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Space Force adds Relativity, Impulse Space to national security launch program
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-08 07:48
The U.S. Space Force has opened its National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 to two new commercial players: Relativity Space and Impulse Space.
Skyroot prepares for first orbital launch attempt
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-08 02:10
Indian launch startup Skyroot Aerospace is poised for its first orbital test flight of the Vikram‑1 rocket, scheduled between July 12 and August 4 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission, dubbed Aagaman, will loft a constellation of cubesats into a 450‑kilometer, 60‑degree orbit to gather critical in‑flight performance data. Having raised $60 million at a $1.1 billion valuation, Skyroot plans to scale production to up to one launch per month and develop an upgraded Vikram‑1U capable of carrying 550 kg to low Earth orbit. The company’s rapid ascent is fueled by ISRO’s infrastructure access and new government incentives that could slash launch costs by up to 30 percent.
D-Orbit signs launch-services contract with ArkEdge Space
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-08 01:00
San Francisco‑based D‑Orbit has secured a major contract with Japanese startup ArkEdge Space to launch a series of satellites aboard its ION Satellite Carrier in 2027 and 2028, marking a significant step in D‑Orbit’s Asia‑Pacific expansion. The partnership will provide ArkEdge with dependable, recurring access to sun‑synchronous orbit, essential for its growing microsatellite constellations. While the exact number of launches remains undisclosed, the cadence of launches underscores the shift toward precise orbital slots for constellation deployments. The deal, facilitated by investor Marubeni, positions D‑Orbit as the logistics backbone for Japan’s small‑satellite industry and aims to strengthen the broader APAC space ecosystem.
Orbit Fab hires new CEO and raises funding to support satellite refueling business
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 22:45
Orbit Fab, a Colorado‑based satellite refueling startup, has hired Peter Shaper as its new CEO amid a $25 million interim funding round from Stride Capital. Shaper, with decades of private‑equity and satellite‑services experience, aims to transition Orbit Fab from technology development to commercial operations, targeting three demonstration missions over the next 18‑24 months that could unlock over $40 million in on‑orbit refueling contracts. The company is positioning the U.S. Military as its primary early customer while preparing to expand into commercial and international markets as demand grows. With plans to raise a Series B of $30‑$50 million, Orbit Fab is moving from a development shop to a fully commercial refueling business.
Spirit Electronics Announces Managed Access to U.S.-Based Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing for Aerospace and Defense Programs
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 18:46
Spirit Electronics today unveiled a new managed‑access program that gives aerospace and defense firms a secure route to advanced U.S. Semiconductor manufacturing. The initiative aims to bolster domestic production and protect sensitive technology. By partnering with U.S.‑based foundries, the company seeks to meet the growing demand for high‑performance chips in defense and space applications. The announcement was made on June 9, 2026, and was reported by SpaceNews.
Fire detectors, military tech demos, 3D printers among SpaceX rideshare payloads launching on midnight Falcon 9 flight
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-06 21:36
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on July 7, 2026, carrying 81 satellites into a Sun‑synchronous orbit as part of its Transporter‑17 rideshare mission.
Securities Law Investigation Targets York Space Systems Following Pentagon Constellation Contract Concerns
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 23:21
Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. Announced on Monday, July 6 2026, that it has opened a formal investigation into satellite manufacturer York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE: YSS).
Bangladesh Authorizes Starlink for Transborder Bandwidth Exports, Creating Subcontinent Connectivity Routing
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 17:02
Bangladesh’s telecom regulator has cleared SpaceX’s Starlink to export data connectivity, marking the first time the company can offer cross‑border broadband services from the country. The structural regulatory modification allows Starlink to provide high‑speed internet to users outside Bangladesh, potentially boosting regional connectivity. Industry analysts say the move could spur competition and attract foreign investment in the nation’s growing digital economy. The decision reflects Bangladesh’s push to modernize its telecom infrastructure and support the expanding demand for reliable internet.
Astrolight Framework Urges Industrialized Laser Backbone to Protect European Space Autonomy
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 16:02
On July 7, 2026, European aerospace defense analysts and laser-communications specialists issued a strategic policy directive. The directive warned that Europe’s massive multi-billion-euro investments in sovereign space infrastructure could be in danger. The directive was issued by European aerospace defense analysts, laser-communications specialists.
ESA CyberCUBE In-Orbit Laboratory Deployed via SpaceX Transporter-17 Rideshare
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 15:48
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the European Space Agency successfully launched its dedicated space‑security satellite, CyberCUBE, from Vandenberg Space Force Base into low Earth orbit.
ESA Backs TUSK IC to Commercialize Made-in-Europe Ka-Band Flat-Panel Antenna Silicon
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 14:24
European semiconductor start‑up TUSK IC secured a major industrial commercialization deal with the European Space Agency on July 6, 2026, positioning the firm to supply cutting‑edge chips for upcoming ESA missions. The contract, part of ESA’s push to boost European‑made electronics for space, will see TUSK IC develop radiation‑hard, low‑power processors tailored for satellites and deep‑space probes.
