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SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

FAA orders SpaceX to complete Starship mishap investigation before resuming flights

The FAA will require SpaceX to finish an investigation into its latest Starship test flight before the vehicle is allowed to fly again, adding another regulator-gated checkpoint to the flight-test cadence. The order follows the latest mishap, keeping Starship grounded pending findings and corrective actions.

2026-05-27T21:30:29.428986-07:00

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

Payload

Stellar Alpina raises $4.5M to develop rotating detonation engines for next-generation propulsion European propulsion startup Stellar Alpina has raised $4.5M to build rotating detonation engines, aiming to introduce a different thrust approach to the market. The funding targets engine development as the company works toward translating the technology from concept into deliverable propulsion hardware.

2026-05-28T00:43:08.242121-07:00

Stellar Alpina raises $4.5M to develop rotating detonation engines for next-generation propulsion

SpaceNews.com

FAA orders SpaceX to complete Starship mishap investigation before resuming flights The FAA will require SpaceX to finish an investigation into its latest Starship test flight before the vehicle is allowed to fly again, adding another regulator-gated checkpoint to the flight-test cadence. The order follows the latest mishap, keeping Starship grounded pending findings and corrective actions.

2026-05-27T21:30:29.428986-07:00

FAA orders SpaceX to complete Starship mishap investigation before resuming flights

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

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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

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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

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

FAA orders SpaceX to complete Starship mishap investigation before resuming flights

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