Space News for Tuesday, June 30, 2026

NASA awards nearly $600 million in lunar lander missions

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 23:57

NASA has awarded nearly $600 million to three companies—Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines—to deliver four robotic lunar landers by late 2028, each carrying identical scientific payloads to study lunar plumes, radiation, and rangefinding. Astrobotic will launch two Peregrine landers to the Gruithuisen Domes, Firefly’s Blue Ghost will carry a single lander, and Intuitive’s Nova‑C will also fly a lander, all aiming to build a global network of lunar environmental data.

TechnoMile Recognized among Notable Vendors in Contract Lifecycle Management Platforms Landscape Report

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 22:21

TechnoMile, a leading AI platform that unifies growth, contracts, compliance, and security workflows, has been highlighted in Forrester’s Q2 2026 Contract Lifecycle Management Platforms Landscape report. The inclusion places the company among a select group of notable vendors in the sector. This recognition underscores TechnoMile’s influence in the contract lifecycle management space. The announcement reflects the growing importance of integrated AI solutions for business operations.

Space Force fields mobile satellite-jamming system

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 19:31

The U.S. Space Force has officially accepted Meadowlands, a mobile satellite‑jamming system that can temporarily disrupt an adversary’s communications without damaging the satellite. Built by L3Harris and mounted on wheeled trailers, the system uses radio‑frequency interference to create a “silence zone,” a capability highlighted during the recent Operation Midnight Hammer in the Middle East.

Matthew Williams Joins the Commercial Space Federation as Senior Advisor, National Security

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 18:00

The Commercial Space Federation announced that Matthew Williams will join the organization as Senior Advisor for National Security. Williams brings a wealth of experience, having served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense. In his new role, he will advise on policy and strategy to protect U.S. Commercial space interests. His appointment signals CSF’s commitment to strengthening the security and resilience of the commercial space sector.

Vast names Isakowitz as a senior adviser

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 13:00

Vast has tapped former Aerospace Corp CEO Steve Isakowitz as an adviser while it waits for NASA’s next Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations phase. Isakowitz brings a decade of experience from Virgin Galactic, NASA, and the Department of Energy, and he praised Vast’s end‑to‑end capability to build and operate commercial space stations. The move comes as NASA has abandoned a previous plan to attach a government core module to the ISS and is now focusing on multiple awards for new commercial station concepts. With the ISS slated to retire in 2030, Vast and other contenders are racing to secure contracts and demonstrate their designs before the draft RFP is released.

Orbital files plans for 100,000 orbital data centers

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 11:58

Five‑month‑old startup Orbital has asked the FCC to approve the launch of up to 100,000 satellites that would act as orbital data centers.

Blue Origin outlines return to flight logistics for its New Glenn rockets

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 22:50

Blue Origin is still probing the explosion of its New Glenn rocket, with early analysis pointing to the aft section of the first stage, CEO Dave Limp said. The company plans to resume pad operations later this year while clearing all debris from Launch Complex 36. NASA and Blue Origin are working closely to keep the Moon Base timeline on track, though the launch of the Blue Moon Mk 1 lander is now expected in early 2027. To hit a launch by the end of 2026, Blue Origin will switch to a hybrid horizontal‑vertical integration model that uses existing infrastructure and a crane to lift the rocket to a vertical orientation.

NASA Awards $590 Million in Commercial Lunar Payload Services Contracts for 2028 Artemis Missions

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 21:27

NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program just secured three new contracts worth nearly $590 million, announced by Administrator Jared Isaacman on June 30, 2026. The deals go to Astrobotic Technology, Intuitive Machines, and Masten Space Systems, each slated to deliver scientific instruments and communication tools to the Moon in 2026 and 2027. These agreements underscore the agency’s push to partner with private firms for lunar exploration, expanding payload capacity and scientific return for future missions.

Launch Preview: Swift rescue mission, final Atlas satellite launch

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 21:18

Next week will see a flurry of activity in space, with the final Pegasus flight from Kwajalein carrying a robotic servicing craft to rescue NASA’s aging Swift observatory. At the same time, South Korea’s new solid‑fuel GYUB launcher will attempt its first full‑flight test from Jeju, while Rocket Lab’s Electron will lift the iQPS “Grain Goddess Provides” satellite from New Zealand. Cape Canaveral will host two Starlink groups, and a Chinese Chang‑Zheng‑4C is slated to launch from Jiuquan. This busy schedule marks the end of the Pegasus program and the last Atlas family launch, underscoring a pivotal week for both commercial and military spaceflight.

Payload Field Guide: CLPS Missions

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 17:30

NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, launched in 2018, is funding commercial landers to deliver payloads to the Moon with $2.6 billion available through 2028. So far, Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, and a team of Draper, ispace, and Karman Space & Defense have flown or been awarded missions, though Astrobotic’s Peregrine failed and Intuitive Machines’ landers toppled after touchdown. The program also supports future crewed Artemis missions by testing technologies and integrating systems for lunar landings.

Exclusive: Satellogic Expands AI Apps with SpaceKnow Partnership

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 13:00

Satellogic is launching an app store, partnering with AI geospatial firm SpaceKnow to turn its growing library of Earth‑observing imagery into ready‑to‑use AI applications.

Rocket Lab Enters the Satcom Market With $8B Iridium Deal

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 12:48

Rocket Lab has announced an $8 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Iridium Communications, a deal that will close by mid‑2027 and is partially funded by a $3.6 billion bridge loan from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo. By buying Iridium’s 66‑satellite L‑band constellation, Rocket Lab is entering a high‑barrier market that powers emergency services, GPS, and aviation communications—an area with built‑in moat and significant growth potential. The acquisition will more than double Rocket Lab’s revenue, giving the company hundreds of millions in free cash flow to expand Iridium’s IoT and positioning‑navigation‑timing services. With Rocket Lab’s vertical integration, the new satellite constellation could last into the 2030s, while the company gains the flexibility to experiment and innovate on spare Electron rockets.

Firefly Targets Swedish Launch in 2028 Under New Franchise Model

Original Publication Date: 2026-06-30 12:43

Firefly Aerospace announced plans to launch its Alpha rocket from Sweden’s Esrange Space Center as early as 2028, after years of U.