Kiplinger Forecasts $1 Trillion Space Economy by 2034 as Launch Activity Soars
Kiplinger’s latest sector outlook predicts the global space economy will climb to $1 trillion by 2034, up from $626 billion in 2025. The forecast rests on a 25% jump in orbital launches in 2025, a 54% rise in deployed spacecraft, and a planned 80% increase in U.S. Space Force funding for 2027.
Space Force Tracks Blue Origin Launch’s Precarious Orbit
The @BlueOrigin @AST_SpaceMobile launch has been tracked by Space Force as catalog 68765, 2026-85A, in a 154 x 494 km x 36.1 deg orbit. Epoch is 1138 UTC which is the time of SECO-1, so this may not be the...
Blue Origin CEO on Growing Satellite Launch Demands
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp announced plans to increase New Glenn launch cadence to eight‑12 flights in 2026, driven by soaring demand from satellite internet mega‑constellations. The company highlighted the reuse of a previously flown booster and minor upgrades, underscoring its...
SECO-1 Orbit Estimated Between 116×420 Km And
Best estimate for the SECO-1 orbit given the slow observed decrease in altitude in the webcast is somewhere in the range of 164 x 380 km to 116 x 420km, depending on flight path angle at cutoff which was somewhere...
Wichita Firms Fuel Blue Origin, Boosting Kansas Economy
A lot of Wichita companies are suppliers to Blue Origin, and I'm glad that our state is helping with and benefiting from this project. https://t.co/xSmrQrsrD9.
SES Shares Rebound to €6.44 as Valuation Model Shows 20% Upside
SES, the Paris‑listed satellite operator, surged 6.8% over the past month to €6.44 per share, while a discounted cash‑flow model points to roughly 20% upside. The rebound follows a three‑month dip and puts the stock back in focus for telecom...
China's Daqi‑2 and Qianfan‑07 Meet Planned Orbits
China's Daqi-2 satellite cataloged in a 682 x 689 km x 98.3 deg orbit in 1025 LTDN orbit plane. The Qianfan 07 orbits are now out, showing 800 x 820 km x 89.0 deg deployment orbits as expected.
New Glenn Misses Orbit, Yet First Stage Lands Perfectly
Today's launch of the New Glenn launcher delivered a communications satellite into a wrong (not clear if recoverable) orbit, but the rocket's 1st stage completed spectacular landing on a vessel in the Atlantic: https://t.co/fEDhJHdU3S
IRSOL Unveils Ultra‑Precise Polarimeter to Map Sun's Magnetic Field
The Institute for Solar Physics (IRSOL) introduced an upgraded ZIMPOL high‑precision spectro‑polarimeter, capable of 0.001% fractional polarisation accuracy, to study the Sun’s magnetic field at the limits of modern telescope resolution. The instrument will operate on IRSOL’s Gregory Coudé Telescope...
Insufficient Data, but Webcast Velocity
Unfortunately there's not enough data on Blue's webcast to derive a SECO-1 orbit, but it may have been fine - the velocity on the screen is in the rotating Earth frame and seems reasonable, for those worried it was too...
New Glenn Launch Undershoots Orbit, Data Pending
LAUNCH at 1125 UTC Apr 19 of New Glenn flight 3 with AST SpaceMobile-007 from Canaveral. Second stage underperformance and lower than planned final orbit, but still waiting for Space Force tracking data for details
Unlocking New Space Broadband Capacity, and the Consequences of ‘On Hold’
The episode examines three major developments reshaping space broadband: the FCC’s draft order to replace the outdated EPFD framework with performance‑based spectrum sharing rules, a move that could unlock over $2 billion and boost capacity up to sevenfold; Amazon’s pending acquisition...
New Glenn’s Third Launch Expands Mobile Satellite Access
The third New Glenn launch has been a success, and it's going to mean wider access to mobile satellite communications. https://t.co/ktqDiJAn6B
BlueBird 7 Separation Unconfirmed, No Update From Blue
BlueBird 7 separation from the New Glenn second stage was scheduled for T+75 minutes, according to the timeline published before launch. But no updates from Blue on payload deployment or the earlier second burn of the upper stage.
Blue Origin Successfully Re-Uses a New Glenn Rocket for the First Time Ever
Blue Origin successfully reflown a New Glenn booster on its third launch, achieving the system’s first reuse. The mission, carrying AST SpaceMobile’s communications satellite, suffered an upper‑stage anomaly that placed the payload in an off‑nominal orbit. The company confirmed payload separation...
Donut‑Shaped Phoenix Capsule Uses Inflatable Heat Shield
Phoenix space capsule: Donut-Shaped Capsule with Inflatable Heat Shield Returns Payloads to Earth by @spaceandtech_ #SpaceTech #AI #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/WvjwMbAJaM
Blue Origin Reuses New Glenn Booster, Boosting Launch Cadence
Well done to Blue Origin on successfully reusing a New Glenn booster for the first time, key to ramping up launch rate. https://t.co/n1kEUv1MlE
Update: New Glenn Puts BlueBird 7 Into “Off-Nominal Orbit”?
Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG‑3 mission successfully separated the 6,000‑kg BlueBird‑7 satellite, but the payload entered an off‑nominal orbit. The company confirmed the satellite’s power system is operational while investigators assess the orbital deviation. NG‑3 also marks the first reuse of...
Rhea Space Activity Raises $6 Million to Develop GPS-Free Spacecraft Navigation
Rhea Space Activity, a Washington, D.C. startup, secured $6 million Series A to develop AutoNav, a GPS‑free visual navigation system. AutoNav uses onboard optical sensors to locate spacecraft by imaging celestial bodies, a technology originated at NASA JPL. The funding will accelerate...
Space Services and Wildfires Market Analysis 2026
In 2026, wildfire response has become tightly integrated with space services, using orbital sensors for detection, mapping, and communications. Public programs such as NASA FIRMS, NOAA’s geostationary system, and Europe’s Copernicus provide the baseline data, while emerging commercial constellations promise...
Space Systems Command Deltas and What the February 2026 Structure Reveals
Space Systems Command (SSC) reorganized in February 2026 into eight mission‑focused System Deltas that sit alongside two launch deltas and a base delta, aligning acquisition directly with operational partners. The command oversees a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget, with Space Launch...
NASA Pushes FALCON Satellite Constellation Launch to 2029, Seeks Commercial Partners
NASA announced that the launch window for its FALCON atmospheric research satellite constellation has been moved to later in 2029. The agency also issued a request for information to attract low‑cost commercial microwave radiometer concepts, signaling a broader shift toward...
Space Solar Enters NATO Accelerator With Energy Sovereignty In Mind
Space Solar announced its entry into NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Challenge Programme on 13 April 2026. The move validates the company’s work on space‑based power generation and modular in‑orbit construction through its OSPREY Builder system....
Apollo v Artemis: How Earth Changed in 58 Years
NASA’s Artemis II crew captured a new “Earthset” photograph on April 6, 2024, mirroring the iconic 1968 Apollo 8 “Earthrise” image. The shot, taken from the Orion spacecraft during a seven‑hour lunar flyby, shows Earth’s sunlit side over Oceania and stark lunar terrain....
A Renewed Threat to JPL as the Trump Administration Tries Again to Cut NASA
The Trump administration’s 2027 budget request calls for a 23% cut to NASA’s overall budget and a 46% reduction to its science programs, putting 53 science missions – including Mars Perseverance and a new Venus orbiter – at risk. The...
Amazon‑Globalstar Deal Shows Policy Misses Market Shifts
JUST IN: Amazon's partnership with Globalstar demonstrates that government industrial policies often fail to predict evolving markets and technologies.
Why Satellite Cybersecurity Is Becoming a Board-Level Issue for Critical Infrastructure
Satellite communications have moved from niche links to the backbone of energy, transport, defense and emergency operations. Cyber risk now spans the entire space‑to‑ground stack—including spacecraft, ground stations, cloud services and customer terminals. The 2022 Viasat KA‑SAT hack showed how...
SpaceX, Blue Origin Compete For 'Artemis III' Mission
NASA’s Artemis III mission, slated for next year, will conduct an Earth‑orbit docking test between the Orion capsule and a commercial lunar lander. SpaceX and Blue Origin are racing to deliver the first operational lander, with Starship and Blue Moon...
CNSA Unveils Aggressive 2026 Space Mission Roadmap, Including Tianwen‑2 Asteroid Flyby
China's National Space Administration detailed a dense 2026 launch calendar, featuring Tianwen‑2's asteroid approach, the crewed Shenzhou‑23 mission and maiden flights of reusable rockets. The plan underscores a strategic push to expand both exploration and commercial capabilities.
Taiwan Space Agency Prepares A Satellite-Grade General-Purpose GPU For Commercialisation
On 15 April 2025, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) licensed its satellite‑grade general‑purpose GPU to Liscotech for commercial use. The GPGPU, built on NVIDIA chips with a radiation‑hard, modular design, flew aboard the Black Kite‑1 CubeSat on SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 mission in November 2025. In‑orbit...
BepiColombo Will Enter Mercury Orbit in Late 2026
BepiColombo, the joint ESA‑JAXA mission launched in October 2018, is slated to enter Mercury orbit in late 2026 after a seven‑year cruise that included nine gravity‑assist flybys. The spacecraft comprises two science orbiters—the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter...
Gaganyaan-1: India’s First Orbital Crewed Spaceflight Programme Approaches Its Defining Test
India’s ISRO is set to launch Gaganyaan‑1, an uncrewed orbital test that will carry the Crew Module and Service Module, execute multiple orbits, and splash down in the Bay of Bengal. The mission follows a successful TV‑D1 pad‑abort test and...
Space Power: The Space Force Reveals What's In Its Crystal Ball
The episode examines the U.S. Space Force’s newly released "Future Operating Environment 2040" and "Objective Force 2040" documents, which outline anticipated threats—particularly from China—and the resources needed to maintain space superiority through 2040 and beyond. Guests Joel Mosier, the Space...
