An Aerobot With ISRU Capabilities
Could Explore Venus' Atmosphere for Years (Source: Universe
Today)
Aerial robotic platforms (aerobots) that can operate for years may be
an ideal choice for exploring Earth's "Sister Planet." While prototypes
have been built in response to NASA's strategic plans, these designs
lack a method for replenishing buoyant gases, limiting their lifetimes.
According to a new proposal led by MIT researchers, In-Situ Resource
Utilization (ISRU) could extend the lifetime of aerobots by using
electrolysis to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into buoyant
gas products and an energy source. (4/3)
African Market for Satellite Services
Offers Pent Up Demand (Source: Via Satellite)
With a large landmass of 11.7 million square miles, Africa has been a
challenging place to set up satellite services. But that is changing.
As of September, 2025, more than 21 African countries have established
space programs and 18 have launched at least one satellite, according
to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Now the real work of
digital inclusion, enterprise application, and national development
connecting millions of Africans begins, industry experts shared during
SATShow Week.
Africa is one of the fastest growing satellite markets in the world
with limited terrestrial infrastructure and growing demand for
connectivity. African nations and companies have launched a combined
total of 65 satellites, with over 120 additional satellites in
development and expected to be launched by 2030. (4/3)
Gravitics Receives Strategic Funding
Increase From SpaceWERX (Source: Via Satellite)
Gravitics has received a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract
from SpaceWERX, the U.S. Space Force’s innovation arm, to accelerate
development and demonstration of its Orbital Carrier architecture, the
company said. Under the contract, Gravitics will flight-demonstrate a
pathfinder Orbital Carrier on a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) rideshare mission
and a Viper orbital transfer vehicle. The Viper demonstration includes
plans to deploy a third-party payload to a high-energy orbit. (4/3)
Why Is NASA Bothering To Go Back to
the Moon if We’ve Already Been There? (Source: Ars Technica)
The first time NASA launched humans toward the Moon, in December 1968,
the United States was a deeply fractured nation. The historic flight of
three people into the unknown brought a measure of solace to a country
riven by assassinations, riots, political discord, and a deeply
unpopular foreign war. If history does not repeat itself, it certainly
rhymes. Today, four humans are on the way to the Moon, Reid Wiseman,
Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. They do so, once
again, amid a troubled world. Will Artemis II have a similar impact?
Does it even matter?
Artemis II was not a global event. The world of today is, of course,
incredibly different from that of the 1960s, especially the landscape
of media competing for public attention. Just three US television
networks graced the airwaves then, compared to hundreds today and a
bazillion more online through viewing options like YouTube and social
media. And increasingly, younger generations are as interested in
creating content as they are in consuming it. The world population in
1968 was about 3.5 billion people, or a little less than half of
today’s. Yet an estimated one-quarter of them watched broadcasts from
the Moon. (4/2)
Insurance is Commercial Space
Nuclear’s Biggest Headache (Source: Payload)
There are no good neighbors for the commercial space nuclear power
business. Lots of challenges face commercial space nuclear missions—but
experts at an industry seminar on Thursday only called one a “show
stopper”—insurance. Entrepreneurs believe they can safely launch
radioactive material into orbit without creating an accident of atomic
proportions, but insurance companies are still balking at the word
“nuclear,” according to company leaders.
“Insurance is a fundamentally conservative and reactionary industry,”
said Stewart Forbes, an energy attorney with Hogan Lovells. “People
still think Chernobyl or Fukushima or Three Mile Island, but that’s not
the world we live in anymore.”
Nuclear reactors would remain inert, with controls engaged to keep them
from going critical, until they enter orbit. The real—but small—risk
would be a reactor that somehow re-enters Earth’s atmosphere after
activation. (4/3)
Atlas V Launches its Heaviest-Ever
Payload Saturday, Sending 29 Amazon Internet Satellites to Orbit From
Florida (Source: Space.com)
A ULA Atlas V rocket launched its heaviest-ever payload on Saturday
morning from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, carrying 29 satellites for
the Amazon Leo broadband constellation to orbit. Together, those
spacecraft weigh 18 tons, according to ULA. The Atlas V successfully
deployed all 29 into their target orbit, according to ULA. (4/4)
The US Has Declared ‘Space
Superiority’ Over Iran. What Does That Mean? (Source: Defense
One)
The U.S. military declared space superiority over Iran this week, but
defense experts question what that means given the country’s inchoate
military space program and heavy reliance on space-based intelligence
from other nations. It’s not clear if the country is still actively
jamming or spoofing U.S. assets, and it’s highly unlikely that the U.S.
Space Force has physically destroyed the country’s handful of
satellites. (4/2)
Chandra Donelson Departs as Space
Force CDAO (Source: Defense Scoop)
Chandra Donelson has announced that she is leaving her position as the
Space Force’s chief data and artificial intelligence officer. Donelson
was appointed as the Space Force CDAO in 2023, a role where she oversaw
the data, AI and software integration for the Pentagon’s youngest
service. She was notably involved in the Department of the Air Force’s
broad experimentation with generative AI capabilities, and most
recently led the Space Force’s adoption of GenAI.mil. (4/3)
JAA Selects RS&H to Guide Cecil
Spaceport Re-Entry License Application (Source: Jax Daily Record)
Jacksonville-based architectural and engineering firm RS&H is
tapped to help the Jacksonville Aviation Authority pursue a re-entry
license at Cecil Airport, a step toward transforming the former naval
air station from a one-way launch site into a two-way spaceport
logistics hub. The re-entry license request for qualifications
attracted 10 interested firms. According to the RFQ, the contract is
expected to be executed this month. (4/3)
Smooth Sailing for Artemis Crew So Far
(Source: Space Policy Online)
The Artemis II crew continues on a smooth course to the Moon today.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen are now about halfway to their
destination, with a loop around the Moon on Monday. (4/3)
India's Protoplanet Supports ISRO
Astronaut Training (Source: India Today)
India’s ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, is steadily
moving closer to reality, and a key player behind the scenes is
Protoplanet, which is helping prepare astronauts for the extreme
realities of space. Through its collaboration with the Indian Space
Research Organization, Protoplanet is spearheading a new generation of
analog missions, Earth-based simulations designed to mimic the physical
and psychological challenges of spaceflight. (4/3)
ISRO's Human Space Flight Centers (HSFC) along with Protoplanet began
Mission Mitra in Ladakh on Thursday. Mitra or the Mapping of
Interoperable Traits and Reliability Assessment is a high-altitude
analog mission conducted in Ladakh. The harsh terrain and thin
atmosphere of the region provide a near-space-like environment,
allowing researchers to study how astronauts adapt to isolation,
hypoxia and operational constraints. (4/4)
White House Seeks $5.6 Billion Cut to
NASA Budget in 2027 (Source: Reuters)
The White House on Friday proposed a $5.6 billion cut to NASA's
budget for 2027, including a $3.4 billion cut to the space agency's
science unit, a 23% cut as NASA's new chief plans an array of new
missions under the flagship U.S. moon program. (4/3)
White House Pitches Dramatic Space
Force Budget Jump In 2027 (Source: Aviation Week)
The Trump administration wants to fund the U.S. Space Force’s request
for a larger budget in fiscal 2027, and then some. The service could
see a 430% increase in total procurement funding over 2026 under the
proposed budget request, from $3.6 billion to $19.1 billion, according
to documents released last week. (4/3)
From Artemis to ULA, Space Force Has
Hands Full with 6 Different Rockets this Year (Source: Orlando
Sentinel)
NASA’s Artemis II mission got the limelight this week, but U.S. Space
Force has an arsenal of other space-bound hardware muscling onto
Florida’s launch pads this year. This year’s schedule from either
Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station already
features six different rockets. Vying for many of the same support
assets are two from SpaceX, two from United Launch Alliance, one from
Blue Origin plus NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.
Those launches require a juggling act, as they all need some of the
same supplies, facilities and staff, said Space Launch Delta 45
commander Col. Brian Chatman. For example, many of the spacecraft
operators want gaseous nitrogen (GN2) on hand during launches. The
inert gas keeps their rocket hardware safe by pushing out more volatile
propellants in the case of a scrub. A lot of that comes from a plant on
Merritt Island, and NASA got first dibs on it last week. (4/4)
April 4, 2026
DoD Budget Request Tops Historic $1.5
Trillion Amid War Spending (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Trump administration is set to propose a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, including a $1.15 trillion base budget and $350 billion from a reconciliation bill. The budget allocates $760 billion for weapons development and procurement, with significant funding for shipbuilding, the Golden Dome missile shield and the F-35 program. The proposal marks the first time the baseline defense budget has reached $1 trillion. (4/2)
Massive Budget Cuts for US Science Proposed Again by Trump Administration (Source: Nature)
For the second year in a row, US President Donald Trump has proposed significant cuts to the budgets of major US science agencies. Released Friday, the White House’s plan for federal spending next year also includes a ban on using federal funds for subscriptions and publishing fees for some academic journals.
The plan proposes cuts to federal agencies that fund or conduct research on health, space and the environment. Some of the steepest cuts would be made to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): the budgets of both would fall more than 50% in 2027 compared to their current levels (see ‘Budget crunch’). The budget for the US National Institutes of Health would drop 13%. (4/3)
How the Space Force Supported NASA’s Artemis II Launch (Source: Air and Space Forces)
In many ways, the Space Force’s role in NASA’s Artemis II mission is the same as any other launch it supports. Space Launch Delta 45, which oversees operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, will ensure the launch is safe and the base is secure, and will monitor weather risks in advance.
But the size, nature, and level of public interest in NASA’s first crewed lunar flight since 1972 means those routine range support tasks require more personnel, more analysis, and more security guardrails than a standard launch.
One of the biggest differences is the amount of personnel required to support Artemis II. Lt. Col. Gregory Allen, commander of the delta’s 1st Range Operations Squadron, said that for a typical launch, about four or five operators are “on console” at the range’s mission control center. Artemis will require around 28 crew members. That’s primarily because the Boeing-built rocket that’s flying the mission, the Space Launch System, lacks an onboard command-destruct system, known as an automated flight safety system. (3/31)
NASA’s No. 1 Priority: Artemis II Toilet Fixed Before Trip to Moon (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The first-ever toilet in deep space barely made it into orbit before NASA astronauts had to roll up their sleeves and make some repairs. There was no plumbing backup, of course — there is no actual plumbing on the Orion spacecraft, as urine is vented out into space and fecal matter is collected for later disposal. Instead, the crew of the historic Artemis II mission headed around the moon reported a blinking fault light on their lunar latrine. (4/2)
Department of War Confirms Hypersonic Missile Test at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
The Department of War has confirmed that the secretive March 26 launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was a successful hypersonic missile test. The missile test had not been publicly announced — but it was foreshadowed by a rarely seen Coast Guard-Department of Homeland Security launch-hazard zone for mariners that stretched over a narrow section of the Atlantic Ocean. (4/2)
In-Orbit Logistics Companies Call for Clearer Demand Signals from Gov (Source: Via Satellite)
Clare Martin, executive vice president at orbital servicing company Astroscale, said orbital refueling is a key element in the vision for a space infrastructure layer laid out by U.S. Space Command Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting.
“Refueling is coming very, very soon,” Martin said. “Those are key elements, but they’re not sufficient. There will be a need for inspection services, there will be a need for removal, there’ll be a need for repair. And all of those elements together is what will give you a full logistics infrastructure in space.”
Robert Hauge, president of Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics, sees deorbiting as the most promising capability for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) servicing. He said with the number of satellites in space growing so large, it could take over a century for these satellites to leave orbit once deactivated. (4/2)
Lunar Lander Developers Say They Are Ready To Meet Anticipated Increased NASA Demand (Source: Keith Sadlocha)
Can the current landers carry the mass need to build out the lunar site? No — the small "current" robotic landers highlighted in recent developer statements cannot carry the masses required to build a lunar power grid or habitats. Larger cargo landers now in development for NASA’s Artemis program can (and are explicitly planned to). The current-generation CLPS landers from Firefly Aerospace (Blue Ghost) and Intuitive Machines (Nova-C) are designed primarily for delivering science payloads, instruments, small rovers, hoppers, and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface—not for transporting the heavy infrastructure needed to construct a full lunar base or outpost.
Early concepts suggest dozens to hundreds of tons of landed mass over many missions are required for even a basic sustainable outpost. Much of the heavy construction would rely on in-situ resource utilization to reduce what must be shipped from Earth, plus larger landers or human-rated systems (e.g., Starship-class vehicles under development for Artemis). Firefly and Intuitive Machines have expressed ambitions to scale up production and support NASA's goal of more frequent deliveries (potentially monthly by ~2027 under "CLPS 2.0" or evolved contracts), including larger variants. (3/23)
Earth Formed From Material Exclusively From the Inner Solar System, Planetary Scientists Show (Source: Phys.org)
Planetary scientists compared existing data on the isotopic ratios of a wide range of meteorites, including those from Mars and the asteroid Vesta, with those of Earth. Isotopes are sibling atoms of the same element (same number of protons) that have a different mass (different number of neutrons). The researchers analyzed this data in a new way and arrived at a surprising conclusion: the material that makes up Earth originates entirely from the inner region of the solar system. Material from the outer solar system, by contrast, is likely to account for less than two percent of Earth's mass, or even nothing at all. (3/30)
Musk's Exploding Megarocket Puts $8B in Space Investments At Risk (Source: Politico)
Starcloud is a startup that’s racing to build massive data centers in space that supporters say could limit the strain artificial intelligence is placing on terrestrial electric grids. But the fate of Starcloud — and dozens of other space startups seeking to upend the mining, pharmaceutical and telecoms industries — depends on whether Elon Musk can figure out how to get SpaceX’s Starship megarocket to stop exploding.
Starcloud is one of 47 companies whose business models rely on the increased capacity or lower launch costs that the SpaceX CEO has for years promised Starship would already be able to deliver, according to an exclusive analysis from the financial data provider PitchBook. The largest and most powerful rocket ever built, Starship prototypes have unexpectedly burst into flames more than a dozen times, interrupting commercial air travel and sending shrapnel into Mexico.
Those space startups — including ones working on orbital data centers, asteroid mining and microgravity pharmaceutical manufacturing — have collectively raised more than $8 billion from investors and could soon be at risk if Starship continues combusting. A decade ago, Musk claimed SpaceX would build a rocket capable of carrying mankind to Mars by 2025. Now, with his megarocket still grounded, his goal is to return astronauts to the moon by the end of President Donald Trump’s term and visit the red planet in 2030. (3/31)
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS May Be Nearly 12 Billion Years Old — So Ancient Its Star System May No Longer Exist (Source: Space.com)
The interstellar comet that recently dominated headlines, 3I/ATLAS, could be between 10 and 12 billion years old, a new assessment of the comet's isotopic composition has shown. This so-called "invader" in our solar system is only the third object on record to enter our cosmic neighborhood from beyond. If these new age estimates of the comet are true, they would suggest 3I/ATLAS was born within a few billion years of the birth of the Milky Way. (3/30)
Webb Telescope Spots Mysterious Explosion That Defies Known Physics (Source: Science Daily)
A record-breaking cosmic blast that lasted hours instead of seconds may reveal a brand-new way black holes destroy stars. Astronomers have spotted a bizarre cosmic explosion that refuses to play by the rules—and it’s leaving scientists scrambling for answers. GRB 250702B, detected by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and a global network of observatories, lasted an astonishing seven hours—far longer than typical gamma-ray bursts, which usually fade in under a minute. (3/30)
Unexpected Metal in Rocks on Mars Hints at The Possibility of Ancient Life (Source: Science Alert)
The discovery of abundant nickel in a once waterlogged region of Mars offers yet another hint that the red planet may once have offered suitable conditions for life. In Neretva Vallis, an ancient channel that once carried water into the Jezero Crater delta, researchers found nickel in concentrations higher than ever seen before in the bedrock of Mars. Placed in its broader geological context, the metal offers clues about the chemical history of the region and adds a new piece to the puzzle of the planet's past habitability. (4/1)
JD Vance Believes Extraterrestrial Aliens are Demons (Source: Entertainment Weekly)
Vice President JD Vance has a theory about aliens and UFOs. Rather than real-life extraterrestrials, he believes they’re demons. "I don't think I don't think they're aliens. I think they're demons," he said. Vance is the latest politician to wade into little-green-man discourse, following Donald Trump's demand for the release of the so-called "UFO files," and Barack Obama claiming that aliens are "real," though he hasn't seen them.
"When I came in, I was obsessed with the UFO files," the vice president told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson on Friday, referring to the cache of files related to "alien and extraterrestrial life" that President Donald Trump called to release in February. Vance said that he hasn't had even a "peek" at said files, due to the demands of "the economy and national security and things like that."
"I've already had a couple of times where I'm like, 'All right, we're going to Area 51. We're going out to New Mexico. We're gonna sort of get to the bottom of this.' And then the timing of the trip just didn't work out. But trust me, anybody who's curious about this, I'm more curious than anybody, and I've got three years of the very tippy top of the classification. I'm gonna get to the bottom of it," he said. (3/29)
Varda Flies Navigation Payload, Heat Shield Tests on Sixth Reentry Mission (Source: Space News)
Varda Space Industries announced the launch of its W-6 vehicle with SpaceX's Transporter-16 today, marking the company's sixth mission overall and its first launch of 2026. W-6 carries a suite of advanced payloads designed to expand the technical foundation for autonomous hypersonic flight and next-generation thermal protection systems. The mission is funded through a partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and commercial space entities. (3/30)
In Our Search for Alien Life, Stars Might be Muddying Their Signals (Source: CBC)
A new study points to an overlooked complication in that type of search: space weather from stars, where potential signals originate, could be interfering. Since the earliest days of the hunt for intelligent life, scientists have zeroed in on a particular kind of transmission known as a narrowband signal — a beam of energy so tightly focused at a single frequency that it resembles a needle, says Vishal Gajjar. He says narrowband signals became a prime target because they are unlikely to arise from known natural astrophysical processes, especially when they’re detected in the same place more than once.
But despite decades of searching, scientists have been met largely with radio silence — prompting them to ask whether a fundamental property of the stars that planets orbit could be muddying the signals. Every star, including our own sun, says Gajjar, is surrounded by an interplanetary medium: a chaotic mix of plasma and magnetic fields stirred by stellar winds, flares and occasional violent eruptions of even more disruptive coronal mass ejections from the host star. If a narrowband signal passes through it, especially when it's stormy, it can become significantly broadened, which makes it wider and flatter than most instruments would catch, he says. (3/30)
‘Lighthouses in Space’: the Chinese Jam-Proof Satellite Network to Fill GPS Gaps (Source: SCMP)
Chinese researchers say they have built an 11-satellite network for a jam-resistant, high-accuracy optical navigation system, designed to provide positioning where GPS is unavailable or disrupted, for everything from self-driving cars and drones to deep-space missions. Optical navigation has also been used in the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, helping drones developed by companies such as Asio Technologies and General Atomics operate in environments where GPS signals are jammed.
