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SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

AstroForge completes DeepSpace-2 spacecraft build for later-2026 launch, applying lessons from prior failure

Asteroid mining startup AstroForge says it has completed its latest spacecraft, DeepSpace-2, for a planned launch later this year. The company said the build incorporates lessons learned from a failed mission last year, positioning DeepSpace-2 for a more disciplined path to demonstration.

2026-06-04T09:14:18.438509-07:00

European Spaceflight

The Exploration Company completes initial drop test for Nyx recovery system ahead of 2028 demonstration mission

2026-06-04T04:02:23.936754-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

Artemis III SRB segments shipped to Kennedy as NASA readies SLS launch preparations for summer 2027

2026-06-03T13:42:10.995995-07:00

SpaceNews.com

AST SpaceMobile delays direct-to-smartphone service after Blue Origin New Glenn launchpad explosion; initial commercial ops now

2026-06-03T14:28:15.143099-07:00

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SpaceNews.com

AstroForge completes DeepSpace-2 spacecraft build for later-2026 launch, applying lessons from prior failure Asteroid mining startup AstroForge says it has completed its latest spacecraft, DeepSpace-2, for a planned launch later this year. The company said the build incorporates lessons learned from a failed mission last year, positioning DeepSpace-2 for a more disciplined path to demonstration.

2026-06-04T09:14:18.438509-07:00

AstroForge completes DeepSpace-2 spacecraft build for later-2026 launch, applying lessons from prior failure

European Spaceflight

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The Exploration Company completes initial drop test for Nyx recovery system ahead of 2028 demonstration mission The Exploration Company says it has completed an initial drop test to validate the recovery system for its Nyx spacecraft. The milestone supports the company’s plan for a demonstration mission targeted for 2028, aimed at proving safe recovery performance ahead of later flight activity.

2026-06-04T04:02:23.936754-07:00

The Exploration Company completes initial drop test for Nyx recovery system ahead of 2028 demonstration mission

SpaceNews.com

AST SpaceMobile delays direct-to-smartphone service after Blue Origin New Glenn launchpad explosion; initial commercial ops now AST SpaceMobile now expects Blue Origin’s New Glenn launchpad explosion to delay its direct-to-smartphone constellation timeline by three to six months. A William Blair equity note pushes first initial commercial services into the first half of 2027, affecting the company’s go-to-market schedule.

2026-06-03T14:28:15.143099-07:00

AST SpaceMobile delays direct-to-smartphone service after Blue Origin New Glenn launchpad explosion; initial commercial ops now

NASA Spaceflight

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Artemis III SRB segments shipped to Kennedy as NASA readies SLS launch preparations for summer 2027 NASA is preparing Artemis III for launch at Kennedy Space Center, currently targeted for summer 2027, by shipping the remaining solid rocket booster segments from Utah to Florida. The move advances hardware readiness ahead of later Artemis III mission decisions, despite uncertainty around specific timelines and landers.

2026-06-03T13:42:10.995995-07:00

Artemis III SRB segments shipped to Kennedy as NASA readies SLS launch preparations for summer 2027

NASA Spaceflight

Northrop Grumman ships final Artemis III twin solid rocket booster segments to Kennedy Northrop Grumman shipped the final eight twin solid rocket booster motor segments for NASA’s Artemis III from Promontory, Utah, to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The hardware is slated for stacking this summer, advancing the SLS boosters toward integration for the Artemis III mission.

2026-06-03T13:42:10.995995-07:00

Northrop Grumman ships final Artemis III twin solid rocket booster segments to Kennedy

Space.com

Roman Telescope primary mirror clears final inspection; NASA begins shipment to Florida launch site NASA engineers have completed the final inspection of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror, confirming it is ready for shipment to its Florida launch site. The milestone closes out a key end-to-end hardware readiness step ahead of launch processing for the observatory’s exoplanet and galactic-survey mission.

2026-06-03T12:13:45.777598-07:00

Roman Telescope primary mirror clears final inspection; NASA begins shipment to Florida launch site

SpaceNews.com

ESA’s SMILE solar-wind mission sets May 19 launch on Vega-C to probe how space weather drives magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling ESA’s SMILE spacecraft is scheduled to launch May 19, 2026, on a Vega-C rocket, aiming to advance understanding of solar wind interactions with Earth’s magnetosphere and improve space-weather prediction. The mission underscores Europe’s push to operationalize heliophysics observations through targeted instrumentation.

2026-06-03T11:41:30.326016-07:00

ESA’s SMILE solar-wind mission sets May 19 launch on Vega-C to probe how space weather drives magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

SpaceNews.com

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Muon Space unveils larger “Ultra” satellite bus for orbital data centers, targeting customer launches in 2028 Muon Space has debuted an “Ultra” satellite platform—three times larger than its Condor-XL bus and designed for higher-power operations—aimed at the emerging orbital-data-center market. The company says it has secured customers and plans to deliver its first pathfinder mission for launch in 2028.

2026-06-03T04:58:15.866744-07:00

Muon Space unveils larger “Ultra” satellite bus for orbital data centers, targeting customer launches in 2028

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

AstroForge completes DeepSpace-2 spacecraft build for later-2026 launch, applying lessons from prior failure

The Exploration Company completes initial drop test for Nyx recovery system ahead of 2028 demonstration mission

Artemis III SRB segments shipped to Kennedy as NASA readies SLS launch preparations for summer 2027

AST SpaceMobile delays direct-to-smartphone service after Blue Origin New Glenn launchpad explosion; initial commercial ops now

News Timeline