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SpaceNews.com • David Ariosto

Geopolitics opens a “sovereign launch” window for SpinLaunch, CEO says

SpinLaunch CEO Massimiliano “Massi” Ladovaz argues the space industry is being reshaped as much by geopolitics and sovereignty requirements as by engineering progress. He positions the company’s low-cost, rapid-access approach as a fit for customers seeking assured, time-bound orbital capability.

2026-05-27T09:12:42.327373-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Sitael maps €200M-by-2031 growth plan with €150M+ backlog and nine launches targeted by 2030

2026-05-27T08:28:23.664885-07:00

Bloomberg

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

Reuters

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Geopolitics opens a “sovereign launch” window for SpinLaunch, CEO says SpinLaunch CEO Massimiliano “Massi” Ladovaz argues the space industry is being reshaped as much by geopolitics and sovereignty requirements as by engineering progress. He positions the company’s low-cost, rapid-access approach as a fit for customers seeking assured, time-bound orbital capability.

2026-05-27T09:12:42.327373-07:00

Geopolitics opens a “sovereign launch” window for SpinLaunch, CEO says

SpaceNews.com

Sitael maps €200M-by-2031 growth plan with €150M+ backlog and nine launches targeted by 2030 Sitael says it has charted a growth trajectory to reach €200 million in revenues by 2031, supported by more than €150 million in backlog. The company also points to an execution pipeline anchored by nine launches planned through 2030, positioning new missions alongside expanding industrial capacity.

2026-05-27T08:28:23.664885-07:00

Sitael maps €200M-by-2031 growth plan with €150M+ backlog and nine launches targeted by 2030

Reuters

❗️

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to develop the “Space Data Network Backbone,” a low Earth orbit satellite network intended to operate as a military internet in space. The backbone is positioned to support the broader Space Data Network, including SDA transport-layer satellites.

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

Bloomberg

❗️

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout NASA has begun contracting for elements of its moon-base effort, including agreements for robotic landers, rovers and drones, plus delivery of crew-carrying rovers/“moon buggies” to support planned surface operations near the south pole. NASA also signaled that “perimeter” planning and operational safeguards are part of the program’s direction.

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout

Payload

SEOPS to begin “Waymaker” LEO rideshares in 2028 for time-sensitive and non-standard payloads SEOPS says it will launch its Waymaker low Earth orbit rideshare service in 2028, targeting payloads that can’t be accommodated on existing rideshare options and missions requiring assured launch integration for time-critical demand.

2026-05-26T05:18:32.488129-07:00

SEOPS to begin “Waymaker” LEO rideshares in 2028 for time-sensitive and non-standard payloads

SpaceNews.com

Mega Engine completes long-duration hot-fire of closed-cycle kerosene/LOX staged-combustion rocket engine China’s Mega Engine says it has successfully run a long-duration hot-fire of a closed-cycle kerosene–liquid oxygen engine using a reusable staged-combustion architecture. The test adds another data point to China’s engine development push aimed at improving durability and enabling repeatable launch hardware.

2026-05-26T03:56:34.682735-07:00

Mega Engine completes long-duration hot-fire of closed-cycle kerosene/LOX staged-combustion rocket engine

SpaceNews.com

Exolaunch and SEOPS buy Falcon 9 launches for dedicated rideshare as payload demand grows Exolaunch and SEOPS—long-time brokers of rideshare payload space on SpaceX—have each purchased Falcon 9 launches to support dedicated rideshare missions. The moves underscore rising customer demand for assured launch capacity and ride-along integration on Falcon 9.

2026-05-25T23:17:36.853861-07:00

Exolaunch and SEOPS buy Falcon 9 launches for dedicated rideshare as payload demand grows

Space.com

DARPA to launch deep-space robotic repair satellite on a ~2026 timeline under the Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics program DARPA is moving from concept to flight for its Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics effort, aiming to demonstrate a “robotic deep-space repair satellite” launch as soon as this summer and target a 2026 launch. The program’s focus is maintaining/repairing spacecraft far from Earth at extreme distances.

2026-05-25T10:16:09.139961-07:00

DARPA to launch deep-space robotic repair satellite on a ~2026 timeline under the Dexterous, Deep-Space Robotics program

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Geopolitics opens a “sovereign launch” window for SpinLaunch, CEO says

Sitael maps €200M-by-2031 growth plan with €150M+ backlog and nine launches targeted by 2030

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

News Timeline