While positioning systems such as GPS and BeiDou rely on satellites that beam radio waves, Tsinghua University’s new network uses coded light signals from “beacon” satellites. “What we’ve done is put those ‘lighthouses’ in space, using light-emitting satellites to guide everything from vehicles to spacecraft,” said Xing Fei. The system works by placing powerful light sources on satellites to send coded signals to Earth. Receivers on the ground detect the light and use its direction, along with the satellites’ known positions, to calculate where they are. (3/30)
Amazon, Delta Team For In-Flight Wi-Fi, Challenging Starlink (Source: Reuters)
Amazon's Leo satellite internet unit signed a deal with Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi on 500 of the airline's planes starting in 2028, inking its second major partnership in the skies as it races to launch more satellites and take on Elon Musk's Starlink. The deal ratchets up competition between Amazon's burgeoning satellite internet service and Starlink for a slice of the in-flight Wi-Fi market, even as Musk's satellite network remains far ahead in its satellite deployment and global service. (3/31)
Many Waters May Have Mixed on Mars (Source: Sky & Telescope)
Geologists like to say that “every rock tells a story.” The texture and the chemical and mineral compositions record a history of geologic events and environmental conditions. The older a rock is, the more history has happened to it. Like a palimpsest, the original story recorded in the rock may be erased and overwritten with a new one. Figuring out the overlapping stories can take years. That was the case for a drill sample the Curiosity rover took out of the Martian ground in a clay-rich region of Gale Crater called Glen Torridon in 2019. An analysis of the sample found evidence that a subsurface environment once existed where complex organic molecules could have formed. (3/25)
SpaceX Successfully Launches Three Greek Nanosatellites (Source: Greek Reporter)
In a historic step for Greece’s space program, three Greek-made nanosatellites were successfully launched into space last Monday by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Developed under the ERMIS project -- the flagship for Greece’s €200 million ($229.5 million) National Microsatellite Program of Athens (NKUA) -- the three satellites are now in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers. (3/30)
SpaceX to Appeal Namibia's Starlink License Rejection (Source: Business Insider)
Satellite internet provider Starlink, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, said it will pursue an appeal after the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) rejected its application to operate in Namibia, marking a setback in its expansion across Africa. In a statement this week, the company described the decision as a “disappointing outcome”, adding that it was particularly concerning for “the thousands of you who placed deposits, participated in the public consultation, and made your voices heard.” (3/28)
China Planning Human Research Program at Space Station (Source: CGTN)
The China Manned Space Agency announced that it would solicit proposals for a space human research program starting April 1, targeting major strategic, fundamental, and forward-looking scientific issues related to the long-term healthy survival of humans during future space station flights and lunar landing missions. The program aims to create a space human atlas, establish a space human research database, and yield a series of innovative research outcomes that can benefit both the health of taikonauts on long-duration orbital missions and the public on Earth. (3/28)
Europe to Negotiate with NASA on Lunar Missions: ESA (Source: AFP)
The European Space Agency will negotiate future participation in NASA missions after the US space agency revamped its lunar program, the ESA head told AFP Wednesday. The US space agency announced recently it is suspending its so-called Gateway lunar orbital space station efforts in order to focus on building a base on the Moon's surface. This left the European role in future exploration unclear. The ESA had an agreement with NASA for three astronaut flights to Gateway. (4/1)
Arizona Site Used to Evaluate Parachutes for NASA’s Artemis II Flight (Source: KOLD)
NASA is preparing to send astronauts back toward the moon with the Artemis II mission, a roughly 10-day test flight designed to test the Orion spacecraft with a crew aboard. While the launch and mission operations will draw attention to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center and deep space, some of the technology meant to bring the crew home safely was tested much closer to home in the Southwest.
The U.S. Army’s test center in Yuma played a key role in developmental testing for Orion’s parachute system, according to Mark Schauer with Yuma Proving Ground. Schauer said the capsule parachute system underwent years of testing at the range. “From 2011 to 2018, the Orion capsule parachute system underwent developmental testing here at our range,” he said. (4/1)
China Launches In-Orbit Experiments in Space Hospital Quest (Source: Xinhua)
Five medical research projects aimed at establishing the world's first space hospital, proposed by a university in south China's innovation hub Shenzhen, were transported to space aboard a test spacecraft on Monday. These projects will complete in-orbit experiments and tests over the next three years.
China launched a Lijian-2 Y1 rocket on Monday from a commercial aerospace innovation pilot zone in northwest China, with the Qingzhou Cargo Spacecraft Test Vehicle onboard. The test vehicle features 27 projects with a total payload of 1.02 tonnes and will conduct in-orbit tests at altitudes ranging from 200 to 600 kilometers. (4/1)
Isaacman Aims to Reinvigorate NASA’s Image, Starting with the Moon (Source: Politico)
New NASA head Jared Isaacman faces his first big test with the launch of Artemis, a crucial milestone in the race to beat China and return Americans to the moon. The effort comes after thousands of employees fled the agency last year and the White House proposed steep cuts to NASA’s budget. Isaacman is determined to change the narrative — and meet President Donald Trump’s ambitious timeline to land U.S. astronauts on the lunar surface.
“If we can do this after what the agency was subjected to in 2025, that’s a hell of an accomplishment,” said a congressional staffer, who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “Isaacman is the quarterback. If all goes well, he will get too much of the credit. If all does not go well, he will shoulder way too much blame for a result caused by institutional decay.” (4/1)
Isaacman Signals Support for Reduced NASA Budget Proposed by President Trump (Source: NASA)
In an email to NASA employees on Friday, Administrator Jared Isaacman had this to say about the Trump administration's proposed budget reduction for the next fiscal year: "I strongly support the President’s fiscal policies and mandate to drive efficiency. The President’s Budget provides Congress and the public with the vision and resources to carry out our mission. The requested funding levels are sufficient for NASA to meet the Nation’s high expectations and deliver on all mission priorities."
"Achieving this will require disciplined focus on the highest-impact activities and rigorous stewardship of taxpayer resources. I am committed to maximizing every dollar of this budget in conjunction with funding from the Working Families Tax Cut Act to deliver results. I encourage the workforce to leave the politics for the politicians and remain focused on the mission. Artemis II and our astronauts on the space station are the highest priority, and there is no shortage of initiatives to progress, including building the Moon Base, launching SR-1 Freedom, igniting the orbital economy, and launching more missions of discovery. Stay focused on achieving the outcomes only NASA can create." (4/3)
Big Banks Seeking a Piece of SpaceX’s IPO Must Subscribe to Elon Musk’s Grok (Source: New York Times)
Elon Musk is requiring banks, law firms, auditors and other advisers working on the I.P.O. to buy subscriptions to Grok, his artificial intelligence chatbot, which is part of SpaceX, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. Some of the banks have agreed to spend tens of millions on the chatbot, and they have already started integrating Grok into their I.T. systems, three of the people said. (4/3)
Redwire Awarded Contract to Deliver Quantum-Secure Spacecraft for European Space Agency's QKDSat (Source: Redwire)
Redwire Corp. has been awarded a contract to develop a quantum-secure satellite under ESA's Quantum Key Distribution Satellite (QKDSat), within ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Partnership Projects program. Redwire will manufacture and deliver its European-built Hammerhead spacecraft, equipped with the QKD payload and Redwire’s ADPMS-3 suite of avionics.
For QKDSat, Redwire is part of a multi-country consortium that includes Honeywell Aerospace and aims to provide quantum key distribution via satellite to safeguard against communication data breaches. Honeywell’s UK team is leading an industrial consortium that includes: Redwire Space of Belgium; Craft Prospect and British Telecom of the United Kingdom; QTLabs of Austria, Honeywell’s team in Canada, and several key players in Czechia and Switzerland. (4/2)
SpaceX Delays Next Starship Launch by a Month (Source: Reuters)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Friday that the company's next Starship test flight will take place in May and not April as originally scheduled.
Musk posted on social media platform X that the next flight of Starship’s V3 vehicle was four to six weeks away, or in the first two weeks of May. Earlier, he said the first flight would take place in April. SpaceX's debut of the V3 Starship iteration has been delayed for months as the company has packed dozens of upgrades into the vehicle to make it more reliable and suitable for NASA missions like landing on the moon under the Artemis program. (4/3)
1st Results From Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Reveal How Much We Still Don’t Know About the Moon (Source: Space.com)
The first science results from a private spacecraft on the moon are challenging long-standing ideas about how our natural satellite evolved. Researchers analyzing data from Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which landed on the moon in March 2025 and operated for about two weeks on the lunar surface, said the new measurements cast doubt on the decades-old view of the moon as divided between a hotter near side — the face visible from Earth — and cooler regions elsewhere. (4/3)
Six Apollo Lunar Astronauts Remain as NASA Sends Crew to Moon (Source: Douglas Messier)
As NASA launched its first crewed mission to the Moon in 53 years on Wednesday, six retired astronauts from the Apollo lunar program are still with us while 26 others have passed away. The surviving group includes four of the 12 men who walked on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin is the oldest of the surviving astronauts at age 96. Still with us are Aldrin, David Scott, Fred Haise Jr., Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, Charles Duke Jr., and Russell "Rusty" Schweickart. All are currently 90 or older. (4/3)
The Trump administration is set to propose a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, including a $1.15 trillion base budget and $350 billion from a reconciliation bill. The budget allocates $760 billion for weapons development and procurement, with significant funding for shipbuilding, the Golden Dome missile shield and the F-35 program. The proposal marks the first time the baseline defense budget has reached $1 trillion. (4/2)
Massive Budget Cuts for US Science Proposed Again by Trump Administration (Source: Nature)
For the second year in a row, US President Donald Trump has proposed significant cuts to the budgets of major US science agencies. Released Friday, the White House’s plan for federal spending next year also includes a ban on using federal funds for subscriptions and publishing fees for some academic journals.
The plan proposes cuts to federal agencies that fund or conduct research on health, space and the environment. Some of the steepest cuts would be made to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): the budgets of both would fall more than 50% in 2027 compared to their current levels (see ‘Budget crunch’). The budget for the US National Institutes of Health would drop 13%. (4/3)
How the Space Force Supported NASA’s Artemis II Launch (Source: Air and Space Forces)
In many ways, the Space Force’s role in NASA’s Artemis II mission is the same as any other launch it supports. Space Launch Delta 45, which oversees operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, will ensure the launch is safe and the base is secure, and will monitor weather risks in advance.
But the size, nature, and level of public interest in NASA’s first crewed lunar flight since 1972 means those routine range support tasks require more personnel, more analysis, and more security guardrails than a standard launch.
One of the biggest differences is the amount of personnel required to support Artemis II. Lt. Col. Gregory Allen, commander of the delta’s 1st Range Operations Squadron, said that for a typical launch, about four or five operators are “on console” at the range’s mission control center. Artemis will require around 28 crew members. That’s primarily because the Boeing-built rocket that’s flying the mission, the Space Launch System, lacks an onboard command-destruct system, known as an automated flight safety system. (3/31)
NASA’s No. 1 Priority: Artemis II Toilet Fixed Before Trip to Moon (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The first-ever toilet in deep space barely made it into orbit before NASA astronauts had to roll up their sleeves and make some repairs. There was no plumbing backup, of course — there is no actual plumbing on the Orion spacecraft, as urine is vented out into space and fecal matter is collected for later disposal. Instead, the crew of the historic Artemis II mission headed around the moon reported a blinking fault light on their lunar latrine. (4/2)
Department of War Confirms Hypersonic Missile Test at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
The Department of War has confirmed that the secretive March 26 launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was a successful hypersonic missile test. The missile test had not been publicly announced — but it was foreshadowed by a rarely seen Coast Guard-Department of Homeland Security launch-hazard zone for mariners that stretched over a narrow section of the Atlantic Ocean. (4/2)
In-Orbit Logistics Companies Call for Clearer Demand Signals from Gov (Source: Via Satellite)
Clare Martin, executive vice president at orbital servicing company Astroscale, said orbital refueling is a key element in the vision for a space infrastructure layer laid out by U.S. Space Command Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting.
“Refueling is coming very, very soon,” Martin said. “Those are key elements, but they’re not sufficient. There will be a need for inspection services, there will be a need for removal, there’ll be a need for repair. And all of those elements together is what will give you a full logistics infrastructure in space.”
Robert Hauge, president of Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics, sees deorbiting as the most promising capability for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) servicing. He said with the number of satellites in space growing so large, it could take over a century for these satellites to leave orbit once deactivated. (4/2)
Lunar Lander Developers Say They Are Ready To Meet Anticipated Increased NASA Demand (Source: Keith Sadlocha)
Can the current landers carry the mass need to build out the lunar site? No — the small "current" robotic landers highlighted in recent developer statements cannot carry the masses required to build a lunar power grid or habitats. Larger cargo landers now in development for NASA’s Artemis program can (and are explicitly planned to). The current-generation CLPS landers from Firefly Aerospace (Blue Ghost) and Intuitive Machines (Nova-C) are designed primarily for delivering science payloads, instruments, small rovers, hoppers, and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface—not for transporting the heavy infrastructure needed to construct a full lunar base or outpost.
Early concepts suggest dozens to hundreds of tons of landed mass over many missions are required for even a basic sustainable outpost. Much of the heavy construction would rely on in-situ resource utilization to reduce what must be shipped from Earth, plus larger landers or human-rated systems (e.g., Starship-class vehicles under development for Artemis). Firefly and Intuitive Machines have expressed ambitions to scale up production and support NASA's goal of more frequent deliveries (potentially monthly by ~2027 under "CLPS 2.0" or evolved contracts), including larger variants. (3/23)
Earth Formed From Material Exclusively From the Inner Solar System, Planetary Scientists Show (Source: Phys.org)
Planetary scientists compared existing data on the isotopic ratios of a wide range of meteorites, including those from Mars and the asteroid Vesta, with those of Earth. Isotopes are sibling atoms of the same element (same number of protons) that have a different mass (different number of neutrons). The researchers analyzed this data in a new way and arrived at a surprising conclusion: the material that makes up Earth originates entirely from the inner region of the solar system. Material from the outer solar system, by contrast, is likely to account for less than two percent of Earth's mass, or even nothing at all. (3/30)
Musk's Exploding Megarocket Puts $8B in Space Investments At Risk (Source: Politico)
Starcloud is a startup that’s racing to build massive data centers in space that supporters say could limit the strain artificial intelligence is placing on terrestrial electric grids. But the fate of Starcloud — and dozens of other space startups seeking to upend the mining, pharmaceutical and telecoms industries — depends on whether Elon Musk can figure out how to get SpaceX’s Starship megarocket to stop exploding.
Starcloud is one of 47 companies whose business models rely on the increased capacity or lower launch costs that the SpaceX CEO has for years promised Starship would already be able to deliver, according to an exclusive analysis from the financial data provider PitchBook. The largest and most powerful rocket ever built, Starship prototypes have unexpectedly burst into flames more than a dozen times, interrupting commercial air travel and sending shrapnel into Mexico.
Those space startups — including ones working on orbital data centers, asteroid mining and microgravity pharmaceutical manufacturing — have collectively raised more than $8 billion from investors and could soon be at risk if Starship continues combusting. A decade ago, Musk claimed SpaceX would build a rocket capable of carrying mankind to Mars by 2025. Now, with his megarocket still grounded, his goal is to return astronauts to the moon by the end of President Donald Trump’s term and visit the red planet in 2030. (3/31)
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS May Be Nearly 12 Billion Years Old — So Ancient Its Star System May No Longer Exist (Source: Space.com)
The interstellar comet that recently dominated headlines, 3I/ATLAS, could be between 10 and 12 billion years old, a new assessment of the comet's isotopic composition has shown. This so-called "invader" in our solar system is only the third object on record to enter our cosmic neighborhood from beyond. If these new age estimates of the comet are true, they would suggest 3I/ATLAS was born within a few billion years of the birth of the Milky Way. (3/30)
Webb Telescope Spots Mysterious Explosion That Defies Known Physics (Source: Science Daily)
A record-breaking cosmic blast that lasted hours instead of seconds may reveal a brand-new way black holes destroy stars. Astronomers have spotted a bizarre cosmic explosion that refuses to play by the rules—and it’s leaving scientists scrambling for answers. GRB 250702B, detected by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and a global network of observatories, lasted an astonishing seven hours—far longer than typical gamma-ray bursts, which usually fade in under a minute. (3/30)
Unexpected Metal in Rocks on Mars Hints at The Possibility of Ancient Life (Source: Science Alert)
The discovery of abundant nickel in a once waterlogged region of Mars offers yet another hint that the red planet may once have offered suitable conditions for life. In Neretva Vallis, an ancient channel that once carried water into the Jezero Crater delta, researchers found nickel in concentrations higher than ever seen before in the bedrock of Mars. Placed in its broader geological context, the metal offers clues about the chemical history of the region and adds a new piece to the puzzle of the planet's past habitability. (4/1)
JD Vance Believes Extraterrestrial Aliens are Demons (Source: Entertainment Weekly)
Vice President JD Vance has a theory about aliens and UFOs. Rather than real-life extraterrestrials, he believes they’re demons. "I don't think I don't think they're aliens. I think they're demons," he said. Vance is the latest politician to wade into little-green-man discourse, following Donald Trump's demand for the release of the so-called "UFO files," and Barack Obama claiming that aliens are "real," though he hasn't seen them.
"When I came in, I was obsessed with the UFO files," the vice president told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson on Friday, referring to the cache of files related to "alien and extraterrestrial life" that President Donald Trump called to release in February. Vance said that he hasn't had even a "peek" at said files, due to the demands of "the economy and national security and things like that."
"I've already had a couple of times where I'm like, 'All right, we're going to Area 51. We're going out to New Mexico. We're gonna sort of get to the bottom of this.' And then the timing of the trip just didn't work out. But trust me, anybody who's curious about this, I'm more curious than anybody, and I've got three years of the very tippy top of the classification. I'm gonna get to the bottom of it," he said. (3/29)
Varda Flies Navigation Payload, Heat Shield Tests on Sixth Reentry Mission (Source: Space News)
Varda Space Industries announced the launch of its W-6 vehicle with SpaceX's Transporter-16 today, marking the company's sixth mission overall and its first launch of 2026. W-6 carries a suite of advanced payloads designed to expand the technical foundation for autonomous hypersonic flight and next-generation thermal protection systems. The mission is funded through a partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and commercial space entities. (3/30)
In Our Search for Alien Life, Stars Might be Muddying Their Signals (Source: CBC)
A new study points to an overlooked complication in that type of search: space weather from stars, where potential signals originate, could be interfering. Since the earliest days of the hunt for intelligent life, scientists have zeroed in on a particular kind of transmission known as a narrowband signal — a beam of energy so tightly focused at a single frequency that it resembles a needle, says Vishal Gajjar. He says narrowband signals became a prime target because they are unlikely to arise from known natural astrophysical processes, especially when they’re detected in the same place more than once.
