Beyond the Rocket: The Digital Infrastructure of the Artemis II Mission
Artemis II will showcase not only NASA’s most powerful launch vehicle but also a modernized digital backbone built by Booz Allen. The contractor is delivering upgraded communications, cloud‑based ground systems, edge‑computing capabilities, and AI tools that let spacecraft operate with limited Earth contact. Booz Allen also embeds zero‑trust cybersecurity across flight and ground networks to protect mission data. Together, these technologies transform Artemis from a one‑off lunar flight into a scalable, autonomous platform for sustained lunar and future Mars operations.
Isaacman, Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was praised at the Washington Space Business Roundtable luncheon for revamping the Artemis lunar program. Rep. Mike Haridopolos called him a “James Bond for America,” noting a dramatic turnaround in NASA’s public sentiment over the past year....
Unveiling Plesetsk's Secret Unannounced Orbital Launch
OK, we will try to chronicle the curious case of an unprecedented/unannounced orbital launch from Plesetsk on the linked page (work in progress, of course): https://t.co/zaum1S7eWh
Unannounced Soyuz Launch Suspected, Details Remain
Possible launch of Soyuz rocket with Rassvet satellites at about 1800 UTC Mar 23. Russia has, unusually, made no announcement but there are observations downrange of rocket plume and claimed signals from a payload. Situation currently uncertain, no Space Force...
Russian Progress MS-33 Cargo Ship Faces Antenna Glitch, Manual Docking Planned
Russia’s Progress MS-33 (also known as Progress 94) suffered a KURS antenna deployment failure shortly after launch, preventing the spacecraft from docking autonomously with the ISS. Cosmonaut Sergei Kud‑Sverchkov will now guide the freighter manually, delivering roughly 2.5 tonnes of food, fuel,...
History of the Iranian Space Program
Iran’s space program has evolved from modest satellite‑communication experiments in the 1960s to a dual‑track effort that now fields both civilian and military launch capabilities. In 2009 the country became the ninth nation to place a satellite, Omid, into orbit...
Xplore Asks for Pause on Decision for SpaceX Use of E-Band
Rural broadband provider Xplore has asked Canada’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development department (ISED) to pause approval of SpaceX’s request to use the 71‑76 GHz and 81‑86 GHz E‑band for satellite backhaul. Xplore argues that the World Radiocommunication Conference has not yet...
Space Force Opens $981M Competition for Test and Training Infrastructure
Space Force issued the final solicitation for the $981 million NITE STAR contract to modernize its test and training infrastructure. Proposals are due April 17, with awards expected by July 1, and the contract spans a five‑year base period plus a five‑year option....
EnduroSat and MetaSensing Partner to Accelerate SAR Satellite Access
EnduroSat and MetaSensing have formed a partnership to deliver a fully European "constellation‑as‑a‑service" synthetic aperture radar (SAR) solution. The collaboration couples MetaSensing’s X‑band PhoeniX and StarSAR‑X radar payloads with EnduroSat’s FRAME‑15 and FRAME‑24 satellites, offering 0.125‑to‑0.5 m resolution. By standardizing integration...
Scrubbing Away Lunar Dust
Researchers at Orbital Mining and Space Dust Research & Technologies are concluding tests of Lunar SCRUB, an electrostatic cleaning device that uses an electron beam to lift moon dust from surfaces. The prototype, about one‑third the size of a loaf of...
CubeSpace Challenges Vertical Integration with Record ADCS Production Milestone
On March 23, 2026 CubeSpace announced a production surge, shipping 2,118 standalone ADCS units and 71 mission‑tailored systems in January‑February. The South African firm claims its modular ADCS can cut costs by 50% compared with in‑house solutions, while maintaining an 8‑12‑week lead...
Photon‑propelled Probes Could Reach Tau Ceti in 60 Years
While we don't have access to the astrophage from ProjectHailMary in real life, scientists are designing space probes that rely on the same basic principle it uses to travel between the stars: very low mass objects accelerated to very high...
