Space Force Awards $739 Million in Launch Orders to SpaceX
The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX nine national‑security launch missions worth $739 million under the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract. Five launches will deploy the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer satellites, while four support the National Reconnaissance Office’s classified payloads. The missions are slated for FY2026‑2028, reinforcing missile‑warning and intelligence capabilities. The award highlights SpaceX’s dominance, with United Launch Alliance the only other certified provider and new entrants poised to compete soon.
Pentagon Chief Takes ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ Tour to Rocket Lab
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Rocket Lab’s Long Beach plant on Jan. 9, framing the stop as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour that champions rapid, scalable production for the warfighter. He praised Rocket Lab as a model of...
Landspace Secures Launch Contracts for China’s Megaconstellation Projects
Landspace has secured formal launch contracts for China’s two flagship megaconstellations, Guowang and Qianfan, using its reusable Zhuque‑3 methane‑liquid oxygen vehicle. The contracts, detailed in the company’s Shanghai Stock Exchange IPO prospectus, include an 18‑satellite launch for Yuanxin Satellite in...
Rhea Space Activity Applies Optical Navigation to Military Rendezvous Missions
Rhea Space Activity, a Washington‑based startup, was selected by SpaceWERX’s Sustained Space Maneuver Challenge and awarded a $1.9 million SBIR Phase‑2 contract to adapt NASA’s AutoNav optical navigation for military use. The company is developing Vanguard, a software suite that adds...
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR COHORT 4 OF SDA TAP LAB – CATALYST CAMPUS MINI ACCELERATOR
Catalyst Campus has opened applications for Cohort 4 of the SDA TAP Lab Mini Accelerator, a two‑month program beginning February 17, 2026. Selected early‑stage and dual‑use companies will receive technical workshops, one‑on‑one mentorship, and direct collaboration with Space Development Agency (SDA) and defense stakeholders. An...
Roman Space Telescope on Track for September Launch
NASA announced that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will launch on September 28, 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. The spacecraft is now fully assembled at Goddard, entering vibration and acoustic testing in February before shipping to Florida in June. The mission remains...
2026 Will Clarify Europe’s New Priorities for Space
2026 will be a pivotal year for Europe’s space agenda, as launch providers, national programs, and ESA unveil their next steps. Private firms such as Isar Aerospace and PLD Space are vying for the European Launcher Challenge while Ariane 64 and...
The Moon, AI and the High-Stakes Decisions Shaping Space’s Future
Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim announced that the company successfully landed on the Moon on March 2, delivering ten NASA payloads, conducting GPS experiments, and drilling the longest lunar core sample. The firm also completed the largest space‑related IPO to date, ranking...
Vulcan to Open 2026 with National Security Launch
United Launch Alliance will kick off 2026 with Vulcan Centaur's VC4S launch of USSF‑87 on Feb 2 from Cape Canaveral, deploying two GSSAP‑7 and GSSAP‑8 satellites for space situational awareness. This marks Vulcan’s fourth flight and second national‑security mission, testing...
The ‘Space Tax’ on Your Self-Driving Car
Autonomous vehicles depend on GNSS for centimeter‑level positioning, yet ionospheric turbulence intermittently blanks satellite signals, especially over Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. To safeguard navigation, manufacturers add expensive inertial sensors, extra cameras and high‑power processors, inflating vehicle prices—a phenomenon...
Interplanetary Science Needs a Commercial Backbone
Planetary science is shifting from costly, decade‑long government flagships to a commercial‑driven model that promises faster, cheaper missions. Rocket Lab’s ESCAPADE demonstrated that fixed‑price, university‑industry teams can deliver decadal‑class science in under four years. The article calls for regular funding...
Terran Orbital Appoints Michael Vishion as Vice President of Program Management
Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin company, announced Michael Vishion as vice president of program management. Vishion brings more than 25 years of aerospace and defense experience, including leadership of multi‑site portfolios worth $200‑$350 million. He will report to CEO Peter...
