Virgin Atlantic Accelerates Starlink Rollout to Create ‘Home Away From Home’ Experience
Virgin Atlantic is accelerating its rollout of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet, beginning with free high‑speed Wi‑Fi on its Airbus A350 fleet in May. The first passenger flight, VS153 from London to New York, will showcase the service, with plans to extend to the Boeing 787 and A330neo. Virgin aims to have the entire fleet equipped by 2027, offering Flying Club members unlimited connectivity. The move positions the airline as a digital‑first carrier focused on enhancing the in‑flight experience.
The Aerospace and Defense Trade Is Taking Investors Deeper Into Space, and More ETFs Are up for the Mission
Investors are turning to exchange‑traded funds that target aerospace, defense, and space technologies as geopolitical tension from the Iran war fuels demand. VettaFi highlighted the Procure Space ETF (UFO), up roughly 19% since the conflict began, and the Global X...
Artemis II Broke Fred Haise's Distance Record, but He Is Happy to Pass It On
Artemis II’s crew set a new human‑distance record, traveling 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth—surpassing the Apollo 13 benchmark that stood for 56 years. The record was achieved on a free‑return trajectory that took the Orion capsule farther beyond the Moon’s far side than any...
Rheinmetall Signs Agreement for New Satellite Testing Facility in Norway
German defence and aerospace group Rheinmetall signed a Letter of Intent with Andøy municipality to develop a dedicated satellite testing facility in northern Norway. The project, called the Rheinmetall Integrated Process Facility, will occupy an exclusive plot of land pending...
NSF‑NOAA GONG Maps Sun’s Far‑Side Magnetic Fields, Boosting Space‑Weather Forecasts
A team led by the NSF National Solar Observatory and NOAA used the GONG network to develop a physics‑based technique that assigns magnetic polarity to far‑side sunspots. The breakthrough turns helioseismic detections into full magnetic maps, promising earlier warnings of...
Scientists Say They’ve Tested a Way to Get to Alpha Centauri in Just 20 Years
Researchers at Texas A&M University have demonstrated a laser‑propelled micro‑device called a metajet that can move in three dimensions without physical contact. The metajet’s metasurface pattern redirects incoming light, converting photon momentum into thrust, a principle the team says can...
Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.6B, Targeting Starlink Rivalry
Amazon announced a $11.57 billion deal to buy Globalstar, securing spectrum, satellites and global licenses. The move is aimed at building a next‑generation Leo network that can compete with SpaceX’s Starlink and extend Amazon’s e‑commerce logistics into remote areas.
Astrobotic Fires 4,000‑lb RDRE Prototype, Marking First Hot‑fire of Rotating Detonation Engine
Space startup Astrobotic successfully hot‑fired its rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) prototype, delivering more than 4,000 pounds of thrust for a 300‑second burn and a total of 470 seconds across two engines. The test, conducted at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight...
Canadian Space Industry Companies: The Complete Guide to Every Major Player
The guide maps Canada’s rapidly expanding space sector, noting that MDA Space generated C$499 million (~$370 million) in 2025 revenue with a C$4 billion backlog, while satellite communications, Earth observation and launch services see strong growth. Start‑ups such as GHGSat, Kepler and Wyvern...
This Is Who's Developing Golden Dome's Orbital Interceptors—If They're Ever Built
The U.S. Space Force announced a roster of 12 companies—including SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Anduril, and Booz Allen—receiving up to $3.2 billion in OTA contracts to develop Space‑Based Interceptors (SBIs) for the Golden Dome missile‑defense program. The awards target early‑stage prototypes and aim...
