceport Tours (Source: SPACErePORT)
A group of Florida legislators and staffers plans an August-September tour across the state's various spaceport sites and space-focused companies, beginning on August 23-24 at Jacksonville's Cecil Spaceport. August 27-28 will feature a visit to the Homestead Spaceport near Miami. September 2-4 will include the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. (8/3)

Google Removes Tool on Google Earth for Manipulating Imagery (Source: NPR)
Google has pulled back a tool that allowed for AI manipulation of satellite images after concerns they could be used to generate deepfakes. The update to Google Earth last week allowed people to manipulate satellite imagery in Google Earth with a simple prompt. Analysts warned that this could result in a flood of fake imagery, such as depictions of explosions and other catastrophes, with nothing in the product to prevent that. They warned it could also undermine trust in real satellite imagery. Google rolled back the AI tool after a day, saying it would work on "implementing stronger guardrails." (8/4)