Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Podcast Addict
Overcast
Podcast RSS
Blue Origin completes investigation into New Glenn launch failure
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-23 02:32
Blue Origin has cleared its New Glenn rocket for future launches after the FAA closed its investigation into the April 19 NG‑3 failure, which left the BlueBird 7 satellite stranded in a low orbit. The mishap was traced to a cryogenic leak that froze a hydraulic line, causing a thrust anomaly during the second‑stage burn. Blue Origin and the FAA identified nine corrective actions, with the agency set to verify implementation before the next flight. The company is now preparing for the NG‑4 launch, while AST SpaceMobile plans to send additional BlueBird satellites on a future New Glenn mission.
SpaceX launches first Starship V3
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-23 00:35
SpaceX successfully launched its redesigned Starship V3 on May 22 from Starbase, Texas, completing most of its suborbital test objectives despite a few engine hiccups. The Super Heavy booster fired 33 Raptor 3 engines, but one shut down shortly after liftoff, while the Starship upper stage ignited its six engines and separated after 2½ minutes, deploying Starlink mass simulators and prototype satellites.
Space Force awards Viasat, SES $437 million for military satellite network
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 23:27
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Viasat and SES a combined $437.6 million to build a new network of small, resilient satellites under the Protected Tactical Satcom‑Global program. The first “Swarm 1” batch will feature four spacecraft—two each from Viasat and SES—delivered by March 2029 to provide X‑band and Ka‑band communications that can survive jamming and cyber attacks. The program, which uses commercial technology to spread coverage across multiple satellites, aims to ensure that the loss of one satellite does not cripple regional communications. A second procurement round in 2028 will add four more satellites, slated for deployment by 2031.
NASA unveils sweeping reorganization
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 17:08
NASA has announced a sweeping reorganization that merges its Exploration Systems Development and Space Operations directorates into a new Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, aiming to boost efficiency without layoffs. The new structure creates three program managers—Dana Weigel for low Earth orbit, Jeremy Parsons for Artemis, and Carlos García‑Gálán for the Moon Base initiative—while the Space Technology and Aeronautics directorates combine into the Research and Technology Mission Directorate. Key personnel moves include Lori Glaze as associate administrator for HSMD, Joel Montalbano and Kelvin Manning as deputy associates, and the retirement of veteran aeronautics administrator Bob Pearce. These changes, coupled with new leadership at field centers, signal NASA’s renewed focus on streamlined operations and accelerated progress toward the moon.
SatNews Will Be Closed May 25, Memorial Day
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 21:56
SatNews will close its offices today in observance of Memorial Day, the National Day of Remembrance. The newsroom will remain shut, but regular news coverage and newsletter distribution will resume on Tuesday, May 26. Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to bringing you the latest updates next week.
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Omar Qaise, OQ Technology
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 14:00
Omar Qaise, founder of OQ Technology, has demonstrated a fully end‑to‑end 5G NB‑IoT connection using low Earth orbit satellites, all with a standard terrestrial chipset and no hardware tweaks. The breakthrough shows that satellite back‑haul can seamlessly integrate with existing IoT infrastructure. Qaise will be joining a panel on 5G non‑terrestrial network regulation at SmallSat Europe. His work could pave the way for broader satellite‑based IoT deployments worldwide.
Call for Creatives: NASA Seeks Help Illuminating Mission Storytelling
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 22:12
NASA has issued an Announcement for Proposals, inviting filmmakers, documentarians, songwriters, storytellers, poets, and other creatives to partner on telling the stories behind its upcoming missions, including the Artemis III lunar landing in 2027, Artemis IV in 2028, and plans for a Moon Base. The agency is also seeking partners to cover its nuclear propulsion work, such as the Space Reactor‑1 Freedom mission to Mars in 2028, and cutting‑edge aviation projects. Up to ten partners may receive unfunded Space Act Agreements, with proposals due by Tuesday, June 30, and the opportunity is open primarily to U.S. Creators, though a minority of international participants may be considered. For full requirements and to submit a proposal, visit https://go.nasa.gov/CreatorProposals.
