Space News for Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Orbit Fab, Thales Alenia to study refueling for electric-propulsion satellites

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-26 08:00

Orbit Fab and Thales Alenia Space are teaming up under a UK Space Agency‑backed project to test in‑orbit refueling for satellites that use electric propulsion. The partnership will integrate Orbit Fab’s RAFTI docking interface with Thales Alenia’s xenon Hall‑effect thrusters, allowing fuel to be transferred to electric‑propelled spacecraft. Work will take place in the United Kingdom using a ground‑based flatsat testbed to validate fluid‑transfer interfaces and operational procedures before flight. This effort marks a key step toward reusable satellite architectures and longer mission lifetimes across Europe.

Exolaunch and SEOPS purchase Falcon 9 launches for dedicated rideshare missions

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-26 06:00

Exolaunch and SEOPS have each secured dedicated Falcon 9 rideshare launches to meet soaring demand for small‑satellite missions. Germany’s Exolaunch bought two flights—Exo‑1 scheduled for late 2027 and Exo‑2 for 2028—while U.S.‑based SEOPS acquired one for its Waymaker‑1 mission in Q3 2028.

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Memorial Day

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-24 17:54

SpaceX launched its 60th orbital flight of 2026 on May 25 from Cape Canaveral, sending a Falcon 9 with 29 new Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low‑Earth orbit. The rocket lifted off at 7:48 a.

Viasat Demonstrates First Satellite-Enabled Smartphone Messaging in Uzbekistan

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 23:32

On Friday, May 22, 2026, Viasat, Inc. Announced the successful completion of the first satellite‑enabled smartphone text and push‑to‑talk messaging demonstration in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The live showcase, held in Tashkent, demonstrated how users can send text and voice messages via satellite, bypassing traditional cellular networks. This milestone marks a significant step toward global connectivity, especially in remote regions. Viasat plans to expand the service to other markets in the coming months.

China Launches Shenzhou-23 Mission to Tiangong, Slated for Record Year-Long Stay

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 23:00

On Sunday, May 24 2026, the China Manned Space Agency launched the Shenzhou‑23 crewed spacecraft from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The vehicle carried a three‑member crew to low‑Earth orbit, where they will dock with the Tiangong space station. Their six‑month mission will focus on microgravity experiments and station maintenance, further expanding China’s human spaceflight capabilities. This launch underscores the country’s growing presence in space exploration.

Canadian Space Agency Shifts to Agile Procurement and Resets WildFireSat Mission

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 20:53

At the Space Canada Horizons conference, Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell unveiled a new procurement strategy that prioritizes speed and iteration over traditional, lengthy acquisition cycles. The agency plans to adopt more agile, rapid‑prototype approaches to accelerate testing, deployment, and collaboration with industry partners. This shift is intended to reduce costs and enable Canada to respond more quickly to emerging space opportunities. By embracing a faster, iterative model, the Canadian Space Agency aims to bring new technologies to orbit more efficiently.

SpaceX: 10,000 Launches Annually

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 20:44

SpaceX’s highly anticipated IPO prospectus, released on May 20, largely omitted mention of key executive Chris Forrester, the company’s chief financial officer. President and COO Gwynne Shotwell addressed the gap in a recent interview, reiterating Forrester’s role in steering SpaceX’s finances.

SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Simon van den Dries, EnduroSat

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 19:20

EnduroSat’s Sofia plant can churn out two ESPA‑class satellites a day, keeping the firm ahead of demand. Simon van den Dries, former architect of Spire’s commercial space services, now leads the partnerships that keep the production line full. He will join a panel on flexible factory production at SmallSat Europe, sharing insights on scaling satellite manufacturing.

Launch Preview: Starlink and Amazon Leo missions fill manifest

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 22:01

This week, space agencies will launch six rockets worldwide, including four SpaceX Falcon 9s carrying Starlink v2 Mini satellites from Florida and California. ULA’s Atlas V 551 will deploy 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites from Cape Canaveral on Friday, while China’s Chang Zheng 7A will launch an undisclosed payload from Wenchang on Tuesday.

DARPA readies robotic deep-space repair satellite for 2026 launch

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 17:00

DARPA is set to launch its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites demonstrator this summer, a first‑of‑its‑kind mission that will send a highly dexterous robotic suite into geosynchronous orbit.

Nothing beats a beautiful sunset (from space) | Space photo of the day for May 26, 2026

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 14:00

NASA astronaut Chris Williams captured a breathtaking sunset from the International Space Station on May 4, 2026, photographing the sky from 266 miles above Earth over Patagonia. The image reveals vivid bands of red and orange streaking across the clouds against a stark black backdrop, with deep blue hues below. This view underscores how perspective from space magnifies the beauty and fragility of our planet, echoing the iconic Apollo 8 Earthrise photo that inspired environmental awareness. Such shots remind us that the ISS provides humanity with a unique, ongoing window into Earth’s atmosphere and its changing colors.

Scientists want to send a roly-poly robot filled with 'dandelion drones' to investigate hidden tunnels on Mars

Original Publication Date: 2026-05-25 10:00

Scientists are designing a pillbug‑inspired “roly‑poly” robot that can roll into a Martian lava tube and deploy thousands of tiny, wind‑propelled “dandelion” drones to map the tunnels.