Finland's ReOrbit Secures $173M Deal for First GEO Satellites
Finland's @ReOrbitOy sells first 2 GEO sats, to @thelibragroup's SLI leasing company, for $173M. SLI says ultimate users/orbital slots TBD. Deal follow's December 'heads of agreement' w/ startup GEO sat builder #AscendArc, also for 2 satellites, for $200M. https://t.co/LQZFwwRbdM https://t.co/VZFZgfbJV5
The ISS Is Retiring: Is Axiom Station a Perfect Bridge to Commercial Space?
NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by 2030, ending more than 25 years of continuous human presence in orbit. Rather than building a government‑owned replacement, the agency will buy services from private platforms to cut costs and sustain...
Eyewitness Claims Possible ICBM Launch Near Plesetsk
There is an eyewitness report on the Novosti Kosmonavtiki web forum from the Ukhta area (NE of Plesetsk) about a rocket launch and stage separation (in one piece), possibly indicating an ICBM launch: https://t.co/bElbE6hVlW https://t.co/adIadiu1hY
![The Downlink [Mar 23, 25] Space Competition: “March Storm” On Capitol Hill Seeks Equal Tax Treatment For Space Investors](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/articles/7e06263352a37962687b371f6345efc0.webp)
The Downlink [Mar 23, 25] Space Competition: “March Storm” On Capitol Hill Seeks Equal Tax Treatment For Space Investors
The Alliance for Space Development’s 30th “March Storm” advocacy event on Capitol Hill is pressing Congress for equal tax treatment of space startups and venture‑capital investors ahead of the anticipated SpaceX IPO. The campaign, dubbed “March Storm,” aims to level...
Space Tech: SpinLaunch – The Disruptors
SpinLaunch is developing a kinetic‑launch system that uses a 100‑meter vacuum chamber to spin payloads, potentially cutting rocket fuel and structural mass by up to 70 %. The company raised $30 million in a Series C round, bringing total funding to $203 million, and...
NASA’s Hubble, Webb Telescopes Survey Pinwheel Galaxy
NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes captured a high‑resolution view of the Pinwheel Galaxy (Messier 101) on March 16, 2026. The combined ultraviolet, visible and near‑infrared data focus on the galaxy’s core, which lies about 25 million light‑years away and presents a rare face‑on...
Russian Rocket en Route to ISS Suffers Major Antenna Glitch, Triggering Remote-Control Astronaut 'Backup Plan'
Russia’s Progress 94 cargo freighter suffered an antenna deployment failure shortly after liftoff, preventing its planned autonomous docking with the International Space Station. NASA announced that cosmonaut Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov will pilot the vehicle manually using an undisclosed backup system. The spacecraft...
NASA's Artemis II Moon‑Flyby Rocket Returns to Pad After Repairs, Targeting Early April Launch
NASA has rolled the Artemis II Space Launch System and Orion capsule stack back onto Launch Pad 39B after a series of wet‑dress rehearsals and leak‑induced repairs. The agency now plans a crewed moon‑flyby launch as early as April 1, keeping the program...
NASA Holds All‑Day Meeting on Trump's Artemis Order
Here's the NASA press release about tomorrow's (Tuesday, Mar 24) all-day meeting at NASA HQ about implementing Trump's Dec 2025 Executive Order re Artemis. https://t.co/fR9uM0P2io Livestreamed. Starts at 9:00 am ET. News conf at 4:45 pm ET.
ThinKom Showcases Modular MILSATCOM Architecture for Contested Environments
At the 2026 Satellite Show in Washington, D.C., ThinKom Solutions unveiled a modular, high‑mobility ground architecture designed to replace static satellite command centers. The system, built around the Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) phased‑array antenna, can connect to GEO,...
In a Rare Event, the Moon Got a Massive New Crater
A fresh lunar crater 225 meters wide was identified by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, forming in April‑May 2024. Researchers estimate an impact of this size should occur only once every 139 years, making it a once‑in‑a‑century event. The crater sits on...
NASA to Reveal Artemis Plans, Spotlight Former Gateway Manager
NASA will share a ton of Artemis planning information tomorrow at HQ. I’ve highlighted Garcia-Galan because he was deputy program manager for Gateway prior to this. https://t.co/HlCvRYr1N6
OHB SE Exceeds Profitability Targets with Record €3.2 Billion Backlog
OHB SE reported FY 2025 results that beat its profitability guidance, with revenue climbing 21% to €1.25 bn (≈ $1.36 bn) and adjusted EBIT rising 17% to €84 m (≈ $92 m). The company’s order backlog reached a record €3.19 bn (≈ $3.48 bn), driven by a €248 m (≈ $270 m) ESA...
