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Airbus Considers Sale of U.S. Satellite Manufacturing Facility in Strategic Shift Toward European Production
Original Publication Date: 2026-08-29 22:41
Airbus announced on August 29, 2026 that it is conducting a strategic review of its U.S. Satellite manufacturing operations. The review will assess several options, including the possibility of selling its automated production facility. The company is weighing how best to streamline its satellite business in the face of shifting market dynamics. This move marks a significant step as Airbus looks to reposition its North American footprint.
Firefly Aerospace CEO Cites Systemic Launch Vehicle Shortage Amid Expanding Satellite Backlogs
Original Publication Date: 2026-08-29 18:24
On August 29, 2026, Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim discussed the widening gap between launch demand and supply, noting that commercial and government customers are increasingly vying for limited launch capacity. He explained that the industry’s small fleet of launch vehicles is struggling to keep pace with the rapid rise in satellite deployments and national space programs. Kim outlined Firefly’s strategy to boost launch cadence and develop new rockets to meet market needs. The company remains optimistic that expanded production and partnerships will help close the deficit in the coming years.
NASA, SpaceX set to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Florida on Sunday
Also covered by: Space.com
Original Publication Date: 2026-08-29 20:20
NASA and SpaceX will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope tomorrow from Kennedy Space Center aboard a Falcon Heavy at 7:26 a.m. EDT. The observatory will travel to the Sun‑Earth Lagrange Point 2, where its Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph will search for exoplanets, probe dark energy, and study the cosmos. The launch gives the telescope an unobstructed view of the universe.
On this day in space! Aug. 29, 1965: NASA's Gemini 5 breaks spaceflight duration record after 2 astronauts spent '8 days in a garbage can'
Original Publication Date: 2026-08-29 14:14
On August 29, 1965, NASA astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad returned from a record‑setting eight‑day mission aboard Gemini 5, the first crewed flight to demonstrate sustained human endurance in orbit. Launched from Cape Canaveral on a Titan II rocket, the pair tested life‑support systems and conducted experiments, but an electrical fault forced them to cancel planned rendezvous maneuvers.
SpaceX test-fires Starship Super Heavy booster ahead of critical Flight 14 (video)
Original Publication Date: 2026-08-29 14:00
SpaceX has fired all 33 engines of its Super Heavy booster in a full‑duration static test at Starbase, clearing the way for Flight 14, the company’s first orbital Starship launch slated for mid‑September. The 171‑foot‑tall vehicle will carry a payload of next‑generation V3 Starlink satellites into orbit, marking a major milestone in SpaceX’s reusable rocket program. The flight also serves as a critical step toward the Starship’s role as a crewed lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program.