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SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Varda's W-15 reentry lands in Australia, completes end-to-end demo of in-house spacecraft

Varda Space Industries' W-15 reentry capsule landed in Australia on Jan. 29, completing an end-to-end demonstration of the company's new in-house spacecraft design. The flight validated recovery and return systems ahead of planned dual-capsule operations on SpaceX Transporter rideshares and supports the company's push into commercial orbital payload-return services.

2026-01-31T15:25:02.985255-08:00

SpaceNews.com

SpaceX seeks FCC approval for 1‑million solar‑powered orbital data‑center constellation to run AI workloads

2026-01-31T05:30:03.260205-08:00

SpaceNews.com

China launches AlSat‑3B remote‑sensing satellite for Algeria from Jiuquan

2026-01-31T02:18:59.333418-08:00

TechCrunch

Blue Origin pauses New Shepard suborbital flights for at least two years to prioritise lunar work

2026-01-30T13:14:20.773079-08:00

News Timeline

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Varda's W-15 reentry lands in Australia, completes end-to-end demo of in-house spacecraft Varda Space Industries' W-15 reentry capsule landed in Australia on Jan. 29, completing an end-to-end demonstration of the company's new in-house spacecraft design. The flight validated recovery and return systems ahead of planned dual-capsule operations on SpaceX Transporter rideshares and supports the company's push into commercial orbital payload-return services.

2026-01-31T15:25:02.985255-08:00

Varda's W-15 reentry lands in Australia, completes end-to-end demo of in-house spacecraft

Space.com

Chinese space‑tourism startup signs actor Johnny Huang, targets 2028 for first crewed suborbital flight A Chinese space‑tourism startup has signed actor Johnny Huang Jingyu as a booked passenger and set a 2028 target for its first crewed suborbital flight. The announcement highlights a push from domestic firms to move from test flights to consumer‑facing human spaceflight services.

2026-01-31T08:03:46.321734-08:00

Chinese space‑tourism startup signs actor Johnny Huang, targets 2028 for first crewed suborbital flight

SpaceNews.com

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SpaceX seeks FCC approval for 1‑million solar‑powered orbital data‑center constellation to run AI workloads SpaceX filed with the FCC on Jan. 30, 2026 seeking approval for an up to one‑million‑satellite constellation of solar‑powered, optical‑linked spacecraft designed as distributed orbital data centers to process AI workloads — a move SpaceX says is lower‑cost and less environmentally harmful than terrestrial data centers.

2026-01-31T05:30:03.260205-08:00

SpaceX seeks FCC approval for 1‑million solar‑powered orbital data‑center constellation to run AI workloads

Space.com

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise The European Space Agency is launching studies to characterise how different spacecraft materials and structures fragment, ablate and vaporise during fiery uncontrolled re‑entries. Improved data on burn‑up behaviour would let engineers design satellites that reliably disintegrate, minimising surviving debris and atmospheric particulate deposition.

2026-01-31T03:08:44.178137-08:00

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise

SpaceNews.com

China launches AlSat‑3B remote‑sensing satellite for Algeria from Jiuquan China launched AlSat‑3B, an Algerian remote‑sensing satellite, from Jiuquan on Jan. 31 aboard a Long March‑2C. Beijing said additional missions have been postponed as authorities prepare for a key human‑spaceflight test; President Xi and Algerian President Tebboune exchanged congratulations after liftoff.

2026-01-31T02:18:59.333418-08:00

China launches AlSat‑3B remote‑sensing satellite for Algeria from Jiuquan

CNBC

Amazon seeks two‑year FCC extension to meet 1,600+ Amazon Leo satellite deadline, cites launch shortage Amazon asked the FCC for a two‑year extension to a mid‑2026 deadline that requires more than 1,600 LEO broadband satellites in orbit, saying it has been unable to secure enough rocket rides. The extra time is aimed at completing deployments and starting service for its rebranded Amazon Leo network.

2026-01-30T17:34:49.558469-08:00

Amazon seeks two‑year FCC extension to meet 1,600+ Amazon Leo satellite deadline, cites launch shortage

Space.com

NASA prioritizes Artemis 2, complicating schedule for SpaceX Crew‑12 NASA has elevated Artemis 2 to top priority, forcing schedule adjustments that complicate timing for SpaceX's Crew‑12 ISS mission. The agency's focus on the lunar flyby is creating manifest conflicts and could shift commercial crew launch dates and station operations in the near term.

2026-01-30T15:30:02.291104-08:00

NASA prioritizes Artemis 2, complicating schedule for SpaceX Crew‑12

Reuters

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SpaceX reports roughly $8B profit on $15–16B revenue as IPO talk, Tesla merger rumours and secondary-market activity intensify Sources say SpaceX generated about $8 billion in profit on $15–16 billion of revenue last year, reinforcing the company’s public-market case ahead of a potential IPO. Reported merger discussions with Tesla and surging secondary-market transactions have amplified investor scrutiny and valuation debate.

2026-01-30T14:09:42.776060-08:00

SpaceX reports roughly $8B profit on $15–16B revenue as IPO talk, Tesla merger rumours and secondary-market activity intensify

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Varda's W-15 reentry lands in Australia, completes end-to-end demo of in-house spacecraft

SpaceX seeks FCC approval for 1‑million solar‑powered orbital data‑center constellation to run AI workloads

China launches AlSat‑3B remote‑sensing satellite for Algeria from Jiuquan

Blue Origin pauses New Shepard suborbital flights for at least two years to prioritise lunar work

News Timeline