Blue Origin’s New Glenn Launch Hits Off‑nominal Orbit, Spurring Engineering Review
Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch from Cape Canaveral placed its AST SpaceMobile payload in an off‑nominal orbit, triggering an immediate engineering review. The setback arrives as the company pushes for 8‑12 flights this year and faces mounting competition from SpaceX and Amazon’s entry into satellite connectivity.
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Gen. Michel Friedling, Look Up Space
Former French Space Command chief Maj. Gen. Michel Friedling, now co‑founder of Look Up, warned that Europe’s space domain awareness must rely on commercial radar infrastructure. Look Up has built a global ground‑based radar network and offers a SaaS platform for real‑time object...
Latvia To Join Artemis Accords Today
Latvia signed the Artemis Accords at NASA headquarters, becoming the 62nd nation to join the non‑binding framework for lunar cooperation. The signing fulfills a pledge made in October and brings all three Baltic states—Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia—under the agreement. The...
In the Wake of Artemis 2, America Needs to Consider the ‘Why’ of Its Government Space Program
The Artemis 2 mission, backed by the $10.08 billion One Big Beautiful Bill Act, reignited debate over the value of government‑funded space programs. While SpaceX dominates low‑Earth‑orbit launches, the article argues that commercial firms still depend on government‑led missions to de‑risk cislunar...
New Artemis II Astronaut iPhone Video Reveals New Earthset View
Commander Reid Wiseman posted an uncut, 8×‑zoom Earthset video captured on an iPhone 17 Pro during Artemis II’s lunar flyby. The four‑person crew completed a historic hour‑long flyby, setting a new distance record—4,111 miles farther than Apollo 13—and observed a solar eclipse from...
BlueBird-7’s Orbit Shows only Half Required Δv
A second orbit dataset from SpaceForce for the BlueBird-7 sat shows it in a 265 x 485 km x 43.0 deg orbit, indicating that the upper stage delivered about 1000 m/s, mostly changing orbital inclination. This is about half the...
Big Little Rocket: The N1 Moon Rocket and the Cognitive Dissonance of Spy Satellite Photography
During the Cold War, U.S. reconnaissance satellites first spotted the Soviet Union’s massive N1 lunar rocket program at Baikonur, designating the site “Complex J” and the vehicle “J vehicle.” The CIA relied almost exclusively on these overhead images to infer the...
Commercial Space Station Developers Make Their Business Case to NASA
Commercial space‑station firms Starlab, Axiom and Vast used the Space Symposium to respond to NASA’s request for information on low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) destinations, presenting detailed market evidence. They highlighted fully booked payload capacity, upcoming private‑astronaut missions, and sovereign‑astronaut demand as proof...
When the Orbital Layer Is the Kill Chain
Operation Epic Fury demonstrated that modern kill chains rely on a tightly integrated space architecture topped with AI, not merely on drones or software. The three‑click targeting process depended on imaging, communications, signals‑intelligence and GPS satellites to feed Maven’s AI,...
Sun Watching Worries – Predicting Troublesome Solar Events
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is intensifying its forecasting capabilities to better predict solar outbursts that threaten satellite communications, GPS, and power grids. NASA’s Artemis II mission relied on continuous solar monitoring to assess radiation risks for its crew during...
Earth Observation Weekly Briefing - April 20, 2026
The Earth Observation market saw significant government‑backed activity this week, with LiveEO landing a seven‑digit ESA grant to advance its Twinspector satellite constellation and PlanetiQ securing a $15 million U.S. Air Force STRATFI contract for atmospheric instruments. Vantor announced a strategic...
The Maryland County Leveraging Space Tech to Widen Its Horizons
Montgomery County, Maryland, has become a thriving hub for the space economy, housing 121 satellite and advanced‑communication firms that employ roughly 4,500 people. The county’s legacy dates back to the 1960s Comsat Laboratories, which seeded today’s ecosystem that includes Hughes...
Satellite Launch Failure Hits AST SpaceMobile Hard
AST SpaceMobile’s second‑generation satellite BlueBird 7 failed to reach its intended orbit after launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, rendering the payload inoperable. The company says the loss will be covered by insurance, but the setback trims its 2026 deployment goal...
SpaceX Targets $75 B IPO, Could Set Record with $1.75 T Valuation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is lining up a $75 billion capital raise that would value the private launch and satellite firm at roughly $1.75 trillion, the largest IPO ever contemplated. Morgan Stanley is leading the bookrun as investors weigh the upside of Starlink...
Sidus Space Secures $58.5 Million in Direct Stock Offering to Fuel Growth
Sidus Space, the Florida‑based space and defense technology firm, priced a best‑efforts registered direct offering of 13.45 million Class A shares at $4.35 each, raising roughly $58.5 million. The cash will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, signaling strong investor...
Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.6 B, Expanding Satellite IoT Services
Amazon announced a $11.6 billion deal to buy Globalstar, securing 24 operational satellites, spectrum licenses and direct‑to‑device capability for its Leo network. The acquisition dovetails with an Apple partnership and positions AWS to offer satellite‑backed IoT solutions to remote enterprises.