NASA Sets Coverage for Roscosmos Spacewalk Outside Space Station
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 19:43
NASA will air a live feed on Wednesday, May 27, as Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev perform a five‑hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Beginning at 10:15 a.
Webb Studies Star Clusters
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 18:23
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released a near‑infrared image of a spiral arm in Messier 51 on May 6, 2026. In a study of nearly 9,000 star clusters, scientists discovered that more massive clusters form faster from their natal clouds. These results help explain galactic evolution, internal galaxy dynamics, and the conditions where planets may develop. The research was conducted by ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, and collaborators from Stockholm University and the FEAST JWST team.
Keeping NASA Flying: Ground Crews Ensure Aircraft Readiness
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 15:45
NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, is keeping a diverse fleet—including new F‑15s, a Pilatus PC‑12, ER‑2s, and the X‑59—flight‑ready for high‑speed research and science missions. Skilled maintenance crews, led by crew chiefs like Walt Kondracki, perform relentless checks, from ejection seats to fuel tanks, ensuring each aircraft meets safety and performance standards.
NASA to Compete Contract for Jet Propulsion Laboratory Management
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 14:34
NASA announced it will competitively bid the Jet Propulsion Laboratory contract, ending the sole‑source arrangement with Caltech that has managed JPL since 1958. The move aims to evaluate alternative management options to boost mission performance, innovation, and cost efficiency while ensuring continuity of ongoing missions. NASA’s decision reflects a broader push to drive efficiencies and stronger stewardship of taxpayer dollars across federal agencies. The new contract, up to $30 billion through 2028, will be awarded after a full competition that preserves JPL’s location and operations.
The US Needs a New Launch Site, Air Force Secretary Says
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 12:45
Traffic at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg is nearing maximum capacity, prompting Air Force Secretary Troy Meink to call for a new military launch site during his House Armed Services Committee testimony. The Department of Defense is investing billions to upgrade existing ranges, with Congress allocating $1.3 billion in 2024 for construction and the Space Force requesting $2.2 billion for FY2027 to modernize facilities and accommodate new commercial entrants. In 2025 the two ranges handled 175 launches, and the FAA projects a near tripling of U.S. Launches over the next decade, making temporary fixes at state-run sites untenable. Gen. Chance Saltzman emphasized the need for geographic resilience, stating that another launch location is essential to keep U.S. Military access to space reliable.
Starship V3 from space: Satellite snaps amazing photo of SpaceX megarocket on the pad
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 18:30
SpaceX’s first Starship V3 launch attempt on May 21 was scrubbed due to technical issues, after a Vantor WorldView Legion satellite captured a striking image of the 408‑foot rocket on the pad. The satellite, orbiting at 322 miles, provided a high‑resolution view from low Earth orbit just minutes before the countdown. SpaceX now targets a new liftoff window on May 22, hoping to move the upgraded megarocket toward operational flight and future Artemis lunar missions. Stay tuned for live coverage as the company attempts to lift Starship V3 into the sky.
Shakeup at JPL? Control over iconic NASA center could change for 1st time in nearly 100 years
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 17:00
NASA is opening competition for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s operating contract, ending the California Institute of Technology’s nearly 100‑year stewardship by September 2028. The move comes amid a broader agency reorganization that aims to streamline mission directorates and boost specialization without cutting jobs. JPL, a key field center for robotic Mars and deep‑space missions, operates as a federally funded research and development center and its new management could reshape day‑to‑day operations and long‑term science programs. NASA’s administrator has pledged that the shakeup will not lead to layoffs or program cancellations.
Cosmic crystal ball reveals an ancient dying star | Space photo of the day for May 22, 2026
Original Publication Date: 2026-05-22 14:00
Scientists have captured a stunning image of the Crystal Ball Nebula, a planetary nebula 1,500 light‑years away in Taurus, with the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. The nebula is the remnant of a star that began shedding its outer layers as it died while orbiting a companion every nine years, creating the lumpy, asymmetrical gas shell we see today.