Program will test large segmented optical system for future surveillance satellites

The post Air Force lab awards BlackSky contract worth up to $99 million for large optical satellite payload appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA has selected the Centaur upper stage currently used on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for future flights of the Space Launch System.

The post NASA selects Centaur for new SLS upper stage appeared first on SpaceNews.

Eutelsat has completed the last step in a 5 billion euro ($5.8 billion) refinancing plan to refresh its OneWeb constellation and support Europe’s IRIS² sovereign connectivity program, the French satellite operator announced March 6.

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March 6, 2026 – Washington, D.C.—The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is pleased to welcome Leolabs,  the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR), and SurgeStreams. Together, these organizations strengthen […]

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Amid the explosive growth surrounding telecommunications megaconstellations, orbital data centers and next-generation payloads, the space ecosystem is entering a period of rapid and irreversible change. Announcements and filings for satellite constellations numbering in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and now even 1 million-plus are becoming commonplace. The waves that even a fraction of […]

The post Hyperscalers are coming to an orbit near you. Power will decide the winners.  appeared first on SpaceNews.

Rocket Lab launched a spacecraft March 5 for a confidential customer, most likely Earth observation company BlackSky.

The post Rocket Lab launches satellite for undisclosed customer appeared first on SpaceNews.

China has designated aerospace to be an “emerging pillar industry” in a draft national economic plan, also setting major objectives for the five years ahead.

The post China designates space sector an “emerging pillar industry,” sets deep space ambitions in new economic blueprint appeared first on SpaceNews.

WARSAW — Polish chemical propulsion startup Liftero has signed a deal with India’s commercial in-orbit servicing specialist OrbitAID where Liftero will supply green chemical propulsion for OrbitAID’s in-orbit servicing spacecraft.  Under the contract, Liftero will supply two multi-thruster BOOSTER configurations for an upcoming OrbitAID mission expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The mission will […]

The post Poland-based Liftero will provide chemical propulsion for Indian firm OrbitAID’s in-orbit servicing mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

The White House’s nominee to be deputy administrator of NASA received bipartisan support at a Senate confirmation hearing March 5.

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IRVINE, Calif., March 5, 2026 — Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin Company and a leading satellite solutions provider, announced today the appointment of Kwon Park as senior director of manufacturing […]

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SAN FRANCISCO – Southern California startup General Galactic plans to launch a 500-kilogram satellite later this year to demonstrate a novel multimode propulsion system. When the Trinity mission travels to low-Earth orbit on the SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare, no earlier than October, General Galactic will test its Genesis platform, which pairs chemical and electric engines. “We’re […]

The post General Galactic aims to become “the galaxy’s energy and logistics company” appeared first on SpaceNews.

LONDON – In-orbit services provider Infinite Orbits announced plans March 3 to acquire London-based in-orbit servicing and manufacturing startup Lunasa, marking a step in the company’s expansion into the United Kingdom.  The acquisition, the value of which the companies didn’t disclose, will bring together the Infinite Orbits’ and Lunasa’s investments into complementary spacecraft rendezvous and […]

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In this episode of Space Minds, Jeff Foust moderates a panel at AIAA AscendxTexas on the role Texas is playing in the space economy. With a series of industry leaders they […]

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For decades, space has served as humanity’s most demanding testing laboratory, where only the most resilient technologies survive the vacuum, radiation and temperature extremes beyond Earth’s protective embrace. Today, we stand at an inflection point where artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally transform how we explore, understand and operate in space. But making AI-powered space […]

The post Unlocking AI in space: the case for greater industry and space agency collaboration appeared first on SpaceNews.

LONDON – The United Kingdom is refocusing its funding priorities with a new 500 million pound ($668 million) space funding package that aligns more closely with economic growth and national security priorities, Liz Lloyd, the UK minister for the Digital Economy at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said March 4. Speaking here at […]

The post UK announces £500 million package for industrial growth and national security appeared first on SpaceNews.

Commercial space station developer Vast has raised $500 million in its first significant outside investment round.

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Investment comes as company shifts toward national security programs

The post Sierra Space raises $550 million in Series C funding appeared first on SpaceNews.

When Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA administrator Dec. 18, he hit the ground running — or, perhaps more accurately, hit the air flying. At a town hall the next day, he said he would visit all the agency’s field centers, a task he completed by late January. In some cases he showed up […]

The post Jared Isaacman on rebuilding, Artemis and what he’s learned during his first months as NASA administrator appeared first on SpaceNews.

The third launch of a small launch vehicle developed by a Japanese company failed shortly after liftoff March 4, raising questions about the rocket’s future.

The post Third Kairos launch fails appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a revised NASA authorization bill that implements some of the changes to Artemis sought by the agency while also extending the life of the ISS

The post Senate committee advances NASA authorization bill that changes Artemis and extends ISS appeared first on SpaceNews.

Canadian telco Telus has agreed to take a stake in AST SpaceMobile and invest in ground infrastructure needed to connect subscribers to the operator’s planned direct-to-smartphone constellation.

The post Telus invests in AST SpaceMobile to expand D2D coverage in Canada appeared first on SpaceNews.

At Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing, Vice Chief Bratton said Space Force ‘must aggressively increase its end strength and infrastructure’

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British startup Mutable Tactics has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding to develop AI software enabling groups of military drones to operate autonomously, even when satellite navigation and communications are disrupted.

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Former investment banker Raphael Roettgen had to abandon a space-focused special purpose acquisition company in 2022 as hype around mergers with blank-check shell companies turned radioactive. Four years later, he’s back after helping raise more than $200 million to take a private space company public. SPACs raise cash on the stock market and then use […]

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