But despite decades of searching, scientists have been met largely with radio silence — prompting them to ask whether a fundamental property of the stars that planets orbit could be muddying the signals. Every star, including our own sun, says Gajjar, is surrounded by an interplanetary medium: a chaotic mix of plasma and magnetic fields stirred by stellar winds, flares and occasional violent eruptions of even more disruptive coronal mass ejections from the host star. If a narrowband signal passes through it, especially when it's stormy, it can become significantly broadened, which makes it wider and flatter than most instruments would catch, he says. (3/30)
‘Lighthouses in Space’: the Chinese Jam-Proof Satellite Network to Fill GPS Gaps (Source: SCMP)
Chinese researchers say they have built an 11-satellite network for a jam-resistant, high-accuracy optical navigation system, designed to provide positioning where GPS is unavailable or disrupted, for everything from self-driving cars and drones to deep-space missions. Optical navigation has also been used in the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, helping drones developed by companies such as Asio Technologies and General Atomics operate in environments where GPS signals are jammed.
While positioning systems such as GPS and BeiDou rely on satellites that beam radio waves, Tsinghua University’s new network uses coded light signals from “beacon” satellites. “What we’ve done is put those ‘lighthouses’ in space, using light-emitting satellites to guide everything from vehicles to spacecraft,” said Xing Fei. The system works by placing powerful light sources on satellites to send coded signals to Earth. Receivers on the ground detect the light and use its direction, along with the satellites’ known positions, to calculate where they are. (3/30)
Amazon, Delta Team For In-Flight Wi-Fi, Challenging Starlink (Source: Reuters)
Amazon's Leo satellite internet unit signed a deal with Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi on 500 of the airline's planes starting in 2028, inking its second major partnership in the skies as it races to launch more satellites and take on Elon Musk's Starlink. The deal ratchets up competition between Amazon's burgeoning satellite internet service and Starlink for a slice of the in-flight Wi-Fi market, even as Musk's satellite network remains far ahead in its satellite deployment and global service. (3/31)
Many Waters May Have Mixed on Mars (Source: Sky & Telescope)
Geologists like to say that “every rock tells a story.” The texture and the chemical and mineral compositions record a history of geologic events and environmental conditions. The older a rock is, the more history has happened to it. Like a palimpsest, the original story recorded in the rock may be erased and overwritten with a new one. Figuring out the overlapping stories can take years. That was the case for a drill sample the Curiosity rover took out of the Martian ground in a clay-rich region of Gale Crater called Glen Torridon in 2019. An analysis of the sample found evidence that a subsurface environment once existed where complex organic molecules could have formed. (3/25)
SpaceX Successfully Launches Three Greek Nanosatellites (Source: Greek Reporter)
In a historic step for Greece’s space program, three Greek-made nanosatellites were successfully launched into space last Monday by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Developed under the ERMIS project -- the flagship for Greece’s €200 million ($229.5 million) National Microsatellite Program of Athens (NKUA) -- the three satellites are now in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers. (3/30)
SpaceX to Appeal Namibia's Starlink License Rejection (Source: Business Insider)
Satellite internet provider Starlink, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, said it will pursue an appeal after the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) rejected its application to operate in Namibia, marking a setback in its expansion across Africa. In a statement this week, the company described the decision as a “disappointing outcome”, adding that it was particularly concerning for “the thousands of you who placed deposits, participated in the public consultation, and made your voices heard.” (3/28)
China Planning Human Research Program at Space Station (Source: CGTN)
The China Manned Space Agency announced that it would solicit proposals for a space human research program starting April 1, targeting major strategic, fundamental, and forward-looking scientific issues related to the long-term healthy survival of humans during future space station flights and lunar landing missions. The program aims to create a space human atlas, establish a space human research database, and yield a series of innovative research outcomes that can benefit both the health of taikonauts on long-duration orbital missions and the public on Earth. (3/28)
Europe to Negotiate with NASA on Lunar Missions: ESA (Source: AFP)
The European Space Agency will negotiate future participation in NASA missions after the US space agency revamped its lunar program, the ESA head told AFP Wednesday. The US space agency announced recently it is suspending its so-called Gateway lunar orbital space station efforts in order to focus on building a base on the Moon's surface. This left the European role in future exploration unclear. The ESA had an agreement with NASA for three astronaut flights to Gateway. (4/1)
Arizona Site Used to Evaluate Parachutes for NASA’s Artemis II Flight (Source: KOLD)
NASA is preparing to send astronauts back toward the moon with the Artemis II mission, a roughly 10-day test flight designed to test the Orion spacecraft with a crew aboard. While the launch and mission operations will draw attention to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center and deep space, some of the technology meant to bring the crew home safely was tested much closer to home in the Southwest.
The U.S. Army’s test center in Yuma played a key role in developmental testing for Orion’s parachute system, according to Mark Schauer with Yuma Proving Ground. Schauer said the capsule parachute system underwent years of testing at the range. “From 2011 to 2018, the Orion capsule parachute system underwent developmental testing here at our range,” he said. (4/1)
China Launches In-Orbit Experiments in Space Hospital Quest (Source: Xinhua)
Five medical research projects aimed at establishing the world's first space hospital, proposed by a university in south China's innovation hub Shenzhen, were transported to space aboard a test spacecraft on Monday. These projects will complete in-orbit experiments and tests over the next three years.
China launched a Lijian-2 Y1 rocket on Monday from a commercial aerospace innovation pilot zone in northwest China, with the Qingzhou Cargo Spacecraft Test Vehicle onboard. The test vehicle features 27 projects with a total payload of 1.02 tonnes and will conduct in-orbit tests at altitudes ranging from 200 to 600 kilometers. (4/1)
Isaacman Aims to Reinvigorate NASA’s Image, Starting with the Moon (Source: Politico)
New NASA head Jared Isaacman faces his first big test with the launch of Artemis, a crucial milestone in the race to beat China and return Americans to the moon. The effort comes after thousands of employees fled the agency last year and the White House proposed steep cuts to NASA’s budget. Isaacman is determined to change the narrative — and meet President Donald Trump’s ambitious timeline to land U.S. astronauts on the lunar surface.
“If we can do this after what the agency was subjected to in 2025, that’s a hell of an accomplishment,” said a congressional staffer, who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “Isaacman is the quarterback. If all goes well, he will get too much of the credit. If all does not go well, he will shoulder way too much blame for a result caused by institutional decay.” (4/1)
Isaacman Signals Support for Reduced NASA Budget Proposed by President Trump (Source: NASA)
In an email to NASA employees on Friday, Administrator Jared Isaacman had this to say about the Trump administration's proposed budget reduction for the next fiscal year: "I strongly support the President’s fiscal policies and mandate to drive efficiency. The President’s Budget provides Congress and the public with the vision and resources to carry out our mission. The requested funding levels are sufficient for NASA to meet the Nation’s high expectations and deliver on all mission priorities."
"Achieving this will require disciplined focus on the highest-impact activities and rigorous stewardship of taxpayer resources. I am committed to maximizing every dollar of this budget in conjunction with funding from the Working Families Tax Cut Act to deliver results. I encourage the workforce to leave the politics for the politicians and remain focused on the mission. Artemis II and our astronauts on the space station are the highest priority, and there is no shortage of initiatives to progress, including building the Moon Base, launching SR-1 Freedom, igniting the orbital economy, and launching more missions of discovery. Stay focused on achieving the outcomes only NASA can create." (4/3)
Big Banks Seeking a Piece of SpaceX’s IPO Must Subscribe to Elon Musk’s Grok (Source: New York Times)
Elon Musk is requiring banks, law firms, auditors and other advisers working on the I.P.O. to buy subscriptions to Grok, his artificial intelligence chatbot, which is part of SpaceX, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. Some of the banks have agreed to spend tens of millions on the chatbot, and they have already started integrating Grok into their I.T. systems, three of the people said. (4/3)
Redwire Awarded Contract to Deliver Quantum-Secure Spacecraft for European Space Agency's QKDSat (Source: Redwire)
Redwire Corp. has been awarded a contract to develop a quantum-secure satellite under ESA's Quantum Key Distribution Satellite (QKDSat), within ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Partnership Projects program. Redwire will manufacture and deliver its European-built Hammerhead spacecraft, equipped with the QKD payload and Redwire’s ADPMS-3 suite of avionics.
For QKDSat, Redwire is part of a multi-country consortium that includes Honeywell Aerospace and aims to provide quantum key distribution via satellite to safeguard against communication data breaches. Honeywell’s UK team is leading an industrial consortium that includes: Redwire Space of Belgium; Craft Prospect and British Telecom of the United Kingdom; QTLabs of Austria, Honeywell’s team in Canada, and several key players in Czechia and Switzerland. (4/2)
SpaceX Delays Next Starship Launch by a Month (Source: Reuters)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Friday that the company's next Starship test flight will take place in May and not April as originally scheduled.
Musk posted on social media platform X that the next flight of Starship’s V3 vehicle was four to six weeks away, or in the first two weeks of May. Earlier, he said the first flight would take place in April. SpaceX's debut of the V3 Starship iteration has been delayed for months as the company has packed dozens of upgrades into the vehicle to make it more reliable and suitable for NASA missions like landing on the moon under the Artemis program. (4/3)
1st Results From Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Reveal How Much We Still Don’t Know About the Moon (Source: Space.com)
The first science results from a private spacecraft on the moon are challenging long-standing ideas about how our natural satellite evolved. Researchers analyzing data from Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which landed on the moon in March 2025 and operated for about two weeks on the lunar surface, said the new measurements cast doubt on the decades-old view of the moon as divided between a hotter near side — the face visible from Earth — and cooler regions elsewhere. (4/3)
Six Apollo Lunar Astronauts Remain as NASA Sends Crew to Moon (Source: Douglas Messier)
As NASA launched its first crewed mission to the Moon in 53 years on Wednesday, six retired astronauts from the Apollo lunar program are still with us while 26 others have passed away. The surviving group includes four of the 12 men who walked on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin is the oldest of the surviving astronauts at age 96. Still with us are Aldrin, David Scott, Fred Haise Jr., Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, Charles Duke Jr., and Russell "Rusty" Schweickart. All are currently 90 or older. (4/3)
April 3, 2026
As Arms Agreements Fray, China
Secretly Expands Its Nuclear Weapons Infrastructure (Source: CNN)
When three villagers from China’s Sichuan province wrote to local officials in 2022 asking why the government was confiscating their land and evicting them from their homes, they received a terse reply: It was a “state secret.” That secret, a CNN investigation has found, centered on China’s covert plans to massively expand its nuclear ambitions. More than three years after the evictions, satellite images show, their village has been flattened and, in its place, new buildings erected to support some of China’s most important nuclear weapons production facilities.
The expansion of the sites in Sichuan province, observed in satellite imagery and a review of dozens of Chinese government documents, supports recent claims by the administration of US President Donald Trump that Beijing has been conducting its most significant nuclear weapon modernization campaign in decades.
Earlier this year, the latest arms reduction agreement between Russia and the United States – known as New START – expired, with Trump wanting to strike a new and improved deal with Moscow that would also include China. But the dramatic changes seen at sites in Sichuan suggest that the nuclear weapons development of China’s military, known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), shows little sign of abating. (4/3)
Sovereignty Run Amok: ‘In 10 Years, 200 Nations Will Have 200 Constellations’ (Sources: Space Intel Report, Via Satellite)
“Autonomy” and “sovereignty” area among the most-used terms in space technology circles today. But what does it mean to have a “sovereign” space capacity? The German government recently decided, after months of internal debate, that Mynaric AG’s optical satellite terminal technology, developed with German government funding, is not too sovereign to prevent Mynaric’s sale to Rocket Lab, so long as a production facility remains in Munich.
Mynaric is part of Rocket Lab's $1.3 billion prime contracts with the Space Development Agency (SDA) to produce 36 satellites across the Transport Layer-Beta Tranche 2 and Tracking Layer Tranche 3 programs. It can also support Rocket Lab ambitions for commercial constellation development.
Space sovereignty has moved far beyond prestige projects or symbolic missions. Nations are designing full-spectrum portfolios: resilient multi-orbit communications, sovereign PNT, persistent intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and space domain awareness (SDA), and in some cases missile-warning and defense architectures built on massive proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) layers. (4/3)
Political Appointments Surging, Career SES Workforce Shrinking Under Trump 2.0 (Source: FNN)
The federal government has reached its highest level of political appointments in decades, while also undergoing a significant loss of career senior leadership — a combination that one organization warns will lead to poor outcomes across agencies. In a new report, the Partnership for Public Service found that the non-confirmed political appointee workforce is at its highest level in 40 years. Coupled with a nearly 30% decline in career Senior Executive Service members, the Partnership said there will be a loss of institutional knowledge, a decline in service quality and increasing political control at agencies. (4/2)
NASA LSP Gets New Acting PM (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Lyons will lead NASA’s acquisition and management of domestic commercial launch services for science and robotic exploration missions beginning Wednesday, April 1. Lyons will oversee mission planning, launch vehicle selection, spacecraft integration, launch processing, launch campaigns, and postlaunch activities. The program matches spacecraft with the most suitable commercial rockets and ensures mission requirements are met from early planning through launch and mission completion. It supports NASA missions that observe Earth, explore the solar system, and expand understanding of the universe. (4/2)
China's Space Pioneer Fails to Reach Orbit with Debut Tianlong-3 Launch (Source: Space News)
The first launch of the Tianlong-3 rocket by Chinese company Space Pioneer failed on Friday. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Eyewitness videos showed apparent problems with the rocket during its ascent, and both the company and Chinese state media later reported the launch had failed, without providing details about the failure. Tianlong-3 is a partially reusable medium-class rocket designed to place up to 22,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit. Tianlong-3 suffered an infamous static-test failure in mid-2024 when the rocket's first stage broke free and ascended several kilometers before crashing and exploding. (4/3)
Artemis 2 Maneuvers Toward Moon (Source: Space News)
Artemis 2 is headed for the moon after a maneuver Thursday evening. The Orion spacecraft fired its main engine for nearly six minutes starting at 7:49 p.m. Eastern on its translunar injection burn. That maneuver put Orion on a free-return trajectory around the moon, with the closest approach occurring April 6. NASA officials said Thursday evening that the spacecraft is working well, with only minor technical issues being worked by the crew. Artemis 2 is the first crewed mission to fly to the vicinity of the moon since Apollo 17 in late 1972. (4/3)
Raytheon Gets $45.3 Million More for Troubled GPS Ground Ops Program (Source: Space News)
Raytheon won a $45.3 million contract modification for GPS satellite ground operations, even as officials weigh scaling back the program. The modification, announced Thursday, is intended to ensure the checkout of the next GPS satellite scheduled for launch later this month. The contract comes amid indications the Defense Department does not plan to continue full development of Raytheon's OCX ground system after years of delays and rising costs. Instead, officials are considering integrating portions of the Raytheon-developed software into the existing GPS ground system, known as the Architecture Evolution Plan, or AEP. To date, the Pentagon has awarded Raytheon nearly $4.6 billion for OCX development over roughly 15 years. (4/3)
SDA Sees Intersatellite Links as Bottleneck for Tracking Layer Constellation (Source: Space News)
Optical terminals for intersatellite links have become a bottleneck in the development of the Space Development Agency's satellite constellation. When 21 Lockheed Martin satellites for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer Tranche 1 launched in October, each carried three laser communication terminals instead of the planned four because of the limited supply of the terminals. The supply challenge persists despite the agency placing orders for Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites more than four years ago, highlighting the difficulty of scaling production of a component that has historically been built in small numbers. SDA acting director Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo acknowledged the constraint at a conference this week, describing optical terminals as an ongoing bottleneck in the agency's push to deploy a large constellation. (4/3)
Amazon and SpaceX Argue to FCC Over Constellation Collision Risks (Source: Space News)
Amazon and SpaceX are arguing over whether deployment of Amazon Leo satellites poses a space safety risk. In a letter to the FCC Wednesday, SpaceX alleged that Amazon was inserting its broadband satellites into higher orbits than outlined in its FCC license. A February Ariane 6 launch of 32 Amazon Leo satellites put them into high orbits that SpaceX claimed created "unmitigable collision risks" for other satellites, requiring 30 collision avoidance maneuvers by Starlink spacecraft. Amazon Leo, in a response Thursday, said it is complying with rules and best practices, and noted that SpaceX complained only after it started moving Starlink satellites into lower orbits. Amazon said it is working with its launch providers on revised deployment plans to insert satellites into lower orbits. (4/3)
SpaceX Launches 29 More Starlink Satellites on Thursday From Florida (Source: Spectrum News)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites Thursday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and placed 29 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was the 15th for this Falcon 9 first stage. (4/3)
SpaceX Seeks $1.75 Trillion Valuation From IPO (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX has raised the valuation it is seeking in its upcoming IPO. The company, which previously targeted a $1.75 trillion valuation, is now seeking a valuation of more than $2 trillion when it goes public, likely in June. A $2 trillion valuation would make SpaceX bigger than all but five publicly traded companies in the S&P 500: Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia. (4/3)
Vice to Lead Astrion (Source: Space News)
Former Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice is the new CEO of defense contractor Astrion. The company said Thursday it hired Vice as CEO and executive chair. He succeeds Dave Zolet, who has led Astrion since its formation in 2023. Astrion was created through the merger of engineering firms ERC and Oasis Systems; it later absorbed Axient, a space-focused contractor, in 2024. Astrion is working to grow its space-related business lines, including systems engineering and integration work tied to U.S. military and civil space programs. (4/3)
Swift Reorients to Accommodate Katalyst Reboost (Source: Space News)
A change in operations of NASA's Swift spacecraft has bought more time for a reboost mission. NASA awarded a contract last fall to Katalyst Space for a mission to reboost the Swift spacecraft, a gamma-ray observatory whose low Earth orbit is decaying. That reboost mission is scheduled to launch in June, but analyses earlier this year revealed there was a chance Swift's orbit would fall too low for that mission to work before it could launch. Spacecraft controllers have reoriented the spacecraft in its orbit to reduce drag, slowing its descent and providing a few months of schedule margin for the reboost mission. That reorientation, though, means that most of its instruments cannot operate since the spacecraft cannot reorient itself to observe targets. (4/3)
China’s Aiming for the Moon, and NASA Is Looking Over Its Shoulder (Source: New York Times)
More than half a century after the United States put humans on the moon, it is once again locked in a space race. This one is with China. Both the United States and China want to build outposts around the moon’s south pole and hope to tap frozen water, hydrogen and helium there. Both countries plan to build nuclear reactors to power lunar bases from which they can launch missions into deep space. It is a new frontier, and whoever gets there first will have a big say in setting the rules. (4/3)
Even Artemis II Astronauts Have Microsoft Outlook Problems (Source: WIRED)
About seven hours into the flight of Artemis II, Commander Reid Wiseman experienced something many earthbound Microsoft users know all too well: his Outlook email stopped working. Speaking with mission control in Houston, Commander Wiseman can be heard saying that he had “two Microsoft Outlooks [on his PCD], and neither one of those are working.” PCD stands for “Personal Computing Device”, which are specialized laptops or tablets, used by the Artemis astronauts to manage certain tasks, including accessing email clients, during the 10-day mission to the moon. PCDs are crucial for the four-person crew to interact with mission data and communicate during the historic lunar flyby. (4/2)
Space Force Plans to Establish HQ Staff Group as Surrogate Futures Command (Source: Breaking Defense)
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman has signed off on the creation of a new staff organization at service headquarters that would, in effect, take the place of the Space Force’s previously planned Space Futures Command. The new SF/S9 Force Design and Analysis staff group will be established on April 21 to support the Space Force chief in his “statutory role as Force Design Architect for Space for the Armed Forces,” according to a March 31 memo. (4/2)
Argotec Opens Florida Production Facility to Support Rapid, Scalable Satellite Delivery for U.S. Government and Commercial Missions (Source: Argotec)
Italy's Argotec announced the official opening of its first U.S. production facility, a state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing hub located in Melbourne on Florida's Space Coast. The new site, which is already operational, brings Argotec’s vertically integrated, highly modular production model, proven at its SpacePark facility in Italy, to the United States to support high-priority civil, defense, commercial and scientific missions.
