Commercial Space Federation (CSF) Welcomes Two New Associate Members
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) announced the addition of Astrolab and Zeno Power as associate members. Astrolab builds multi‑purpose rovers for lunar and Martian surface operations, while Zeno Power develops radioisotope batteries for extreme‑environment power. Both companies aim to strengthen mission resilience and expand the commercial space economy. Their membership gives CSF deeper technical expertise and a louder voice in policy discussions.
SpaceX Paid per Active Users, Not Subscription Count
Silly numbers, especially when you can see that SpaceX gets paid on the number of users (currently 10M per month) not on the number of mobile subs with access to the service (>10x that number)
ESA to Decide by June on Europe’s Gateway Contributions
NASA has halted work on the lunar Gateway, forcing the European Space Agency to rethink its Artemis contributions. ESA’s portfolio includes the European Service Module, the I‑Hab habitation module, the Lunar View refueling unit and the Lunar Link communications system,...
Quadruped Robots Have Potential as Astronaut Surface Assistants, New Research Finds
Researchers at Oregon State University and NASA tested a battery‑powered quadruped robot in White Sands’ Mars‑like dunes, showing it can collaborate with astronaut scientists to collect soil data. The robot’s leg motors generate current that doubles as a terrain sensor,...
NASA Names Scientists to Support Lunar South Pole Science
NASA has appointed ten scientists to the Artemis lunar surface science team, tasking them with shaping the mission’s scientific agenda at the Moon’s South Pole. The group will work alongside the existing geology team led by Noah Petro and Padi...
Plesetsk Launch Planned Early April to 63° Inclination
Local warnings and at least one NOTAM indicate an upcoming launch from Plesetsk between April 1 and 15 to an orbit with an inclination 63 degrees toward the Equator: https://t.co/EhSC0xsQVM https://t.co/E7nBV3xpBV
Boom Engine Stands Out Amid Claims of Uniqueness
Boom engine review today. Surprised how often I hear “we just did something no one has done before.” Remarkable engine, designed in a remarkable fashion. https://t.co/0cVuJ4YIFk
Europe’s Space Agencies Prepare For A Brave New NASA
During NASA’s high‑profile Ignition conference in Washington, European space agencies convened at the Munich Space Summit to gauge the implications of the U.S. agency’s new lunar‑Mars roadmap. While the summit’s main sessions barely mentioned NASA’s plans, breakout discussions revealed a...
Weekly Brief – 27/03/2026
Starlink has introduced a promotional $32/month (≈£25) satellite broadband plan, offering a $13/month discount for new customers who sign up before the end of April 2026. CityFibre is piloting BUKO’s traffic‑management system in Worthing, using sat‑nav data and Meta platforms...
JWST Solves Decades-Long Mystery About Why Saturn Appears to Change Its Spin
Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have produced the first high‑resolution temperature and particle density maps of Saturn’s northern aurora, revealing a self‑sustaining feedback loop that heats the atmosphere, drives winds, and powers the aurora. The loop explains why...
NextSTEP-3 E: Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability (NEXUS) Ka-Band Backward-Compatible Relay Broad
NASA announced a new Broad Agency Announcement under the NextSTEP‑3 program to fund Project NEXUS, a Ka‑band backward‑compatible relay system. The initiative aims to replace the aging Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) network with an end‑to‑end service lasting at...
Oman Leases Astranis Satellite to Avoid Costly Del
'It's extremely expensive to wait,' Oman's #MBGroup says, explaining its lease of @Astranis satellite, to launch this year. Omani government meanwhile struggles to retain rights to its GEO slot. @ITUradiocomms @AirbusSpace.https://t.co/PAHVXkavCl https://t.co/v1KIYhPa33
This Week's Space Highlights:
In this week's Rocket Report: • Artemis II on track for launch next week • Russia reopens gateway to ISS • Space Force could move more payloads off Vulcan • Russia's Starlink takes flight • Isar scrubs launch attempt https://t.co/QKQhAwmre4
The FCC Must Choose: Enforce the Rules or Preserve LEO Competition
The FCC faces a pivotal choice between enforcing its LEO deployment milestones and preserving competition in low‑Earth‑orbit broadband. Amazon has asked for a two‑year extension to meet its 1,618‑satellite Leo deadline, citing launch bottlenecks despite a $10 billion investment and a...