NASA to Provide Update on Implementation of National Space Policy
NASA will host a public event on March 24, 2026 at its Washington headquarters to detail how the agency is executing President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy. The agenda includes remarks by Administrator Jared Isaacman and high‑level panels on Artemis II, the goal of...
Mir Ends 15-Year Orbit, Burns up on Reentry
#ThisDayInTechHistory. March 23, 2001. The Mir Russian Space station reenters Earth's atmosphere and breaks up after 15 years in space. (First Post) #Space #Exploration #JVGpost https://t.co/qAgsA3nlep
NASA’s Van Allen Probe A Burns up over the Pacific After 14 Years in Space
NASA’s Van Allen Probe A burned up over the eastern Pacific on March 11, 2026, ending a seven‑year mission that far outlasted its planned two‑year lifespan. The 1,300‑pound (600 kg) spacecraft, launched in 2012, spent nearly a decade studying Earth’s radiation belts and delivering...
Kymeta™ Unveils a Paradigm Shift With a KuKa Multi Band Terminal
Kymeta Corporation announced the KuKa 8 Series, a single‑aperture antenna that operates on both Ku and Ka bands and across GEO, MEO, LEO and HEO constellations. The flat‑panel terminal delivers roughly 44 percent less footprint and a low‑SWaP profile of 41 lb (18.6 kg)....
What Does “Exclusively Peaceful” Really Mean?
On 30 January ESA appointed Laurent Jaffart to head a new Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate tasked with developing space‑based security and defence capabilities. The agency says it will honor the Convention by interpreting “exclusively peaceful” to ban only aggressive actions,...
Blue Origin Proposes 51,600 AI-Powered Orbital Data Centers
Blue Origin files paperwork to put 51,600 AI data center satellites in orbit: Project Sunrise: a proposed “mega-constellation” of solar-powered satellites that would perform AI compute directly in orbit https://t.co/kk1MXTDoaM #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech #TechNews
SpaceX's $1.75 Trillion IPO Looms as Falcon 9 Prices Rise to $74 Million
SpaceX has raised its Falcon 9 launch price to $74 million, just weeks before a planned IPO valued at $1.75 trillion. The move comes as ULA’s Vulcan Centaur faces reliability setbacks, leaving SpaceX as the sole U.S. launch provider for government payloads. Analysts...
Contrivian Launches New Product Bundling Amazon Leo & Starlink
Contrivian, a California‑based managed connectivity provider, unveiled Contrivian Constellation, a bundled service that merges Amazon Leo and Starlink satellite networks under a single data plan, contract, and IP address. The system leverages the company’s Lighthouse technology to continuously evaluate both...
Fidelity's Karin Fronczke Explores Orbital Data Centers
SpaceX investor Fidelity (Karin Fronczke, Head of PE investments) is on the show today to talk about… orbital data centers. Welcome your questions.
CML Micro Debuts Satellite RF and mmWave Semiconductor Portfolio to US Market at SATShow 2026
CML Micro debuted its satellite communications semiconductor portfolio at SATShow 2026 in Washington, D.C., showcasing GaAs and GaN RF and mmWave devices for Ku, K, and Ka‑band applications. The exhibit, held with distribution partner RFMW at Booth 1658, featured power amplifiers...
NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) Update
The Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) announced its 35th virtual meeting will occur June 8‑11, 2026, offering the small‑body community a platform for collaboration. NASA has recently ended direct funding for all eight planetary‑science Assessment Groups, prompting SBAG to reassess its role...
Satellogic Targets 2025 Profit Surge with ITAR‑free Growth
Satellite geosptial imaging service/satellite proivder @Satellogic performs turnaround in 2025, rev up 38%, opex down 25%, $94M uncancellable backlog at Dec. 31. US-based, but ITAR-free products open access to governments that want full sovereign control.https://t.co/2TlBBJGUji https://t.co/SejAvYSosb
NASA Sets 'Impossible' Ground Rules for Relocation of 'Flown Space Vehicle'
NASA has issued a draft Request for Proposals to move a flown space vehicle, a step lawmakers see as progress toward relocating the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston. The agency’s RFP stresses that any shuttle must be...
