October 30, 2026

NASA's Isaacman Talks Spaceport Launch Cadence, Says 'I'll Be Fired' if China Beats US to Moon (Source: Florida Today)
As NASA accelerates its Artemis program with launches of more than 20 crewed and uncrewed moon-base missions, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman looks forward to a parallel wave of private space-company investment powering up Florida's Space Coast within the next five years: “You're going to see very big rockets launching nearly all the time."

"It will be such a spaceport," Isaacman said, drawing contrast with sluggish activity after the end of NASA's shuttle era. “We now have such demand for every parcel of land here and every launch pad because of the opportunity that's being presented to us across this great frontier. You're going to see Starships launching all the time. You're going to see Blue Origins launching all the time," Isaacman said. "You’ll see Stoke launching all the time. You're going to see Relativity launching all the time. You're still going to have SLS launches probably every year as we continue to send astronauts to the moon. So it's going to be a lot of activity around here,” he said.

"People look at the moon, and they’re like, ‘Wow, it's a big moon. Isn't it enough for all of us?’ The south pole (is) critical. That south pole is the size of Washington, D.C. That is your training ground, with the water ice in those craters to prepare for Mars. We know that. The Chinese know that," Isaacman said. "Hey, you know, if the Chinese beat us back to the moon, I'll be fired," Isaacman said. (10/29)
 
NASA’s Dragonfly Moving Through Integration and Testing at APL (Source: Aerospace America)
Under the bright lights of sterile clean rooms here on the Johns Hopkins University campus, NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft is taking shape, as technicians navigate integration and testing of the probe’s primary structure. Several days before my visit on Oct. 21, technicians had installed the first pieces of bright orange insulation around the body of the car-sized probe, scheduled to launch toward Saturn’s moon Titan in 2028. (10/30)

Eutelsat Expects $11 Billion Revenue After EU's Starlink Rival Comes Online (Source: Reuters)
Eutelsat expects commercial ‌services revenue of more than €10 billion ($11.1 billion) between 2032 and 2040 as it takes a leading role in the European Union's planned alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, ​it said on Thursday. The Franco-British operator had been chosen to lead ​the low Earth orbit (LEO) segment of the EU's IRIS² network that ⁠will feature 330 satellites. (10/30)

Ground Qualification Testing Begins for Callisto Reusable Rocket Demonstrator (Source: European Spaceflight)
The French space agency CNES has announced the start of ground qualification testing for the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator at the Guiana Space Centre. A full-scale mockup of the vehicle has been erected at the space centre’s former Diamant launch facility, which is being redeveloped to support the program. In a 29 October announcement, CNES explained that the full-scale mockup, manufactured by French company CIPAL, will be used to test and validate ground systems, interfaces between the vehicle and ground infrastructure, and associated operational procedures. (10/30)

Caltech Names Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman as NASA JPL Deputy (Source: NASA)
Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman has been named Caltech associate vice president and deputy director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The emeritus astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain begins his new role at NASA’s center of excellence for robotics and deep space exploration and at Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA, on Nov. 30. The emeritus NASA astronaut and retired Navy captain will be responsible for the strategic leadership, stewardship, and continuous improvement of laboratory operations. (10/28)

US Rocket Motor Maker with Trump Family Ties (and Space Coast Heritage) Valued at $1.4 Billion (Source: Reuters)
Donald Trump Jr.-backed defense startup Firehawk Defense was valued at more than $1.4 billion in a new financing round, it said on Wednesday, as private capital seeks to profit from shortages ‌in tactical munitions. By the end of 2027, the Dallas-based startup expects to become the largest producer of artillery motors and the third-largest producer of rocket propellant by weight in the United States, challenging an industrial base long dominated by a duopoly of legacy defense prime contractors, L3Harris and Northrop ⁠Grumman.

Unlike legacy suppliers that mix and cure propellants over weeks, Firehawk uses a continuous thermoplastic process that can mold propellant into the solid fuel cores of motors within hours. ​The company is focusing strictly on high-volume, small-diameter munitions under 13 ​inches (33 cm) — such as 155mm artillery base-bleed motors, rocket-assisted take-off motors and Hydra-70 rockets. Firehawk plans to produce over 100,000 artillery motors next year under an agreement with General Dynamics.