Space Force Moves to Standardize Satellites with ‘Handle 2.0’ Contract
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Falcon ExoDynamics a $3.3 million contract to develop Handle 2.0, an upgraded modular interface that links satellite buses and payloads. The effort builds on the original Handle prototype demonstrated on the 2022 Slingshot 1 mission and aims...
SpaceX’s IPO Will Make Space Investment Far Less Niche
The article argues that space investment is shedding its niche status as the sector becomes essential infrastructure for broader economic activity. A potential SpaceX IPO, whether in 2026 or later, is highlighted as a catalyst that could shift capital toward...
NASA Seeks to Accelerate Development of Habitable Worlds Observatory
NASA awarded three‑year, fixed‑price contracts to seven companies to study critical technologies for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a flagship space telescope slated for a 2040s launch. The studies cover mirror coatings, micro‑thruster propulsion, and on‑orbit servicing, while evaluating six‑meter...
SkyFi Expands Virtual Constellation with Vantor Satellite Imagery
SkyFi announced the integration of Vantor’s very‑high‑resolution satellite imagery into its marketplace, expanding its virtual constellation of partner‑operated sensors. The new "Vantor Hub" lets commercial and government users order on‑demand imagery through SkyFi’s self‑service portal. By aggregating dozens of spacecraft...
NASA Works to Extend Swift’s Life Ahead of Reboost Mission
NASA is preparing a low‑cost reboost mission to extend the life of the 21‑year‑old Swift gamma‑ray observatory, whose orbit is decaying due to atmospheric drag. Satellite‑servicing startup Katalyst Space will launch a Pegasus XL‑borne vehicle in June 2026 to attach to Swift...
Willy Ley’s Long-Awaited Journey to Orbit: Honoring a Space Pioneer on Celestis’ Serenity and Destiny Flights
Celestis announced that symbolic portions of science writer Willy Ley’s cremated remains will fly on its 2026 Serenity Earth‑orbit mission and the upcoming Destiny lunar memorial flight. Ley, a founding member of Germany’s early rocketry club and a prolific advocate...
Space Cyber Compliance: Managing Requirements for Today and Tomorrow
Space operators are confronting a fragmented, rapidly evolving cybersecurity regulatory environment that spans multiple jurisdictions. Long development cycles mean compliance choices made today may become obsolete as new laws emerge during a satellite's design, launch, or operational phases. Regulations such...
Is the Race for Moon Missions Lunacy?
NASA’s Artemis program faces mounting delays as critical lunar‑surface risks remain unsolved. Space radiation on the Moon is projected to be 2.6 times higher than on the ISS, while abrasive, electrostatically charged dust threatens astronaut health and equipment. Key technologies...
Array Labs Raises $20 Million to Scale Production of Radar Satellites for 3D Earth Mapping
Array Labs announced a $20 million Series A round, bringing its total funding to $35 million, to mass‑produce synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites using consumer‑electronics manufacturing methods. The startup aims to lower the cost of space‑based radar, enabling commercial and national‑security customers to...
Minibus Provides $24.4 Billion for NASA for Fiscal Year 2026
The bipartisan “minibus” appropriations package released on Jan. 5 allocates $24.438 billion to NASA for fiscal 2026, only slightly below the $24.875 billion received in 2024‑25. This amount far exceeds the Trump administration’s $18.8 billion request, which aimed for nearly 50 percent cuts across the...
ARCHE ORBITAL SYSTEMS Signs Strategic MoU with MSRO to Advance National Space Capabilities for the Maldives
ARCHE Orbital Systems and the Maldives Space Research Organisation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop sovereign Earth‑observation capabilities, in‑orbit servicing, and space‑domain awareness. The agreement leverages ARCHE’s Alpha Centauri mission‑analysis centre and Xenthra servicer spacecraft to design tailored satellite...