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Space Systems Command Launches ACES Initiative to Accelerate Classified Access for Commercial Space
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 23:44
Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office announced a new initiative to speed up security clearances for commercial space companies. The program, unveiled by COMSO Director, aims to reduce processing times and support rapid deployment of space assets. By streamlining background checks and leveraging existing frameworks, the move is expected to boost U.S. Commercial space competitiveness. The initiative reflects the Space Force’s commitment to fostering a robust and secure commercial space sector.
KTL Selects Keysight NR-NTN Test Suite to Accelerate Satellite Acceptance Testing
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 18:50
On Thursday, October 22 2026, Keysight Technologies announced that Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) has chosen its New Radio Non‑Terrestrial Network (NR‑NTN) test solutions to expand its testing capabilities. The partnership will support KTL’s evaluation of 5G satellite and low‑Earth‑orbit communications, ensuring compliance with 3GPP standards. Keysight’s solutions provide comprehensive performance analysis for non‑terrestrial networks, helping to accelerate global deployment. This collaboration highlights Keysight’s leadership in next‑generation network testing.
At a Hundred Satellites, the Datasheet Stops Being the Decision
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 18:28
Constellation programs have largely settled the MEMS versus optical debate, turning the focus to reliability, unit-to-unit consistency, and supply. The choice of inertial sensor now hinges on these practical factors. In large-scale deployments, the sensor must perform reliably across units and be readily available. The decision ultimately rests on volume readiness rather than technology type.
Space Development Agency Solicits Technologies for Tranche 4 Missile-Tracking Constellation
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 17:31
The Space Development Agency issued a Request for Information on Tuesday, October 20, to close gaps in tracking maneuvering hypersonic missiles across their entire flight envelopes. The agency is seeking innovative sensor solutions that can detect and monitor these high‑speed threats from space.
Space Force Reassigns Six National Security Launches to SpaceX Amid Vulcan Grounding
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 16:57
On October 21, 2026, the U.S. Space Force announced it had transferred six National Security Space Launch missions from United Launch Alliance to SpaceX. The move follows delays with ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket, prompting the Pentagon to seek a more reliable launch partner. SpaceX will carry the missions on its Falcon 9 platform, ensuring the timely deployment of critical satellite payloads. This shift underscores the growing reliance on commercial launch providers for national security missions.
NASA Invites Media to 2026 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 21:39
NASA invites media to the 2026 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium at the University of Alabama in Huntsville from Oct. 26‑28, where the focus will be humanity’s return to
ISS receives new cargo from Dragon as Crew-12 hands over to Crew-13
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 21:55
Expedition 75 welcomed four new crew members aboard the International Space Station on Oct. 1 after a record‑speed seven‑hour, 55‑minute Dragon flight from Florida. The crew change saw Jessica Meir hand over command to Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov before the outgoing Crew‑12 crew departed on Oct. 7. Meanwhile, the Cygnus XL cargo ship left the station on Oct. 9, and a new SpaceX Cargo Dragon docked on Oct. 15 carrying 2,866 kg of supplies and a new roll‑out solar array.
European MNOs Join Forces to Explore Joint MSS Spectrum Bid
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-23 06:16
Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica, Orange and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to jointly
Xona Raises $250M Series D to Scale Commercial GPS Constellation
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 13:00
Xona Space Systems has closed a $250 million Series D round, valuing the company at $2.45 billion and bringing total fundraising to over $570 million since 2019. The money will fast‑track the launch of its Pulsar GPS constellation—planned to reach 258 satellites by 2027—offering centimeter‑level precision, jamming resistance, and signals 100 times stronger than legacy GPS. Xona’s first commercial GPS constellation already won FCC approval to broadcast L‑band signals, and the company is courting both government and commercial customers amid rising concerns over spoofing and jamming. With a new production plant in Burlingame, California and a veteran COO on board, Xona aims to ramp output to 50 satellites a year by the end of 2027.
National Academies Rank Nonpolar Moon Sites
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 12:30
National Academies released a report ranking four non‑polar lunar sites for future crewed missions, weighing science alignment,
Europe's Space Rider vehicle comes crashing down during drop test
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 22:00
During an October 6 drop test, Europe’s first reusable spacecraft prototype, Space Rider, failed when its main parafoil detached, causing the vehicle to crash after the drogue parachute deployed correctly. Engineers are investigating the anomaly, but the European Space Agency says the incident does not threaten the overall launch schedule. Space Rider is designed to carry experiments to orbit for up to two months before returning via a steerable parachute that enables runway‑style landings. The agency remains confident that remaining qualification tests keep the program on track for a first orbital flight later this decade.
On this day in space! Oct. 22, 1992: Ashes of 'Star Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry launch into space on NASA shuttle
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 21:08
On October 22, 1992, NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia carried the ashes of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, into orbit on mission STS‑52, marking the first space burial. Commander James Wetherbee transported a small container of the ashes at the request of Roddenberry’s widow, Majel Barrett, fulfilling the late science‑fiction pioneer’s lifelong wish to see his remains in space.
After Starshield interruption, Ukraine wants to build its own satellite communication network with ICEYE and Nokia
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 20:28
Ukraine is pursuing a sovereign satellite‑communications network after a recent throttling of its Starshield services. The country has signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies Nokia and ICEYE to develop secure, high‑performance satcom that it can control. ICEYE already supplies Ukraine with synthetic‑aperture‑radar data from its LEO constellation, while Nokia emphasizes the need for trusted, resilient connectivity in conflict zones. The move follows a US‑controlled speed limit on Starshield and recent Russian near‑misses with ICEYE satellites, underscoring the urgency of independent communications for Ukraine.
Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' depicts the sky on July 22, 1889, researchers find
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 18:00
Researchers have pinpointed the exact night sky that Van Gogh painted in his iconic work “The Starry Night.” Using advanced astronomical analysis and historical documents, they matched the swirling stars to the pre‑dawn sky over Saint‑Rémy on July 22, 1889, complete with a waning crescent moon and Venus. This finding could shift the long‑held belief that the masterpiece was painted in June, suggesting Van Gogh captured the July sky instead.
'Cabin leak suspected': Artemis II astronaut reveals how a warning nearly derailed NASA's epic moon mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 16:14
NASA’s Artemis II crew faced a tense moment when a cabin‑leak warning flashed just 15 minutes before the translunar injection burn that would send them toward the moon. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and the team had to decide whether to abort or proceed, as a real leak could have forced an immediate return to Earth. Mission control determined the alert was a false alarm, and Orion’s main engine fired for almost six minutes, propelling the four astronauts on a historic lunar fly‑by. The crew reached a record 252,756 miles from Earth and returned safely to the Pacific on April 10, completing the mission without incident.
Ink droplets in motion snag top prize in Nikon Small World contest
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-22 19:34
German experimental photographer Ole Bielfeldt won the 2026 Nikon Small World photomicrography competition with a striking image of ink droplets being deposited on paper by an inkjet printer. He outperformed 1,802 entries from 69 countries, turning a curiosity sparked during the COVID‑19 lockdown into a winning craft. To capture the fleeting droplets, Bielfeldt reconfigured the printer so the paper moved beneath a stationary printhead and photographed in a dark room using a flash to freeze the ink midair. Using only homemade adapters and no AI, he demonstrates how ingenuity and traditional techniques can produce stunning macro images.