Space News for Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Gilat to buy Comtech satcoms business six years after failed merger

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 20:54

Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks is poised to expand its defense footprint by acquiring most of Comtech’s space‑related communications business. The move follows a failed merger attempt by Comtech six years ago. Gilat will gain advanced satellite technology and key defense contracts, strengthening its position in the global market. This acquisition marks a significant step in Gilat’s growth strategy.

Space Force orders two more GPS satellites from Lockheed Martin for $514 million

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 20:27

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $514 million contract to build GPS 3F satellites 23 and 24. GPS 3F, the next‑generation navigation constellation, adds features like Regional Military Protection to focus encrypted signals and boost resilience against jamming.

DARPA to explore ways to rapidly rebuild satellite networks if attacked

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 13:55

DARPA has issued a request for information on June 12, urging the space industry to propose rapid ways to restore satellite capabilities if they are knocked out by anti-satellite weapons, cyberattacks, or debris, with responses due by July 8. The agency aims to bring critical services back online within hours to weeks, reflecting growing concerns that space is becoming a contested battlefield. It is looking for ideas that span the entire space architecture—from modular, software‑defined satellites and rapid manufacturing to on‑orbit assembly and alternative navigation technologies. The request builds on existing initiatives like the Space Force’s TacRS responsive launch program and the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve, underscoring a push toward more resilient, adaptable space systems.

Sustained maneuver has a propulsion problem

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 13:00

Space architects are shifting from a focus on simple placement to a new emphasis on sustained maneuver, measuring how much propulsion reserve a spacecraft keeps over its lifetime.

Astrobotic showcases Griffin-1 lander ahead of environmental testing in California

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-16 01:08

Astrobotic’s Griffin‑1 lunar lander, now nearly complete, was unveiled in a Pittsburgh cleanroom with a public viewing window that drew a crowd of space enthusiasts. The 650‑kg vehicle incorporates lessons from the 2024 Peregrine‑1 failure, featuring dual redundant valves to eliminate the helium‑valve issue that halted the earlier mission.

SpaceX launches its first Falcon 9 rocket since Nasdaq debut

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-14 23:29

SpaceX launched its first Falcon 9 rocket since going public on the Nasdaq, adding 24 new Starlink satellites to its constellation from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 12, 2026. The rocket, identified by booster B1093, lifted off at 8:34 a.m. PDT and followed a south‑southwesterly trajectory before successfully landing on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” after just over eight minutes in flight. This marks the 14th flight for booster B1093, the 203rd landing on that vessel, and the 624th booster landing overall for SpaceX. The mission continues to expand the company’s low Earth orbit broadband network.

Space-Based Underwriting: Liberty and ICEYE Launch Satellite-Powered Parametric Wildfire Insurance

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 16:12

Liberty Mutual Reinsurance and satellite‑intelligence firm ICEYE have announced a partnership to launch a new weather‑risk platform that will use high‑resolution satellite imagery to help insurers better quantify and price weather‑related exposures. The collaboration will combine Liberty Mutual’s reinsurance expertise with ICEYE’s real‑time satellite data and AI analytics to provide faster, more accurate risk assessments. By delivering up‑to‑minute insights into storms, floods and other extreme events, the platform aims to reduce losses and improve pricing models for the insurance industry.

Rapid Deployment: ZeroUSV Streamlines Uncrewed Vessel Portability for Defense and Survey Missions

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 15:19

A fleet of autonomous vessels is cutting global transport and deployment times by swapping conventional fastening techniques for a new pivot‑pin locking system. The specialized mechanism streamlines loading and securing cargo, boosting efficiency across international routes. Designed for critical applications, the system promises faster turnaround and greater reliability for maritime logistics. This innovation marks a significant step toward more agile and automated shipping operations.

Explore JPL to Take Place Oct. 10, 11

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-16 00:34

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a free open‑house event called Explore JPL, open to the public on Oct. 10 and 11. Tickets, which are limited and available first‑come, first‑served starting Aug. 29, are free but can only be purchased for up to five people per request. Attendees will tour historic sites like the Space Flight Operations Facility, see models of Perseverance, Voyager, and Galileo, and get a glimpse of cutting‑edge robotics and micro‑device research.

NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from New Jersey Students

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 18:06

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will answer prerecorded STEM questions for students in New Jersey from the International Space Station. The live Earth‑to‑space call begins at 12:05 p.m. EDT on June 18 and streams on NASA’s Learn With NASA YouTube channel, hosted by Newton Public Schools. The event aims to deepen students’ understanding of space exploration and spark interest in STEM careers. Media interested in covering the call must RSVP by June 17.