Hubble Telescope Launched Into Space on April 24, 1990
#ThisDayInTechHistory. April 24, 1990. The Hubble Telescope gets launched into space. (WJZ) #Space #History https://t.co/hOfa5LGz4b
JAXA’s OrigamiSat‑2 Expands 25‑Fold in Orbit, Showcasing Deployable CubeSat Tech
Japan’s space agency launched OrigamiSat‑2 on April 23, and the 10‑cm CubeSat unfurled a reflectarray antenna 25‑times larger in orbit. The demonstration validates Miura‑fold mechanisms for low‑cost, high‑performance small satellites, a potential game‑changer for commercial and scientific missions.
U.S. Space Force Awards up to $3.2 Billion to 12 Firms for Golden Dome Orbital Interceptor Program
The U.S. Space Force announced contracts worth up to $3.2 billion for 12 companies to build prototypes of space‑based interceptors under the Golden Dome program. The awards, made via Other Transaction Authority agreements, aim to demonstrate an initial capability by 2028...
FAA Grounds Blue Origin’s New Glenn After Satellite Mis‑orbit
The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket after its upper stage placed AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite into an off‑nominal orbit on April 19, 2026. The incident cancels the first reuse of a New Glenn booster and triggers a mandatory...
JWST Images Reveal Cosmic “Buckyball” Birthplace in Distant Nebula
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified a thin, spherical shell in planetary nebula Tc 1 where buckminsterfullerenes—known as buckyballs—are concentrated. The discovery provides the first detailed view of a cosmic environment that actively creates these complex carbon molecules,...
SpaceX IPO Rumor Sparks $20 B Funding Questions
I heard SpaceX was going public within the next two months. Why do they need to borrow $20b? Seems odd?
Hubble’s Legacy Spotlighted on NBC’s Stay Tuned Now
I'll be on Stay Tuned Now on NBC tonight with host Morgan Chesky tonight. I'm talking about the Hubble Space Telescope and all it's amazing contributions. Fun Fact: Across it's 5 servicing missions, HST was visited by all 4 shuttles....
Australia: Satellite-Enabled Communications Strengthens Disaster Resilience
Australian researchers at Swinburne University, funded by SmartSat CRC, have created a low‑power satellite‑enabled communication terminal designed for disaster zones. The system combines a minimalist beacon, software‑defined radio, and LoRa‑satellite hybrid links to deliver text and voice messages when terrestrial...
Space Power: Space Force "Budget's Like A Protein Shake"
The Downlink episode breaks down the Pentagon’s FY2027 budget request, highlighting a proposed 124% jump for the Space Force—from $31.6 billion to $71.1 billion—driven by a mix of reconciliation funding and new “protein‑rich” line items that promise lasting growth. Guests Todd Harrison...
Space Force Picks Firms to Develop Golden Dome’s Space-Based Interceptors
The U.S. Space Force announced that twelve companies, ranging from established primes to emerging defense firms, have been awarded Other Transaction Authority contracts worth up to $3.2 billion to develop space‑based interceptors for the Golden Dome missile‑defense shield. The program targets...
U.S. Issues Guidance for American Space Nuclear Power Initiative
On April 14, 2026 the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued National Security and Technology Memorandum‑3, launching the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power. The program tasks NASA, the Department of War, the Department of Energy...
NASA Sees Industry Opportunity in Proposed Budget Cuts
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told Congress that the agency can sustain its exploration and science agenda despite a proposed 23% budget cut to $18.8 billion for FY 2027 by leaning on commercial space services. The budget also includes $2.11 billion from the Working...
Starlink Mobile Needs Handset NTN Adaptations, Avoid Transparent Architecture
This is an interesting paper which analyzes the Starlink Mobile system in Japan. It concludes NTN adaptations are needed in the handset for uplink & transparent architectures are a bad idea because they lead to "high signaling delays and signaling...
Planet Labs Halts Middle East Imagery, Disrupting Data‑Driven Industries
Planet Labs announced on April 5 that, at the request of the U.S. government, it will withhold satellite imagery for Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf states retroactive to March 9. The move forces CTOs and analytics firms to replace...
