Commercial Space Industry (New Space) News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline

During a Nov. 21, 2025 pressure proof test at Starbase, SpaceX’s first Version 3 Super Heavy booster (B18) suffered a visible detonation; there were no injuries. The anomaly will delay rollout of Starship v3 upgrades and compress the program’s planned launch cadence and testing schedule.

2025-11-21T04:25:09.639866-08:00

Reuters

Blue Origin unveils New Glenn upgrades, including '9x4' super‑heavy variant to lift ~50% more to LEO

2025-11-20T09:00:43.070535-08:00

National Defense

Space Force pushes 'radical shift' in acquisition toward smaller, continuous deliveries

2025-11-20T10:08:29.267654-08:00

SpaceNews.com

DARPA awards Redwire $44M Phase‑2 contract to advance Otter air‑breathing VLEO demonstrator

2025-11-19T06:28:07.165881-08:00

Commercial Space Industry (New Space) News Timeline

Space Intel Report

Canada commits C$130M in defence budget to develop sovereign orbital-launch capability Ottawa has allocated an initial C$130 million in the defence budget to develop a sovereign orbital-launch capability, with the Department of National Defence calling the program 'a strategic enabler' for national security. The funding signals government intent to secure independent access to space for military and dual-use missions.

2025-11-21T10:42:38.489175-08:00

Canada commits C$130M in defence budget to develop sovereign orbital-launch capability

SpaceNews.com

❗️

ESA selects Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium for €600M Argonaut lunar lander ESA selected a Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium to build Argonaut, a €600 million uncrewed lunar cargo lander to secure Europe’s autonomous access to the Moon. Contracts assign system integration, propulsion, GNC and data handling for a vehicle of roughly 10 tonnes and 6 m, applying lessons from past crashes.

2025-11-21T09:09:12.318971-08:00

ESA selects Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium for €600M Argonaut lunar lander

Universe Today

Mega-constellations: paper proposes on‑satellite control to offload ground‑station networks As satellite constellations scale into the tens of thousands, ground stations are struggling to keep up with the communications and command load. A new paper from Yuhe Mao and co‑authors proposes shifting control and network decision‑making onboard satellites, offloading ground‑station traffic and enabling more scalable operations.

2025-11-21T07:06:53.707083-08:00

Mega-constellations: paper proposes on‑satellite control to offload ground‑station networks

Ars Technica

FAA lifts daytime launch curfew as SpaceX next‑gen booster fails; Pegasus to resume flights With the government shutdown over, the FAA has lifted its temporary daytime launch curfew, restoring daylight launch windows for commercial providers. The change comes as SpaceX’s next‑generation booster failed in a recent test and the Pegasus rocket is set to resume flights.

2025-11-21T05:45:56.858165-08:00

FAA lifts daytime launch curfew as SpaceX next‑gen booster fails; Pegasus to resume flights

Payload

Orbit Fab wins ESA/UK Space Agency ASTRAL award to demonstrate in‑orbit xenon refuelling Orbit Fab has been awarded up to $3.8 million by the UK Space Agency and ESA to lead the first stage of the ASTRAL programme, building a European consortium to demonstrate in‑orbit xenon refuelling for electric‑propulsion satellites. The funding supports a technology demonstrator and partner integration work.

2025-11-21T05:42:38.707877-08:00

Orbit Fab wins ESA/UK Space Agency ASTRAL award to demonstrate in‑orbit xenon refuelling

Ars Technica

❗️

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline During a Nov. 21, 2025 pressure proof test at Starbase, SpaceX’s first Version 3 Super Heavy booster (B18) suffered a visible detonation; there were no injuries. The anomaly will delay rollout of Starship v3 upgrades and compress the program’s planned launch cadence and testing schedule.

2025-11-21T04:25:09.639866-08:00

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline

SpaceWatch Global

Jan Wörner, former ESA director-general, joins Space Cargo Unlimited as Chief Strategy Officer Jan Wörner, former director-general of the European Space Agency and former chairman of the German Aerospace Center, has been appointed chief strategy officer at Space Cargo Unlimited. The hire places a senior former public-sector space leader into the commercial space startup’s executive team to direct strategy.

2025-11-20T23:30:43.095298-08:00

Jan Wörner, former ESA director-general, joins Space Cargo Unlimited as Chief Strategy Officer

SpaceNews.com

Janus Henderson and Voyager back Starlab as commercial space station moves into hardware phase Janus Henderson Group, alongside Voyager Technologies, announced a strategic investment in Starlab Space as the commercial space station programme enters a critical development phase. The capital is intended to accelerate Starlab’s move from design toward hardware production and deepen commercial user engagement for post‑ISS LEO operations.

2025-11-20T23:25:38.202002-08:00

Janus Henderson and Voyager back Starlab as commercial space station moves into hardware phase

Create a free account to see more recent Commercial Space Industry (New Space) stories.