Cottonwood Fire Chars Utah
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-08 04:01
The Cottonwood fire in northwest Utah has scorched nearly 150 square miles—just shy of the Babylon blaze—destroying up to 150 structures, including more than 100 condos and 30 cabins at Eagle Point Ski Resort. NASA’s Landsat 8 and 9 satellites captured the dramatic shift from lush green to blackened terrain, while the Fire Events Data Suite tracked the fire’s rapid growth, noting a tripling of size in 12 hours on June 23 and another surge on June 26. Over 1,200 firefighters have battled the blaze, achieving 56 percent containment by July 7 amid forecasts of continued hot, dry conditions that could keep behavior “very active to extreme.” This wildfire is part of a broader July 2026 fire surge that has already scorched over 5,200 square miles across the United States.
Artemis II Crew and Apollo 14 Moon Tree
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 16:16
NASA’s Artemis II crew attended the dedication of the Apollo 14 Moon tree at Johnson Space Center on June 25, 2026. The second‑generation loblolly pine was grown from seeds launched aboard Apollo 14 by astronaut Stuart Roosa, a former Forest Service smoke jumper. After returning to Earth, the Forest Service germinated the seeds and the seedlings were planted across the United States and around the world. The ceremony celebrated the lasting legacy of NASA’s lunar missions.
July 2026 Satellite Puzzler
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 15:48
NASA Earth Observatory has released its July 2026 “Image of the Day” puzzler, a satellite photo that challenges viewers to identify its location. Readers are invited to spot clues, speculate on the place’s unique features, and submit guesses via a form, with the first correct answer earning bragging rights. No cash prize is offered, but the Observatory will announce the solution a week later, linking to a detailed story that explains the image’s context and significance. The challenge encourages close observation and community engagement before the reveal.
FCC Poised To Advance Sat Licensing Reform
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 17:30
The FCC will vote on July 22 on a Space Modernization Order that aims to streamline satellite licensing, creating a “licensing assembly line” and speeding up application reviews. The order would also require operators to share space situational awareness data to boost orbital safety. Industry groups, led by the Satellite Industry Association, have welcomed the changes, citing greater predictability and faster approvals. The commission plans to open a feedback window for further reforms, including a pathway for experimental technology in orbit.
Transporter-17 Sends the First Commercial Nuclear Sat to Orbit
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 12:46
SpaceX’s Transporter‑17 launch from Vandenberg at 3:12 am carried 81 payloads, including City Labs’ BOHR satellite, the first commercial nuclear‑powered payload in orbit that uses a tritium betavoltaic battery to generate power independent of solar panels. The FAA’s recent authorization of BOHR paves the way for future commercial space nuclear missions, with City Labs aiming to use tritium to power lunar missions through the night and in permanently shadowed regions. The rideshare also carried a diverse mix of first‑time flyers and returning satellites—from microgravity research pods to Earth‑observation constellations—highlighting the program’s role in democratizing access to orbit. However, SpaceX’s reported halt on new Transporter reservations after 2029 could significantly impact the industry’s ability to launch cost‑effective payloads in an already crowded launch market.
NASA Releases CLD Draft RFP
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 12:28
NASA has decided to move forward with its original plan to support stand‑alone commercial space stations, issuing a draft request for proposals and planning early contracts for at least two builders. The agency will later hold a competition to award a final design contract, after industry proved it has the capital and market to support human habitation in low Earth orbit. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency will back these efforts to keep the U.S. Continuously present in space. Companies must submit feedback by month‑end, and NASA will publish a list of interested firms to encourage teaming.
James Webb Space Telescope celebrates its 4th birthday with stunning image of a galaxy crash site
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 21:00
NASA marks the James Webb Space Telescope’s fourth birthday with a breathtaking new image of Centaurus A, a galaxy that exploded into existence after a collision two billion years ago. The telescope’s powerful infrared cameras pierce the thick dust that hid the galaxy’s heart, revealing millions of stars and a swirling disk of warm molecular hydrogen around its supermassive black hole. These observations show the black hole both sparking intense star‑formation and blowing away the gas that fuels it, offering clues to how galaxies grow and evolve. With JWST’s unprecedented view, astronomers are poised to unlock more secrets of the universe in the years ahead.
Our Milky Way galaxy might be larger than we thought
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 20:00
New research using X‑ray echoes from distant gamma‑ray bursts has revealed that the Milky Way’s spiral arms extend roughly ten percent farther than previously measured, making the galaxy larger and wider. By tracking how the burst light scatters off dust in the Perseus, Outer, and Outer‑Scutum‑Centaurus arms, astronomers could pinpoint the arms’ true distances and even estimate their thickness at about 3,500 light‑years.
Artemis 2's Jeremy Hansen stepping down from active astronaut duty after epic moon mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 18:00
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who orbited the Moon on NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, announced he will step back from active duty in September, though he remains committed to advancing Canada’s space ambitions as a reservist. Hansen, a 17‑year veteran and Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, said the transition will allow him to focus on supporting Canada’s growing space industry, including the development of a home‑grown launch capability. The move comes amid renewed Canadian investment in space sovereignty, with $200 million CAD earmarked for a Nova Scotia spaceport and future Canadian rockets.
China releases 1st photo of Earth's elusive 'quasi-moon' Kamo'oalewa
Original Publication Date: 2026-07-07 16:00
China’s Tianwen‑2 probe has taken the first ever image of the elusive quasi‑moon Kamo'oalewa, a 50‑to‑65‑foot asteroid that orbits Earth.