A Unique NASA Satellite Is Falling Out of Orbit—This Team Is Trying to Rescue It
The 21‑year‑old Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is spiraling toward re‑entry, and NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to build and launch a robotic servicing vehicle, Link, to reboost the satellite. Katalyst must design, test, and launch the mission within...
OQTEC Secures $29M to Expand Satellite IoT Fleet
Satellite IoT/D2D startup @OQTEC: 2 more sats launch this spring, 5 more by year's end. New @EIB funding of $29M permits construction of 20 more. Commercial service in Australia starts this yr. https://t.co/arOtFaMzlq https://t.co/Kyagh8JBOM
Watch Live: First Celeste Launch
On 25 March 2026, ESA’s Celeste low‑Earth‑orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO‑PNT) mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron from New Zealand, deploying its first two demonstration satellites. The launch marks the inaugural step of an 11‑satellite constellation designed to test...
Untitled
In 2005 the MESSENGER spacecraft captured a time‑lapse of Earth as it drifted away on its trajectory toward Mercury. The video shows the planet’s bright, sun‑lit side dominating the frame, rendering background stars invisible. After the flyby, MESSENGER continued to...
NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Will Put These Technologies to the Test
NASA’s Artemis II, slated for an April 1 launch, will carry four astronauts on a ten‑day lunar flyby, marking the first crewed deep‑space mission since Apollo. After resolving hydrogen‑leak and helium‑flow issues on the Space Launch System, the crew will test Orion’s...
When It Comes to Catastrophic Space Weather, the UK Is Holding a Cocktail Umbrella
The UK National Audit Office warned that the nation is ill‑prepared for a severe space‑weather event, despite improved forecasting from the Met Office. Recent solar storms have already displaced thousands of satellites, highlighting vulnerability. The government estimates a 5‑25 percent chance...
Seraphim: The Space-Focused Fund That's Ready for Lift-Off
Seraphim Space Investment Trust (LSE: SSIT) emerged as the top‑performing UK investment trust in 2025, climbing another 10% year‑to‑date. The trust gives private investors exposure to early‑stage space firms, a segment traditionally dominated by governments and defence contractors. Its portfolio...
Blue Origin Advances New Glenn: Multiple Second Stages in Integration
"At least two New Glenn second stages (GS2) appear in final integration, complete with insulation blankets. Complete tank sections for at least four more stages await insulation, while bulkheads and barrel sections indicate yet another unit in the works." https://t.co/JPS90rT2WC...
Swissto12 to Build Small Optical Relay GEO Satellite for Space Compass
Swissto12 has secured a contract with Japan’s Space Compass to build SC‑A, the first SmallSat‑class optical relay satellite in geostationary orbit. The spacecraft will use Swissto12’s HummingSat platform and is slated for delivery in Japan’s fiscal year 2028. SC‑A serves as a...
Aurora Avionics Expands Into Edinburgh Hub as Europe’s Launch Race Heats Up
Aurora Avionics has moved its headquarters and R&D to the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, scaling up operations as Europe intensifies its launch capabilities. Backed by £320,000 in funding, the startup secured partnerships with Pangea Propulsion and ATMOS Space Cargo to integrate...
Paving the Way for Real‑Time Earth Observation: Space Compass and SWISSto12 Sign Contract for First Commercial GEO Optical Data Relay...
Space Compass and Swiss‑based SWISSto12 have signed a contract to develop the first commercial geostationary (GEO) optical data‑relay satellite. The platform will host Space Compass’s high‑resolution imaging payload and use SWISSto12’s proven satellite bus to deliver near‑real‑time Earth observation data....
GNSS Market Analysis 2026
The EUSPA GNSS market report shows global GNSS revenues at €260 billion in 2023, projected to more than double to €580 billion by 2033, reflecting an 8% CAGR. Device shipments are set to hit 2 billion units annually by 2027, pushing the installed...