PLD Space raises $209 million to shift into serial rocket production
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-04 06:00
Spanish rocket maker PLD Space has secured $209 million to boost production of its Miura‑5 launch vehicle, the largest funding round announced for a European space company this year. The capital will enable the startup to shift from single launches to serial production, meeting rising demand for satellite deployments. With the new funding, PLD Space plans to accelerate development and launch cadence, positioning itself as a key player in the commercial space market. This move underscores Europe’s growing confidence in its domestic aerospace capabilities.
House Science Committee leaders criticize FCC rulemaking on space safety
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-04 00:32
House Science Committee leaders Brian Babin and Zoe Lofgren have warned the Federal Communications Commission is overreaching in its new “Space Modernization for the 21st Century” rulemaking, arguing that adding space‑safety requirements goes beyond the FCC’s statutory authority. While they support streamlining satellite and ground‑station licensing, they contend the proposed rules would tie spectrum access to operational safety measures unrelated to radio‑frequency interference. The FCC has defended the safety provisions as necessary for debris mitigation and collision avoidance, citing its long‑standing role in regulating orbital debris. The committee’s letter reflects growing pressure to clarify congressional intent on space‑safety regulation, especially after a 2024 Supreme Court ruling tightened agency authority.
Space Force modernization push runs into acquisition workforce shortfall
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 21:59
At the Air & Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium, Space Force leaders warned that the rush to acquire new space systems is being hampered by a severe shortage of contracting officers and financial managers.
When space is hot, Washington holds a match
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 16:00
A surge of private capital has made space and defense technology a hot commodity, but the sector’s long‑term success still hinges on steady government funding, said AE Industrial Partners’ managing partner Kirk Konert. His firm has backed companies such as Redwire, Firefly Aerospace and York Space Systems, whose combined market cap tops $7 billion. Konert emphasized that once a company lands its first government contract, private equity can help scale supply chains and professionalize government relations, yet the Pentagon’s budget decisions ultimately dictate demand. While private capital is a vital complement to defense spending, Washington remains the ultimate arbiter of the industry’s future.
Redwire unveils new solar array
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 12:50
Redwire unveiled the Extensible Low‑Profile Solar Array (ELSA), a lightweight panel that delivers 50% more power per volume than its current ROSA arrays, aimed at mass‑produced satellites for government and commercial customers. The new array promises rapid, cost‑effective production and shorter delivery times, positioning Redwire to meet the growing demand for satellite power as the industry expands into edge computing and orbital data centers. Redwire’s 2025 earnings showed a 10.3% revenue rise to $335.4 million, though net losses doubled to $226.6 million, as the company pivots toward a broader space‑and‑defense portfolio after acquiring Edge Autonomy.
EchoStar Details $42 Billion Strategic Shift via SpaceX and AT&T Asset Divestitures
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 22:06
EchoStar Corporation outlined the definitive structure of its pivot during its fiscal‑2025 earnings call on March 2, 2025. The company detailed the strategic framework that will guide its transition, signaling a significant shift in its business model.
Planet Labs Imagery Verifies Smoke over Central Tehran Following Leadership Strikes
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 17:52
Planet Labs released high‑resolution satellite images on March 1 that gave the first unclassified view of the aftermath of the event. A follow‑up verification on March 3 confirmed the accuracy of those images. The release offers unprecedented clarity for analysts and the public alike. Planet Labs’ data is expected to aid ongoing investigations.
Pentagon Accelerates GHOST-R Hybrid Surveillance Program Following New START Expiration
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 17:10
The Defense Innovation Unit closed the call for industry proposals on March 3 2026 for its Geosynchronous High‑Resolution Optical Space‑Based Tactical Reconnaissance (GHOST‑R) program.
Kongsberg Discovery and Silicon Sensing Unveil Tactical-Grade North-Seeking MEMS Gyroscope
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 15:52
Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd and Kongsberg Discovery AS unveiled a cutting‑edge inertial navigation device on March 3, 2026 that can pinpoint magnetic north with unprecedented accuracy. The new system promises to revolutionize maritime and aerospace navigation by reducing drift and improving reliability. Industry experts say the breakthrough could cut operational costs and enhance safety for ships and aircraft alike. The companies plan to begin commercial production later this year.
ICEYE Launches SAR-Powered Deforestation Monitoring to Counter Tropical Forest Loss
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 15:45
ICEYE unveiled a new deforestation‑monitoring service on March 3, 2026, using its Synthetic Aperture Radar constellation to deliver near real‑time insights into forest loss. The platform will help governments, NGOs and businesses track illegal logging and assess ecosystem health worldwide. By continuously scanning the globe, ICEYE’s system can detect changes in forest cover even through cloud cover or at night. The launch marks a significant step forward in using space‑based data for environmental stewardship.
Searching for Selenite
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-04 05:01
In northwestern Oklahoma, the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is famous for its salt‑crusted plains that once supplied native tribes and settlers with salt for food, tanning, and trade. Today the same salty flats are the world’s only source of hourglass‑shaped selenite crystals, a gypsum variety that forms when saline water mixes with gypsum in the top two feet of the subsurface. The area remains a vital habitat for over 300 bird species—including the endangered whooping crane—and other wildlife such as deer and armadillos.