Deep Space Spacecraft Design and the Threats It Must Survive
Deep‑space spacecraft must endure extreme radiation, thermal swings, and power scarcity far beyond Earth orbit. Designers rely on radiation‑hardened processors, heavy shielding, and redundant autonomous systems to survive single‑event upsets and solar particle storms. Beyond Jupiter, solar arrays become impractical,...
Aircraft and Maritime Tracking From Space as a Business Service
Space‑based tracking has evolved from a niche surveillance technology into a multi‑billion‑dollar business service for aviation and maritime sectors. Providers such as Aireon and Spire now sell real‑time ADS‑B and AIS data bundled with analytics that support airline operations, port...
JAXA’s MMX Mission: Reaching the Moons of Mars to Unlock the Solar System’s Past
Japan’s JAXA is set to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission in late 2026, targeting Phobos and Deimos and returning at least 10 g of Phobos samples to Earth by 2031. The spacecraft will enter a quasi‑satellite orbit around Phobos,...
Artemis II Crew Praises Orion Heat Shield, Calls Lunar Flyby ‘Life‑Changing’
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen reflected on their ten‑day Artemis II mission, lauding Orion’s heat shield and calling the far‑side lunar flyby a life‑changing moment that puts a crewed landing within two years.
ESA’s Hera Arrives at Didymos: Completing the World’s First Planetary Defence Test
ESA’s Hera spacecraft will reach the binary asteroid system Didymos in November 2026 to study the aftermath of NASA’s DART impact on Dimorphos. DART’s 2022 kinetic‑impact test shortened Dimorphos’s orbital period by about 33 minutes, proving an asteroid can be nudged. Hera...
EU Releases Revised Space Act Proposal, and It Is as Odious as the Earlier Drafts
The European Union released a revised 157‑page draft of its Space Act, aiming to create a single regulatory framework for all space activities across member states. The proposal mirrors the 2025 version that drew sharp criticism for imposing burdensome rules...
2026 Must‑Watch Space Stocks: Real Revenue, Moon Missions
Top Space stocks for 2026 - Space X IPO $RKLB — Builds rockets + satellites end-to-end. The only real SpaceX alternative with actual revenue. $ASTS — Connects your existing phone directly to satellites. AT&T & Google are already in. $FLY — Defense +...
Starship Booster Packs Power of 177 GE90 Jet Engines
Booster 19’s 33 Raptor 3 engines produce as much thrust as approximately 177 GE90-115B jet engines. That’s one Starship booster equaling the power of 177 of the world’s biggest turbofans.
Apple and Amazon Partner on Satellite Deal
Amazon announced it will acquire Globalstar, bolstering its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit satellite initiative. The deal also formalizes a partnership with Apple, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch models to tap Globalstar’s existing and planned LEO constellations for connectivity. Apple will continue to...
From Imagination to Speed: Scarcity's Endgame Arrives
The constraint on human civilization is about to shift from "What can we imagine?" to "How fast can we build it?" AI removes the intelligence bottleneck, Terafab slays the chip constraints, Starship removes the mass-to-orbit bottleneck, and Orbital data centers removes...
NASA Shuts Voyager 1 Instrument to Extend 49‑year Mission
NASA turned off one of the instruments on Voyager 1. The decision is considered the best option to keep the 49 yo spacecraft operating while they finalize a plan -- the "Big Bang" -- to keep it going even longer. https://t.co/hyqr7StQI0
NASA's Artemis II Orion Uses Eight‑CPU Redundant Computer for Fault‑tolerant Navigation
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft runs an eight‑processor, fault‑tolerant computer architecture that can survive the loss of three flight control modules in under 22 seconds. The design, a leap from Apollo’s single‑megahertz computer, underpins the mission’s navigation, life‑support and communications as...
Ultraviolet Breakthrough Sharpens Lasers for Nuclear Clocks, Autonomous Navigation
A new ultraviolet breakthrough improves laser precision, advancing nuclear clock research and opening possibilities for autonomous navigation in space and underwater environments. https://t.co/2B5ZM642CT
Artemis II Laser Links Offer Faster Data, yet Limited
Laser communication systems on Artemis II promise extreme data speeds compared to Apollo era radios, but still face environmental limitations. https://t.co/2Bb9dJrNrh
China Launches High‑precision Greenhouse‑gas Monitoring Satellite on Long March‑4C
China lifted a new climate‑monitoring satellite aboard a Long March‑4C from Jiuquan on April 17, marking the 638th flight of the Long March series. The payload, built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, carries five cutting‑edge instruments that combine...
Babin Outlines Vision for America’s Next Space Era
House SS&T chair Brian Babin (R-TX) has an op-ed in Issues in Science and Technology on "A Vision for America’s Next Era in Space": https://t.co/4zrQtGd9iF
The Moon Might Be More Prone to Fires
A new NASA‑led study proposes the Flammability of Materials on the Moon (FM2) experiment to directly measure how fires behave in lunar gravity. Current NASA‑STD‑6001B fire‑safety testing is Earth‑centric and does not account for the slower convection on the Moon,...