LandSpace Zhuque-2E Rocket Successfully Launched
On May 14, 2026, Chinese commercial launch provider LandSpace successfully lifted off its Zhuque-2E rocket, marking the nation’s first large‑scale use of liquid‑oxygen‑methane propulsion. The two‑stage vehicle features four TQ‑12A methane engines on the first stage (828 kN sea‑level thrust each) and a TQ‑15A vacuum engine (858 kN) on the second stage, delivering a custom payload for a large‑scale satellite constellation. The launch follows the Zhuque‑3 failure in late 2025 and positions LandSpace to meet China’s goal of over 100 launches this year. A recovery test of the reusable Zhuque‑3 is slated for later 2026.
NASA Science, Cargo Launch on 34th SpaceX Resupply Mission to Station
SpaceX launched the 34th commercial resupply mission for NASA on May 15, 2026, using a Falcon 9 to deliver roughly 6,500 lb of cargo to the International Space Station. The Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously on May 17, carrying new experiments...
SpaceX Launches Cargo Dragon to ISS
SpaceX launched an unmanned Dragon cargo freighter to the International Space Station on May 16, 2026, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The booster completed its sixth flight and successfully returned to the launch site. The Dragon capsule,...
Quantum Space to Build New Production Facility in Tulsa
Quantum Space, a builder of advanced maneuverable spacecraft for defense and commercial use, will open a new manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The plant will focus on large propulsion tank production and precision spacecraft parts, initially occupying 25,000‑40,000 square feet...
NASA’s AI Flood Detector Is Now Running in Orbit and It Could Change How We Watch Earth
NASA and IBM have successfully deployed the Prithvi geospatial AI foundation model in orbit, testing it aboard Australia’s Kanyini satellite and the IMAGIN‑e payload on the International Space Station. Trained on 13 years of Landsat and Sentinel‑2 imagery, the model...
Countermeasures for a Laser-Linked Space Economy
The article outlines how free‑space optical (laser) communications are reshaping satellite networks and why new countermeasures are essential. NASA’s TeraByte InfraRed Delivery demo proved 200 Gb/s downlinks from a 6U CubeSat, highlighting the shift from broad RF footprints to narrow laser...
NASA, SpaceX Launch Dragon Mission with 6,500 Pounds of Science and Supplies to the Space Station
SpaceX launched its Cargo Dragon C209 on a Falcon 9 rocket Friday, delivering 6,500 pounds of scientific experiments and supplies to the International Space Station. The mission, CRS‑34, marked SpaceX’s 34th NASA contract flight and overcame two weather‑related delays. The...
Intuitive Machines Buys British Ground Station Company
Intuitive Machines, a lunar lander startup, has agreed to acquire British ground‑station operator Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiary Comsat for £37 million ($49.6 million), split between cash and stock. The purchase adds 30‑ and 32‑meter deep‑space antennas in Cornwall...
Small Spacecraft: State-of-the-Art Report
NASA’s Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI) has published the 2026 Small Spacecraft Technology State‑of‑the‑Art report, cataloguing every publicly available small‑sat capability as of April 2026. The analysis highlights a rapid acceleration in SmallSat development, shifting from low‑cost experimental platforms to...
PwC Report: Lunar Economy Projected to Generate up to US$127 Billion by 2050
PwC’s latest market assessment projects that the emerging lunar economy could generate as much as $127 billion in revenue by 2050. The forecast assumes cumulative infrastructure spending of $72.7‑$88.5 billion across five core pillars—mobility, communications, habitation, energy and water. Early operations will...
Mars Orbiter Captures Striking Images of 'Chaos and Craters' Carved by Ancient Floods
Europe’s Mars Express orbiter has released high‑resolution images of Shalbatana Vallis, an 800‑mile (1,300‑km) flood‑carved channel near the Martian equator. The channel stretches up to 10 km wide and 500 m deep, displaying chaotic terrain, layered sediments, volcanic ash deposits, and numerous...
Do Reusable Launch Vehicles Such as Falcon 9 Require a Launch and Reentry License?
The FAA’s Part 450 framework lets a vehicle operator license cover both launch and reentry activities, eliminating the need for a separate license for every flight. Under this performance‑based system a single license can authorize multiple launches or reentries for the...
