Space News for Saturday, October 17, 2026

Blue Origin to add new Florida launch pads, seeks aggressive increase in New Glenn flight rate

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 13:17

Blue Origin announced new launch pads on Florida’s Space Coast to boost New Glenn rocket flights after a May test‑fire explosion. The company plans to build LC‑36A and LC‑36B, modeled after existing Cape Canaveral facilities, and aims for multiple flights per week by the end of the decade. Additional investments include a $330 million upper‑stage factory, new landing vessels, and a shared payload‑processing center with the U.S. Space Force, while the FAA reviews a request to raise LC‑36A’s launch limit from 12 to 50. Blue Origin also eyes future expansion to Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 14.

White House Directed Pentagon to Restrict Ukraine Starshield Speeds, Clarifying Chain of Command

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 18:58

SpaceX has reportedly imposed velocity limits on its Starshield satellite terminals in Ukraine, according to statements from Ukrainian defense advisers. The move, first reported by SatNews on October 14, 2026, raises concerns about the operational flexibility of the network. Reuters has followed up with additional coverage, highlighting the potential impact on Ukraine’s communications and defense capabilities. This development underscores the growing tension between commercial space companies and national security interests.

NASA Names Stephen Cash Marshall Space Flight Center Director

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 20:14

NASA has appointed veteran engineer Stephen Cash as director of its Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, effective October 19, 2026. Cash returns to the center where he began his career over 40 years ago, bringing extensive experience in propulsion, safety, and mission assurance to lead more than 5,000 employees and a portfolio that includes the Space Launch System and Artemis Human Landing System. The move follows acting director Rae Ann Meyer’s tenure and underscores Marshall’s pivotal role in advancing nuclear power, advanced propulsion, and future Mars missions. Cash expressed honor at returning to Marshall, noting his commitment to turning the impossible into everyday history.

Artemis II Heat Shield After Splashdown

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 16:28

After NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft splashed down on April 10, 2026, U.S. Navy divers captured detailed underwater footage of Orion’s heat shield. In the following months the Navy analyzed the thermal protection system to determine whether it had kept the crew and critical systems safe during reentry. The rigorous assessment confirmed the heat shield performed exactly as expected. This successful inspection underscores the reliability of Orion’s reentry protection.

I Am Artemis: Allison Mjoen

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 14:24

NASA’s operations manager, Allison Mjoen, watched the Space Launch System roar to life on April 1, 2026, as her family celebrated a moment she helped make possible for the Artemis program. With 20 years at Kennedy Space Center, Mjoen’s work spans the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and now Artemis, where she coordinates ground operations and integration plans for the Orion spacecraft and SLS booster. Her career began as a flight crew systems engineer, evolving through payload integration for the ISS to leading Artemis I’s integrated firing room operations. Mjoen’s dedication underscores how meticulous preparation and teamwork bring humanity closer to returning to the Moon.

'It really does change you': SpaceX Crew-12 commander wishes we could all see our fragile Earth from space

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 22:00

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, commander of SpaceX’s Crew‑12 mission, used the ISS’s orbit to remind us of Earth’s beauty and fragility, urging global protection of our thin atmosphere. She and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev described the “overview effect,” a perspective shift that dissolves borders and emphasizes our shared responsibility.

Scientists find 'gemstones' in atmosphere of bizarre, scorching-hot 'marshmallow' exoplanet

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 18:00

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have mapped the blisteringly hot, marshmallow‑like exoplanet WASP‑17b, a super‑puff that orbits its star in under four Earth days. With a new “transmission strings” technique, they turned the planet’s atmosphere into a ring and revealed bright “gemstones” where powerful winds hit the cooler nightside. The findings confirm that the planet’s dayside and nightside temperatures differ as models predict, showing the atmosphere is truly three‑dimensional. This breakthrough proves that we can now observe exoplanet weather in real time, opening a new era of alien climate science.

SpaceX thrusters just made a Tesla Roadster 'fly' (and Elon Musk's car is still out there in space)

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 17:38

Tesla unveiled its next‑generation Roadster at SpaceX's McGregor facility, using a set of 10 cold‑gas thrusters to launch the car into the air, barrel‑roll, and land softly, proving the concept of a “flying car.” The demo featured a mannequin in a SpaceX suit behind the wheel, echoing the 2018 Starman launch that still orbits the Sun. Musk joked that the car’s suction system could keep it glued to surfaces during high‑speed turns, while the thrusters are powered by 600 liters of compressed air stored in carbon‑fiber vessels. Production is slated for 2028, but the rocket‑equipped version will likely remain an exclusive status symbol for a wealthy few, with no road‑legal certification in sight.

On this day in space! Oct. 16, 1975: NASA launches the 1st-ever GOES weather satellite to watch Earth from space

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 17:19

On October 16, 1975, NASA launched GOES‑A, the first operational Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. Fired from Cape Canaveral on a Delta rocket, it entered a geostationary orbit over the Indian Ocean, giving forecasters their first near‑real‑time view of Earth’s weather.

'Mission: 60s' event promises passport back to the Space Age

Original Publication Date: 2026-10-16 16:00

The TWA Hotel in New York is hosting a three‑day “Mission : 60s” celebration from October 23‑25, 2026, designed to bridge the Apollo and Artemis eras of space exploration. Attendees will tour the 1964 World’s Fair site, see historic rockets, and enjoy panels with Apollo flight directors, Mission Control engineers, former astronauts, and even “Star Trek” actors. The weekend also features a rooftop pool party, a Spacefarer Soiree with live 1960s music, and a NASA Artemis keynote, all organized by Luna Replicas and Space for Humanity. The event promises a fully immersive experience in the sights, sounds, and spirit of the 1960s Space Age.