Commercial Space News

NASA Spaceflight

Spaceport capability should be measured by missions supported, not launch-site count, FDD proposal argues

A Foundation for Defense of Democracies submission recommends judging spaceport capacity by the missions each facility can support, rather than by the number of launch sites alone. A separate comparison of Starbase and Kennedy Space Center construction timelines underscores the infrastructure involved, including launch pads, vehicle integration facilities and support systems.

Ars Technica

The last, best hope for space tourism just rolled onto a runway in Arizona

Bloomberg

SpaceX’s Starship Refueling Mystery

Payload

Rendezvous Robotics raises $20 million to develop self-assembling spacecraft

Rendezvous Robotics has raised $20 million to develop technology for satellites launched in separate pieces that can assemble themselves in space. The effort targets a different approach to spacecraft deployment, with the company developing the technology needed to make on-orbit assembly possible.

SpaceNews.com

Blue Origin expects rebuilt New Glenn pad ready by mid-December, still targets return to flight this year

Blue Origin says reconstruction of New Glenn’s launch pad should be complete in the first half of December, maintaining its goal of returning the rocket to flight before year-end. The schedule hinges on restoring the site after the pad was damaged in an explosion, with little time remaining for launch preparations.

Space.com

Virgin Galactic is finally revealing its new Delta-class spaceship this week

Via Satellite

High activity

Ukraine tests sovereign communications satellite as Europe expands Galileo and weighs reliance on foreign providers

Ukrainian defense technology company HIMERA and Denmark’s GomSpace have begun testing an experimental satellite for a communications network Ukraine aims to operate independently. In parallel, the EU is discussing reduced dependence on U.S. providers, while ESA has added four Galileo Second Generation satellites to its procurement plan, bringing the planned fleet to 16.

SpaceNews.com

High activity

FCC approves Amazon Leo’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar

The Federal Communications Commission approved Amazon’s purchase of U.S. satellite operator Globalstar, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for Amazon Leo’s communications network. The deal is valued at about $11.5 billion and is intended to accelerate Amazon’s entry into direct-to-device connectivity as it builds a network to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.