Artemis II Crew Arrives at KSC for Media Q&A
Artemis II crew is enroute to KSC. Expected to land abt 2:30 pm ET. NASA's Jared Isaacman and CSA's Lisa Campbell will be there to greet them. Crew then will answer questions from the media. Full list of public...
Shiyan‑33’s Low Orbit Raises Questions on CZ‑2C Capacity
Shiyan-33 tracked in a 485 x 505 km x 97.5 deg, 1030 LTDN SSO. With the CZ-2C/YZ-1S launch vehicle and such a low orbit, this must be a fairly massive satellite - anyone know the capacity of CZ-2C/YZ-1S to this orbit?
Scientists Intrigued by “Negative Mass Anomaly” Under Surface of Mars
NASA’s InSight lander data confirms that Mars’ day is shortening by fractions of a millisecond each year, indicating the planet is spinning faster. Researchers from Delft University of Technology propose a “negative mass anomaly” – a buoyant plume of hot...
Space Force Considers Boosting Wallops Launch Cadence to Meet Commercial Demand
Space Force is evaluating a significant increase in launch cadence at NASA’s Wallops Island range to satisfy rising commercial demand, Gen. Stephen Whiting told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Wallops, long used for niche missions such as small‑satellite and hypersonic...
Critics Slam NASA's Controversial Commercial Space Station Plan
No one, it seems, is happy with NASA's new idea for commercial space stations. https://t.co/SVhXpYQAnK
Syntiant and Novi Space Successfully Demonstrate Low-Power AI Inference in Orbit
On March 26, 2026, Syntiant Corp. and Novi Space completed a successful in‑orbit demonstration of real‑time AI object detection on a commercial LEO satellite. Using Syntiant’s quantized neural network models deployed on Novi’s SP240 space‑edge computer, the system identified ground...
China Is Challenging US Spaceflight Supremacy
China is rapidly advancing its human‑spaceflight program, aiming for a crewed lunar flyby by 2030 and a permanent research station by 2035. The nation’s Tiangong space station, the new Mengzhou spacecraft, and the 90‑metre Long March‑10 rocket provide a predictable, state‑backed...
AST SpaceMobile Seeks to Double Satellite Fleet Beyond 243
"AST SpaceMobile, is seeking permission to more than double its satellite fleet size. Currently it has authorisation to orbit 243 satellites." via Advanced Television https://t.co/opYjPXyR2l
How AI Is Changing Astronomy
Artificial intelligence is now central to modern astronomy, handling data volumes that far exceed human capacity. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory will generate roughly 20 TB of raw data each night, prompting AI-driven pipelines for real‑time analysis. Machine‑learning models have already...
RUAG International Sets Strategic Course for Space-Focused Future Amid Short-Term Earnings Impact
RUAG International’s 2025 fiscal year saw net sales dip to CHF 412 million (~$521 million) while earnings before interest and taxes fell to a loss of CHF 114 million (~$145 million) due to high engineering costs in its Launchers division and one‑off transformation expenses. The company...
Starlink Eyes FCC AWS‑3 Spectrum Auction Bid
NEWS SpaceX/Starlink is one of the potential bidders for the FCC's AWS-3 spectrum auction https://t.co/GMuJdS7YBy
CNES Publishes Call for Drone Swarm to Monitor Launch Operations
CNES has launched a call for proposals to create an autonomous drone swarm that will monitor perimeter security and support launch‑operation activities at the Guiana Space Centre. The initiative is funded under the Flexible, Digital and Sustainable (FDS) programme, a...
