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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite, validating step-by-step capabilities needed for low-cost orbital infrastructure. The on-orbit demonstrations mark another milestone toward autonomous operations for cargo services in space.

2026-04-17T10:14:43.420209-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment

2026-04-16T19:32:32.780706-07:00

NASA

NASA picks Voyager Technologies for its seventh private astronaut mission to the ISS, targeting a launch no earlier than 2028

2026-04-15T13:55:58.332219-07:00

Spaceflight Now

Blue Origin targets April 19 for New Glenn NG-3 relaunch, aiming to prove heavy-lift reflight with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7

2026-04-16T06:15:38.508679-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite, validating step-by-step capabilities needed for low-cost orbital infrastructure. The on-orbit demonstrations mark another milestone toward autonomous operations for cargo services in space.

2026-04-17T10:14:43.420209-07:00

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

SpaceNews.com

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment Executives from three commercial space-station developers argued at the Space Symposium that the low-Earth-orbit (LEO) market is real and they can be ready by 2030, when the International Space Station is scheduled for retirement. Their remarks directly counter NASA’s claim that a commercial station market has yet to develop.

2026-04-16T19:32:32.780706-07:00

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment

Inflight Online

ZIPAIR completes fleetwide MacBook Pro inflight server platform deployment as it transitions to Starlink LEO connectivity ZIPAIR says it has finished a fleetwide deployment of an “off-the-shelf” MacBook Pro inflight server platform to host and support in-flight services. The rollout runs in parallel with the airline’s move to Starlink low Earth orbit connectivity, aiming to accelerate development and deployment of new onboard offerings.

2026-04-16T13:12:14.435105-07:00

ZIPAIR completes fleetwide MacBook Pro inflight server platform deployment as it transitions to Starlink LEO connectivity

Spaceflight Now

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Blue Origin targets April 19 for New Glenn NG-3 relaunch, aiming to prove heavy-lift reflight with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 Blue Origin says New Glenn’s third operational flight, NG-3, is now targeted for no earlier than Sunday, April 19. The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station will carry AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 and follow a key reuse-focused test of a previously flown booster, in a competitive sprint against SpaceX.

2026-04-16T06:15:38.508679-07:00

Blue Origin targets April 19 for New Glenn NG-3 relaunch, aiming to prove heavy-lift reflight with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7

FlightGlobal

LEO in-flight connectivity triggers multi-orbit competition as incumbents face new satellite broadband entrants The rapid rollout of LEO in-flight connectivity from players such as Amazon Leo and SpaceX Starlink is forcing incumbent operators to accelerate their response. The competitive pivot is increasingly focused on multi-orbit strategies, positioning service switching between constellations as a key differentiator.

2026-04-16T01:54:29.169818-07:00

LEO in-flight connectivity triggers multi-orbit competition as incumbents face new satellite broadband entrants

Runway Girl

Copa projects 2026 growth and signs Starlink deal for onboard Wi-Fi rollout Copa Airlines says it is turning to SpaceX’s Starlink for inflight Wi-Fi as it maps growth projections for 2026. The press release frames the connectivity upgrade as part of Copa’s broader demand strategy, building on its earlier decision to bring passenger Wi-Fi to its fleet.

2026-04-15T19:38:53.644234-07:00

Copa projects 2026 growth and signs Starlink deal for onboard Wi-Fi rollout

NASA

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NASA picks Voyager Technologies for its seventh private astronaut mission to the ISS, targeting a launch no earlier than 2028 NASA has awarded Voyager Technologies a contract for its seventh Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) to the International Space Station, with a target launch date no earlier than 2028. The award expands beyond Axiom Space, which had been the sole provider for the first five PAMs, as additional vendors enter the 2026 competition pipeline.

2026-04-15T13:55:58.332219-07:00

NASA picks Voyager Technologies for its seventh private astronaut mission to the ISS, targeting a launch no earlier than 2028

Via Satellite

Lonestar sets launch timeline for StarVault sovereign orbital data storage; Sidus Space expands payload deal Lonestar says it will give a launch date for StarVault, billed as the first commercially operational space-based sovereign data storage platform. Sidus Space, meanwhile, is expanding its existing agreement with Lonestar Data Holdings to support additional StarVault Orbital Data Storage payloads, reinforcing momentum toward deployment.

2026-04-15T11:01:08.256241-07:00

Lonestar sets launch timeline for StarVault sovereign orbital data storage; Sidus Space expands payload deal

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LEO News

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

Commercial LEO space-station developers push back on NASA’s “market not yet emerged” assessment

NASA picks Voyager Technologies for its seventh private astronaut mission to the ISS, targeting a launch no earlier than 2028

Blue Origin targets April 19 for New Glenn NG-3 relaunch, aiming to prove heavy-lift reflight with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7

News Timeline