Commercial Space Industry (New Space) News

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Destroyed in Texas Static-Fire Explosion

SpaceX’s next Starship upper stage exploded in a static-fire test at its South Texas Starbase on June 18, destroying the prototype and prompting company engineers to investigate the “major anomaly.” While all personnel were safe, the accident stalls progress toward the 10th flight attempt.

2025-06-18T23:23:08.167767-07:00

Spaceflight Now

Firefly Aerospace to Launch Ocula Commercial Lunar Imaging Service in 2026

2025-06-18T06:07:10.181698-07:00

Spaceflight Now

ULA’s Atlas V Readies Monday Launch of Second Project Kuiper Satellite Batch

2025-06-15T14:31:23.862270-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Private Axiom-4 ISS Flight Now Targeting June 19 After Leak Repairs

2025-06-15T02:15:05.095355-07:00

Commercial Space Industry (New Space) News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

After Resilience’s Moon Landing Attempt, Openness Becomes Crucial for the Lunar Economy Following ispace’s likely Resilience lander crash during its final descent, stakeholders are emphasizing the need for a transparent governance framework for lunar operations. Open data-sharing, dispute-resolution mechanisms and clear resource-utilization guidelines are emerging as key enablers of a sustainable commercial lunar economy.

2025-06-19T04:02:34.925221-07:00

After Resilience’s Moon Landing Attempt, Openness Becomes Crucial for the Lunar Economy

Spaceflight Now

❗️

SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Destroyed in Texas Static-Fire Explosion SpaceX’s next Starship upper stage exploded in a static-fire test at its South Texas Starbase on June 18, destroying the prototype and prompting company engineers to investigate the “major anomaly.” While all personnel were safe, the accident stalls progress toward the 10th flight attempt.

2025-06-18T23:23:08.167767-07:00

SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Destroyed in Texas Static-Fire Explosion

Universe Today

Study warns tenfold annual rocket launch surge could erode ozone layer Researchers warn a tenfold increase in annual rocket launches could significantly erode the stratospheric ozone layer, according to a study in Nature. The analysis shows chlorine and nitrogen oxide emissions from exhaust plumes may accelerate depletion, posing fresh environmental and regulatory challenges for a scaling space-launch industry.

2025-06-18T08:12:52.913474-07:00

Study warns tenfold annual rocket launch surge could erode ozone layer

Spaceflight Now

❗️

Firefly Aerospace to Launch Ocula Commercial Lunar Imaging Service in 2026 Firefly Aerospace plans to launch Ocula, the first commercial lunar imaging service, as early as 2026. Hosted aboard its Elytra orbiter—initially a transfer vehicle for the Blue Ghost 2 mission—Ocula will capture high-resolution ultraviolet and visible-spectrum imagery for mapping, mineral detection and sustained ISR over five-plus years.

2025-06-18T06:07:10.181698-07:00

Firefly Aerospace to Launch Ocula Commercial Lunar Imaging Service in 2026

SpaceNews.com

❗️

Venturi Space Unveils Mona Luna, a 100% European Lunar Rover for ESA’s 2030 Campaign Venturi Space today unveiled Mona Luna, a fully European lunar rover concept designed in partnership with ESA and Astrolab to support Europe’s planned lunar missions. Assembled in Toulouse by Venturi Space France, Mona Luna targets operational deployment before 2030, bolstering Europe’s strategic autonomy in lunar surface mobility.

2025-06-18T02:04:19.917033-07:00

Venturi Space Unveils Mona Luna, a 100% European Lunar Rover for ESA’s 2030 Campaign

Breaking Defense

Commercial ISR Operators Urge Restoration of NRO Funding to Safeguard 'Golden Dome' Shield On June 16, leading commercial ISR satellite firms petitioned congressional appropriators to reverse proposed National Reconnaissance Office budget cuts, warning the reductions would undercut the Pentagon’s Golden Dome air and missile defense shield over the US homeland.

2025-06-17T14:32:10.691404-07:00

Commercial ISR Operators Urge Restoration of NRO Funding to Safeguard 'Golden Dome' Shield

Axios

Amazon launches Washington program to train workers for satellite jobs Amazon has unveiled a workforce development initiative in Washington state, which industry insiders now dub the “Silicon Valley of space.” The program partners with local colleges and training centers to equip job seekers with skills in satellite manufacturing, assembly and operations for its upcoming orbital projects.

2025-06-17T11:17:27.903725-07:00

Amazon launches Washington program to train workers for satellite jobs

Nikkei Asia

Honda conducts surprise reusable rocket launch-and-land test, targets suborbital flight by 2029 On Tuesday, Honda R&D successfully completed a launch and landing test of its 6.3 m, 1.3 t wet-weight prototype reusable rocket, reaching nearly 300 m altitude before a controlled recovery—marking a major step toward the company’s goal of suborbital spaceflight by 2029.

2025-06-17T10:23:55.803087-07:00

Honda conducts surprise reusable rocket launch-and-land test, targets suborbital flight by 2029

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