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Redwire Secures $13.8 Million National Guard Order for Stalker UAS Training Systems
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 20:59
Redwire Corporation announced on Thursday that it has secured about $13.8 million in purchase orders from the U.S. National Guard Bureau. The contracts will provide advanced aerospace and defense technology solutions to support the Guard’s operational needs. The deal marks a significant win for Redwire, reinforcing its growing footprint in the defense sector. The company is poised to begin delivery of the agreed‑upon systems shortly.
India Reinforces Security and Spectrum Safeguards, Restricting Unmonitored Starlink and NTN Entry
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 20:44
India has tightened regulations on orbital market access amid growing debates over direct‑to‑device connectivity and national security. The government’s new rules aim to curb foreign satellite constellations, especially SpaceX’s Starlink, from operating freely in Indian airspace. By reinforcing strict barriers, India seeks to protect its space infrastructure and maintain control over its orbital environment. This move underscores the country’s commitment to safeguarding its national security interests.
White House Directed Pentagon to Restrict Ukraine Starshield Speeds, Clarifying Chain of Command
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-17 23:00
SpaceX has reportedly imposed velocity limits on its Starshield satellite terminals in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian defense advisers cited by SatNews on October 14. The move could restrict the speed and effectiveness of Ukrainian communications, raising concerns about operational capability. Reuters has confirmed the claim and is investigating the impact on Ukraine’s defense infrastructure. The decision highlights growing tensions over the use of commercial satellite technology in wartime.
Falcon 9 set to launch Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Florida
Also covered by: Spaceflight Now
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 22:29
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will lift off from Cape Canaveral at 6:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 20, after a one‑day weather‑related scrub. The Bandwagon‑5 rideshare mission carries 32 payloads, including a new Starfall reentry capsule and Varda’s W‑7 drug‑testing vehicle. The rocket will head southeast to low‑Earth orbit, deploying the second Starfall capsule atop the satellite stack.
SpaceX working through Starship Flight 15 and 16 milestones
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 16:31
SpaceX is gearing up for its final two Starship flights of 2026, with Flight 15 slated for November 8 and Flight 16 targeted for December. Both missions aim to catch the Super‑Heavy booster and the Starship, with Flight 16 potentially marking the first launch from Launch Complex 39A on the East Coast. The company is also resolving recent engine glitches on Ship 42 and conducting extensive static‑fire tests at its Texas facilities before transporting the vehicles to Kennedy Space Center.
Returning the first samples from a Martian moon: Inside the science of Japan's bold MMX mission to Mars
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 19:20
Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, launching on Oct. 19 2026 from Tanegashima, aims to be the first spacecraft to return samples from the Mars system. After a 10‑month journey, MMX will orbit Mars, study the moons Phobos and Deimos, and land a small rover named IDEFIX to collect surface material on Phobos.
Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton was a problem-solver for the ages (op-ed)
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 16:00
Margaret Hamilton, who died at 90 on September 30, was the brilliant computer scientist behind NASA’s Apollo flight software that kept the lunar module on course during the 1969 moon landing. From a childhood curiosity about breaking gender barriers, she rose to lead MIT’s software team, designing contingency code that allowed Armstrong and Aldrin to land safely when the onboard computer overloaded. Her work extended to five more lunar landings, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle, and in 1976 she founded her own software company. In 2016 President Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for saving the first lunar landing and inspiring generations of women in STEM.
Astronomers want your help finding 'missing' black holes in the Milky Way
Original Publication Date: 2026-10-18 12:00
Scientists estimate the Milky Way has produced more than 10 million black holes, yet only 70 have been found. A UK team has launched the “Black Hole Hunters” project, inviting volunteers to sift through NASA’s TESS data for subtle brightness spikes that signal a black hole passing in front of a companion star. Human pattern‑recognition complements AI, with each light‑curve examined by multiple participants to reduce false positives. By helping identify promising candidates, the public could help astronomers pinpoint new black holes and unlock the galaxy’s hidden giants.