China Ramps up Satellite Production Capacity Amid Constellation Ambitions
China is constructing a massive satellite manufacturing ecosystem capable of producing up to 7,360 spacecraft annually, according to a recent industry assessment. Dozens of factories—36 operational, 16 under construction, and three planned—already contribute a theoretical capacity of 4,050 satellites, with...
Boeing Develops Medium-Sized Satellite Amid Growing Demand
Boeing and its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems have unveiled the Resolute, a medium‑sized “micro‑GEO” satellite platform designed to bridge the gap between small‑sat and large, custom GEO satellites. The platform combines Millennium’s rapid production methods with Boeing’s advanced payload technology,...
Es’hailSat and Media City Qatar Partner to Advance Satellite Capabilities
Es’hailSat has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Media City Qatar to broaden satellite broadcasting and digital media services for more than 500 licensed companies in the Qatari media hub. The partnership leverages Es’hailSat’s satellite capacity, playout solutions, and...
Airbus to Expand Footprint in Malaysia Through New Deals at DSA, NatSec Asia 2026
Airbus announced a series of memoranda of understanding with Malaysia's Boustead Holdings, Airod and Global Turbine Asia at the Defence Services Asia and NatSec Asia 2026 exhibitions. The deals focus on building local aerospace skills, engineering and digital capabilities, aligning...
Earth Observation Data Downstream Market Segments Analysis 2026
By April 2026 the Earth‑observation downstream market has transformed from selling raw satellite pictures to providing repeatable analytics and workflow‑embedded services. Global revenues grew from roughly $3.7 billion in 2023 (€3.4 bn) to an expected $6.6 billion by 2033 (≈€6 bn). The market now centers...
India’s Space Sector: 300+ Commercial Organizations Shape a New Industry in 2026
India’s commercial space ecosystem has exploded from 54 firms in 2020 to over 300 active companies in 2026, driven by the 2020 deregulation, the 2023 Indian Space Policy and a Rs 1,000 crore (≈$120 million) venture‑capital fund. IN‑SPACe projects the sector’s revenue to...
The Global Network of Space Associations, Institutions, and Organizations
The article maps the expansive global network that underpins modern space activities, from the 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act that birthed NASA’s civilian model to today’s myriad intergovernmental, scientific, educational, and trade bodies. It highlights how agencies such as...
NASA’s Moon Base: Architecture, Phasing, and the Engineering Gaps Behind a Permanent Lunar Outpost
On March 24, 2026 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled a $20 billion Moon Base program that will establish a permanent crewed presence at the lunar South Pole by 2033. The architecture is organized into three phases, scaling surface payload from roughly...
A Skeptical Analysis of the Space Economy Outlook 2026
A new skeptical analysis challenges the soaring space‑economy forecasts, showing that Novaspace’s $626.4 billion 2025 total masks a core market of only about $236 billion. Starlink accounts for $11.4 billion, roughly 61 % of SpaceX’s revenue, and dominates most forecast assumptions. NASA’s March 2026 Ignition...
USSF Objective Force 2040 And What It Means For Europe: SDA
The United States Space Force released its Objective Force 2040 vision, outlining a shift from safety‑of‑flight to a warfighting‑focused Space Domain Awareness (SDA) architecture. By 2040 the service aims for a fully transparent battlespace, leveraging space‑ and ground‑based sensors, AI‑driven...
SpaceX Won A Mars Mission That Might Get Cancelled
NASA announced that SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy has been selected to launch ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars, with a contract worth about $175.7 million and a target launch window in late 2028. The award provides a rare deep‑space mission for Falcon Heavy after...
Special Artemis II Episode Released for Patrons
This past week, @inaneenglish, kerbal01, & I poured our hearts into a special episode on the Artemis II mission. It just went out to our patrons on Patreon.com/CosmoQuestX, & I could not be prouder.
Artemis II Sparks Global Wave of Wonder and Pride
Artemis II ignited something in humanity. My favorite thing about this moment in space exploration isn’t just the mission itself—it’s the ripple effect it’s having here on Earth. For 10 solid days, (and really, in the days since) the news and...
Asteroid Apophis to Pass Within 20,000 Miles of Earth on April 13, 2029
NASA confirmed that the 375‑meter near‑Earth asteroid Apophis will pass 20,000 miles (32,200 km) from Earth on April 13, 2029, the closest approach of a rock its size in recorded history. The flyby poses no danger but provides an unprecedented...
Moon Ferris Wheel Should Accept USD for Rides
If you’re going through all the effort to build a Ferris wheel on the Moon, the least you could do it allow people to pay for rides in USD. https://t.co/ojPQDDQaYn
Blue Origin's First Booster Reuse Ends in Mission Failure
Blue Origin reused a rocket booster for the first time on a mission, but then failed to complete its objective. https://t.co/j2QVgk8MIC
U.S. Space Force Considers Vulcan Launches Without Solid Boosters Amid Anomaly Probe
The U.S. Space Force is weighing the use of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket without its solid rocket boosters after a February performance anomaly. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant said the service could shift lower‑energy missions to booster‑free flights, a move...