Public Databases Related to the Space Economy 2026
The article compiles an extensive inventory of public databases that underpin the modern space economy, covering everything from satellite catalogs and launch logs to Earth‑observation archives and regulatory filings. It categorises resources by function—space objects, launches, EO imagery, small‑sat components,...
JWST Images Reveal Dust-to-Planet Process and a Second Forming Exoplanet
Multiple studies released today using the James Webb Space Telescope show the clearest images yet of dust disks turning into planets and announce the discovery of a second exoplanet, WISPIT 2c, forming within the same disk. The findings tighten the link...
ULA Vulcan Grounded After Booster Anomaly, Delaying Key Space Force and NRO Launches
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan heavy‑lift rocket has been grounded after a booster anomaly on its Feb. 12 flight. The setback puts the Space Force WGS‑11 communications satellite, the Next‑Gen GEO missile‑warning payload and several NRO missions at risk of delay, with...
Pulsar Fusion Ignites First Fusion Rocket Plasma, Paving Way for Faster Mars Trips
Pulsar Fusion, a British startup, demonstrated the first sustained plasma in its Sunbird nuclear‑fusion exhaust test system during a live‑streamed event at Amazon’s MARS Conference. The breakthrough validates the Dual Direct Fusion Drive engine, which could cut Mars transit times...
I Almost Drowned in Space when My Helmet Filled with Water
During a July 2013 spacewalk, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano experienced a sudden water leak that flooded his helmet, obscuring his vision, muffling his hearing, and threatening to drown him in microgravity. The incident forced him to abort the EVA and race back...
The ‘Ground Truth’ Gap in AgTech: Why Satellites Alone Can’t Save Supply Chains
Satellite hardware costs have plummeted, sparking a surge in AgTech precision monitoring and AI‑driven analytics. Yet an over‑reliance on satellite imagery creates a "ground truth gap" where remote data misrepresents on‑the‑ground realities, producing false compliance alerts. These alerts can unjustly...
NASA's Ambitious 'Decade of Venus' Exploration May Bank on 1 Probe: 'Not Everything Can Move Forward'
NASA faces tough budget constraints that could force it to scale back its planned trio of Venus missions. While the European‑led Envision mission is still under negotiation, funding shortfalls may shift the VenSAR radar instrument to ESA development. The domestically...
March 27, 2025: Gaia Turns Off
ESA’s Gaia mission concluded on March 27, 2025 after a decade of operation, having captured three trillion observations of roughly two billion stars. Launched in 2013, Gaia fulfilled its goal of mapping a billion stars, delivering an unprecedented three‑dimensional view...
The First Colour Photo of Earth From the Moon
NASA’s Artemis crew captured the first ever colour photograph of Earth taken from the Moon’s surface, broadcasting a vivid blue‑marble view back to Earth. The image was snapped by astronaut Randy Vincent during the mission’s lunar landing phase and streamed live to...
New Study Measures Titanium in Apollo Rock to Uncover Moon’s Early Chemistry
Researchers using cutting‑edge electron microscopy have detected trivalent titanium (Ti³⁺) in ilmenite from an Apollo 17 lunar rock, with roughly 15% of the titanium showing a lower oxidation state than the usual Ti⁴⁺. This finding ties the presence of Ti³⁺ to...
What Is SpaceX Starshield, and Why Is It Important?
SpaceX’s Starshield has evolved from a branding concept into an operational U.S. defense space system that combines secure communications, Earth‑observation, and hosted‑payload services. The program leverages the existing Starlink constellation, dedicated low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, and a growing network of ground‑entry terminals....
ArianeSpace Eyes 7‑8 Launches, Ariane 6 Upgrade Mid
.@Arianespace: 7-8 flights still doable this yr; #Ariane6 block 2 upgrade by mid-year; assessing demand signals for 2029-30 from @defis_eu #Iris2, @bundeswehrInfo #SatComBw4, @Amazonleo.https://t.co/JWo6B0KcJk https://t.co/bMUkosjHQJ
NASA’s NISAR Radar Cuts Through Clouds to Reveal the Pacific Northwest Like Never Before
NASA’s joint NASA‑ISRO NISAR mission released a radar image of the Pacific Northwest captured on 10 November 2025. The L‑band radar pierced dense cloud cover to deliver a sharp view of Seattle, Puget Sound, Portland and surrounding landmarks. NISAR’s 12‑meter antenna and...
