Browse the complete archive of aerospace journalism with contextual analysis
Hubble Network has raised $200 million to expand its constellation of satellites, enabling the connection of Bluetooth devices into a global platform. This significant investment will facilitate the growth of the company's satellite network, enhancing its capabilities to provide global connectivity.
SpaceX has assembled its Starship-Super Heavy rocket at Starbase, Texas, in preparation for its first orbital flight, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with liftoff potentially occurring as soon as September 28. The mission will mark a significant milestone in the development of the Starship program, which aims to provide a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying both crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations in the solar system.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Mistral have signed a Letter of Intent to collaborate on artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to strengthen Europe's technological leadership and resilience in AI and space activities. This partnership will focus on developing innovative, secure, and trusted AI solutions for the space sector.
The European Space Agency has awarded a contract to ClearSpace to advance the Phoenix mission, which aims to extend the life of a geostationary satellite set to retire between 2028 and 2030. This partnership will help mature technologies for life extension, with significant implications for the broader aerospace industry.
Vast, a commercial space station developer, is expanding its operations to the lunar surface, leveraging its existing space station technologies to develop infrastructure for the moon. This move has significant implications for the broader aerospace industry and the development of lunar exploration and habitation.
The US Space Force is reorganizing its approach to buying satellites and services, aiming to increase the speed of the acquisition process with input from a business group. This overhaul is expected to have major implications for the aerospace industry.
Exolaunch, a company specializing in satellite launch arrangements, has acquired a SpaceX Starfall mission to venture into microgravity research services, marking a significant expansion of its portfolio. This move underscores the growing interest in microgravity research and its potential applications across various industries.
Space Epoch, a Chinese launch startup, has raised $343 million to develop its Yuanxingzhe-1 rocket, which is expected to be ready for flight by the end of the year. This significant funding will support the company's efforts to establish itself in the growing commercial launch market.
China successfully launched 13 satellites into orbit over the weekend through two separate missions, utilizing its Long March 2D rocket. The launches included a mix of commercial radar satellites and a nine-satellite rideshare as part of the Kinetica-1 mission.
The European Space Agency and European Commission have awarded contracts to two teams of companies to study architectures for a dual-use Earth imaging constellation, focusing on security applications. This initiative aims to explore the feasibility of a shared Earth observation system for both civilian and security purposes.
Albania has signed the Artemis Accords, a program led by NASA aimed at returning humans to the lunar surface by 2024, marking a significant milestone in international cooperation for space exploration. This move is part of a recent surge in new signatories to the accords ahead of a key meeting next month.
The US Space Force is establishing a fleet of satellites that can be launched quickly to inspect spacecraft in orbit, enhancing its ability to respond to emerging situations in space. This development marks a significant step forward in the Space Force"s efforts to ensure the security and integrity of its space-based assets.
HEO, an Australian aerospace company, has raised $25 million to expand its satellite imaging capabilities into geostationary orbit, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth. This investment will enable HEO to enhance its satellite imaging services, providing higher-resolution images and more frequent coverage of the Earth's surface.
The Space Development Agency has initiated a competition for industry proposals to expand its global ground infrastructure in support of low Earth orbit missile-warning and tracking satellites, with a contract value of up to $369 million. This development aims to enhance the agency's capabilities in detecting and tracking missiles, contributing to global security.
SpaceX has announced plans to end commercial launches of its Falcon 9 rocket, creating a gap in access to orbit that will impact the satellite industry. The decision will have significant implications for companies relying on the Falcon 9 for their launch needs, prompting a search for alternative launch solutions.
The Ukrainian government has been utilizing SpaceX"s Starlink satellite constellation to provide high-speed connectivity to its soldiers, and is now seeking authorization to expand its use into Russian territory. This development has significant implications for the broader aerospace industry and military communications.
GHGSat has successfully launched its second-generation satellite, which boasts twice the sensitivity in detecting methane emissions as its predecessor, thereby doubling the monitoring capacity. This advancement marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to provide high-quality data on greenhouse gas emissions.
The European Space Agency (ESA) recently hosted the Investor Forum 2026, bringing together nearly 200 participants to explore opportunities for public and private capital to accelerate Europe's space economy. The event highlighted initiatives to address structural barriers to debt financing for European space companies and strengthen the bridge between public demand and private capital.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have extended their Cooperative Agreement until 2032, expanding their collaboration in space activities such as Earth observation, satellite navigation, and space science. This renewed agreement reflects the evolving priorities in the space sector, including space weather and sustainable outer space activities.
The Pentagon has announced a two-stage approach for the Golden Dome missile defense program, with an initial missile shield planned for 2028 and a more affordable architecture to follow by 2035. This phased buildout is expected to have significant implications for the broader aerospace industry and national defense strategy.
SpaceX has successfully launched 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, adding to its growing constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. This launch marks the 81st Starlink mission of the year, with the Falcon 9 booster making its 17th flight.
Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on September 18, marking the fifth flight of its Electron rocket in just over a month. This launch continues Rocket Lab"s high cadence of missions, demonstrating the company"s ability to frequently and reliably launch small satellites into orbit.
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Sedaro up to $45 million in funding to expand its mission analysis software platform, which is designed to analyze the performance of satellites, sensors, and other capabilities in tandem. This investment aims to enhance the Space Force's ability to evaluate and optimize its space-based assets.
NASA has awarded a contract to SpaceX for three additional Crew Dragon missions to the International Space Station, ensuring continued access to the orbiting laboratory. This development marks a significant expansion of the partnership between NASA and SpaceX in low Earth orbit.