Isar Aerospace scrubs second launch of Spectrum rocket after weeks of delays

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 09:41

German launch firm Isar Aerospace is poised to finally launch its Spectrum small‑satellite rocket on the “Onward and Upward” mission from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport after a series of scrubbed attempts and a costly first‑flight failure. The 28‑metre vehicle will carry its first customer payloads—five cubesats and a research experiment—into a sun‑synchronous orbit, aiming to prove the rocket’s operational readiness. Despite a 30‑second loss of attitude control in its maiden flight, Isar has upgraded software and increased margins, and the new launch has cleared static‑fire tests and is now on the pad. If successful, the mission will validate key maneuvers and stage separations that were missing in the earlier abort, marking a significant milestone for the company’s expanding launch portfolio.

Space Stocks Dip After SpaceX IPO

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 12:35

SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq Friday, closing at $161.11—19% above its $135 IPO target—sparking a one‑day sell‑off across other space stocks. Shares of Planet Labs, Rocket Lab, EchoStar, Intuitive Machines, AST SpaceMobile and Virgin Galactic all fell between 8% and 32%, as investors shifted gains toward the new giant. Analysts say the dip is temporary, and SpaceX’s entry may boost the sector, with potential ETF listings, a Nasdaq‑100 addition, and a future S&P 500 inclusion on the horizon. The next few weeks could see further volatility as insiders await Q2 earnings and the company’s profitability metrics are evaluated.

JAXA Nails H3 Return to Flight

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 12:26

JAXA has successfully launched its H3 rocket on its eighth mission, marking the first successful flight of the new three‑engine variant from Tanegashima Space Center and delivering six payloads into orbit. The launch follows a December failure caused by a payload‑adapter anomaly that made the Michibiki‑5 satellite burn up after premature separation. Among the new satellites are PETREL, STARS‑X, BRO‑22, VERTECS, and the HORN‑L and HORN‑R drag‑demonstration satellites. This successful return to flight underscores JAXA's resilience and commitment to advancing space technology.

Watch SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule head home to Earth today

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-16 04:05

Today, at 12:05 p.m. EDT, a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule will undock from the International Space Station, with live coverage starting at 11:45 a.m. EDT. The freighter, which delivered 6,500 pounds of food, scientific hardware, and equipment to the ISS crew, will return to Earth on June 17, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off California.

Astrobotic unveils Griffin-1 lunar lander for NASA Moon Base mission

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 20:00

Astrobotic today announced its Griffin‑1 lunar lander, selected by NASA for the Moon Base II mission, slated to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in late 2026. The lander will deliver a suite of international payloads—including the Astrolab FLIP rover, ESA’s LandCam‑X, and a BEACON CubeRover—to the lunar surface as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Griffin‑1’s larger footprint and 1,377‑pound capacity mark it as the first infrastructure‑class lander to the Moon, paving the way for future Artemis outposts. This milestone brings us one step closer to a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.

SpaceX sends 24 Starlink satellites to orbit on 1st launch as a public company (video)

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 19:27

SpaceX lifted off a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 15, deploying 24 new Starlink satellites that brought the constellation to 10,660 active units.

NASA X-ray spacecraft discovers supernova wreckage at the heart of the Milky Way

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 16:00

NASA’s Chandra X‑ray observatory, together with ESA’s XMM‑Newton, has spotted the wreckage of a supernova exploding roughly 1,700 years ago near the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. The debris, dubbed Sagittarius C, is a bright X‑ray “blob” moving at about 2 million miles per hour and sits inside a bubble of ionized hydrogen gas that radiates strongly at radio wavelengths. It represents the closest known supernova remnant to our galaxy’s core, offering clues to how heavy elements are dispersed and later seed new stars and planets. While the team sees no excess heavy elements—possibly because the material has already mixed with surrounding gas—the unusually bright X‑ray emission strongly supports a supernova origin.

Live from the moon! How lasers connected us all to NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts on their epic lunar trip

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 15:00

NASA’s Artemis 2 mission made history with the first laser‑based communications system in deep space, delivering high‑definition video and images at up to 260 MB/s directly to Earth.

Key mission for Europe's commercial space enterprise scrubbed again

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-15 23:40

Isar Aerospace remains the leading European rocket startup, yet its Spectrum rocket’s second test flight has been delayed again. The launch attempt from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport was scrubbed after the team detected off‑nominal fluid system behavior. Engineers are now analyzing the data to pinpoint the root cause. This marks the fourth missed launch window in five months for the company.