With a planned investment of more than $25 million, the facility is designed for high-volume, rapid-turn production, enabling the assembly and integration of up to 10 HEO satellites simultaneously and with future capacity to produce one HAWK PLUS platform per month. Argotec’s HAWK PLUS combines stocked modules with the flexibility to integrate payloads at the final stage, tailoring the product to specific mission requirements. An innovative architecture for faster, more cost-effective and scalable access to space. (4/2)
The Florida Model for Sustainable Aerospace Growth (Source: Space News)
Twenty years ago, the Florida legislature created Space Florida as a public corporation and innovation connector. The state has since emerged as one of the most robust space and aerospace ecosystems in the world by prioritizing long-term foundational investments over short-term subsidies. We spoke with Robert Long, Space Florida’s president and CEO. Long is an industry veteran and retired United States Space Force colonel who most recently served as commander for Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
"Our approach is certainly founded upon really digging into a company, understanding the fundamentals and doing our due diligence. That’s targeted around ensuring that we understand not just the finances of the company, but also the infrastructure requirements. What will they need to grow? And does the state have that infrastructure in place? What are the workforce requirements? And of course, what’s the long term market outlook for the company? We want to make sure we understand all that before public dollars are committed." Click here. (4/1)
Five Times Spaceport America Made History with Space Launches (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
New Mexico isn't alien to space exploration. Southern New Mexico host Spaceport America, the first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The spaceport features a terminal hangar, thousands of feet of runway, vertical launchpads and restricted airspace. The spaceport is also the home of Virgin Galactic, who in recent years has, in competition with other commercial space entities, made strides in space tourism. Click here. (4/1)
FedDev Ontario Injects $7M Into Kepler’s High-Speed Satellite Constellation (Source: SpaceQ)
Toronto-based startup Kepler Communications has secured a $7 million federal investment to continue and commercialize its next-generation optical data relay satellite network in an effort to support Canada’s sovereign defense and space capabilities. The funding, delivered through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), comes at an important time for the company. In January, Kepler successfully launched Tranche 1 of its network, deploying 10 optical communications satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). This latest capital injection is earmarked to advance the company’s Tranche 1 engineering. (4/1)
How Iowa is Playing a Role in NASA's Return to the Moon (Source: KWWL)
The Iowa Space Grant Consortium is helping power NASA's Artemis II mission through education and research programs across the state. The consortium, made up of colleges and universities in Iowa, supports STEM initiatives and works to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and space leaders. Program leaders say the impact goes beyond the classroom, bringing Iowans closer to the future of space exploration. (4/1)
New Mexico Tech Firms Aid NASA’s Artemis II Launch and Safety Efforts (Source: KOB4)
While the crew of Artemis II launched from Florida with assistance from mission control in Houston, New Mexico also has a role to play in NASA’s long-awaited journey around the moon. Wednesday’s successful launch from Cape Canaveral took a coordinated effort and years of patience from teams and companies all around the world, including a couple -- Raven Defense and METIS Technology Solutions -- that are based in Albuquerque. (4/2)
White House Again Proposes Steep NASA Budget Cuts (Source: Space News)
For the second consecutive year, the White House is proposing a major budget cut for NASA that would significantly reduce the agency's science programs and the International Space Station. The top-level budget proposal included $18.8 billion for NASA, a 23% reduction from what the agency received in a final fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill in January. (4/3)
When three villagers from China’s Sichuan province wrote to local officials in 2022 asking why the government was confiscating their land and evicting them from their homes, they received a terse reply: It was a “state secret.” That secret, a CNN investigation has found, centered on China’s covert plans to massively expand its nuclear ambitions. More than three years after the evictions, satellite images show, their village has been flattened and, in its place, new buildings erected to support some of China’s most important nuclear weapons production facilities.
The expansion of the sites in Sichuan province, observed in satellite imagery and a review of dozens of Chinese government documents, supports recent claims by the administration of US President Donald Trump that Beijing has been conducting its most significant nuclear weapon modernization campaign in decades.
Earlier this year, the latest arms reduction agreement between Russia and the United States – known as New START – expired, with Trump wanting to strike a new and improved deal with Moscow that would also include China. But the dramatic changes seen at sites in Sichuan suggest that the nuclear weapons development of China’s military, known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), shows little sign of abating. (4/3)
Sovereignty Run Amok: ‘In 10 Years, 200 Nations Will Have 200 Constellations’ (Sources: Space Intel Report, Via Satellite)
“Autonomy” and “sovereignty” area among the most-used terms in space technology circles today. But what does it mean to have a “sovereign” space capacity? The German government recently decided, after months of internal debate, that Mynaric AG’s optical satellite terminal technology, developed with German government funding, is not too sovereign to prevent Mynaric’s sale to Rocket Lab, so long as a production facility remains in Munich.
Mynaric is part of Rocket Lab's $1.3 billion prime contracts with the Space Development Agency (SDA) to produce 36 satellites across the Transport Layer-Beta Tranche 2 and Tracking Layer Tranche 3 programs. It can also support Rocket Lab ambitions for commercial constellation development.
Space sovereignty has moved far beyond prestige projects or symbolic missions. Nations are designing full-spectrum portfolios: resilient multi-orbit communications, sovereign PNT, persistent intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and space domain awareness (SDA), and in some cases missile-warning and defense architectures built on massive proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) layers. (4/3)
Political Appointments Surging, Career SES Workforce Shrinking Under Trump 2.0 (Source: FNN)
The federal government has reached its highest level of political appointments in decades, while also undergoing a significant loss of career senior leadership — a combination that one organization warns will lead to poor outcomes across agencies. In a new report, the Partnership for Public Service found that the non-confirmed political appointee workforce is at its highest level in 40 years. Coupled with a nearly 30% decline in career Senior Executive Service members, the Partnership said there will be a loss of institutional knowledge, a decline in service quality and increasing political control at agencies. (4/2)
NASA LSP Gets New Acting PM (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Lyons will lead NASA’s acquisition and management of domestic commercial launch services for science and robotic exploration missions beginning Wednesday, April 1. Lyons will oversee mission planning, launch vehicle selection, spacecraft integration, launch processing, launch campaigns, and postlaunch activities. The program matches spacecraft with the most suitable commercial rockets and ensures mission requirements are met from early planning through launch and mission completion. It supports NASA missions that observe Earth, explore the solar system, and expand understanding of the universe. (4/2)
China's Space Pioneer Fails to Reach Orbit with Debut Tianlong-3 Launch (Source: Space News)
The first launch of the Tianlong-3 rocket by Chinese company Space Pioneer failed on Friday. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Eyewitness videos showed apparent problems with the rocket during its ascent, and both the company and Chinese state media later reported the launch had failed, without providing details about the failure. Tianlong-3 is a partially reusable medium-class rocket designed to place up to 22,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit. Tianlong-3 suffered an infamous static-test failure in mid-2024 when the rocket's first stage broke free and ascended several kilometers before crashing and exploding. (4/3)
Artemis 2 Maneuvers Toward Moon (Source: Space News)
Artemis 2 is headed for the moon after a maneuver Thursday evening. The Orion spacecraft fired its main engine for nearly six minutes starting at 7:49 p.m. Eastern on its translunar injection burn. That maneuver put Orion on a free-return trajectory around the moon, with the closest approach occurring April 6. NASA officials said Thursday evening that the spacecraft is working well, with only minor technical issues being worked by the crew. Artemis 2 is the first crewed mission to fly to the vicinity of the moon since Apollo 17 in late 1972. (4/3)
Raytheon Gets $45.3 Million More for Troubled GPS Ground Ops Program (Source: Space News)
Raytheon won a $45.3 million contract modification for GPS satellite ground operations, even as officials weigh scaling back the program. The modification, announced Thursday, is intended to ensure the checkout of the next GPS satellite scheduled for launch later this month. The contract comes amid indications the Defense Department does not plan to continue full development of Raytheon's OCX ground system after years of delays and rising costs. Instead, officials are considering integrating portions of the Raytheon-developed software into the existing GPS ground system, known as the Architecture Evolution Plan, or AEP. To date, the Pentagon has awarded Raytheon nearly $4.6 billion for OCX development over roughly 15 years. (4/3)
SDA Sees Intersatellite Links as Bottleneck for Tracking Layer Constellation (Source: Space News)
Optical terminals for intersatellite links have become a bottleneck in the development of the Space Development Agency's satellite constellation. When 21 Lockheed Martin satellites for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer Tranche 1 launched in October, each carried three laser communication terminals instead of the planned four because of the limited supply of the terminals. The supply challenge persists despite the agency placing orders for Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites more than four years ago, highlighting the difficulty of scaling production of a component that has historically been built in small numbers. SDA acting director Gurpartap "GP" Sandhoo acknowledged the constraint at a conference this week, describing optical terminals as an ongoing bottleneck in the agency's push to deploy a large constellation. (4/3)
Amazon and SpaceX Argue to FCC Over Constellation Collision Risks (Source: Space News)
Amazon and SpaceX are arguing over whether deployment of Amazon Leo satellites poses a space safety risk. In a letter to the FCC Wednesday, SpaceX alleged that Amazon was inserting its broadband satellites into higher orbits than outlined in its FCC license. A February Ariane 6 launch of 32 Amazon Leo satellites put them into high orbits that SpaceX claimed created "unmitigable collision risks" for other satellites, requiring 30 collision avoidance maneuvers by Starlink spacecraft. Amazon Leo, in a response Thursday, said it is complying with rules and best practices, and noted that SpaceX complained only after it started moving Starlink satellites into lower orbits. Amazon said it is working with its launch providers on revised deployment plans to insert satellites into lower orbits. (4/3)
SpaceX Launches 29 More Starlink Satellites on Thursday From Florida (Source: Spectrum News)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites Thursday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and placed 29 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was the 15th for this Falcon 9 first stage. (4/3)
SpaceX Seeks $1.75 Trillion Valuation From IPO (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX has raised the valuation it is seeking in its upcoming IPO. The company, which previously targeted a $1.75 trillion valuation, is now seeking a valuation of more than $2 trillion when it goes public, likely in June. A $2 trillion valuation would make SpaceX bigger than all but five publicly traded companies in the S&P 500: Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia. (4/3)
Vice to Lead Astrion (Source: Space News)
Former Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice is the new CEO of defense contractor Astrion. The company said Thursday it hired Vice as CEO and executive chair. He succeeds Dave Zolet, who has led Astrion since its formation in 2023. Astrion was created through the merger of engineering firms ERC and Oasis Systems; it later absorbed Axient, a space-focused contractor, in 2024. Astrion is working to grow its space-related business lines, including systems engineering and integration work tied to U.S. military and civil space programs. (4/3)
Swift Reorients to Accommodate Katalyst Reboost (Source: Space News)
A change in operations of NASA's Swift spacecraft has bought more time for a reboost mission. NASA awarded a contract last fall to Katalyst Space for a mission to reboost the Swift spacecraft, a gamma-ray observatory whose low Earth orbit is decaying. That reboost mission is scheduled to launch in June, but analyses earlier this year revealed there was a chance Swift's orbit would fall too low for that mission to work before it could launch. Spacecraft controllers have reoriented the spacecraft in its orbit to reduce drag, slowing its descent and providing a few months of schedule margin for the reboost mission. That reorientation, though, means that most of its instruments cannot operate since the spacecraft cannot reorient itself to observe targets. (4/3)
China’s Aiming for the Moon, and NASA Is Looking Over Its Shoulder (Source: New York Times)
More than half a century after the United States put humans on the moon, it is once again locked in a space race. This one is with China. Both the United States and China want to build outposts around the moon’s south pole and hope to tap frozen water, hydrogen and helium there. Both countries plan to build nuclear reactors to power lunar bases from which they can launch missions into deep space. It is a new frontier, and whoever gets there first will have a big say in setting the rules. (4/3)
Even Artemis II Astronauts Have Microsoft Outlook Problems (Source: WIRED)
About seven hours into the flight of Artemis II, Commander Reid Wiseman experienced something many earthbound Microsoft users know all too well: his Outlook email stopped working. Speaking with mission control in Houston, Commander Wiseman can be heard saying that he had “two Microsoft Outlooks [on his PCD], and neither one of those are working.” PCD stands for “Personal Computing Device”, which are specialized laptops or tablets, used by the Artemis astronauts to manage certain tasks, including accessing email clients, during the 10-day mission to the moon. PCDs are crucial for the four-person crew to interact with mission data and communicate during the historic lunar flyby. (4/2)
Space Force Plans to Establish HQ Staff Group as Surrogate Futures Command (Source: Breaking Defense)
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman has signed off on the creation of a new staff organization at service headquarters that would, in effect, take the place of the Space Force’s previously planned Space Futures Command. The new SF/S9 Force Design and Analysis staff group will be established on April 21 to support the Space Force chief in his “statutory role as Force Design Architect for Space for the Armed Forces,” according to a March 31 memo. (4/2)
Argotec Opens Florida Production Facility to Support Rapid, Scalable Satellite Delivery for U.S. Government and Commercial Missions (Source: Argotec)
Italy's Argotec announced the official opening of its first U.S. production facility, a state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing hub located in Melbourne on Florida's Space Coast. The new site, which is already operational, brings Argotec’s vertically integrated, highly modular production model, proven at its SpacePark facility in Italy, to the United States to support high-priority civil, defense, commercial and scientific missions.
With a planned investment of more than $25 million, the facility is designed for high-volume, rapid-turn production, enabling the assembly and integration of up to 10 HEO satellites simultaneously and with future capacity to produce one HAWK PLUS platform per month. Argotec’s HAWK PLUS combines stocked modules with the flexibility to integrate payloads at the final stage, tailoring the product to specific mission requirements. An innovative architecture for faster, more cost-effective and scalable access to space. (4/2)
The Florida Model for Sustainable Aerospace Growth (Source: Space News)
Twenty years ago, the Florida legislature created Space Florida as a public corporation and innovation connector. The state has since emerged as one of the most robust space and aerospace ecosystems in the world by prioritizing long-term foundational investments over short-term subsidies. We spoke with Robert Long, Space Florida’s president and CEO. Long is an industry veteran and retired United States Space Force colonel who most recently served as commander for Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
"Our approach is certainly founded upon really digging into a company, understanding the fundamentals and doing our due diligence. That’s targeted around ensuring that we understand not just the finances of the company, but also the infrastructure requirements. What will they need to grow? And does the state have that infrastructure in place? What are the workforce requirements? And of course, what’s the long term market outlook for the company? We want to make sure we understand all that before public dollars are committed." Click here. (4/1)
Five Times Spaceport America Made History with Space Launches (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
New Mexico isn't alien to space exploration. Southern New Mexico host Spaceport America, the first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The spaceport features a terminal hangar, thousands of feet of runway, vertical launchpads and restricted airspace. The spaceport is also the home of Virgin Galactic, who in recent years has, in competition with other commercial space entities, made strides in space tourism. Click here. (4/1)
FedDev Ontario Injects $7M Into Kepler’s High-Speed Satellite Constellation (Source: SpaceQ)
Toronto-based startup Kepler Communications has secured a $7 million federal investment to continue and commercialize its next-generation optical data relay satellite network in an effort to support Canada’s sovereign defense and space capabilities. The funding, delivered through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), comes at an important time for the company. In January, Kepler successfully launched Tranche 1 of its network, deploying 10 optical communications satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). This latest capital injection is earmarked to advance the company’s Tranche 1 engineering. (4/1)
How Iowa is Playing a Role in NASA's Return to the Moon (Source: KWWL)
The Iowa Space Grant Consortium is helping power NASA's Artemis II mission through education and research programs across the state. The consortium, made up of colleges and universities in Iowa, supports STEM initiatives and works to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and space leaders. Program leaders say the impact goes beyond the classroom, bringing Iowans closer to the future of space exploration. (4/1)
New Mexico Tech Firms Aid NASA’s Artemis II Launch and Safety Efforts (Source: KOB4)
While the crew of Artemis II launched from Florida with assistance from mission control in Houston, New Mexico also has a role to play in NASA’s long-awaited journey around the moon. Wednesday’s successful launch from Cape Canaveral took a coordinated effort and years of patience from teams and companies all around the world, including a couple -- Raven Defense and METIS Technology Solutions -- that are based in Albuquerque. (4/2)
White House Again Proposes Steep NASA Budget Cuts (Source: Space News)
For the second consecutive year, the White House is proposing a major budget cut for NASA that would significantly reduce the agency's science programs and the International Space Station. The top-level budget proposal included $18.8 billion for NASA, a 23% reduction from what the agency received in a final fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill in January. (4/3)
April 2, 2026
Astroscale U.S. Expands into Texas
Space Ecosystem in Collaboration with UTEP and City of El Paso
(Source: Astroscale)
Astroscale is expanding its commitment to the Texas space ecosystem by setting up to do business in El Paso and collaborating with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The expansion is supported through an economic development agreement approved by the El Paso City Council, reinforcing the city’s commitment to growing the aerospace and defense industry and advancing economic development opportunities in the region.
Astroscale U.S. selected El Paso and UTEP because of their commitment to growing the commercial space ecosystem through speed and innovation. The company will maintain a permanent employment presence and workspace at the City of El Paso’s Innovation Factory near the El Paso International Airport and plans to work closely with UTEP's researchers and faculty to further advance the Astroscale U.S. mission. (3/2)
Redefining Space as a Contested Military and Strategic Domain (Source: Modern Integrated Warfare)
“When we look at space and counterspace activities, I’m not just worried about all the dog fighting we see between Chinese and U.S. satellites, which are now becoming real maneuvers and operations,” said Dr. Nötzold. “What [concerns me the most] was what happened in July, when the Chinese managed to have a successful docking of satellites in geostationary orbit and refueled a satellite. Why [does this concern me the most]? Because it shows that China is ahead of the United States. It brings more ambiguity to the whole dynamic, as we don’t know much about China’s intentions. I would say it also changes a lot of the dynamics for future in-orbit service operations.”
