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SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Rhea Space Activity raises $6M Series A for GPS-free spacecraft navigation software

Rhea Space Activity, a Washington, D.C. startup, raised $6 million in a Series A round to develop navigation software that can operate without GPS. The funding is intended to advance GPS-denied spacecraft positioning and guidance, shifting onboard navigation closer to software-defined resilience.

2026-04-19T04:04:27.650723-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

2026-04-17T23:59:22.130000-07:00

investors.rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

2026-04-16T13:00:46.067125-07:00

Space Intel Report

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp

2026-04-17T06:03:53.843037-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Rhea Space Activity raises $6M Series A for GPS-free spacecraft navigation software Rhea Space Activity, a Washington, D.C. startup, raised $6 million in a Series A round to develop navigation software that can operate without GPS. The funding is intended to advance GPS-denied spacecraft positioning and guidance, shifting onboard navigation closer to software-defined resilience.

2026-04-19T04:04:27.650723-07:00

Rhea Space Activity raises $6M Series A for GPS-free spacecraft navigation software

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission SpaceX is preparing a Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base with a south-southwesterly trajectory and an attempt to complete its 600th Falcon 9 booster landing. The effort underscores the company’s cadence-driven reuse operations and ongoing integration of Starlink flights into that landing-recovery loop.

2026-04-17T23:59:22.130000-07:00

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

SpaceNews.com

Col. Tim Trimailo details Space Force’s “commercial first” approach in shaping space capabilities In an interview, Col. Tim Trimailo discusses how the Space Force is putting its “commercial first” strategy into practice—leveraging the commercial space sector to accelerate delivery of space capabilities and manage modernization needs. The discussion frames how Space Force leadership evaluates what to buy, how to integrate, and how to scale outcomes.

2026-04-17T17:42:41.533122-07:00

Col. Tim Trimailo details Space Force’s “commercial first” approach in shaping space capabilities

SpaceNews.com

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite, validating step-by-step capabilities needed for low-cost orbital infrastructure. The on-orbit demonstrations mark another milestone toward autonomous operations for cargo services in space.

2026-04-17T10:14:43.420209-07:00

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

Space Intel Report

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp Space-based space situational awareness provider NorthStar Earth & Space of Canada plans to become publicly traded through a SPAC transaction with Viking Acquisition Corp. The move adds a new public-market path for SSA capacity as demand for orbital awareness and tracking data continues to grow.

2026-04-17T06:03:53.843037-07:00

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp

Space.com

Golden Spike teams with Honeybee Robotics to build unmanned lunar sample-collection rovers Golden Spike says it has partnered with Honeybee Robotics to design unmanned rovers for scientific sample collection tied to its planned commercial lunar missions. The approach targets how automated surface systems gather and return lunar materials as part of a broader commercial exploration strategy.

2026-04-17T01:52:46.857071-07:00

Golden Spike teams with Honeybee Robotics to build unmanned lunar sample-collection rovers

SpaceWatch Global

Astroscale’s ISSA-J1: world-first commercial multi-orbit satellite inspection mission targeting 2027 rendezvous Astroscale Japan has unveiled its ISSA-J1 mission, planned for launch in 2027. The commercial first will inspect two retired satellites located in different orbits, demonstrating multi-orbit proximity operations as the company pushes space sustainability into a scalable service model.

2026-04-17T01:22:18.226332-07:00

Astroscale’s ISSA-J1: world-first commercial multi-orbit satellite inspection mission targeting 2027 rendezvous

SpaceWatch Global

ESA and Portugal back Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA ONE microlauncher with further milestone support Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) says it has secured additional support from the European Space Agency and Portugal for its RFA ONE microlauncher. The announcement follows continued test activity for the launcher, as the company pursues lower-cost, frequent access to low-Earth orbit for small satellites.

2026-04-16T23:27:39.842071-07:00

ESA and Portugal back Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA ONE microlauncher with further milestone support

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Commercial Space News

Rhea Space Activity raises $6M Series A for GPS-free spacecraft navigation software

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp

News Timeline