Cowboy Space Seeks FCC Approval for Stampede Orbital Data Centers
Cowboy Space Corp. has filed an FCC application (SAT‑LOA‑20260323‑00135) to launch Stampede, a proposed non‑geostationary constellation of up to 20,000 satellites that would function as orbital data‑center nodes. The design places the satellites in 700‑1000 km dawn‑dusk sun‑synchronous orbits, uses solar...
NASA Accelerates X-59 Flight Campaign Ahead of First Supersonic Test
NASA is accelerating the flight test campaign for the X‑59 low‑boom supersonic demonstrator as it nears its first Mach 1 flight. The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works‑built aircraft has accumulated roughly 19.6 flight hours over 16 missions, with eight flights conducted in...
Anduril/Archer Selected for UK Apache Autonomous Collaborative Platform Research
The UK Ministry of Defence has down‑selected Anduril UK and its partner Archer Aviation for the next phase of Project NYX, the British Army’s loyal‑wingman program supporting AH‑64 Apache helicopters. The initiative will develop autonomous collaborative platforms capable of reconnaissance, precision...
Zenix Announces Deployable On-Orbit Solar Array Using Smart Composite Materials
Suzhou Zenix Composites announced a deployable on‑orbit solar array built from smart composite materials that can self‑deploy, self‑lock, and stiffen after release. The flexible system delivers up to 30% power conversion efficiency and a power‑to‑mass ratio two to three times...
Curiosity Shakes Loose a Pesky Rock
NASA's Curiosity rover successfully freed a rock nicknamed Atacama after it became lodged in the drill on April 25, 2026. Engineers spent several days repositioning the robotic arm and vibrating the drill before the rock detached on May 1, breaking...
U.S. Air Force Expands X10D EOD Program With Multi-Million Dollar Follow-On Award
Skydio, the leading U.S. drone maker, secured a follow‑on multi‑million‑dollar contract from the U.S. Air Force to expand its X10D autonomous system for Explosive Ordnance Disposal units. The award, issued through the Defense Logistics Agency, more than doubles the scope...
ASCEND 2026 Puts “Need for Speed” At the Center of National Security Space
ASCEND 2026 places the “need for speed” at the heart of U.S. national‑security space, featuring a U.S. Space Force keynote, a full‑day Space Transformation Track hosted by The Aerospace Corporation, and a first‑ever Classified Day for cleared participants. The program...
Rocket Report: Cowboy up for Data Centers in LEO; Russia's New ICBM Actually Works
The week’s Rocket Report highlighted a wave of activity across the global space sector, from SpaceX’s upcoming Starship Version 3 test flight aimed at in‑orbit refueling for Artemis III to India’s Skyroot Aerospace preparing its Vikram‑1 launch vehicle after a $60 million raise....
Companies Say They Can Track Starlink Users. Should the Government Be Worried?
A trio of firms—TechTarget, Rayzone and Shoghi—are marketing software that can locate and identify Starlink satellite terminals for government customers. The tools rely on publicly available data sources rather than direct access to SpaceX systems, raising privacy and security concerns...
Southeast Asia’s Counter-Drone Efforts
Southeast Asian nations are rapidly expanding counter‑drone capabilities after lessons from the Russia‑Ukraine war and regional border clashes. Malaysia unveiled a home‑grown interceptor drone called “The Ghost,” while Singapore now trains every recruit on drone and counter‑drone operations and has...
China to Buy 200 Boeing Jets, Order Could Rise to 750
President Trump announced that China has agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, with a clause that could expand the order to as many as 750 jets if performance criteria are met. The deal, which includes General Electric engines, was disclosed...
Lego Brick-Inspired Physics Can Make Flights More Fuel-Efficient
NIST researchers have turned a Lego‑inspired Kibble balance concept into the electronic NIST torque realizer (ENTR), a portable device that calibrates torque wrenches on‑site. The tool, now being tested at Nellis Air Force Base, uses rare‑earth magnets and electrical standards...
What Is a Drone? And an eVTOL? Are They the Same?