“Satellite services are embedded in the critical infrastructure services on Earth,” Dr. Janes said. “The energy, military, healthcare, and financial sectors depend on the availability of space services. We have a space, ground, and link segment for all space services. All those layers are only as strong as their weakest link. We must make sure that all the links are hardened to the level that we need.” Hilgert believes that world governments must heavily invest in bolstering resilience measures in the space domain and be proactive by preparing for any type of crisis that may affect space services on Earth. (4/1)
STARCOM Expands Footprint with New Annex at Patrick Space Force Base (Source: Team Orlando News)
The annex project cost $28 million and includes office space, parking and related infrastructure. As of the opening, approximately 142 personnel are assigned to the facility, with additional workspace available to accommodate future staffing increases and the relocation of personnel from Colorado. STARCOM relocated its headquarters to Patrick Space Force Base in July 2025. The addition of the annex increases available workspace as the command continues shifting personnel and functions to the installation. The expansion reflects a broader effort by the Space Force to position key training and readiness functions closer to operational units located along the Space Coast. (4/1)
Phantom Space Acquires Thermal Management Technologies (Source: Payload)
Phantom Space today announced the acquisition of Thermal Management Technologies (TMT), a company that builds advanced satellite thermal components for in-space applications. With the acquisition, the AZ-based rocket and satellite developer is aiming to spur development of its in-orbit data center constellation—called Phantom Cloud—which is targeting an initial deployment in mid-2027. TMT will operate as a subsidiary of Phantom, with founder Scott Schick staying on as the company’s general manager. TMT will also collaborate with Phantom to develop Block 1 Phantom Cloud sats. The companies did not announce the terms of the deal. (4/2)
ThrustMe to Equip 40 Japanese EO Satellites with its Propulsion Systems (Source: Spacewatch Global)
ThrustMe, a French scale-up specializing in electric propulsion systems for satellites based in Verrières-le-Buisson (Essonne), is equipping 40 Japanese satellites under commercial agreements worth over ten million euros. These commercial agreements are highlighted on the occasion of the French President’s official visit to Japan, in which the company is participating. A pioneering deep tech company in the space sector, born from scientific research conducted at CNRS, ThrustMe designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems for satellites, including Earth observation satellites, a fast-growing sector. These innovative propulsion systems radically transform satellite maneuverability, enabling essential functions such as station-keeping, trajectory corrections and end-of-life deorbiting. (4/2)
Italy Signs Agreement with NASA to Cooperate on Moon Base (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Italian government and NASA have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a U.S.-led lunar surface base. The move is the latest in a series of bilateral efforts between the two nations, including a June 2022 cooperation agreement that tasked Italy with leading the design of a multi-purpose lunar habitation module, currently being developed by Thales Alenia Space Italia under an Italian Space Agency (ASI) contract. (4/2)
Argentina Joins NASA’s Moon Return with Microsatellite Testing GPS Beyond Earth (Source: Reuters)
An Argentine-built microsatellite, the only one from Latin America selected for NASA's return to the moon, will test experimental navigation systems and measure radiation far beyond Earth's orbit when it flies on the Artemis II mission. The shoebox-sized satellite, known as ATENEA, is one of four international payloads chosen by NASA from proposals submitted by nearly 50 countries to accompany Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century, which was scheduled to lift off later on Wednesday. The others are from Germany, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. (4/1)
Spain Approves €325 Million ESCA+ Expansion of Atlantic Constellation (Source: European Spaceflight)
Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved the allocation of €325 million for the development of three Earth observation satellites that will expand the 16-satellite Atlantic Constellation. The Constelación Atlántica (Atlantic Constellation) is a joint initiative between Spain and Portugal to develop an Earth observation constellation for environmental monitoring, coastal surveillance, and disaster management. The two countries have committed to contributing eight satellites each to form the core 16-satellite constellation. (4/1)
Aspect Aerospace Secures Early Funding to Advance Swarm-Deployable VLEO Satellites (Source: Space News)
Aspect Aerospace, a University of South Alabama spin-off, has secured $2.4 million to develop circuit-board-sized spacecraft that could be deployed from space into very low Earth orbit (VLEO) in swarms to monitor the space environment. The funding includes a $1.9 million U.S. Space Force grant to build a space-ready Single-Board Satellite (SBS) prototype within 18 months, the startup announced April 1, and a $500,000 pre-seed investment from venture capital firm SOSV. (4/1)
Creating Near-Term Lunar Settlements: Lessons From Space History (Source: Space News)
March 16, 2026, was the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s first flight of a liquid fueled rocket. It reached an altitude of 41 feet. 31 years later, in 1957, Sputnik began a lonely beep as the first satellite in orbit. In 1969, 12 years after Sputnik and 43 years after Goddard’s first flight, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. It’s been 57 years since the first Apollo landing and we don’t yet have a group of folks living and working on the moon or Mars (although people have lived for more than a year in the International Space Station in low Earth orbit). Frankly, we’re not even close to living on the moon. Something has gone remarkably wrong. Something needs to change dramatically if living and working on the moon is going to become real. (4/1)
NASA’s Artemis II Lifts Off, Beginning First Crewed Moon Mission Since 1972 (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years began today when the towering SLS rocket lifted off at 6:35 p.m. Eastern, leaving behind a thick, white plume as it ascended into the blue sky over Cape Canaveral and disappeared over the Atlantic. Inside the Orion crew capsule atop the rocket are NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Over the next 10 days, they are to loop around the moon and return to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a critical step toward NASA’s goal of returning humans to the lunar surface in 2028. (4/2)
Space Force Looks To Begin Doubling Size With FY ’27 Budget Request (Source: Aerospace America)
As the White House prepares to release its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the top U.S. Space Force official said he remains confident the service will receive a boost to its current funding. “The leadership in the Department of War, the leadership in OMB, certainly the leadership in the White House and the president, agree with us, agree with our advocacy that space capabilities need to grow, that the Space Force’s capacity needs to grow,” Gen. Chance Saltzman, Space Force’s chief of space operations, said during a keynote at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Security Forum. (4/2)
Aspect Aerospace Secures Early Funding to Advance Swarm-Deployable VLEO Satellites (Source: Space News)
Aspect Aerospace, a University of South Alabama spin-off, has secured $2.4 million to develop circuit-board-sized spacecraft that could be deployed from space into very low Earth orbit (VLEO) in swarms to monitor the space environment. The funding includes a $1.9 million U.S. Space Force grant to build a space-ready Single-Board Satellite (SBS) prototype within 18 months, the startup announced April 1, and a $500,000 pre-seed investment from venture capital firm SOSV. (4/2)
From GNSS to PNT Systems: Europe’s Strategic Pivot at the Munich Space Summit (Source: Inside GNSS)
For the first time, the summit merged two meetings, the Munich Satellite Navigation Summit and the Munich NewSpace Summit, highlighting how NewSpace energy is starting to reshape Europe’s space model and PNT vision. At this year’s Munich Space Summit, something subtle—but significant—happened. What began two decades ago as a focused gathering of satellite navigation experts has merged with the faster-moving world of NewSpace. (4/2)
Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès Previews Ariane 6 Ramp-Up (Source: Via Satellite)
Arianespace is in the midst of its launch campaign for Amazon Leo after conducting the first launch for its largest customer in February. The next mission is planned for April 28. Amid this ramp-up, Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès joins Via Satellite for a “Live in the Booth” interview. While sovereign space was one of the key topics of the show, Cavaillolès says this issue has always been part of Arianespace’s DNA, providing access to space for Europe. New investments across Europe are driving up demand for the company’s launch capabilities. (4/2)
Teledyne Forms Dedicated Space Unit to Capture Rising Demand (Source: Space News)
Teledyne Technologies is creating a dedicated business unit for space programs, consolidating its imaging, electronics and component businesses as demand rises for satellite-based sensing technologies. The Thousand Oaks, California-based supplier said the new sector, Teledyne Space, will combine capabilities that had been spread across multiple segments, including detectors, microwave devices, optoelectronics and radiation-tolerant semiconductors. (4/2)
AIA Supports Plan for Expanding Commercial Space Ops (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Aerospace Industries Association has come out in favor of a Commerce Department proposal to create a framework for approval of space activities that are currently unregulated. AIA President and CEO Eric Fannings says it is "the right moment" for the proposal as firms look to expand activities and support for orbital operations by the US Space Force. "As implementation moves forward, it's important to have clear accountability across agencies, guardrails against regulatory creep, and the predictability companies need to invest for the long term. We look forward to continuing to work with the government as the details take shape," he said. (4/1)
SpaceX Files for IPO (Source: Space News)
SpaceX has confidentially filed plans to go public. While the company made no formal announcement, industry sources said Wednesday that SpaceX did file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering. The confidential filing allows SpaceX to work with regulators on the proposal before making it public. SpaceX is seeking to raise as much as $75 billion in the IPO that would value the company at $1.75 trillion. SpaceX is also reportedly exploring a dual-class share structure that would give Musk and other insiders outsized voting control. The filing marks a pivotal moment for a space sector that is increasingly attracting mainstream market investors, even as SpaceX's valuation raises questions about how much weight to place on future ambitions. (4/2)
Amazon Considers Globalstar Acquisition (Source: Financial Times)
Amazon is in talks to acquire satellite operator Globlastar. The companies are in discussions about an acquisition but are still negotiating complexities of any deal, such as Apple's 20% stake in Globalstar, with no guarantee a sale can be closed. Globalstar operates a constellation of several dozen satellites that it is in the process of replenishing with financial support from Apple, which uses Globalstar for its emergency connectivity service. Amazon is likely primarily interested in Globalstar for its spectrum as it builds out its Amazon Leo constellation. Rumors of an acquisition have boosted Globalstar's stock, giving the company a valuation of $9 billion. (4/2)
Space Force's "Outsized Role" in Iran and Venezuela Military Campaigns (Source: Space News)
The commanding general of the Space Force says the service is "sitting at the center" of recent military campaigns in Iran and Venezuela. Speaking at the Mitchell Institute's Spacepower Security Forum, Gen. Chance Saltzman said space capabilities provided by the Space Force "have played an outsized role" in those operations. His comments add to a growing body of official statements pointing to the importance of space and cyber capabilities in the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent operations. He pointed to a shift in how space is integrated into military planning, saying that space was "baked in from the beginning" rather than added on later. (4/2)
California's Fortastra Starts Up with Aerospace Vetrans for On-Orbit Security (Source: Space News)
Los Angeles startup Fortastra has hired veterans from several aerospace companies to design and operate maneuverable spacecraft for on-orbit security. The company announced Tuesday it hired executives who previously worked at Relativity Space, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent Technologies to top positions at the startup. Fortastra is developing spacecraft with advanced guidance and propulsion systems to enable rapid maneuver, rendezvous and proximity operations, and mission assurance in degraded environments. The company raised more than $8 million in a seed round last year. (4/2)
Sidus Space Announces Financial Results for 2025 (Source: Sidus Space)
Total revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2025, was approximately $3.4 million, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million or 28% compared to total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. This decrease reflects Sidus' continued strategic transition toward higher-margin satellite manufacturing, data, and technology business lines. Gross loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, was approximately $5.7 million, compared to a gross loss of approximately $1.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. The change was primarily driven by higher non-cash depreciation reflecting the significant progress Sidus has made in deploying its LizzieSat satellite fleet and building the infrastructure to support long-term, high-margin satellite data revenue. (4/1)
China's Reusable Rocket Tianlong-3 Targeting April 3 Maiden Flight (Source: Mach 33)
Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3, a 71-meter, 9-engine, LOX/kerosene reusable rocket that closely mirrors Falcon 9 in dimensions and engine layout, is targeting an April 3 maiden flight from Jiuquan. It may carry satellites for China's SpaceSail/Qianfan LEO constellation. The rocket uses nine Tianhuo-12 engines with landing legs and grid fins for first-stage recovery.
If Tianlong-3 reaches orbit and demonstrates even partial reusability, it validates that the Falcon 9 architecture can be replicated outside of SpaceX. That matters less for SpaceX's near-term dominance (their moat is cadence and operational maturity, not design secrecy) and more for the trajectory of Chinese launch costs, which directly affects how fast China can build out competing LEO constellations. (4/1)
Rocket Lab Europe - Mynaric Acquisition Opens Doors (Source: Mach 33)
Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs granted FDI approval for Rocket Lab's approximately $150 million acquisition of laser communications specialist Mynaric AG. Closing expected in April. Mynaric stays headquartered in Munich, creating Rocket Lab Europe. The path cleared after Rheinmetall withdrew its competing bid in mid-March. Mynaric is already a subcontractor on Rocket Lab's $1.3 billion SDA prime contract to build 36 satellites.
Beyond the dollar value, this deal positions Rocket Lab to compete for the EUR 6 billion IRIS2 constellation, German military satellite programs, and European LEO navigation work that requires sovereign industrial participation. Laser inter-satellite links are a critical bottleneck for constellation operators, and bringing Mynaric in-house gives Rocket Lab vertical control over a component most competitors source externally. (4/1)
The Artemis Moon Base Project is Legally Dubious (Source: The Verge)
The justification underlying much of Artemis: Resources are needed to support a Moon base, so we need to build a Moon base to search for them. The agency has even described these efforts as a “lunar gold rush.” But this points to a problem with Artemis that isn’t solvable by developing new technologies: Some experts say that extracting resources from the Moon is a violation of international law. There isn’t a huge amount of international law that applies to space exploration, but one point is very clear: No one owns the Moon.
The Outer Space Treaty (which was signed nearly 60 years ago but is still the main basis for international law in space today, if you can believe it) is very explicit regarding the principle of non-appropriation, meaning that nations can’t claim sovereignty over any body in space. But what about extracting resources? There, we get into sticky territory. “The US considers that resource extraction is not appropriation,” says Cassandra Steer. Many international space lawyers, including Steer, have argued that this is unlawful. “That is an incorrect interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. You’re trying to carve out a loophole.” If a nation started digging up resources from a territory it didn’t have claim to on Earth, that would cause a few legal problems.
The US has been tactical in its approach to this issue, through the use of an agreement called the Artemis Accords. This is not an international treaty. The document includes sections specifically allowing the extraction and use of space resources, saying that this doesn’t conflict with the principle of non-appropriation, and allowing specific nations to establish “safety zones” around areas of their lunar activity where other nations cannot interfere. It is implicitly saying that whoever starts activities like research or mining in a certain lunar region now gets to extract resources from that region and other countries can’t stop them. It’s not owning a piece of the Moon, but it is getting priority access to it. (4/1)
Astroscale is expanding its commitment to the Texas space ecosystem by setting up to do business in El Paso and collaborating with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The expansion is supported through an economic development agreement approved by the El Paso City Council, reinforcing the city’s commitment to growing the aerospace and defense industry and advancing economic development opportunities in the region.
Astroscale U.S. selected El Paso and UTEP because of their commitment to growing the commercial space ecosystem through speed and innovation. The company will maintain a permanent employment presence and workspace at the City of El Paso’s Innovation Factory near the El Paso International Airport and plans to work closely with UTEP's researchers and faculty to further advance the Astroscale U.S. mission. (3/2)
Redefining Space as a Contested Military and Strategic Domain (Source: Modern Integrated Warfare)
“When we look at space and counterspace activities, I’m not just worried about all the dog fighting we see between Chinese and U.S. satellites, which are now becoming real maneuvers and operations,” said Dr. Nötzold. “What [concerns me the most] was what happened in July, when the Chinese managed to have a successful docking of satellites in geostationary orbit and refueled a satellite. Why [does this concern me the most]? Because it shows that China is ahead of the United States. It brings more ambiguity to the whole dynamic, as we don’t know much about China’s intentions. I would say it also changes a lot of the dynamics for future in-orbit service operations.”
