News

Reuters • Mike Stone

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone—LEO “military internet” tied to SDA transport layer

The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to develop the Space Data Network Backbone, a low Earth orbit satellite network intended to function as a military data networking layer. The constellation is described as supporting the broader Space Data Network that will include Space Development Agency transport-layer satellites.

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

Bloomberg

NASA advances Moon-base buildout with lunar transport contracts, terrain contracts, and three 2026 lander missions—plus “perimet

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts

2026-05-26T14:30:22.317607-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Starcloud orders SpaceX Starlink optical terminals to power orbital data centers

2026-05-26T10:21:33.738307-07:00

News Timeline

Reuters

❗️

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone—LEO “military internet” tied to SDA transport layer The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to develop the Space Data Network Backbone, a low Earth orbit satellite network intended to function as a military data networking layer. The constellation is described as supporting the broader Space Data Network that will include Space Development Agency transport-layer satellites.

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone—LEO “military internet” tied to SDA transport layer

SpaceNews.com

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts Open Cosmos says it is building toward a 2028 deadline to field an ambitious Europe-focused broadband constellation designed to bring IoT to space. The UK-based company says it closed more than €170 million in contracts last year and is now positioning to deliver Europe’s sovereign telecom capability.

2026-05-26T14:30:22.317607-07:00

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts

Bloomberg

❗️

NASA advances Moon-base buildout with lunar transport contracts, terrain contracts, and three 2026 lander missions—plus “perimet NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says the “grand return” to the Moon is close as the agency awards lunar transport and delivery contracts and buys “cars” for astronauts to drive on the surface. NASA also outlines terrain-related awards and plans three lunar lander missions in 2026, framing work as part of a Moon-base effort and noting the Outer Space Treaty.

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

NASA advances Moon-base buildout with lunar transport contracts, terrain contracts, and three 2026 lander missions—plus “perimet

Payload

Op-ed: LEO in-space manufacturing lacks self-sustaining commercial demand—policy support is the bridge An op-ed argues that low Earth orbit (LEO) remains a compelling market for in-space manufacturing, but current commercial demand is insufficient to support durable, market-led operations. It contends government support is required to close the gap until scalable revenue models emerge.

2026-05-26T10:51:23.043170-07:00

Op-ed: LEO in-space manufacturing lacks self-sustaining commercial demand—policy support is the bridge

SpaceNews.com

Starcloud orders SpaceX Starlink optical terminals to power orbital data centers Starcloud has ordered optical terminals from SpaceX to route data for its planned orbital data center network using Starlink as a global data-relay layer. The move deepens Starcloud’s dependence on SpaceX for the communications backbone needed to scale future full-size spacecraft and on-orbit compute.

2026-05-26T10:21:33.738307-07:00

Starcloud orders SpaceX Starlink optical terminals to power orbital data centers

SpaceNews.com

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital Panelists at SmallSat Europe said rising European military budgets could create demand for space capabilities from entrepreneurial smallsat firms, but regulatory burdens and limited access to capital remain major blockers. The sector’s growth depends on clearing bureaucratic roadblocks to convert spending into investable, scalable programs.

2026-05-26T10:05:53.544149-07:00

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital

Payload

SEOPS to begin “Waymaker” LEO rideshares in 2028 for time-sensitive and non-standard payloads SEOPS says it will launch its Waymaker low Earth orbit rideshare service in 2028, targeting payloads that can’t be accommodated on existing rideshare options and missions requiring assured launch integration for time-critical demand.

2026-05-26T05:18:32.488129-07:00

SEOPS to begin “Waymaker” LEO rideshares in 2028 for time-sensitive and non-standard payloads

SpaceNews.com

Mega Engine completes long-duration hot-fire of closed-cycle kerosene/LOX staged-combustion rocket engine China’s Mega Engine says it has successfully run a long-duration hot-fire of a closed-cycle kerosene–liquid oxygen engine using a reusable staged-combustion architecture. The test adds another data point to China’s engine development push aimed at improving durability and enabling repeatable launch hardware.

2026-05-26T03:56:34.682735-07:00

Mega Engine completes long-duration hot-fire of closed-cycle kerosene/LOX staged-combustion rocket engine

Menu

Commercial Space News

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone—LEO “military internet” tied to SDA transport layer

NASA advances Moon-base buildout with lunar transport contracts, terrain contracts, and three 2026 lander missions—plus “perimet

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts

Starcloud orders SpaceX Starlink optical terminals to power orbital data centers

News Timeline