Commercial Space News

CNBC

Blue Origin targets New Glenn return before year-end as first outside funding round draws strong demand

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said the company still aims to return its New Glenn rocket to flight before the end of the year, despite a May explosion at Cape Canaveral. Limp also said the company’s first outside funding round is oversubscribed and remains open.

SpaceNews.com

Z-Trak Space raises funding for reusable Fission-A rocket, targets late-2027 debut

Chinese launch startup Z-Trak Space has secured a new funding round to advance its Fission-A small reusable rocket, which uses electric-pump propulsion. The company is targeting a first flight in late 2027, adding another entrant to China’s developing commercial launch sector.

Via Satellite

FCC Exempts Space Activities From Some Environmental Rules and Opens 1,000 MHz of Spectrum

The FCC advanced its deregulation agenda with two decisions: exempting certain space activities from federal environmental regulations and making 1,000 megahertz of spectrum available. The actions could reduce regulatory requirements for affected space activities while expanding access to communications capacity.

Space.com

High activity

NASA and SpaceX target Oct. 1 launch of four-astronaut Crew-13 mission to ISS after delays

NASA and SpaceX have cleared Crew-13 for a planned Oct. 1 launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon, targeting 11:10 a.m. ET, weather permitting. The six-month mission includes one veteran astronaut and three first-time flyers; Jessica Watkins is set for her second Dragon flight.

NASA Spaceflight

High activity

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 14 reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 14 completed its mission despite engine losses on both stages: Booster 21 flew its full profile, while Ship 41 reached orbit, deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites and safely returned to the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. Preparations for Flight 15 are now underway.

Payload

Hop Aero Raises $11M for Suborbital Point-to-Point Delivery

Hop Aero has raised $11 million to develop suborbital point-to-point logistics, following the company’s participation in Y Combinator’s summer batch. The funding represents a new private-sector investment in space transportation concepts aimed at moving goods between distant locations through suborbital flight.

Payload

Blackswan Space raises €2.5M seed round ahead of in-orbit RPO Kit demonstration

Blackswan Space has raised €2.5 million in seed funding as it prepares to launch its first in-orbit mission for the RPO Kit payload. The demonstration will advance the company’s rendezvous and proximity operations technology in space.

SpaceNews.com

Sophia Space and Redwire partner to develop scalable orbital data center infrastructure

Sophia Space and Redwire have agreed to collaborate on the development and deployment of scalable, space-based computing infrastructure. The partnership targets orbital data centers, signaling continued commercial interest in moving data processing and related infrastructure into space.