Editor's Note: Firehawk initially launched on the Space Coast. It was started by Ron Jones who previously co-founded Rocket Crafters with former astronaut Sid Gutierrez. They were developing a space launch vehicle featuring patents for 3D-printed hybrid solid propellant. Jones took the patents when he started Firehawk, while Rocket Crafters established new patents and ultimately re-branded as Vaya Space. Both Firehawk and Vaya have largely re-focused on munitions development. (10/28)

Telesat Delaying Lightspeed Broadband Rollout (Source: Space News)
Telesat is delaying the global rollout of its Lightspeed broadband constellation because of issues with pathfinder satellites. The company announced in an earnings call Thursday that it was pushing back the start of global service three months to around the end of the second quarter of 2028. Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg said the first two of 225 low Earth orbit satellites Canada's MDA Space is building for the company are still being assembled and need more software work, after previously being slated to launch in December. The company now expects to launch them on a SpaceX rideshare mission in June 2027. Those satellites would go through a 60-day test campaign before dedicated constellation launches begin in September. Telesat has previously said about 96 Lightspeed satellites would be enough for initial global coverage for government and enterprise markets, with the full 225-satellite system in orbit by the end of 2028. (10/30)

NRO Considers New Approach for Radar Imagery (Source: Space News)
The NRO is reconsidering how it buys commercial radar satellite imagery amid growing demand and pressure from suppliers for more predictable revenue. Justin Langlois, deputy director of the NRO's Commercial Systems Program Office, said the agency is looking at how foreign governments structure contracts with commercial satellite operators, some of which have secured substantial multiyear agreements overseas. He said the NRO is trying to balance the industry's need for long-term commitments against intelligence customers' demands for flexibility as collection priorities change. Demand for radar imagery has grown so much that he said the NRO was nearing a "legal limit" on earlier contracts with companies, leading to new contracts with several companies awarded in August. (10/30)

Reinhard to Lead FCC Space Bureau (Source: Space News)
The FCC announced Thursday a new head of its Space Bureau. Courtney Reinhard is taking over as head of the Space Bureau, more than two months after the departure of Jay Schwarz. The bureau, which oversees satellite and ground station licensing, had been led on an acting basis since Schwarz's departure by deputy Space Bureau chief Jennifer Gilsenan. Reinhard was an FCC adviser who left the commission in 2014 to work for Verizon. Last year she was named legislative director for Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and then became chief telecommunications counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee. (10/30)

China's Landspace to Launch Spaceplane for Government (Source: Space News)
Commercial launch firm Landspace won a competition to launch a Chinese spaceplane. The AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, known as the 611 Institute, published the results of a tender for a launch service for "a certain flight vehicle" Wednesday, with Landspace offering the lowest bid at 95 million yuan ($14.3 million). The announcement did not disclose the vehicle to be launched, but the 611 Institute has only one publicly known spacecraft project, the 10-meter-long, 7,000-kilogram Haolong reusable spaceplane for cargo. Haolong is one of commercial cargo vehicles under development to support the Tiangong space station. (10/30)

Midterm Elections to Reshape Military Spending (Source: Space News)
The midterm elections would reshape the Trump administration's approach to military space spending. Democrats are increasingly likely to win a majority in the House and/or the Senate in Tuesday's elections, complicating the administration's efforts to more than double the U.S. Space Force's budget in fiscal 2027. Democratic control of at least one chamber would effectively block budget reconciliation packages, which the administration had planned to use to provide additional defense funding. A change in control of Congress could also affect funding for the Golden Dome missile defense system. (10/30)

Satellogic Extends HEO Contract for Space-Object Imaging (Source: Space News)
Satellogic has extended a contract with HEO to provide imagery of other space objects using its satellites. The companies announced Thursday a three-year deal where HEO will buy imagery of space objects taken by Satellogic's satellites. The agreement has a "seven-figure" value per year. HEO and Satellogic have been working together on what is known as non-Earth imaging since 2020, with Satellogic providing more than 1,600 images of other satellites and debris last year alone. That work augments Satellogic's primary use of its satellites for geospatial intelligence. (10/30)

Anthropic is SpaceX's Largest Customer (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX's largest customer is now another AI company. Anthropic is believed to be the "Customer B" named in SpaceX's filings last week where it disclosed that customer provided a third of SpaceX's revenues in the third quarter buying AI data center capacity. Anthropic displaces the U.S. government, which had been SpaceX's biggest customer through launches and satellite services. Anthropic has a contract where it would spend $3.1 billion per month on data center services with SpaceX, but could cancel that contract on 90 days' notice. (10/30)

Asher to Direct Armstrong in California (Source: NASA)
NASA named a new director of the Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. NASA said Thursday that Troy Asher will take over the position of director on a permanent basis after serving as acting director since March. Asher joined NASA in 2008 as a test pilot and aerospace engineer and had been the California center's director of flight operations when he was tapped to be acting director. (10/30)