“Satellite services are embedded in the critical infrastructure services on Earth,” Dr. Janes said. “The energy, military, healthcare, and financial sectors depend on the availability of space services. We have a space, ground, and link segment for all space services. All those layers are only as strong as their weakest link. We must make sure that all the links are hardened to the level that we need.” Hilgert believes that world governments must heavily invest in bolstering resilience measures in the space domain and be proactive by preparing for any type of crisis that may affect space services on Earth. (4/1)
STARCOM Expands Footprint with New Annex at Patrick Space Force Base (Source: Team Orlando News)
The annex project cost $28 million and includes office space, parking and related infrastructure. As of the opening, approximately 142 personnel are assigned to the facility, with additional workspace available to accommodate future staffing increases and the relocation of personnel from Colorado. STARCOM relocated its headquarters to Patrick Space Force Base in July 2025. The addition of the annex increases available workspace as the command continues shifting personnel and functions to the installation. The expansion reflects a broader effort by the Space Force to position key training and readiness functions closer to operational units located along the Space Coast. (4/1)
Phantom Space Acquires Thermal Management Technologies (Source: Payload)
Phantom Space today announced the acquisition of Thermal Management Technologies (TMT), a company that builds advanced satellite thermal components for in-space applications. With the acquisition, the AZ-based rocket and satellite developer is aiming to spur development of its in-orbit data center constellation—called Phantom Cloud—which is targeting an initial deployment in mid-2027. TMT will operate as a subsidiary of Phantom, with founder Scott Schick staying on as the company’s general manager. TMT will also collaborate with Phantom to develop Block 1 Phantom Cloud sats. The companies did not announce the terms of the deal. (4/2)
ThrustMe to Equip 40 Japanese EO Satellites with its Propulsion Systems (Source: Spacewatch Global)
ThrustMe, a French scale-up specializing in electric propulsion systems for satellites based in Verrières-le-Buisson (Essonne), is equipping 40 Japanese satellites under commercial agreements worth over ten million euros. These commercial agreements are highlighted on the occasion of the French President’s official visit to Japan, in which the company is participating. A pioneering deep tech company in the space sector, born from scientific research conducted at CNRS, ThrustMe designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems for satellites, including Earth observation satellites, a fast-growing sector. These innovative propulsion systems radically transform satellite maneuverability, enabling essential functions such as station-keeping, trajectory corrections and end-of-life deorbiting. (4/2)
Italy Signs Agreement with NASA to Cooperate on Moon Base (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Italian government and NASA have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a U.S.-led lunar surface base. The move is the latest in a series of bilateral efforts between the two nations, including a June 2022 cooperation agreement that tasked Italy with leading the design of a multi-purpose lunar habitation module, currently being developed by Thales Alenia Space Italia under an Italian Space Agency (ASI) contract. (4/2)
Argentina Joins NASA’s Moon Return with Microsatellite Testing GPS Beyond Earth (Source: Reuters)
An Argentine-built microsatellite, the only one from Latin America selected for NASA's return to the moon, will test experimental navigation systems and measure radiation far beyond Earth's orbit when it flies on the Artemis II mission. The shoebox-sized satellite, known as ATENEA, is one of four international payloads chosen by NASA from proposals submitted by nearly 50 countries to accompany Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century, which was scheduled to lift off later on Wednesday. The others are from Germany, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. (4/1)
Spain Approves €325 Million ESCA+ Expansion of Atlantic Constellation (Source: European Spaceflight)
Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved the allocation of €325 million for the development of three Earth observation satellites that will expand the 16-satellite Atlantic Constellation. The Constelación Atlántica (Atlantic Constellation) is a joint initiative between Spain and Portugal to develop an Earth observation constellation for environmental monitoring, coastal surveillance, and disaster management. The two countries have committed to contributing eight satellites each to form the core 16-satellite constellation. (4/1)
Aspect Aerospace Secures Early Funding to Advance Swarm-Deployable VLEO Satellites (Source: Space News)
Aspect Aerospace, a University of South Alabama spin-off, has secured $2.4 million to develop circuit-board-sized spacecraft that could be deployed from space into very low Earth orbit (VLEO) in swarms to monitor the space environment. The funding includes a $1.9 million U.S. Space Force grant to build a space-ready Single-Board Satellite (SBS) prototype within 18 months, the startup announced April 1, and a $500,000 pre-seed investment from venture capital firm SOSV. (4/1)
Creating Near-Term Lunar Settlements: Lessons From Space History (Source: Space News)
March 16, 2026, was the 100th anniversary of Robert Goddard’s first flight of a liquid fueled rocket. It reached an altitude of 41 feet. 31 years later, in 1957, Sputnik began a lonely beep as the first satellite in orbit. In 1969, 12 years after Sputnik and 43 years after Goddard’s first flight, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. It’s been 57 years since the first Apollo landing and we don’t yet have a group of folks living and working on the moon or Mars (although people have lived for more than a year in the International Space Station in low Earth orbit). Frankly, we’re not even close to living on the moon. Something has gone remarkably wrong. Something needs to change dramatically if living and working on the moon is going to become real. (4/1)
NASA’s Artemis II Lifts Off, Beginning First Crewed Moon Mission Since 1972 (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years began today when the towering SLS rocket lifted off at 6:35 p.m. Eastern, leaving behind a thick, white plume as it ascended into the blue sky over Cape Canaveral and disappeared over the Atlantic. Inside the Orion crew capsule atop the rocket are NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Over the next 10 days, they are to loop around the moon and return to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a critical step toward NASA’s goal of returning humans to the lunar surface in 2028. (4/2)
Space Force Looks To Begin Doubling Size With FY ’27 Budget Request (Source: Aerospace America)
As the White House prepares to release its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the top U.S. Space Force official said he remains confident the service will receive a boost to its current funding. “The leadership in the Department of War, the leadership in OMB, certainly the leadership in the White House and the president, agree with us, agree with our advocacy that space capabilities need to grow, that the Space Force’s capacity needs to grow,” Gen. Chance Saltzman, Space Force’s chief of space operations, said during a keynote at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Security Forum. (4/2)
Aspect Aerospace Secures Early Funding to Advance Swarm-Deployable VLEO Satellites (Source: Space News)
Aspect Aerospace, a University of South Alabama spin-off, has secured $2.4 million to develop circuit-board-sized spacecraft that could be deployed from space into very low Earth orbit (VLEO) in swarms to monitor the space environment. The funding includes a $1.9 million U.S. Space Force grant to build a space-ready Single-Board Satellite (SBS) prototype within 18 months, the startup announced April 1, and a $500,000 pre-seed investment from venture capital firm SOSV. (4/2)
From GNSS to PNT Systems: Europe’s Strategic Pivot at the Munich Space Summit (Source: Inside GNSS)
For the first time, the summit merged two meetings, the Munich Satellite Navigation Summit and the Munich NewSpace Summit, highlighting how NewSpace energy is starting to reshape Europe’s space model and PNT vision. At this year’s Munich Space Summit, something subtle—but significant—happened. What began two decades ago as a focused gathering of satellite navigation experts has merged with the faster-moving world of NewSpace. (4/2)
Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès Previews Ariane 6 Ramp-Up (Source: Via Satellite)
Arianespace is in the midst of its launch campaign for Amazon Leo after conducting the first launch for its largest customer in February. The next mission is planned for April 28. Amid this ramp-up, Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès joins Via Satellite for a “Live in the Booth” interview. While sovereign space was one of the key topics of the show, Cavaillolès says this issue has always been part of Arianespace’s DNA, providing access to space for Europe. New investments across Europe are driving up demand for the company’s launch capabilities. (4/2)
Teledyne Forms Dedicated Space Unit to Capture Rising Demand (Source: Space News)
Teledyne Technologies is creating a dedicated business unit for space programs, consolidating its imaging, electronics and component businesses as demand rises for satellite-based sensing technologies. The Thousand Oaks, California-based supplier said the new sector, Teledyne Space, will combine capabilities that had been spread across multiple segments, including detectors, microwave devices, optoelectronics and radiation-tolerant semiconductors. (4/2)
AIA Supports Plan for Expanding Commercial Space Ops (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Aerospace Industries Association has come out in favor of a Commerce Department proposal to create a framework for approval of space activities that are currently unregulated. AIA President and CEO Eric Fannings says it is "the right moment" for the proposal as firms look to expand activities and support for orbital operations by the US Space Force. "As implementation moves forward, it's important to have clear accountability across agencies, guardrails against regulatory creep, and the predictability companies need to invest for the long term. We look forward to continuing to work with the government as the details take shape," he said. (4/1)
SpaceX Files for IPO (Source: Space News)
SpaceX has confidentially filed plans to go public. While the company made no formal announcement, industry sources said Wednesday that SpaceX did file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering. The confidential filing allows SpaceX to work with regulators on the proposal before making it public. SpaceX is seeking to raise as much as $75 billion in the IPO that would value the company at $1.75 trillion. SpaceX is also reportedly exploring a dual-class share structure that would give Musk and other insiders outsized voting control. The filing marks a pivotal moment for a space sector that is increasingly attracting mainstream market investors, even as SpaceX's valuation raises questions about how much weight to place on future ambitions. (4/2)
Amazon Considers Globalstar Acquisition (Source: Financial Times)
Amazon is in talks to acquire satellite operator Globlastar. The companies are in discussions about an acquisition but are still negotiating complexities of any deal, such as Apple's 20% stake in Globalstar, with no guarantee a sale can be closed. Globalstar operates a constellation of several dozen satellites that it is in the process of replenishing with financial support from Apple, which uses Globalstar for its emergency connectivity service. Amazon is likely primarily interested in Globalstar for its spectrum as it builds out its Amazon Leo constellation. Rumors of an acquisition have boosted Globalstar's stock, giving the company a valuation of $9 billion. (4/2)
Space Force's "Outsized Role" in Iran and Venezuela Military Campaigns (Source: Space News)
The commanding general of the Space Force says the service is "sitting at the center" of recent military campaigns in Iran and Venezuela. Speaking at the Mitchell Institute's Spacepower Security Forum, Gen. Chance Saltzman said space capabilities provided by the Space Force "have played an outsized role" in those operations. His comments add to a growing body of official statements pointing to the importance of space and cyber capabilities in the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent operations. He pointed to a shift in how space is integrated into military planning, saying that space was "baked in from the beginning" rather than added on later. (4/2)
California's Fortastra Starts Up with Aerospace Vetrans for On-Orbit Security (Source: Space News)
Los Angeles startup Fortastra has hired veterans from several aerospace companies to design and operate maneuverable spacecraft for on-orbit security. The company announced Tuesday it hired executives who previously worked at Relativity Space, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent Technologies to top positions at the startup. Fortastra is developing spacecraft with advanced guidance and propulsion systems to enable rapid maneuver, rendezvous and proximity operations, and mission assurance in degraded environments. The company raised more than $8 million in a seed round last year. (4/2)
Sidus Space Announces Financial Results for 2025 (Source: Sidus Space)
Total revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2025, was approximately $3.4 million, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million or 28% compared to total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. This decrease reflects Sidus' continued strategic transition toward higher-margin satellite manufacturing, data, and technology business lines. Gross loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, was approximately $5.7 million, compared to a gross loss of approximately $1.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. The change was primarily driven by higher non-cash depreciation reflecting the significant progress Sidus has made in deploying its LizzieSat satellite fleet and building the infrastructure to support long-term, high-margin satellite data revenue. (4/1)
China's Reusable Rocket Tianlong-3 Targeting April 3 Maiden Flight (Source: Mach 33)
Space Pioneer's Tianlong-3, a 71-meter, 9-engine, LOX/kerosene reusable rocket that closely mirrors Falcon 9 in dimensions and engine layout, is targeting an April 3 maiden flight from Jiuquan. It may carry satellites for China's SpaceSail/Qianfan LEO constellation. The rocket uses nine Tianhuo-12 engines with landing legs and grid fins for first-stage recovery.
If Tianlong-3 reaches orbit and demonstrates even partial reusability, it validates that the Falcon 9 architecture can be replicated outside of SpaceX. That matters less for SpaceX's near-term dominance (their moat is cadence and operational maturity, not design secrecy) and more for the trajectory of Chinese launch costs, which directly affects how fast China can build out competing LEO constellations. (4/1)
Rocket Lab Europe - Mynaric Acquisition Opens Doors (Source: Mach 33)
Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs granted FDI approval for Rocket Lab's approximately $150 million acquisition of laser communications specialist Mynaric AG. Closing expected in April. Mynaric stays headquartered in Munich, creating Rocket Lab Europe. The path cleared after Rheinmetall withdrew its competing bid in mid-March. Mynaric is already a subcontractor on Rocket Lab's $1.3 billion SDA prime contract to build 36 satellites.
Beyond the dollar value, this deal positions Rocket Lab to compete for the EUR 6 billion IRIS2 constellation, German military satellite programs, and European LEO navigation work that requires sovereign industrial participation. Laser inter-satellite links are a critical bottleneck for constellation operators, and bringing Mynaric in-house gives Rocket Lab vertical control over a component most competitors source externally. (4/1)
The Artemis Moon Base Project is Legally Dubious (Source: The Verge)
The justification underlying much of Artemis: Resources are needed to support a Moon base, so we need to build a Moon base to search for them. The agency has even described these efforts as a “lunar gold rush.” But this points to a problem with Artemis that isn’t solvable by developing new technologies: Some experts say that extracting resources from the Moon is a violation of international law. There isn’t a huge amount of international law that applies to space exploration, but one point is very clear: No one owns the Moon.
The Outer Space Treaty (which was signed nearly 60 years ago but is still the main basis for international law in space today, if you can believe it) is very explicit regarding the principle of non-appropriation, meaning that nations can’t claim sovereignty over any body in space. But what about extracting resources? There, we get into sticky territory. “The US considers that resource extraction is not appropriation,” says Cassandra Steer. Many international space lawyers, including Steer, have argued that this is unlawful. “That is an incorrect interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty. You’re trying to carve out a loophole.” If a nation started digging up resources from a territory it didn’t have claim to on Earth, that would cause a few legal problems.
The US has been tactical in its approach to this issue, through the use of an agreement called the Artemis Accords. This is not an international treaty. The document includes sections specifically allowing the extraction and use of space resources, saying that this doesn’t conflict with the principle of non-appropriation, and allowing specific nations to establish “safety zones” around areas of their lunar activity where other nations cannot interfere. It is implicitly saying that whoever starts activities like research or mining in a certain lunar region now gets to extract resources from that region and other countries can’t stop them. It’s not owning a piece of the Moon, but it is getting priority access to it. (4/1)
April 1, 2026
NASA Rover Finds Glowing, Ruby-Like
Crystals on Mars for the First Time (Source: Gizmodo)
Over the past five years, a six-wheeled robot has been exploring the Martian terrain and capturing unusual features like a leopard-spotted rock, a tangle of strings, and textured rock formations that look like popcorn. Now, NASA’s Perseverance rover has found tiny gemstones that resemble rubies. An international group of researchers spotted evidence of precious stones hidden inside Martian pebbles. The gem grains are made of corundum, a crystalline material that’s known as ruby or sapphire. (3/31)
France's Unseenlabs and Japan's Space BD Announce Collaboration (Source: Unseenlabs)
Unseenlabs, a French leader in space-based radio frequency (RF) detection, signed an agreement with Japan's Space BD to accelerate its international expansion and strengthen its presence in the Japanese market. The partnership intends to combine Unseenlabs' proprietary maritime surveillance technology with Space BD's expertise in providing launch opportunities and business development, enabling enhanced detection of non-cooperative vessels and supporting the growing demand for RF intelligence in Japan. (4/1)
Japan's SpaceData and France’s Look Up Announce Partnership to Build a Space Situational Awareness Data Platform in Japan (Source: SpaceData)
Tokyo-based SpaceData announced a business partnership with France's Look Up, a space situational awareness (SSA) company, to build a data platform for space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management (STM). Through this partnership, the two companies will leverage Look Up’s radar observation data and data processing platform “SYNAPSE” to develop a domestic SSA/STM data processing infrastructure in Japan. (4/1)
Air Force Awards BlackSky $99M to Large Aperture Optical Payload for Space-Based Imaging (Source: Via Satellite)
BlackSky Technology on Tuesday said a $99 million contract it received from the Air Force Research Laboratory in early March that will accelerate the design and development of a large aperture optical payload that could be used for space-based Earth imaging and space domain awareness. An initial $2.1 million obligation using fiscal year 2026 research and development funds from AFRL is to accelerate design of the payload. (4/1)
Delta Plans High-Speed Wi-Fi with Amazon Leo Satellites (Source: CNBC)
Delta Air Lines plans to introduce high-speed internet on 500 aircraft in 2028 through a partnership with Amazon's Leo satellite service. The initiative will begin with Boeing and Airbus planes that are primarily used on domestic routes. The move is part of Delta's effort to enhance passenger experience, potentially offer new commerce opportunities and compete with other airlines' in-flight entertainment options. (3/31)
Vantor Wins Satellite Spying Contract (Source: Space News)
Vantor, an Earth imaging company, has won a contract to also provide intelligence on space objects in low Earth orbit. The $2.3 million contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is the first for non-Earth imaging, or observations of objects in orbit rather than the Earth's surface. The move reflects a broader push by the U.S. government to incorporate commercial capabilities into space domain awareness missions, traditionally handled by classified military systems. The award is the third for Vantor, the former Maxar Intelligence, under NGA's Luno program. (4/1)
China's Sustain Space Demonstrates Robotic Arm (Source: Space News)
A Chinese commercial company has conducted an on-orbit demonstration of a flexible robotic arm. Sustain Space's Xiyuan-0 satellite, also known as Yuxing-3 (06), launched in mid-March. The satellite features a flexible robotic arm with the aim of testing simulated refueling operations, force-compliant manipulation and precision control. Sustain Space said all the planned tests of that robotic arm have been successfully completed. The tests mark apparent progress towards on-orbit servicing capabilities such as satellite life extension, in-space assembly and debris mitigation, although the company has not yet outlined detailed plans or timelines for next missions and the transition from demonstrations to operations. (4/1)
Virgin Galactic Plans Return to Flight by End of 2026 With $750K Ticket Prices (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic expects to resume commercial suborbital launches by the end of the year. In an earnings call this week, the company said its first next-generation suborbital spaceplane is in final assembly, with ground tests starting in April and flight tests in the third quarter. Once in service, the vehicle will initially fly four times a month, ramping up to 10 or more flights monthly by mid-2027. The company, with a backlog of more than 650 customers, is reopening ticket sales, offering 50 tickets at $750,000 each. (4/1)
SDA Picks SpaceX for Two Launch Orders (Source: Inside Defense)
SpaceX won a Space Force task order for two launches of Space Development Agency satellites. Space Systems Command announced Tuesday it selected SpaceX to launch two sets of missile tracking satellites being built by Sierra Space starting in the second quarter of 2027. One Falcon 9 launch will take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and the other from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The task order under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract is valued at $178.5 million. (4/1)
China's CAS Plans $600 Million IPO (Source: Reuters)
Chinese launch company CAS Space is seeking to raise more than $600 million in an initial public offering. The company filed Tuesday on the STAR Market to raise 4.18 billion yuan ($607 million). CAS Space, spun out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, would use the money to support work on reusable launch vehicles. The company successfully launched its first Kinetica-2 medium-lift rocket on Monday. (4/1)
SpaceX Readies Banks for IPO (Source: International Financing Review)
SpaceX will meet with the banks running its IPO next week. Morgan Stanley is leading the meeting next Monday alongside Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. A syndicate of other banks will also participate in the IPO, which is expected in June. SpaceX is seeking to raise up to $75 billion in the IPO, valuing the company at $1.75 trillion. (4/1)
ESA Gets New Space Transportation Chief (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency has a new head of space transportation. ESA announced Wednesday that Géraldine Naja had taken over as its director of space transportation. Naja had previously been director of commercialization and industry partnerships at the agency, and will retain that role on an acting basis as she moves full time into leading the space transportation directorate. She succeeds Toni Tolker-Nielsen, who is retiring after nearly 40 years in various roles at the agency. (4/1)
NASA is Leading the Way to the Moon, but the Military Won't Be Far Behind (Source: Ars Technica)
The US military views space as a potential battlefield—a “warfighting domain” in Pentagon parlance. The great power competition between the United States and China already extends to space. Potential conflict zones in space are limited to a region between low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit, from a few hundred miles’ altitude up to 22,000 miles. The Space Force is in the final stages of developing a roadmap for the next 15 years, and Pentagon officials have said it will address the possibility of the Moon or cislunar space, the region of space around the Moon, becoming a theater for military operations. (4/1)
Scotland Gathering Ignites Space Growth (Source: Space Scotland)
Senior diplomats from 20 countries and some of Scotland’s innovative space companies gathered in Edinburgh to turn international interest into tangible partnerships at “Space Connects the World: Consular Corps Scottish Space Forum.” Convened by the Space Scotland International Engagement Working Group, the forum brought representatives from Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, India, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, and USA into focused sessions with Scottish companies. (4/1)
Over the past five years, a six-wheeled robot has been exploring the Martian terrain and capturing unusual features like a leopard-spotted rock, a tangle of strings, and textured rock formations that look like popcorn. Now, NASA’s Perseverance rover has found tiny gemstones that resemble rubies. An international group of researchers spotted evidence of precious stones hidden inside Martian pebbles. The gem grains are made of corundum, a crystalline material that’s known as ruby or sapphire. (3/31)
France's Unseenlabs and Japan's Space BD Announce Collaboration (Source: Unseenlabs)