Is There a Commercial Market: Six UK Projects Selected to Build Satellite-Powered Climate Services
The UK Space Agency has allocated roughly $483,000 in pre‑commercial grants to six early‑stage firms developing satellite‑powered climate services. Recipients – New Gradient/Calterra, TreeStock, Treeconomy, Amelia Space Technologies, 2Excel Aviation and Plastic‑i – aim to automate peatland surveys, create tree‑level...
NASA Preps Artemis II Launch as Costs Soar to $44 B
NASA is set to launch Artemis II, its first crewed Moon‑orbit mission since 1972, as early as April 1, 2026. The 98‑metre Space Launch System now carries a price tag of roughly $20 billion, pushing the overall Artemis program past $44 billion, and the...
Update: Bellatrix Aerospace Raises $20 Mn in Pre Series B Round
Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru‑based spacetech startup, closed a $20 million pre‑Series B round led by Cactus Partners, with participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures and existing backers. The financing values the company at roughly $105 million, a 2.7‑fold increase from its previous...
NASA Moves Permanent Moon Base Plans Forward, and Other News.
NASA is committing roughly $20 billion over the next seven years to build a permanent Moon base, shifting Artemis focus from the lunar Gateway to surface habitats and targeting continuous astronaut presence by the late 2020s. The agency’s move underscores growing...
SBQuantum and Spire to Send Quantum Diamond Magnetometer Into Orbit
Canadian startup SBQuantum will launch a quantum diamond magnetometer aboard a Spire Global satellite on March 30 via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare. The device, roughly the size of a quart of milk, is competing in the final phase of the National...
Ispace Redesigns Lunar Lander, Introduces Lunar Communications Service
Japanese lunar venture ispace is overhauling its lander program by replacing the under‑performing VoidRunner engine and unifying its Japanese Series 3 and U.S. Apex 1.0 designs into a single Ultra lander. The redesign pushes the U.S. CLPS Mission 3 launch from 2027 to...
Historic Space Debris Mission Winds Down as ADRAS-J Begins Descent
Japan’s Astroscale has begun the controlled descent of ADRAS-J, the pioneering satellite that spent ten months inspecting space debris. Over 293 days the craft performed unprecedented close-range approaches, photographing an 11‑meter, 3‑ton defunct rocket stage within 15 meters and validating rendezvous-and-proximity-operations...
Viasat & QEST Explore Next-Generation Multi-Band Antenna
Viasat and antenna specialist QEST have begun a joint study to create a dual‑band X‑band/Ka‑band airborne terminal that builds on Viasat’s Hybrid SATCOM Approach platform. The project will replace the GAT5530’s Ku‑band aperture with QEST’s TRL‑9 X‑band hardware, enabling aircraft...
Collaborative Space Innovation Can Build Sovereign Capability
The Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII), led by Professor Andy Koronios, is positioning Australia to develop sovereign space capabilities through collaborative research and industry partnerships. Recent initiatives include the National Digital Twin for Agriculture, which integrates satellite data to optimize farm...
China Launches Shiyan‑33 Test Satellite on CZ‑2C/YZ‑1S
LAUNCH at 0411 UTC Mar 27 of a CZ-2C/YZ-1S from Jiuquan with the Shiyan 33 test satellite ( 试验三十三号卫星 ). Orbit not yet known.
Firefly Aerospace Quick-Steps On VICTUS DIEM Exercises
Firefly Aerospace teamed with Lockheed Martin to support the U.S. Space Force’s VICTUS DIEM responsive‑space exercises, demonstrating rapid payload handling and launch capabilities. The joint effort completed payload processing in under 12 hours and executed a 36‑hour launch simulation, testing emergency protocols. Participants...