Pentagon Prepares for $400B Cut to Trump's Defense Budget (Source: Politico)
The Pentagon is preparing for a $400 billion reduction to President Donald Trump's record $1.5 trillion military budget request. While the administration has publicly pushed for the substantial increase to secure weapons stockpiles and realize ambitious projects such as a missile shield and nuclear-powered battleships, officials are drafting a $1.1 trillion defense budget in response to political headwinds. The move indicates skepticism about the likelihood of the full budget being approved. (10/29)

Honeywell Aerospace to Invest $500M in Arizona Facility (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics)
Honeywell Aerospace has announced a $500 million investment in a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Tempe, Ariz., to build commercial aviation and defense products. The facility, scheduled to open in 2029, will feature advanced technologies such as modular robotics and digital twins, create 600 jobs and support $15 billion in control systems programs. (10/30)

SpaceX Buying Out 418 Homes Near Flagship AI Data Center, But Only if They Drop Participation in Lawsuit (Source: Tom's Hardware)
SpaceX's data center business powering Grok, is reportedly buying 418 properties in Mississippi, about half a mile from the powerplant that the company will use to power its data centers in the area. Real estate agents have been going door to door, offering owners deals on behalf of the company provided that they do not join a class-action lawsuit over the noise pollution coming from the gas turbines that power its GPUs. SpaceXAI also has offered a 50% Starlink discount to placate data center neighbors. (10/29)

Spacewalkers Install Roll-Out Solar Array for Power Generation (Source: NASA)
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station. During the 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk, Menon and Kutryk installed and deployed an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the station’s 2A electrical power channel. The array is the seventh IROSA installed on the station and will provide additional power to support critical operations, including a safe and controlled deorbit. (10/29)

NASA’s X-59 QueSST Heads to Kennedy Space Center (Source: The Aviationist)
On Oct. 28, 2026, NASA’s experimental X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) celebrated a year since its first flight as part of the agency’s program which will pave the way for the return of supersonic airliners. On the same day, the aircraft departed for its first journey east from California. Editor's Note: I'm guessing the aircraft is coming to Florida for the MAX POWER airshow and exposition at KSC. (10/29)

SpaceX to FCC: T-Mobile Is Just an Incumbent Out to Stifle Satellite Services (Source: PC Mag)
T-Mobile has dismissed and criticized SpaceX’s bid to become a major mobile carrier in the US. But SpaceX is now throwing its own shade, framing T-Mobile as one of the many “incumbents” out to stifle competition from satellite-to-phone services. The Elon Musk-led company threw the subtle jab in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission that accuses T-Mobile of pushing “antiquated technical rules” for traditional ground-based cell sites. (10/29)

OceanSound Invests in Radiation-Hardened Space Electronics Maker Iris Technology (Source: Beyond LEO)
New York private equity firm OceanSound Partners has made a strategic investment in Iris Technology Corporation, a California company that builds the electronics running sensing payloads on national security satellites. The size of the investment and the stake involved were not disclosed. Iris, based in Irvine and founded in 1986, announced the completed deal on 28 October 2026. Founder and chief executive Ed O'Rourke keeps a significant ownership interest and will continue to run the company with its existing management team. (10/29)

What a Dem Congress Would Mean for NASA (Source: Politico)
If Democrats return to power after next week’s elections, they’ve got plans to beat back Trump administration efforts to gut NASA’s science programs. Also on their to-do list: investigating DOGE’s impact on the agency and taking a close look at NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s new programs he unveiled this year.

“If the American people give us the majority on November 3, the administration and its agencies will no longer be able to ignore Congress' constitutional roles and responsibilities. New programmatic concepts will once again be subject to congressional review and approval, and we intend to be a co-equal partner in that process,” said Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA), vice ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. (10/30)

Florida's Lonestar Space Teams with Leviathan to Serve Ecuador Space Ambitions (Source: Lonestar Space)
Lonestar Space has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Leviathan Space to explore bringing StarVault’s secure, space-based data storage services to Ecuador. The collaboration will initially focus on Ecuadorian government pilots, alongside opportunities in banking, healthcare, telecommunications, energy and other critical infrastructure sectors.

Together, we will assess customer needs, local infrastructure and connectivity requirements, and potential deployment models—helping organizations protect critical information while reducing exposure to terrestrial disruption and concentration risk. The MOU also provides for reserving up to 20 petabytes of StarVault capacity for potential Ecuadorian government applications, with future deployments and commercial arrangements subject to separate agreements. (10/30)

NRO Reconsiders Commercial Radar-Imagery Contracts as Demand Grows (Source: Space News)
The National Reconnaissance Office is reviewing how it contracts for commercial radar satellite imagery, a senior official said Oct. 28. The rethink comes as demand rises and suppliers press for more predictable revenue, putting the agency’s purchasing approach in focus. (10/29)

