Commercial Space Industry (New Space) News

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

NASA Fast-Tracks 100-kW Lunar Nuclear Reactor to 2030 Timeline

NASA has ordered an accelerated timeline for its Fission Surface Power Project, aiming to deploy a 100-kW nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030. The directive from acting administrator Sean Duffy drew backing from reactor makers, lifted BWX Technologies’ stock, and underscores the US push to outpace China and Russia.

2025-08-08T12:56:36.401247-07:00

Payload

Ex-Shuttle Commander Warns NASA’s CLD Pivot Could Cede LEO and Mars Leadership to China

2025-08-08T08:08:24.454446-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX Crew-11 Launches to ISS in Weather-Scrubbed Second Attempt, Marks 25 Years of Continuous Station Occupancy

2025-08-01T09:04:45.185682-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

SpaceX bids farewell to Landing Zone 1 with final Falcon booster touchdown

2025-08-02T19:03:41.762405-07:00

Commercial Space Industry (New Space) News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

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NASA Fast-Tracks 100-kW Lunar Nuclear Reactor to 2030 Timeline NASA has ordered an accelerated timeline for its Fission Surface Power Project, aiming to deploy a 100-kW nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030. The directive from acting administrator Sean Duffy drew backing from reactor makers, lifted BWX Technologies’ stock, and underscores the US push to outpace China and Russia.

2025-08-08T12:56:36.401247-07:00

NASA Fast-Tracks 100-kW Lunar Nuclear Reactor to 2030 Timeline

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX Targets Back-to-Back Falcon 9 Missions for Starlink and Kuiper Amid Weather Concerns SpaceX is gearing up for two Falcon 9 launches this weekend: a Project Kuiper broadband satellite mission from Cape Canaveral, weather permitting, and a west-coast flight deploying 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into polar LEO, marking its 98th Falcon launch of 2025.

2025-08-08T09:35:07.104637-07:00

SpaceX Targets Back-to-Back Falcon 9 Missions for Starlink and Kuiper Amid Weather Concerns

Payload

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Ex-Shuttle Commander Warns NASA’s CLD Pivot Could Cede LEO and Mars Leadership to China In an op-ed, a former space shuttle commander criticizes NASA’s shift to a Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) strategy, arguing it undermines US leadership in orbit and jeopardizes Mars exploration. He warns that China stands to fill any resulting gap in orbital and deep-space capabilities.

2025-08-08T08:08:24.454446-07:00

Ex-Shuttle Commander Warns NASA’s CLD Pivot Could Cede LEO and Mars Leadership to China

European Spaceflight

Exploration Company Wraps Up Fourth Huracan Thrust Chamber Hot-Fire Ahead of Lunar Lander Integration The Exploration Company has completed hot fire testing of the fourth iteration of its Huracan rocket engine’s thrust chamber, marking the close of its latest qualification campaign ahead of integrating the propulsion system into its planned lunar lander.

2025-08-08T07:14:45.355252-07:00

Exploration Company Wraps Up Fourth Huracan Thrust Chamber Hot-Fire Ahead of Lunar Lander Integration

Reuters

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Firefly Aerospace Raises $868M with $45 IPO as Shares Jump 34% in Nasdaq Debut Firefly Aerospace priced its 19.3 million-share upsized IPO at $45 a share on Aug. 7, raising $868 million at a $6.3 billion valuation. Shares surged 34% to close with a market capitalization of about $8.5 billion, though premarket trading later dipped 9%, underscoring space listings’ volatility.

2025-08-08T05:03:40.595575-07:00

Firefly Aerospace Raises $868M with $45 IPO as Shares Jump 34% in Nasdaq Debut

SpaceNews.com

Astranis brings two Anuvu broadband satellites online as recovery of third continues Astranis said Aug. 7 that the two small broadband satellites it built for Anuvu have reached geostationary orbit and are ready for service. The California-based startup is meanwhile working to raise the altitude of its third spacecraft, known as UtilitySat, which launched alongside them in December.

2025-08-07T07:02:58.959923-07:00

Astranis brings two Anuvu broadband satellites online as recovery of third continues

Reuters

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Firefly Aerospace surges 30% in Nasdaq debut, values company at $8.5 billion after historic lunar landing Firefly Aerospace (FLY) shares climbed over 30% on their Nasdaq debut, valuing the Texas-based small-launch and lunar services provider at $8.5 billion following its successful March lunar landing. CEO Jason Kim told CNBC the IPO—the third space listing this year—will accelerate its path to profitability.

2025-08-07T04:32:02.933342-07:00

Firefly Aerospace surges 30% in Nasdaq debut, values company at $8.5 billion after historic lunar landing

SpaceNews.com

Space Pros Weigh Current Climate for Space Investment

2025-08-07T04:04:58.907787-07:00

Space Pros Weigh Current Climate for Space Investment

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