Unseenlabs, a French leader in space-based radio frequency (RF) detection, signed an agreement with Japan's Space BD to accelerate its international expansion and strengthen its presence in the Japanese market. The partnership intends to combine Unseenlabs' proprietary maritime surveillance technology with Space BD's expertise in providing launch opportunities and business development, enabling enhanced detection of non-cooperative vessels and supporting the growing demand for RF intelligence in Japan. (4/1)
Japan's SpaceData and France’s Look Up Announce Partnership to Build a Space Situational Awareness Data Platform in Japan (Source: SpaceData)
Tokyo-based SpaceData announced a business partnership with France's Look Up, a space situational awareness (SSA) company, to build a data platform for space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management (STM). Through this partnership, the two companies will leverage Look Up’s radar observation data and data processing platform “SYNAPSE” to develop a domestic SSA/STM data processing infrastructure in Japan. (4/1)
Air Force Awards BlackSky $99M to Large Aperture Optical Payload for Space-Based Imaging (Source: Via Satellite)
BlackSky Technology on Tuesday said a $99 million contract it received from the Air Force Research Laboratory in early March that will accelerate the design and development of a large aperture optical payload that could be used for space-based Earth imaging and space domain awareness. An initial $2.1 million obligation using fiscal year 2026 research and development funds from AFRL is to accelerate design of the payload. (4/1)
Delta Plans High-Speed Wi-Fi with Amazon Leo Satellites (Source: CNBC)
Delta Air Lines plans to introduce high-speed internet on 500 aircraft in 2028 through a partnership with Amazon's Leo satellite service. The initiative will begin with Boeing and Airbus planes that are primarily used on domestic routes. The move is part of Delta's effort to enhance passenger experience, potentially offer new commerce opportunities and compete with other airlines' in-flight entertainment options. (3/31)
Vantor Wins Satellite Spying Contract (Source: Space News)
Vantor, an Earth imaging company, has won a contract to also provide intelligence on space objects in low Earth orbit. The $2.3 million contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is the first for non-Earth imaging, or observations of objects in orbit rather than the Earth's surface. The move reflects a broader push by the U.S. government to incorporate commercial capabilities into space domain awareness missions, traditionally handled by classified military systems. The award is the third for Vantor, the former Maxar Intelligence, under NGA's Luno program. (4/1)
China's Sustain Space Demonstrates Robotic Arm (Source: Space News)
A Chinese commercial company has conducted an on-orbit demonstration of a flexible robotic arm. Sustain Space's Xiyuan-0 satellite, also known as Yuxing-3 (06), launched in mid-March. The satellite features a flexible robotic arm with the aim of testing simulated refueling operations, force-compliant manipulation and precision control. Sustain Space said all the planned tests of that robotic arm have been successfully completed. The tests mark apparent progress towards on-orbit servicing capabilities such as satellite life extension, in-space assembly and debris mitigation, although the company has not yet outlined detailed plans or timelines for next missions and the transition from demonstrations to operations. (4/1)
Virgin Galactic Plans Return to Flight by End of 2026 With $750K Ticket Prices (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic expects to resume commercial suborbital launches by the end of the year. In an earnings call this week, the company said its first next-generation suborbital spaceplane is in final assembly, with ground tests starting in April and flight tests in the third quarter. Once in service, the vehicle will initially fly four times a month, ramping up to 10 or more flights monthly by mid-2027. The company, with a backlog of more than 650 customers, is reopening ticket sales, offering 50 tickets at $750,000 each. (4/1)
SDA Picks SpaceX for Two Launch Orders (Source: Inside Defense)
SpaceX won a Space Force task order for two launches of Space Development Agency satellites. Space Systems Command announced Tuesday it selected SpaceX to launch two sets of missile tracking satellites being built by Sierra Space starting in the second quarter of 2027. One Falcon 9 launch will take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and the other from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The task order under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract is valued at $178.5 million. (4/1)
China's CAS Plans $600 Million IPO (Source: Reuters)
Chinese launch company CAS Space is seeking to raise more than $600 million in an initial public offering. The company filed Tuesday on the STAR Market to raise 4.18 billion yuan ($607 million). CAS Space, spun out of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, would use the money to support work on reusable launch vehicles. The company successfully launched its first Kinetica-2 medium-lift rocket on Monday. (4/1)
SpaceX Readies Banks for IPO (Source: International Financing Review)
SpaceX will meet with the banks running its IPO next week. Morgan Stanley is leading the meeting next Monday alongside Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. A syndicate of other banks will also participate in the IPO, which is expected in June. SpaceX is seeking to raise up to $75 billion in the IPO, valuing the company at $1.75 trillion. (4/1)
ESA Gets New Space Transportation Chief (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency has a new head of space transportation. ESA announced Wednesday that Géraldine Naja had taken over as its director of space transportation. Naja had previously been director of commercialization and industry partnerships at the agency, and will retain that role on an acting basis as she moves full time into leading the space transportation directorate. She succeeds Toni Tolker-Nielsen, who is retiring after nearly 40 years in various roles at the agency. (4/1)
NASA is Leading the Way to the Moon, but the Military Won't Be Far Behind (Source: Ars Technica)
The US military views space as a potential battlefield—a “warfighting domain” in Pentagon parlance. The great power competition between the United States and China already extends to space. Potential conflict zones in space are limited to a region between low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit, from a few hundred miles’ altitude up to 22,000 miles. The Space Force is in the final stages of developing a roadmap for the next 15 years, and Pentagon officials have said it will address the possibility of the Moon or cislunar space, the region of space around the Moon, becoming a theater for military operations. (4/1)
Scotland Gathering Ignites Space Growth (Source: Space Scotland)
Senior diplomats from 20 countries and some of Scotland’s innovative space companies gathered in Edinburgh to turn international interest into tangible partnerships at “Space Connects the World: Consular Corps Scottish Space Forum.” Convened by the Space Scotland International Engagement Working Group, the forum brought representatives from Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, India, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, and USA into focused sessions with Scottish companies. (4/1)
March 31, 2026
European Union’s Shift to Defense
Space and Security Signals Changing Role for ESA (Source:
Aerospace America)
Despite its relative youth, the European Union’s five-year-old space agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), is poised to displace the decades-old European Space Agency as the biggest spender in the region’s space sector, according to a new report. “The European Union as a distinct political entity is on the verge of overtaking the European Space Agency as the center of gravity for space in Europe,” said Michael Gleason, senior policy analyst at the Aerospace Corp. and author of the report, “‘A Geopolitical Awakening’: The European Union and Space.” (3/31)
NASA’s X-59 Returns To Flight After False Positive Cockpit Warning (Source: Aviation Week)
The cockpit warning light that cut short the second flight of NASA’s X-59 low-boom supersonic flight demonstrator on March 20 proved to be a false positive and the aircraft resumed envelope expansion testing with back-to-back flights on March 26 and 27. The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works-built X-59 was forced to return to base at Edwards AFB, California, after only 9 min. of a planned hour-long flight on March 20 when NASA Test Pilot Jim Less saw a vehicle system warning in the cockpit. (3/31)
Huge Solar Flare No Threat to Artemis 2 Astronaut Mission (Source: Space.com)
A massive solar eruption from the sun poses no threat to NASA's planned launch of its Artemis 2 mission to the moon this week, the space agency said. The colossal X1.4-class flare triggered a radio blackout over parts of Asia and Australia when it exploded from an active sunspot late Sunday. The flare also launched a coronal mass ejection, or CME, of solar plasma in Earth's direction, but the space weather should settle down before NASA launches its Artemis 2 astronauts on April 1. (3/30)
ESA Seeks Commercial Provider to Transport Payload to the Moon (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency is seeking a commercial provider to deliver its NILS2 instrument to the Moon to measure negative ions on the lunar surface. On 1 June 2024, ESA’s original Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface (NILS) instrument touched down on the surface of the Moon aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar lander. The instrument was designed to detect and analyze negatively charged ions on the Moon’s surface produced by interactions between the solar wind and the lunar regolith. (3/31)
European Engines Powering Artemis II (Source: Douglas Messier)
ESA’s European Service Module is the propulsion heart of the Orion spacecraft, carrying 33 engines that guide, steer and propel the crew safely towards the Moon and back. The module has three types of engines that work together, each with a specific role during the mission. A single main engine delivers the large changes in speed needed to send Orion towards the Moon. It is supported by eight auxiliary engines, which are used for orbital corrections and can back up the main engine if needed. For precise control, 24 smaller reaction control system engines, arranged in six pods, are used to rotate and orient the spacecraft.
Engineers at ESA’s technical center, ESTEC, in the Netherlands will work alongside colleagues in the Mission Evaluation Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, monitoring the module around the clock. Artemis II is the second mission to fly with a European Service Module. The first performed above expectations. With the third and fourth European Service Modules already delivered and undergoing testing for future missions, Europe continues to deliver the hardware that brings humankind safely towards the Moon and back home. (3/31)
Eutelsat in Talks with India's Space Agency to Diversify Launch Options (Source: Reuters)
Eutelsat, Europe's main rival to Elon Musk's satellite internet provider Starlink, is in talks with India's space agency about future satellite launches as it seeks to diversify beyond SpaceX and Europe's Ariane rockets. Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of France-based Eutelsat since last June, said negotiations with ISRO were ongoing, though no deal has yet been reached. (3/31)
Portal Space’s ‘Mini-Nova’ Payload Goes Into Orbit to Test Technologies for Maneuverable Space Vehicles (Source: Geekwire)
Portal Space Systems has made its first foray into Earth orbit, in the form of a piggyback payload that will test technologies for highly maneuverable space vehicles. The instrument package, which is about the size of a tissue box, was one of 119 payloads sent into orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-16 satellite rideshare mission. Portal’s “Mini-Nova” payload was attached to Momentus’ Vigoride-7 orbital service vehicle for the ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (3/30)
Antaris Raises $28 Million to Accelerate AI-Driven Space Missions (Source: Space News)
Antaris, creator of an AI-powered platform that simplifies satellite design, simulation, manufacturing, and operations for ISR and communications satellite missions, announced the first close of a $28 Million Series A funding round. Antaris recently announced an MOA with SARsatX to develop a 16-satellite constellation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as initial exploration of the Japanese market. The company is working with sovereign governments and commercial partners to develop regional and global ISR and communications satellite capabilities. (3/31)
Data Centers in Space Could Enable Golden Dome (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The tech industry’s pursuit of space-based AI data centers has potentially significant implications for military space operations, potentially enabling faster communication between satellites from multiple orbits and strengthening sensing and targeting for Golden Dome and related functions, industry and defense officials said. (3/27)
New Henrietta Spectrograph to Probe Alien Atmospheres (Source: Universe Today)
Researchers are developing a new tool called the Henrietta Infrared Spectrograph with the goal of advancing exoplanet atmosphere science by providing greater detail than possibly ever before. While several ground-based telescopes are currently used to study exoplanet atmospheres, those telescopes are designed to perform several types of science, including galaxy evolution and black holes. In contrast, Henrietta will be the first to specialize in exoplanet atmosphere research in near-infrared light, providing crucial details about exoplanets that go beyond physical attributes. (3/29)
Better Space Stock: Rocket Lab vs. Redwire (Source: Motley Fool)
Rocket Lab sure lived up to its name this week, rocketing more than 10% on Wednesday after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled his new "Ignition" plan to build a base on the moon. As investors digested the details, they were left with visions of big stock profits. By Wednesday, the buying frenzy was in full force, with multiple space stocks soaring by double digits.
Just not Redwire Corp. Redwire stock went up only 1%. And I think that's a mistake. Don't get me wrong. I agree that the investors who bought up Rocket Lab and a few other space stocks this week may be on the right track. Admittedly, Redwire wasn't named as a recipient of any contracts under the Ignition program -- yet. (After all, the program's only a few days old.) But then again, neither has Rocket Lab. (3/29)
Some Lunar Dust Can Be Toxic for Artemis Astronauts (Source: Nicholas Barnett)
Did you know a few grains of Moon dust could push spacecraft air past safety limits? During Artemis missions, astronauts returning from the lunar surface will inevitably bring dust back with them into vehicles like the Orion spacecraft. If volatile-bearing regolith enters the cabin environment, it could release reactive gases into the air astronauts breathe.
For the Orion capsule to be used in the Artemis missions: 0.36 g of lunar regolith can exceed NASA safe exposure limits; 1.35 g of lunar regolith can exceed safe exposure limits on Earth (assuming the same volume as Orion); and 134.1 g of lunar regolith can exceed Immediate Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) exposure limits.
But the encouraging part is this: we can reduce this risk before astronauts ever land. By mapping the Moon’s temperature, illumination, and terrain conditions, we can identify regions where volatile compounds are more likely to accumulate or remain stable. (3/30)
Haridopolos on Artemis (Source: Payload)
For Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), a long-time resident of the Florida space coast who was elected to represent the district in 2025, there’s a lot to be excited about—both now and in the future. Artemis II can be a “great rallying cry” for Americans, Haridopolos said, joining together people from all walks of life (and across the political spectrum) to root for the astronauts.
For NASA’s broader lunar push, Haridopolos said he’s most excited about the possible, unexpected tech developed on the way to the Moon that could also improve life on Earth. “There’s a smorgasbord of potential here,” he said. (3/31)
Keith Hardiman Appointed Deputy CIO for Air Force, Space Force (Source: Defense Scoop)
The Department of the Air Force announced Saturday that Keith Hardiman has been approved to serve as its deputy chief information officer on a permanent basis. He steps into the role after having served as the DAF’s acting deputy CIO. He’ll help oversee the Air and Space Forces’ IT, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence initiatives. (3/30)
WRC to Readdress Power Limits to Mitigate LEO-GEO Interference (Source: Space Intel Report)
The next meeting of the quadrennial World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), scheduled for Oct. 18 - Nov. 12, 2027 in Shanghai, is likely to revisit a subject that sharply divided LEO and GEO satellite operators when it was last examined, at the previous conference in 2023. WRC-23 concluded with a decision to permit studies on whether the 30-year-old limits on the power that non-geostationary satellites could emit when in the line of emissions of GEO-orbit satellites, which are stationed over the equator, should relaxed. (3/31)
Data From Chinese Moon Lander Shows Signs of Peculiar Radiation “Cavity” (Source: Futurism)
As detailed in a paper published this week in the journal Science Advances, the team analyzed data collected by China’s Chang’e-4 lander, which became the first spacecraft to land and explore the far side of the Moon in early 2019. They found a surprising “region of reduced [galactic cosmic ray] flux in the prenoon sector of the lunar orbit,” challenging the presumption that radiation is “uniformly distributed over the Earth-Moon distance.”
“This cavity indicates that the influence of Earth’s magnetic field within the space environment extends unexpectedly up to and far beyond the lunar orbit,” the paper reads. The cavity appears a few Earth hours after lunar sunrise. A single lunar day lasts for approximately 29.5 Earth days, which means it’s not as fleeting a moment as it sounds, stretching the window to “roughly 2 [Earth] days during each lunar revolution.” (3/29)
Haven-1 Approved Through Interagency Review Process (Source: FAA)
The FAA approved the Vast Space Haven-1 commercial space station through an interagency payload review process. The favorable determination found that Vast Space initiated all required licensing from other agencies and that the spacecraft would not jeopardize public health and safety, safety of property, U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the United States. (3/31)
FAA and European Air Traffic Control Partners Talk Space Integration (Source: FAA)
The FAA hosted several European air traffic control partners to discuss the safe integration of U.S.-based space launches into the North Atlantic Region airspace. In the coming years, a slight uptick in the number of space transport operations with planned hazard areas affecting the region’s airspace is expected.
The talks included representatives from commercial space transport companies and emphasized the need for early engagement and information sharing. Participants also visited the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia for an overview of the space operation lifecycle from license to launch. It included a simulated mission exercise allowing attendees to gain exposure to airspace management concepts in a realistic operational context.
The FAA held a similar meeting with the Latin America and Caribbean Region last fall and plans to continue these international engagements to keep airspace safe during space operations. (3/31)
Space and Airline Industries Collaborate to Share the Airspace (Source: FAA)
As the number of space launch and reentry operations increases, so too does the need for collaboration among stakeholders to optimize the safe and efficient sharing of the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).
The FAA established the Space Collaborative Decision-Making program in 2021 to bring together the FAA, space transport operators, the airline industry, federal space agencies, and other stakeholders for a quarterly dialogue and information exchange. It focuses on the technologies, processes, and procedures associated with integrating space launch and reentry operations into the NAS. The program is working on improving data sharing, pre-mission planning, and international coordination. (3/31)
Igniting a New Vision for NASA (Source: Space Review)
At a day-long event last week, NASA leadership announced major changes to its exploration, science, and technology programs. Jeff Foust reports on the various initiatives and the hurdles they face. Click here. (3/31)
From Advantage to Arena: Space Power 1991–2026 (Source: Space Review)
The conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated how space capabilities have become essential to modern warfare. Bharath Gopalaswamy discusses how it also shows the vulnerabilities of space capabilities and new challenges for them. Click here. (3/31)
Artemis 2, Project Hail Mary, and the Risks and Benefits of Human Spaceflight (Source: Space Review)
The impending Artemis 2 launch comes as the movie Project Hail Mary hits theaters. Scott Solomon discusses how they both illustrate the benefits and risks of human spaceflight. Click here. (3/31)
Convair’s Manned Astronomical Research Station (MARS) (Source: Space Review)
Another early space station concept was developed by Convair. Hans Dolfing unearths some details about this proposed station and its military connections. Click here. (3/31)
Ex-ISRO Scientists Developing New Commercial Rocket (Source: India Today)
India's private space revolution has a new name, and it comes from an unexpected address. Bharath Space Vehicle (BSV), a startup incorporated in 2024 and headquartered in Surat, Gujarat, is building what could be one of the country's most credible private rocket programs. The founding team brings combined 70-plus years of experience inside ISRO. BSV is developing Agasthya-1, a two-stage expendable rocket powered by two LOX/RP-1, or liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, designed to provide reliable and affordable access to space. (3/29)
Kristen Stewart to Play Sally Ride in Amazon's 'The Challenger' Series (Source: Space.com)
The space-based projects just keep on launching! Kristen Stewart will be buckling up for a simulated voyage into space for her upcoming Prime Video limited series playing Sally Ride, America’s first woman in orbit and a pivotal figure in the government's Challenger Disaster investigation. The series was first revealed in 2024, but it's taken nearly two years for Amazon to officially greenlight the project. (3/29)
China's CAS Achieves Orbit with First Successful Kinetica-2 Launch (Source: Space News)
Chinese firm CAS Space successfully reached orbit with the first launch of its Kinetica-2 launch vehicle Monday, with a prototype cargo spacecraft among the payloads. The 53-meter-tall rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan spaceport. The Qingzhou-1 + Kinetica-2 combo was the first successful commercial bid for the low-cost cargo supply mission to Chinese space stations. (3/30)
Rocket Lab Secures Germany's Approval to Acquire Mynaric (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab has finally secured approval from the German government to acquire laser communications company Mynaric. Rocket Lab announced Monday that Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy approved the transaction under foreign investment rules, paving the way for the acquisition to close in April. Rocket Lab announced a deal a year ago to acquire Mynaric for $150 million, but the sale raised concerns among German officials and lawmakers who were wary of allowing a supplier of sensitive space technology to fall under foreign ownership. Rocket Lab has positioned the acquisition as a way to secure a critical component in the satellite supply chain while expanding its presence in Europe. Mynaric produces optical communications terminals that enable satellites to transmit data via laser links, a technology increasingly central to next-generation constellations. (3/31)
Starlink Satellite Anomaly Generates Debris (Source: Space News)
For the second time in a little more than three months, a Starlink satellite has malfunctioned in orbit, generating debris. SpaceX said Monday that Starlink-34343 "experienced an anomaly" Sunday. Space situational awareness company LeoLabs said it was tracking tens of debris objects in the vicinity of the satellite, launched less than a year ago. The debris does not pose a risk to other spacecraft, including the ISS and upcoming Artemis 2 launch, and should decay within weeks. The incident is similar to one in mid-December involving another Starlink satellite. SpaceX said it is working to determine what happened to Starlink-34343 and implement any corrective actions. (3/31)
Sovereign Drive Could Propel European Space Leadership (Source: Space News)
A shift in priorities may help turn the European Union into a major space power. A report Tuesday by The Aerospace Corp. concluded that increased emphasis on military and security space applications, with increased funding, will create a shift in the balance of power in Europe's space sector, making the EU the lead player over national governments and the European Space Agency. The report projects that the EU, which currently provides about a quarter of ESA's budget, could become the majority funder of ESA in a few years, shifting that agency more towards military programs. (3/31)
China Plans Sharp Increase in Launches (Source: Space News)
China is planning a sharp increase in launches this year. Yang Yiqiang, founder and chairperson of CAS Space, told a Chinese publication that China's launches are expected to reach around 140 in 2026. That would be a significant increase from the 92 launches by China last year, which itself shattered the record of 68 launches in 2024. The rapid acceleration in China's launch cadence is being facilitated by the growth of its space launch infrastructure as well as the rise of several launch companies, many of whom are pursuing reusable rockets. (3/31)
SpaceX Launches 100+ Satellites on Monday California Rideshare Mission (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched more than 100 satellites on a Transporter rideshare mission Monday. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the Transporter-16 mission. SpaceX said there 119 payloads on the launch, a total that includes both satellites deployed directly from the rocket as well as orbital transfer vehicles carrying hosted payloads and spacecraft for later deployment.