Canada Opens Nova Scotia Spaceport After $200M Federal Lease
Canada inaugurated a new launch site in Nova Scotia after the federal government signed a $200 million, ten‑year lease with Maritime Launch Services. The facility, funded at $20 million per year, is promoted as a springboard for a $40 billion domestic launch market,...
Air India Selects Hughes IFC for Airbus and Boeing Fleet
Air India Limited has signed an inflight connectivity (IFC) agreement with Hughes to equip its Airbus and Boeing wide‑body fleet with satellite‑based broadband. The partnership will deliver consistent, global Wi‑Fi coverage for passengers and crew, regardless of route. Hughes will...
The Final Frontier for the Circular Economy
The paper “Resource and material efficiency in the circular space economy” highlights the mounting problem of space debris and the industry’s reliance on a linear material flow. It outlines a three‑pronged R3 framework—reduce, reuse, recycle—to cut material intensity, citing AI‑driven...
Space Force Reveals $3.2B in Space-Based Interceptor Awards for Golden Dome
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command announced on April 24 that it has awarded 20 contracts worth up to $3.2 billion to 12 companies to develop space‑based interceptor (SBI) technology for the Golden Dome missile‑defense program. The contracts cover prototypes...
CACI Opens up More on Its Arka Acquisition and the Path Forward
CACI International closed its $2.6 billion acquisition of Arka Group in March, adding 1,100 employees and advanced space‑based imaging sensors to its portfolio. CEO John Mengucci highlighted ground‑processing as the primary synergy, with Arka’s authorizations enabling agentic AI for geospatial intelligence...
Josh Kutryk Will Officially Go to ISS No Earlier than September, but Aboard SpaceX
The Canadian Space Agency announced that astronaut Josh Kutryk will fly to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX Crew‑13, with launch no earlier than September 2026. The reassignment follows the cancellation of his earlier Starliner‑1 assignment and aligns with Canada’s...
Is Starlink Turning Elon Musk Into a Star Lord?
Elon Musk’s Starlink suffered a global outage that left two dozen U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels adrift, exposing a single point of failure in the military’s reliance on SpaceX’s MILNET satellite network. MILNET, a 480‑satellite subset of the 10,000‑satellite Starlink...
Corrosion Concerns Rise for HALO, I‑Hab Modules
Interesting info about the HALO and I-Hab modules following Isaacman’s comments at Wednesday’s hrg about corrosion in two Gateway modules that were delivered.
ISED Launches Search for Next Canadian Space Agency President
The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has opened applications for the next President of the Canadian Space Agency, with a deadline of May 21 2026. The full‑time role pays CAD 253,300–298,000 annually (approximately $187,000–$220,000 USD) and requires residence in...
NASA’s TESS Spacecraft Identifies Rare and Unprecedented Planetary System
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) teamed with the Antarctic Search for Transiting ExoPlanets (ASTEP) to uncover a planetary system unlike any seen before. The system hosts multiple planets ranging from Earth‑size to Neptune‑class, some on ultra‑short orbital periods under...
Elon Musk Labels China's $8.4 B Orbital Data Center Push "Interesting"
Elon Musk posted a single word—"Interesting"—in response to news that Beijing‑backed startup Orbital Chenguang secured $8.4 billion in credit lines to build a gigawatt‑scale orbital data center by 2035. The reaction sparked a social‑media surge, highlighting the emerging U.S.–China rivalry over...
25 Years of the International Space Station: Legacy, Science, and the Road Ahead
The International Space Station celebrated 25 years of uninterrupted crewed operations, highlighting its unprecedented engineering feats and multinational partnership among 15 governments. Experts at the AIAA SciTech Forum emphasized the station’s role as a microgravity test kitchen that has accelerated...
SDA’s Need for Speed Pushes Startups for Results
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is accelerating its procurement model, demanding proven results from startups while tolerating higher risk to meet tight timelines for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Using OTA contracts and a spiral development approach, SDA pushes...