Artemis III Core Stage Joins Its Boosters at KSC (Source: New Space Economy)
NASA has reported the integration of the Artemis III Space Launch System core stage between its two solid rocket boosters at Kennedy Space Center. The agency published the update on October 28, 2026. The 212-foot core stage was integrated in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building. Together, the core stage and boosters form the rocket configuration described as the SLS short stack. (10/29)

Astroscale Awarded £15 million MOD Contract as UK Government Strengthens Focus on Resilience in Space (Source: Astroscale)
Astroscale’s UK subsidiary has been awarded a £15 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) as Prime Contractor for LEDA, a new defense program that builds on the company’s experience developing capabilities to understand, protect and operate in space. The contract has been awarded to Astroscale, with BAE Systems and Open Cosmos supporting as key partners.

The recently published UK Space Strategy identifies defense and national security as a central priority, with a focus on protecting critical space infrastructure and building a more resilient space sector. With the knowledge that satellites underpin the communications, navigation and intelligence services on which the UK relies, the strategy emphasizes the capabilities needed to understand activity in orbit, respond to threats and maintain secure access to space. (10/28)

Virginia Workforce Programs Support Defense, Aerospace (Source: Area Development)
Virginia is addressing the demand for skilled defense and aerospace workers through programs such as the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville. The program, supported by the US Navy, aims to train up to 1,000 students annually in 16 weeks. The Hampton Roads Maritime Training System, in collaboration with local community colleges, produces up to 10,000 workers annually for shipbuilding and repair. (10/17)

Astroscale Wins UK Defense Contract for Orbital Protection (Source: Via Satellite)
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Astroscale a contract to lead Project LEDA, a defense initiative aimed at enhancing space security. BAE Systems and Open Cosmos will partner with Astroscale on the project, which builds on Astroscale's previous missions to approach and inspect objects in orbit. The investment is part of the UK's Defense Investment Plan, which allocates $4.3 billion for space through 2030. (10/28)

Kratos Wins $33.6 Million Contract for NASA’s Nuclear-Powered Mars Mission (Source: Telemetry Today)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has secured a $33.6 million contract to design, build and deliver the power conversion system for NASA’s Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1 Freedom) mission. Kratos will perform the work as a subcontractor to Sierra Lobo, Inc. under NASA’s SpaceDOC III contract. Targeted for launch in 2028, the mission aims to demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion beyond Earth orbit on a journey to Mars.

Kratos will supply a compact, space-qualified closed Brayton cycle power conversion system that converts heat generated by the spacecraft’s fission reactor into electricity. The system will provide power for spacecraft operations and the electric propulsion subsystem, which is designed to enable sustained thrust over long periods. (10/29)

Draper Strategic Enhanced Ground Testing Facility to Open on Space Coast in November (Source: Draper)
A grand opening and naming ceremony will be held November 17th for the Draper Strategic Enhanced Ground Testing Facility (SEGTF), a 51,010 square foot purpose-built complex that will provide engineering services and advanced testing capabilities for U.S. military and space programs. (10/29)

Pentagon Watchdog Declines to Probe Ukraine Intel, Starlink Cuts (Source: Bloomberg)
The Pentagon’s inspector general declined to investigate the disruption of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine and Kyiv’s access to the Starlink and Starshield systems and characterized the incident as a business dispute beyond his purview. The inspector general, Platte Moring III, told a group of senators that Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby “has informed me that the reported disruptions concern a contractual matter under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force and the US Space Force.” (10/29)

US Space Industry Will Suffer for Ukraine’s Starlink Outage (Source: Defense One)
Elon Musk’s decision to hobble satellite services to Ukraine’s military, and his shifting explanations for doing so, have undermined the U.S. space industry and the country’s diplomatic and intelligence partnerships, say lawmakers, foreign officials, and former senior members of the U.S. military. “I'm an American. You're an American. We want American companies to be the most competitive,” said one former senior military official who worked in space policy, operations, and acquisitions. Episodes like the Starlink scandal “create an environment where you make more competitors.” (10/29)

Florida Congressional Staff Members Visit Space Launch Delta 45 to Learn About Ongoing Launch Efforts (Source: USSF)
On Oct. 28, Florida congressional staff members visited Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to gain a firsthand understanding of the Eastern Range launch mission and the infrastructure projects supporting its future. During the visit, staff members toured the Morrell Operations Center, where they received an overview of the organizations, capabilities, and infrastructure required to execute launch operations across the Eastern Range.

The tour included the Mission Control Room, where the 1st Range Operations Squadron oversees launches from the Eastern Range. Staff members also met with U.S. Air Force Col. Douglas Oltmer, commander of the 45th Weather Squadron, to learn how weather forecasting and monitoring support safe and successful launch operations. (10/29)