La NASA refuerza Artemis: añade una misión y perfecciona su arquitectura general
Also covered by: NASA
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 22:34
NASA is set to launch Artemis II from Florida’s Launch Complex 39B in April 2026, sending a four‑member crew—including NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—on a ten‑day trip around the Moon and back. The mission will be the first crewed test of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft after a recent helium‑flow issue forced a return to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs. In a broader push to bring astronauts to the Moon, NASA announced plans to standardize the SLS, add a 2027 demonstration mission, and aim for the first lunar landing in 2028. These steps lay the groundwork for annual Artemis missions and the eventual construction of a lunar base.
Artemis II: What’s on the Menu?
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 21:00
NASA has engineered the Artemis II food supply to keep astronauts healthy and energized on a mission around the Moon, where there’s no resupply, refrigeration, or late‑load capability. The menu is carefully chosen for shelf life, safety, nutrition, and compatibility with Orion’s limited mass, volume, and power, and is built around breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two flavored drinks each day. Crew members taste and rate every item in preflight testing, so their preferences shape the final lineup, which is packed in single containers for two to three days of flexible selection. The system relies on ready‑to‑eat, rehydratable, thermostabilized, or irradiated foods that can be heated with a compact warmer, all while minimizing crumbs and waste in the microgravity environment.
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4818-4824: Thinking Out of the Boxwork
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 18:40
NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars has just taken a new image of its Alpha Particle X‑Ray Spectrometer as it probes the intriguing boxwork unit on Mount Sharp. Over the past week the team completed three planning sessions, executed short drives and arm maneuvers to position the instrument on four targets, while also capturing 19 Mastcam mosaics and atmospheric data. The rover’s investigations aim to uncover the geology of the boxwork terrain and will soon turn to the underlying sulfate unit as it climbs higher.
Starship Flight 12: Ship 39 moving through preflight test objectives
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 23:15
SpaceX is pushing forward with Starship Ship 39, which has successfully completed multiple
Senate Tees Up NASA Reauthorization, Deputy Hearings
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 18:34
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will convene on Wednesday and Thursday to tackle two key NASA matters: the nomination of Matthew Anderson as deputy administrator and the Senate’s version of the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025. The bipartisan reauthorization bill extends the International Space Station’s life to 2032, directs NASA to build a Moon base, and aims to smooth the transition to commercial space stations. Meanwhile, the House already passed its own NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, and both chambers are now moving the legislation forward, a promising step toward a comprehensive space policy. The committee’s actions signal renewed momentum for NASA’s leadership and long‑term priorities.
Infinite Orbits Expands into the UK with Lúnasa Acquisition
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 13:01
French in‑orbit servicing startup Infinite Orbits has just acquired UK‑based Lúnasa Space, a developer of autonomous navigation for RPO and ISAM applications. The deal strengthens Infinite Orbits’ technical base for future life‑extension missions, notably its 2027 GEO project for SES, and gives the company a foothold in the UK.
NASA repairs Artemis 2 rocket, continues eyeing April moon launch
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 23:23
NASA has fixed a helium‑flow problem in the upper stage of the Artemis 2 Space Launch System, allowing the rocket to return to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs after a wet dress rehearsal. Engineers removed a blocked quick‑disconnect seal, reassembled the system, and validated the fix while also replacing flight batteries and updating the Orion capsule’s abort batteries.
Lessons from 'The Martian': How astronaut poop could help us settle the Red Planet
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 22:00
Scientists have shown that mixing human waste with Martian and lunar regolith can produce nutrient‑rich soil, a breakthrough that could allow future astronauts to grow crops on the Red Planet. The experiment, led by Texas A&M researchers and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, used a bio‑regenerative system to filter sewage into a nutrient‑dense effluent that, when combined with simulated regolith, released essential plant minerals. This method echoes the survival tactics of Mark Watney in “The Martian,” turning otherwise useless dust into life‑supporting farmland. If adopted, the technique could make long‑term Martian and lunar bases more self‑sufficient and reduce the need to import costly fertilizers from Earth.
Mission Hayabusa: Test your JAXA IQ
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 21:16
Space.com invites listeners to test their knowledge of Japan’s space agency, JAXA, with a new quiz covering landmark missions such as Hayabusa, ISS contributions, lunar landings, and planetary science. The quiz celebrates JAXA’s reputation for precise engineering and bold achievements, from asteroid touchdowns to high‑resolution instruments. It offers a fun way to learn about Japan’s growing role in space exploration. Check out the quiz on Space.com and see how well you score.
3rd time’s the charm? Watch private Japanese rocket try to reach orbit today
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 18:00
Japan’s Space One was set to launch its Kairos rocket from Spaceport Kii at 9 p.m. ET on March 3, hoping a third try would finally reach orbit after two earlier failures. The 18‑meter, solid‑fuel rocket, which can carry up to 150 kg to sun‑synchronous orbit, had previously exploded within minutes of liftoff. The launch was scrubbed during the final countdown, and officials are awaiting further details. Space One still plans to become a major small‑satellite launch provider, targeting 20 missions a year by the end of the decade.
Spiral galaxy is a stunning cosmic wheel in head-turning image | Space photo of the day for March 3, 2026
Original Publication Date: 2026-03-03 17:23
The Subaru Telescope on Maunakea has captured a stunning new image of the spiral galaxy NGC 941, a 55‑million‑light‑year‑old intermediate spiral in the constellation Cetus. The galaxy appears as a bright blue, spinning cosmic wheel, with prominent dust lanes in its core that signal ongoing star formation. The image also reveals orange blobs in the background—distant galaxies seen through NGC 941’s faint light. This photo showcases the galaxy’s delicate structure and the layered depth of the cosmos.