Blue Origin Targets 8‑12 New Glenn Flights, Ready Hardware
Blue Origin sees a path to 8-12 New Glenn Flights and has the hardware to hit that. Interview with CEO @davill conducted prior to NG-3/ $ASTS https://t.co/4Et09kx235
France to Use OneWeb and SatcomBw-4 Until Iris2 Ready
French @Armees_Gouv: @defis_eu #Iris2 constellation won't be ready by 2030, we'll use @EutelsatGroup #OneWeb until it is; we're looking at @bundeswehrInfo SatcomBw-4 as well for redundancy. @esa https://t.co/X0LJDmrh0y https://t.co/s5zObHgnqk
AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 Launch Falters, Highlighting New Glenn’s Commercial Push
AST SpaceMobile launched its BlueBird 7 communications satellite aboard United Launch Alliance’s New Glenn rocket, but the upper stage placed the payload in a lower-than-planned orbit, forcing an inevitable de‑orbit. The company says insurance will cover the satellite’s cost while it continues...
KASA And The Canadian Space Agency Sign MOU On Space Cooperation
At the Space Symposium 2026 in Colorado Springs, the Korean Aerospace Agency (KASA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen bilateral space cooperation. The agreement covers Earth observation, low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite communications, positioning, navigation...
US Firms Achieve Ocean Drone Ship Rocket Landings
2 US companies can land massive rockets on drone ships in the middle of the ocean. Blue Origin's New Glenn booster second landing:
Awaiting Resolution for Second Stage Issue
Well damn... 😬 Was hoping I would wake up to better news. Hope they soon find the issue with the second stage.
Artemis 2 and Tiangong Crews Set Record for Greatest Human Separation in Space
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew and China’s Tiangong astronauts were 260,754 miles (419,643 km) apart on April 6, establishing the greatest distance ever between humans. The record eclipses the Apollo 13 milestone of 1970 and signals a new era of a widely dispersed human...
Blue Shows Resilience, Will Return Stronger After Setback
Space is tough, and Blue is showing they can do tough things despite today’s setback. Cheering for the team that will learn from this and come back stronger.
House SS&T Reviews NASA FY2027 Budget Request
The House SS&T hearing on NASA's FY2027 budget request on Wednesday is our pick of the week, but much more on tap, too. What’s Happening in Space Policy April 19-25, 2026 https://t.co/2zuKQYznd3
The New Space Race for Connectivity: Satellite Internet and Critical Infrastructure
Satellite internet is moving from a niche backup solution to a core component of the global connectivity architecture. Low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) and medium‑Earth‑orbit constellations, together with 5G‑compatible non‑terrestrial networks (NTN), are delivering fiber‑like latency and throughput. Direct‑to‑device services now let ordinary...
Second Stage Boosts Exhaust Velocity, Relighting Is Hard
As everyone knows, the second stage of a rocket launching a payload into space maximizes its exhaust velocity to ensure it has enough "push" to complete both steps of the transfer with limited fuel. Relighting engines in orbit isn't easy....
New Glenn Launches for 3rd Time, Reuses First Stage and Lands It, but Fails to Put Satellite in Correct Orbit
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral for its third flight, reusing a first stage that successfully landed on its Atlantic recovery barge. The mission carried AST SpaceMobile’s Bluebird‑7 cellphone satellite, but the payload was released into an...
Blue Origin's Reuse Win Dwarfed by Satellite Launch Failure
Mission failure overshadows Blue Origin's rocket reuse milestone, with AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 cellular broadband satellite declared a total loss after launching into the wrong orbit. https://t.co/gNckytollw
New Glenn Upper‑Stage Issue Highlights Need for Reliable Launches
Bummed about the issue with New Glenn’s upper stage today. NASA and its lunar partners really need this rocket to fly reliably and often. I expect @davill and team to address this aggressively and decisively.
AST Spacemobile BB7 Is Not Recoverable Per ASTS
AST SpaceMobile’s eighth satellite, BlueBird 7, was injected into a lower‑than‑planned orbit during the New Glenn 3 launch, leaving it below the perigee needed for recovery. The onboard ion propulsion can deliver only about 51 m/s of delta‑v, far short of the ~88 m/s required...
Blue Origin's Rocket Reuse Achievement Marred by Upper Stage Failure
Blue Origin achieved its first successful reflight of the New Glenn orbital booster, landing the first stage on a drone ship in the Atlantic. However, the rocket's upper stage failed to insert AST SpaceMobile’s broadband satellite into the planned 285‑mile orbit, leaving...
Satellite Fails to Reach Orbit, Will De‑orbit
"While the satellite separated from the launch vehicle and powered on, the altitude is too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will de-orbited."