Commercial Space News

SpaceNews.com

Turning capacity into capability: recommendations for America’s ground station infrastructure.

Payload

Exclusive: DoD Taps Orbital Operations for Cryogenic Spacecraft Demo

CNBC

High activity

Analysts turn bullish on SpaceX as AI and Starlink connectivity lift profit outlook

Analysts cited AI and connectivity as drivers of SpaceX’s profit growth, with PhillipCapital upgrading the company to Buy and sharply raising its price target. Separately, Bernstein said Starlink’s improving profitability could support aggressive broadband and mobile pricing that challenges established U.S. telecom operators, even as subscriber growth slows.

Ars Technica

SpaceX declines military launches as a Spanish rocket nears readiness; Canada argues for independent access to orbit

A roundup reports SpaceX’s decision not to pursue military launches, a Spanish rocket nearing readiness and a call for Canada to reach orbit on its own terms. The available details do not specify the rocket programs, timelines or the military launch opportunity involved.

SpaceNews.com

China’s Hainan commercial spaceport plans two new launch pads, targeting more than 30 launches in 2027

China’s first commercial launch site is expected to bring two additional pads online by the end of this year. The expansion is intended to support more than 30 launches in 2027, increasing the site’s planned launch activity.

Bloomberg

SpaceX seeks access to 80,000 US cell sites for wireless network

SpaceX is aiming to secure access to at least 80,000 cell sites across the United States and is in talks with at least one major cellular infrastructure company, according to people familiar with the matter. The effort would give the company a substantial footprint for its planned wireless network.

Via Satellite

Planet Labs to withhold Iran conflict-zone imagery indefinitely, raising Gulf buyers’ questions about access

Planet Labs told customers on April 4 that it would indefinitely withhold imagery of Iran and the surrounding conflict zone, retroactive to March 9. The decision puts commercial satellite data access in focus as Gulf buyers assess who can control or interrupt imagery availability during a conflict.

Via Satellite

PlanetiQ expands weather-data collection with back-to-back October rideshare launches

PlanetiQ is expanding its collection of GNSS radio-occultation data through back-to-back rideshare launches in October. CEO Ira Scharf says demand for the weather data is growing among both government and commercial users, underscoring the company’s effort to scale a satellite-based source of atmospheric observations.