Joby Aviation recently conducted experimental flights over New York City, marking the shift from prototype demos to FAA‑approved certification testing with a pilot on board. The FAA’s evolving AAM framework emphasizes remote‑pilot and autonomous operations to handle future urban traffic...
Virgin Galactic Reaffirms Plans to Begin Commercial Service This Year
Virgin Galactic reaffirmed on May 14 that it remains on track to launch commercial suborbital flights before year‑end, with its first SpaceShip vehicle slated for rollout by the August earnings call and flight testing in Q3. The company plans to begin...
Romanian Startup Develops AI-Guided Cruise Missile
Oves Enterprise unveiled the Sahara, a 55‑kg AI‑enabled cruise missile with a 200 km range and 10 kg payload, at the BSDA 2026 defense expo in Bucharest. The company says it invested over €1 million (about $1.1 million) in R&D with a 25‑person team, but...
Flydubai Launches New Direct Flights to Benghazi
flydubai announced it will launch direct flights between Dubai International Airport and Benghazi’s Benina International Airport starting 17 June 2026. The service makes flydubai the first UAE carrier to operate nonstop to Libya and expands its East and North Africa network to...
US Firm Set to Buy Satellite Station in £37m Deal
Intuitive Machines, a US aerospace firm, announced it will acquire the Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall for about £37 million (≈ $47 million). The deal includes 44 antennas and the Goonhilly Lunar and Deep Space facilities, which host the world’s first private deep‑space...
Guidance: RAF Marham – Military Aviation Noise Contour Report (2026)
On May 15, 2026, the RAF’s Noise and Vibration Division released a new Military Aviation Noise Contour (MANC) report for RAF Marham. The report maps environmental noise generated by aircraft operations across the base and surrounding communities, providing detailed decibel contours...
CAA Shortlists Heathrow Regulatory Models
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched a public consultation on four shortlisted regulatory models for Heathrow Airport’s capacity expansion. The options range from tightening the existing framework, to a longer‑term price‑control regime, to competitive tendering of expansion elements, and...
Mathematical Method Calculates Most Efficient Earth-Moon Route Yet
Researchers introduced a new mathematical method based on the theory of functional connections that identifies the most fuel‑efficient Earth‑Moon transfer to date. By simulating 30 million trajectories, the team found a path that saves 58.80 m/s of delta‑v compared with the best...
Chinese Satellite Maker MinoSpace Seeks $736 Million in IPO
Chinese satellite maker MinoSpace, officially Beijing Weina Star Technology, has had its IPO application approved on Shanghai’s STAR Market, aiming to raise $736 million. The proceeds will fund phase one of the 112‑satellite Taijing constellation, which includes optical, multispectral and SAR...
U.S. Air Force Can’t Stop Drones over Its Own Bases
During a May 13 House Armed Services hearing, Lt. Gen. David Tabor acknowledged that the Air Force’s existing counter‑drone defenses at Barksdale Air Force Base are inadequate for emerging threats. The base, home to the nation’s strategic bomber fleet, experienced a...
SpaceX Unveils Sweeping Starship V3 Upgrades
SpaceX announced a suite of Starship V3 upgrades aimed at accelerating rapid reuse, Starlink deployment, orbital refueling, and deep‑space missions. The Super Heavy booster now features a three‑fin configuration, integrated hot staging, and a massive new fuel‑transfer tube that can...
National Space Strategy of the Year — France (SGDSN) | Geospatial World Leadership Awards 2026
France’s National Space Strategy 2025‑2040, coordinated by the SGDSN, was named National Space Strategy of the Year at the Geospatial World Leadership Awards 2026 in Amsterdam. The award spotlights a roadmap built on five pillars: autonomous launch capability, industrial competitiveness,...
European Narrowbody Aircraft Fleet: Independent LCCs’ Unrelenting Market Share Growth
European independent low‑cost carriers have cemented dominance in the narrowbody segment. Ryanair alone tops the list, while six LCCs collectively operate 1,625 aircraft and have 999 orders, surpassing the combined 1,207 narrowbodies of the continent’s three legacy groups. The LCC...
The Real Reason Your Flight Gets Canceled Has Nothing to Do with Weather on the Ground — It Starts 150...
