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SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

NASA at crossroads over lunar Gateway logistics; explores alternative supply and transport approaches

NASA is at a crossroads over how to handle logistics for the lunar Gateway, weighing alternative supply and transport approaches to support sustained cislunar operations. The review could redefine mission architectures, contractor roles and timing for Gateway resupply and related Artemis activities.

2026-01-29T14:41:17.299919-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

PLD Space accelerates Miura 5 toward early‑2026 debut with milestones update

2026-01-29T15:07:31.064169-08:00

Universe Today

NASA completes first major nuclear reactor propulsion tests in 50 years

2026-01-29T14:12:20.604359-08:00

Reuters

SpaceX and xAI in merger talks to unite Grok, Starlink, X and launch operations ahead of planned IPO

2026-01-29T10:52:39.791203-08:00

News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

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PLD Space accelerates Miura 5 toward early‑2026 debut with milestones update PLD Space says its Miura 5 orbital launcher programme has reached new milestones as it accelerates toward an early‑2026 maiden flight. The update covers qualification hardware, expanded test activities at its Spanish facilities and preparations to support the vehicle’s inaugural launch in the 2026 European manifest.

2026-01-29T15:07:31.064169-08:00

PLD Space accelerates Miura 5 toward early‑2026 debut with milestones update

SpaceNews.com

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NASA at crossroads over lunar Gateway logistics; explores alternative supply and transport approaches NASA is at a crossroads over how to handle logistics for the lunar Gateway, weighing alternative supply and transport approaches to support sustained cislunar operations. The review could redefine mission architectures, contractor roles and timing for Gateway resupply and related Artemis activities.

2026-01-29T14:41:17.299919-08:00

NASA at crossroads over lunar Gateway logistics; explores alternative supply and transport approaches

Universe Today

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NASA completes first major nuclear reactor propulsion tests in 50 years NASA completed its first major tests of nuclear reactor hardware for spacecraft propulsion in more than 50 years, running over 100 2025 'cold‑flow' trials on a full‑scale reactor engineering unit at Marshall Space Flight Center to characterize propellant flow and support development of nuclear thermal/electric deep‑space propulsion.

2026-01-29T14:12:20.604359-08:00

NASA completes first major nuclear reactor propulsion tests in 50 years

SpaceNews.com

Global space economy reaches $626 billion as commercial services and investment ignite a new growth phase The global space economy expanded to $626 billion, signalling a new phase of growth driven by commercial services and rising public‑and‑private investment. The shift places service revenue and capital deployment at the centre of industry strategy, reshaping market priorities and funding flows.

2026-01-29T13:32:43.302528-08:00

Global space economy reaches $626 billion as commercial services and investment ignite a new growth phase

Space.com

Rocket Lab lofts South Korea's 'Bridging the Swarm' nanosatellite for disaster‑monitoring constellation Rocket Lab's Electron launched from New Zealand Jan. 29–30 and deployed South Korea's 'Bridging the Swarm' nanosatellite, a disaster‑monitoring Earth‑observation craft that will join Seoul's planned constellation. It was Rocket Lab's 81st Electron flight and the company's second launch in eight days.

2026-01-29T13:12:52.250617-08:00

Rocket Lab lofts South Korea's 'Bridging the Swarm' nanosatellite for disaster‑monitoring constellation

Reuters

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SpaceX and xAI in merger talks to unite Grok, Starlink, X and launch operations ahead of planned IPO SpaceX and Elon Musk’s xAI are in preliminary merger discussions that would combine the Grok chatbot, Starlink satellite network, the X platform and SpaceX’s launch capabilities into a single corporation. The talks come as the companies prepare for a planned IPO later this year and spotlight on‑orbit AI/data‑centre ambitions and regulatory questions.

2026-01-29T10:52:39.791203-08:00

SpaceX and xAI in merger talks to unite Grok, Starlink, X and launch operations ahead of planned IPO

SpaceWatch Global

MESC 2026: Etlaq Spaceport and Latitude outline Oman launch ambitions and independent access to space At MESC 2026 in Muscat, Space Café interviews with Etlaq Spaceport COO Haitham Almahrizi and Latitude founder Stanislas Maximin outlined plans to develop Oman as a global launch site and for Latitude to secure independent commercial access to space beyond Europe.

2026-01-29T10:34:35.528953-08:00

MESC 2026: Etlaq Spaceport and Latitude outline Oman launch ambitions and independent access to space

Reuters

China vows space tourism, space-based AI data centres and resource development within five years China's main space contractor has pledged to develop space tourism, exploit space resources and deploy on-orbit digital infrastructure — including space-based AI data centres — over the next five years, positioning Beijing's state-backed commercial push as a direct challenge to U.S. orbital compute plans.

2026-01-28T22:01:22.894688-08:00

China vows space tourism, space-based AI data centres and resource development within five years

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

NASA at crossroads over lunar Gateway logistics; explores alternative supply and transport approaches

PLD Space accelerates Miura 5 toward early‑2026 debut with milestones update

NASA completes first major nuclear reactor propulsion tests in 50 years

SpaceX and xAI in merger talks to unite Grok, Starlink, X and launch operations ahead of planned IPO

News Timeline