DND Issues $6.75M IDEaS Challenge for Multi-Modal AI to Fuse Space and Terrestrial Data
The Canadian Department of National Defence has opened the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) challenge, offering up to $6.75 million CAD (≈ $5 million USD) in phased funding for multi‑modal AI that can fuse satellite imagery, RF signals, EO/IR video and...
China Launches Another “Set of Test Satellites Promoting Internet Technology”
China’s state‑run media reported that a Long March 2D rocket lifted off from Xichang, deploying a new batch of test satellites aimed at advancing internet technology. The payloads will focus on direct satellite‑to‑phone broadband and integrating space‑ground networks. No details were...
Firefly Highlights Alpha Flight 8 Progress with AFP Composite Barrel Builds
Firefly Aerospace announced that its Alpha Flight 8 mission, slated for late Q2 2026, is in the integration and test phase, leveraging an automated‑fiber‑placement (AFP) machine from Ingersoll Machine Tools to produce four carbon‑fiber composite barrels. The Block II upgrade adds a 7‑foot...
Frontiers of Wonder: April 24's Bold Leaps
On April 24, 1990 the Space Shuttle Discovery launched the $1.5 billion Hubble Space Telescope, but a 2.2‑micron mirror error produced blurry images. NASA’s 1993 STS‑61 servicing mission installed corrective optics, turning Hubble into a crystal‑clear eye on the cosmos. The...
Lunar Gateway Corrosion Confirmed as Serious Issue
Both Northrop and European space officials have confirmed the Lunar Gateway corrosion issue is real and significant. https://t.co/Z8Alf6N3mn
Ovzon Posts Record EBITDA, Profit, Wins Dept of War
Fixed & mobile satcom provider @OvzonAB reports record EBITDA, swing to profit and return of @DeptofWar as customer. Compact T-8 on-the-move terminal to be released this year.https://t.co/KCEgWGNMlj https://t.co/y5pCk21go1
ESA Sheds Light on NASA Administrator’s Claims on Gateway Modules
The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that the HALO module arrived with corrosion and that the I‑HAB module shows a milder version of the same issue. ESA says the corrosion is technically manageable and not a show‑stopper, countering NASA Administrator...
NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions From Missouri Students
NASA will host a live, prerecorded Q&A session on April 30 where astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway answer STEM questions from Missouri K‑12 students while aboard the International Space Station. The broadcast begins at 10:50 a.m. EDT on the Learn With...
Prepare for Launch: Solar Powers the $600 Billion Space Industry
The space economy is set to surge from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035, driving massive demand for high‑performance solar power. While gallium‑arsenide (GaAs) cells remain the efficiency benchmark, their production is constrained to roughly 2 MW per year, creating...
Stakes Keep Getting Higher for the SpaceX IPO
SpaceX is set to launch a record‑breaking IPO in June, seeking up to $75 billion and targeting a valuation near $2 trillion. The filing reveals a $4.94 billion loss after merging with xAI, while Starlink accounts for about 60% of its $11.4 billion 2025...
Space Data-Center News: Roundup of Extraterrestrial AI Endeavors
In April 2026 a wave of space‑compute announcements pushed orbital data centers closer to commercial reality. Sophia Space teamed with Kepler Communications to run its software on a ten‑satellite cluster of Nvidia Orin processors, while Deloitte activated two additional cyber‑defense...
CMC Body Flap for Space Rider TPS Passes Plasma Test After Hypervelocity Impact
ESA’s reusable Space Rider program advanced its thermal protection system testing at Italy’s CIRA facility, where a sub‑scale body flap made from the ISiComp carbon‑fiber‑reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) endured a hypervelocity impact and subsequent plasma exposure. The 2.3 mm aluminum...
Quadruped Robot Masters Low-Gravity Off-World Mobility
Low-Gravity Trials: Quadruped #Robot Pushes the Limits of Off-World Mobility via @ZappyZappy7 #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/4lOOnmg7Cb