Former House Defense Appropriations aide takes on day-to-day leadership role at U.S. spy satellite agency

The post NRO taps Capitol Hill staffer Bill Adkins as principal deputy director appeared first on SpaceNews.

For several years, the space-based geospatial intelligence industry has been chasing a logical vision for AI: use it to make our existing systems faster and smarter. Train models to detect objects. Automate change detection. Speed up analysis. These capabilities have delivered operational benefits. But they’ve also kept us focused on a specific paradigm — collect […]

The post AI needs spatial intelligence. The GEOINT industry will deliver it. appeared first on SpaceNews.

Shortly after space week in October, investment firm JP Morgan announced a $10 billion investment plan targeting industries critical for United States national security. In addition to things like nanomaterials, autonomous robotics and solar power, the announcement also focused on funding spacecraft and space launches. JP Morgan’s emphasis on space-related “frontier” technologies is significant, because it signals an acknowledgment that space is becoming an investable sector. What remains unclear is […]

The post Space is becoming an industrial economy appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA has provided a long-awaited update on plans for the Artemis 2 launch, including a Jan. 17 rollout of the launch vehicle to the pad.

The post NASA outlines path to Artemis 2 launch appeared first on SpaceNews.

It took a year, but the Jared Isaacman era at NASA finally started. Sworn in Dec. 17, the new administrator spoke at a NASA town hall the next day to take questions about his plans for the agency. He offered few specifics about those plans, saying he had to learn about agency activities. But he […]

The post Applied lessons for NASA’s science programs appeared first on SpaceNews.

The problem of overcrowding orbits and increasing space debris has never been more urgent. International organizations, policy makers, regulators, space operators and researchers are recognizing how critical this issue is and how it could impact all space services and operations, including, but not limited to, satellite broadband, global navigation satellite systems, scientific research and space […]

The post This year must bring greater collaboration against orbital congestion appeared first on SpaceNews.

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle failed late Sunday during ascent, resulting in the loss of a primary Earth observation satellite and 15 smaller co-passenger spacecraft.

The post India’s PSLV launch fails during ascent, 16 satellites lost appeared first on SpaceNews.

China has submitted two filings for huge non-geostationary satellite networks to the International Telecommunication Union, indicating moves to secure options for next-generation megaconstellations.

The post China files ITU paperwork for megaconstellations totaling nearly 200,000 satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

MILAN — OroraTech has entered a multi-year partnership with Kepler to supply thermal sensors for Kepler’s new optical communications constellation.  The first four SAFIRE Gen4 sensors under the agreement launched Jan. 11 aboard a Falcon 9, flying as part of the constellation’s initial deployment. “With Kepler, we are doing something completely new that will revolutionize […]

The post Kepler network to link OroraTech sensors for Earth monitoring appeared first on SpaceNews.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a trio of NASA astrophysics small satellites along with dozens of commercial spacecraft on a rideshare mission Jan. 11.

The post NASA astrophysics, commercial satellites launch on SpaceX rideshare mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA plans to return four astronauts from the ISS to Earth early Jan. 15, about a week after one of them experienced a medical issue that prompted the shortened mission.

The post Crew-11 to make early return Jan. 15 appeared first on SpaceNews.

The FCC approved a second tranche of 7,500 Starlink Gen2 satellites Jan. 9, expanding the size of SpaceX’s authorized next-generation constellation.

The post FCC approves 7,500 additional Starlink satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.

SpaceX sweeps nine national security missions for SDA and NRO under NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1

The post Space Force awards $739 million in launch orders to SpaceX appeared first on SpaceNews.

Pete Hegseth praises U.S.-built satellites and rapid launch as Trump administration escalates pressure on legacy primes

The post Pentagon chief takes ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ tour to Rocket Lab appeared first on SpaceNews.

Commercial launch startup Landspace has secured formal contracts to launch satellites for China’s two main megaconstellation projects, helping to address a launch capacity bottleneck.

The post Landspace secures launch contracts for China’s megaconstellation projects appeared first on SpaceNews.

At the beginning of 2026, it’s worth reflecting on the U.S. Space Force’s recent accomplishments. They include the creation of the Commercial Space Office and its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve, a working capital fund to provide flexibility in providing MILSATCOM services and new acquisition approaches for Resilient GPS and Protected Tactical SATCOM. The list of […]

The post The Space Force will acquire and integrate systems faster in 2026 appeared first on SpaceNews.

America faces a choice in space: lead or follow. There’s no middle ground anymore. China is methodically executing a plan to dominate the moon and cislunar space. The question isn’t whether someone will control humanity’s next economic frontier — it’s whether that someone will be us or them. And if we want it to be […]

The post The U.S. will seize space leadership – or China will take it appeared first on SpaceNews.

‘Vanguard’ project builds on NASA-developed AutoNav under a $1.9 million SpaceWERX contract

The post Rhea Space Activity applies optical navigation to military rendezvous missions appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA has decided to bring home early four members of the International Space Station crew because of a medical issue with one of them, a first for NASA.

The post Medical issue prompts early return of Crew-11 from ISS appeared first on SpaceNews.

Catalyst Campus is proud to announce they are now accepting applications for Cohort 4 of the SDA TAP Lab – Catalyst Campus Mini Accelerator, a high-impact accelerator program designed to […]

The post APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR COHORT 4 OF SDA TAP LAB – CATALYST CAMPUS MINI ACCELERATOR appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA expects to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as soon as September, seeing it as evidence the agency can do flagships on cost and schedule.

The post Roman Space Telescope on track for September launch appeared first on SpaceNews.

A billionaire-backed philanthropic organization is funding the development of a series of new observatories, including a space telescope larger than Hubble.

The post Private group unveils plans for large space telescope appeared first on SpaceNews.

Launchers Isar Aerospace is expected to attempt its second two-stage Spectrum vehicle test flight, a key step after its first, partially successful liftoff in 2025. In parallel, Spain’s PLD Space and its Miura-5 remain the second contender — after Isar — for the European Launcher Challenge, a competition that increasingly looks like Europe’s closest analogue […]

The post 2026 will clarify Europe’s new priorities for space appeared first on SpaceNews.

In this special episode of Space Minds, our show is split into two segments from the recent SpaceNews annual Icon Awards.

The post The moon, AI and the high-stakes decisions shaping space’s future appeared first on SpaceNews.