A recent JetBlue A320 incident revealed that intense solar radiation can corrupt flight‑control computers, prompting Airbus to recall thousands of aircraft for hardware swaps and software patches. A February 2026 Scientific Reports study of 5 million Chinese departures found flight cancellations...
Australia Hedges US Missile Supply Risk Through Local Deal with Norway
Australia and Norway have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to produce Kongsberg’s Naval Strike and Joint Strike missiles domestically in Australia. The agreement integrates Australia into a supply network serving roughly ten nations that rely on the high‑speed, subsonic precision...
FCC Regulation of Satellite Laser Communications
The FCC’s existing satellite licensing framework, built for radio‑frequency services, does not directly cover optical laser links, but satellite operators still need FCC review for the RF components that support telemetry, command and backup communications. Laser communications offer dramatically higher...
NASA Draws on Industry for Mars Telecommunications Network
NASA released a Request for Proposal on May 14, 2026 to partner with commercial firms on the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN). The MTN will deploy high‑performance orbiters to deliver high‑bandwidth, low‑latency links for surface, orbital and future human missions on...
XTAR: What Does It Take to Last in Satellite Communications?
In a recent SSPI podcast, XTAR CEO Pat Rayermann outlined how the company has become a cornerstone of commercial military X‑band satellite communications. He detailed XTAR’s next‑generation fleet that blends X‑band with military Ka‑band and UHF payloads to meet evolving defense...
Air Force Plans to Set New Goal for B-21 Fleet Size in 2028 Budget
The Air Force is expected to propose a higher B‑21 Raider fleet size in the FY 2028 budget, moving beyond the current minimum of 100 aircraft. Senior leaders, including Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. David Tabor and Defense Secretary Pete...
United Airlines Just Made Getting to Japan’s Legendary Powder Easier
United Airlines will launch a nonstop San Francisco‑Sapporo service on Dec 11, operating three times weekly with connections from roughly 80 U.S. cities. The airline will use Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners for the route, which targets Hokkaido’s world‑renowned powder‑skiing destinations such as...
China to Order 200 Boeing Planes, First Order in Nearly a Decade
China announced a purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft, marking its first major order from the U.S. manufacturer in nearly a decade. The deal was highlighted by President Donald Trump during a Fox News interview, though specifics about the aircraft types...
SpaceX's Starship V3 Megarocket Will Do Something Completely New on Flight 12 — Take a Good Look at Itself
SpaceX will launch the first Starship V3 on Flight 12, its first launch in nearly seven months and the debut of the upgraded vehicle. The mission will deploy 22 dummy Starlink satellites, including two equipped to photograph the rocket’s heat‑shield tiles...
Exotrail Confirms Successful Deployment of NASA-Funded AEPEX CubeSat via Spacevan 002
In mid‑May 2026 Exotrail announced the successful deployment of the NASA‑funded AEPEX 6U CubeSat using its spacevan 002 orbital transfer vehicle. The OTV placed the satellite into a 500 km, >70° inclination orbit—an altitude and inclination that standard rideshare launches cannot reach...
FAA Problem of Overestimated Launch Demand Forecasts 1995 – 2017
The 2017 George Washington University capstone examined FAA commercial launch forecasts from 1995‑2017 and found they consistently overpredicted commercially addressable launches. Using aggregate‑mean, launch‑rate, and out‑year analyses, the study showed zero‑year forecasts were about 40 % higher than actual launches between...
Ottawa Advances 2026 Pre-Budget Consultations: What the Accelerated Timeline Means for the Space Sector
Ottawa has accelerated its 2026 pre‑budget consultation, moving the deadline to May 22, 2026, to align with a new fall budgeting cycle introduced in 2025. The Canadian space sector now has just over a week to submit written briefs outlining funding priorities...
'There Are 4 People in Those Pixels': Earth-Based Telescope Snapped Artemis II Crew Orbiting the Moon
A Green Bank Telescope on West Virginia captured a pixelated radio‑signal image of NASA’s Orion capsule as it looped the moon on April 6, roughly 213,000 miles (343,000 km) from Earth. The picture, showing only a handful of black‑and‑white pixels, could become the...