Several companies used the launch to replenish their constellations. Also on board was Varda Space Industries' W-6 reentry vehicle . The W-6 capsule carries government-backed payloads, including an autonomous navigation system developed by Rhea Space Activity with funding from the Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory. (3/31)
ESA Picks Rocket Lab to Launch NavSats (Source: Space News)
ESA turned to Rocket Lab to launch a pair of navigation test satellites because of a lack of alternative options. An Electron launch Saturday placed into orbit two Celeste spacecraft built by separate European industrial teams to test technologies for low Earth orbit navigation satellites systems. ESA said in a prelaunch briefing that the satellites needed to be in orbit by May to put their frequencies into use, and European launch options like Vega-C were fully booked. A second set of nine larger, more capable Celeste satellites is planned to be launched by the end of 2027. (3/31)
SpaceX Sets Another Reuse Record with Monday Starlink Mission From Florida (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A Falcon 9 set another reuse record on a launch Monday. The Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Florida, placing 29 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was a record 34th flight of this booster, which first flew nearly five years ago. SpaceX is seeking to reuse Falcon 9 boosters up to 40 times. (3/31)
Japanese Astronaut Retiring (Source: Yomiuri Shimbun)
Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa is retiring. The JAXA astronaut is leaving the agency effective Tuesday after being selected as an astronaut by JAXA's predecessor, NASDA, in 1999. He flew two long-duration ISS missions, in 2011 and 2023-24, spending a year in space. Furukawa, a medical doctor, said he will become a professor at Japan's Kyorin University School of Medicine. (3/31)
Despite its relative youth, the European Union’s five-year-old space agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), is poised to displace the decades-old European Space Agency as the biggest spender in the region’s space sector, according to a new report. “The European Union as a distinct political entity is on the verge of overtaking the European Space Agency as the center of gravity for space in Europe,” said Michael Gleason, senior policy analyst at the Aerospace Corp. and author of the report, “‘A Geopolitical Awakening’: The European Union and Space.” (3/31)
NASA’s X-59 Returns To Flight After False Positive Cockpit Warning (Source: Aviation Week)
The cockpit warning light that cut short the second flight of NASA’s X-59 low-boom supersonic flight demonstrator on March 20 proved to be a false positive and the aircraft resumed envelope expansion testing with back-to-back flights on March 26 and 27. The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works-built X-59 was forced to return to base at Edwards AFB, California, after only 9 min. of a planned hour-long flight on March 20 when NASA Test Pilot Jim Less saw a vehicle system warning in the cockpit. (3/31)
Huge Solar Flare No Threat to Artemis 2 Astronaut Mission (Source: Space.com)
A massive solar eruption from the sun poses no threat to NASA's planned launch of its Artemis 2 mission to the moon this week, the space agency said. The colossal X1.4-class flare triggered a radio blackout over parts of Asia and Australia when it exploded from an active sunspot late Sunday. The flare also launched a coronal mass ejection, or CME, of solar plasma in Earth's direction, but the space weather should settle down before NASA launches its Artemis 2 astronauts on April 1. (3/30)
ESA Seeks Commercial Provider to Transport Payload to the Moon (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency is seeking a commercial provider to deliver its NILS2 instrument to the Moon to measure negative ions on the lunar surface. On 1 June 2024, ESA’s original Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface (NILS) instrument touched down on the surface of the Moon aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar lander. The instrument was designed to detect and analyze negatively charged ions on the Moon’s surface produced by interactions between the solar wind and the lunar regolith. (3/31)
European Engines Powering Artemis II (Source: Douglas Messier)
ESA’s European Service Module is the propulsion heart of the Orion spacecraft, carrying 33 engines that guide, steer and propel the crew safely towards the Moon and back. The module has three types of engines that work together, each with a specific role during the mission. A single main engine delivers the large changes in speed needed to send Orion towards the Moon. It is supported by eight auxiliary engines, which are used for orbital corrections and can back up the main engine if needed. For precise control, 24 smaller reaction control system engines, arranged in six pods, are used to rotate and orient the spacecraft.
Engineers at ESA’s technical center, ESTEC, in the Netherlands will work alongside colleagues in the Mission Evaluation Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, monitoring the module around the clock. Artemis II is the second mission to fly with a European Service Module. The first performed above expectations. With the third and fourth European Service Modules already delivered and undergoing testing for future missions, Europe continues to deliver the hardware that brings humankind safely towards the Moon and back home. (3/31)
Eutelsat in Talks with India's Space Agency to Diversify Launch Options (Source: Reuters)
Eutelsat, Europe's main rival to Elon Musk's satellite internet provider Starlink, is in talks with India's space agency about future satellite launches as it seeks to diversify beyond SpaceX and Europe's Ariane rockets. Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of France-based Eutelsat since last June, said negotiations with ISRO were ongoing, though no deal has yet been reached. (3/31)
Portal Space’s ‘Mini-Nova’ Payload Goes Into Orbit to Test Technologies for Maneuverable Space Vehicles (Source: Geekwire)
Portal Space Systems has made its first foray into Earth orbit, in the form of a piggyback payload that will test technologies for highly maneuverable space vehicles. The instrument package, which is about the size of a tissue box, was one of 119 payloads sent into orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-16 satellite rideshare mission. Portal’s “Mini-Nova” payload was attached to Momentus’ Vigoride-7 orbital service vehicle for the ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (3/30)
Antaris Raises $28 Million to Accelerate AI-Driven Space Missions (Source: Space News)
Antaris, creator of an AI-powered platform that simplifies satellite design, simulation, manufacturing, and operations for ISR and communications satellite missions, announced the first close of a $28 Million Series A funding round. Antaris recently announced an MOA with SARsatX to develop a 16-satellite constellation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as initial exploration of the Japanese market. The company is working with sovereign governments and commercial partners to develop regional and global ISR and communications satellite capabilities. (3/31)
Data Centers in Space Could Enable Golden Dome (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The tech industry’s pursuit of space-based AI data centers has potentially significant implications for military space operations, potentially enabling faster communication between satellites from multiple orbits and strengthening sensing and targeting for Golden Dome and related functions, industry and defense officials said. (3/27)
New Henrietta Spectrograph to Probe Alien Atmospheres (Source: Universe Today)
Researchers are developing a new tool called the Henrietta Infrared Spectrograph with the goal of advancing exoplanet atmosphere science by providing greater detail than possibly ever before. While several ground-based telescopes are currently used to study exoplanet atmospheres, those telescopes are designed to perform several types of science, including galaxy evolution and black holes. In contrast, Henrietta will be the first to specialize in exoplanet atmosphere research in near-infrared light, providing crucial details about exoplanets that go beyond physical attributes. (3/29)
Better Space Stock: Rocket Lab vs. Redwire (Source: Motley Fool)
Rocket Lab sure lived up to its name this week, rocketing more than 10% on Wednesday after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled his new "Ignition" plan to build a base on the moon. As investors digested the details, they were left with visions of big stock profits. By Wednesday, the buying frenzy was in full force, with multiple space stocks soaring by double digits.
Just not Redwire Corp. Redwire stock went up only 1%. And I think that's a mistake. Don't get me wrong. I agree that the investors who bought up Rocket Lab and a few other space stocks this week may be on the right track. Admittedly, Redwire wasn't named as a recipient of any contracts under the Ignition program -- yet. (After all, the program's only a few days old.) But then again, neither has Rocket Lab. (3/29)
Some Lunar Dust Can Be Toxic for Artemis Astronauts (Source: Nicholas Barnett)
Did you know a few grains of Moon dust could push spacecraft air past safety limits? During Artemis missions, astronauts returning from the lunar surface will inevitably bring dust back with them into vehicles like the Orion spacecraft. If volatile-bearing regolith enters the cabin environment, it could release reactive gases into the air astronauts breathe.
For the Orion capsule to be used in the Artemis missions: 0.36 g of lunar regolith can exceed NASA safe exposure limits; 1.35 g of lunar regolith can exceed safe exposure limits on Earth (assuming the same volume as Orion); and 134.1 g of lunar regolith can exceed Immediate Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) exposure limits.
But the encouraging part is this: we can reduce this risk before astronauts ever land. By mapping the Moon’s temperature, illumination, and terrain conditions, we can identify regions where volatile compounds are more likely to accumulate or remain stable. (3/30)
Haridopolos on Artemis (Source: Payload)
For Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), a long-time resident of the Florida space coast who was elected to represent the district in 2025, there’s a lot to be excited about—both now and in the future. Artemis II can be a “great rallying cry” for Americans, Haridopolos said, joining together people from all walks of life (and across the political spectrum) to root for the astronauts.
For NASA’s broader lunar push, Haridopolos said he’s most excited about the possible, unexpected tech developed on the way to the Moon that could also improve life on Earth. “There’s a smorgasbord of potential here,” he said. (3/31)
Keith Hardiman Appointed Deputy CIO for Air Force, Space Force (Source: Defense Scoop)
The Department of the Air Force announced Saturday that Keith Hardiman has been approved to serve as its deputy chief information officer on a permanent basis. He steps into the role after having served as the DAF’s acting deputy CIO. He’ll help oversee the Air and Space Forces’ IT, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence initiatives. (3/30)
WRC to Readdress Power Limits to Mitigate LEO-GEO Interference (Source: Space Intel Report)
The next meeting of the quadrennial World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), scheduled for Oct. 18 - Nov. 12, 2027 in Shanghai, is likely to revisit a subject that sharply divided LEO and GEO satellite operators when it was last examined, at the previous conference in 2023. WRC-23 concluded with a decision to permit studies on whether the 30-year-old limits on the power that non-geostationary satellites could emit when in the line of emissions of GEO-orbit satellites, which are stationed over the equator, should relaxed. (3/31)
Data From Chinese Moon Lander Shows Signs of Peculiar Radiation “Cavity” (Source: Futurism)
As detailed in a paper published this week in the journal Science Advances, the team analyzed data collected by China’s Chang’e-4 lander, which became the first spacecraft to land and explore the far side of the Moon in early 2019. They found a surprising “region of reduced [galactic cosmic ray] flux in the prenoon sector of the lunar orbit,” challenging the presumption that radiation is “uniformly distributed over the Earth-Moon distance.”
“This cavity indicates that the influence of Earth’s magnetic field within the space environment extends unexpectedly up to and far beyond the lunar orbit,” the paper reads. The cavity appears a few Earth hours after lunar sunrise. A single lunar day lasts for approximately 29.5 Earth days, which means it’s not as fleeting a moment as it sounds, stretching the window to “roughly 2 [Earth] days during each lunar revolution.” (3/29)
Haven-1 Approved Through Interagency Review Process (Source: FAA)
The FAA approved the Vast Space Haven-1 commercial space station through an interagency payload review process. The favorable determination found that Vast Space initiated all required licensing from other agencies and that the spacecraft would not jeopardize public health and safety, safety of property, U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the United States. (3/31)
FAA and European Air Traffic Control Partners Talk Space Integration (Source: FAA)
The FAA hosted several European air traffic control partners to discuss the safe integration of U.S.-based space launches into the North Atlantic Region airspace. In the coming years, a slight uptick in the number of space transport operations with planned hazard areas affecting the region’s airspace is expected.
The talks included representatives from commercial space transport companies and emphasized the need for early engagement and information sharing. Participants also visited the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia for an overview of the space operation lifecycle from license to launch. It included a simulated mission exercise allowing attendees to gain exposure to airspace management concepts in a realistic operational context.
The FAA held a similar meeting with the Latin America and Caribbean Region last fall and plans to continue these international engagements to keep airspace safe during space operations. (3/31)
Space and Airline Industries Collaborate to Share the Airspace (Source: FAA)
As the number of space launch and reentry operations increases, so too does the need for collaboration among stakeholders to optimize the safe and efficient sharing of the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).
The FAA established the Space Collaborative Decision-Making program in 2021 to bring together the FAA, space transport operators, the airline industry, federal space agencies, and other stakeholders for a quarterly dialogue and information exchange. It focuses on the technologies, processes, and procedures associated with integrating space launch and reentry operations into the NAS. The program is working on improving data sharing, pre-mission planning, and international coordination. (3/31)
Igniting a New Vision for NASA (Source: Space Review)
At a day-long event last week, NASA leadership announced major changes to its exploration, science, and technology programs. Jeff Foust reports on the various initiatives and the hurdles they face. Click here. (3/31)
From Advantage to Arena: Space Power 1991–2026 (Source: Space Review)
The conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated how space capabilities have become essential to modern warfare. Bharath Gopalaswamy discusses how it also shows the vulnerabilities of space capabilities and new challenges for them. Click here. (3/31)
Artemis 2, Project Hail Mary, and the Risks and Benefits of Human Spaceflight (Source: Space Review)
The impending Artemis 2 launch comes as the movie Project Hail Mary hits theaters. Scott Solomon discusses how they both illustrate the benefits and risks of human spaceflight. Click here. (3/31)
Convair’s Manned Astronomical Research Station (MARS) (Source: Space Review)
Another early space station concept was developed by Convair. Hans Dolfing unearths some details about this proposed station and its military connections. Click here. (3/31)
Ex-ISRO Scientists Developing New Commercial Rocket (Source: India Today)
India's private space revolution has a new name, and it comes from an unexpected address. Bharath Space Vehicle (BSV), a startup incorporated in 2024 and headquartered in Surat, Gujarat, is building what could be one of the country's most credible private rocket programs. The founding team brings combined 70-plus years of experience inside ISRO. BSV is developing Agasthya-1, a two-stage expendable rocket powered by two LOX/RP-1, or liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, designed to provide reliable and affordable access to space. (3/29)
Kristen Stewart to Play Sally Ride in Amazon's 'The Challenger' Series (Source: Space.com)
The space-based projects just keep on launching! Kristen Stewart will be buckling up for a simulated voyage into space for her upcoming Prime Video limited series playing Sally Ride, America’s first woman in orbit and a pivotal figure in the government's Challenger Disaster investigation. The series was first revealed in 2024, but it's taken nearly two years for Amazon to officially greenlight the project. (3/29)
China's CAS Achieves Orbit with First Successful Kinetica-2 Launch (Source: Space News)
Chinese firm CAS Space successfully reached orbit with the first launch of its Kinetica-2 launch vehicle Monday, with a prototype cargo spacecraft among the payloads. The 53-meter-tall rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan spaceport. The Qingzhou-1 + Kinetica-2 combo was the first successful commercial bid for the low-cost cargo supply mission to Chinese space stations. (3/30)
Rocket Lab Secures Germany's Approval to Acquire Mynaric (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab has finally secured approval from the German government to acquire laser communications company Mynaric. Rocket Lab announced Monday that Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy approved the transaction under foreign investment rules, paving the way for the acquisition to close in April. Rocket Lab announced a deal a year ago to acquire Mynaric for $150 million, but the sale raised concerns among German officials and lawmakers who were wary of allowing a supplier of sensitive space technology to fall under foreign ownership. Rocket Lab has positioned the acquisition as a way to secure a critical component in the satellite supply chain while expanding its presence in Europe. Mynaric produces optical communications terminals that enable satellites to transmit data via laser links, a technology increasingly central to next-generation constellations. (3/31)
Starlink Satellite Anomaly Generates Debris (Source: Space News)
For the second time in a little more than three months, a Starlink satellite has malfunctioned in orbit, generating debris. SpaceX said Monday that Starlink-34343 "experienced an anomaly" Sunday. Space situational awareness company LeoLabs said it was tracking tens of debris objects in the vicinity of the satellite, launched less than a year ago. The debris does not pose a risk to other spacecraft, including the ISS and upcoming Artemis 2 launch, and should decay within weeks. The incident is similar to one in mid-December involving another Starlink satellite. SpaceX said it is working to determine what happened to Starlink-34343 and implement any corrective actions. (3/31)
Sovereign Drive Could Propel European Space Leadership (Source: Space News)
A shift in priorities may help turn the European Union into a major space power. A report Tuesday by The Aerospace Corp. concluded that increased emphasis on military and security space applications, with increased funding, will create a shift in the balance of power in Europe's space sector, making the EU the lead player over national governments and the European Space Agency. The report projects that the EU, which currently provides about a quarter of ESA's budget, could become the majority funder of ESA in a few years, shifting that agency more towards military programs. (3/31)
China Plans Sharp Increase in Launches (Source: Space News)
China is planning a sharp increase in launches this year. Yang Yiqiang, founder and chairperson of CAS Space, told a Chinese publication that China's launches are expected to reach around 140 in 2026. That would be a significant increase from the 92 launches by China last year, which itself shattered the record of 68 launches in 2024. The rapid acceleration in China's launch cadence is being facilitated by the growth of its space launch infrastructure as well as the rise of several launch companies, many of whom are pursuing reusable rockets. (3/31)
SpaceX Launches 100+ Satellites on Monday California Rideshare Mission (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched more than 100 satellites on a Transporter rideshare mission Monday. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the Transporter-16 mission. SpaceX said there 119 payloads on the launch, a total that includes both satellites deployed directly from the rocket as well as orbital transfer vehicles carrying hosted payloads and spacecraft for later deployment.
Several companies used the launch to replenish their constellations. Also on board was Varda Space Industries' W-6 reentry vehicle . The W-6 capsule carries government-backed payloads, including an autonomous navigation system developed by Rhea Space Activity with funding from the Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory. (3/31)
ESA Picks Rocket Lab to Launch NavSats (Source: Space News)
ESA turned to Rocket Lab to launch a pair of navigation test satellites because of a lack of alternative options. An Electron launch Saturday placed into orbit two Celeste spacecraft built by separate European industrial teams to test technologies for low Earth orbit navigation satellites systems. ESA said in a prelaunch briefing that the satellites needed to be in orbit by May to put their frequencies into use, and European launch options like Vega-C were fully booked. A second set of nine larger, more capable Celeste satellites is planned to be launched by the end of 2027. (3/31)
SpaceX Sets Another Reuse Record with Monday Starlink Mission From Florida (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A Falcon 9 set another reuse record on a launch Monday. The Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Florida, placing 29 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was a record 34th flight of this booster, which first flew nearly five years ago. SpaceX is seeking to reuse Falcon 9 boosters up to 40 times. (3/31)
Japanese Astronaut Retiring (Source: Yomiuri Shimbun)
Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa is retiring. The JAXA astronaut is leaving the agency effective Tuesday after being selected as an astronaut by JAXA's predecessor, NASDA, in 1999. He flew two long-duration ISS missions, in 2011 and 2023-24, spending a year in space. Furukawa, a medical doctor, said he will become a professor at Japan's Kyorin University School of Medicine. (3/31)
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