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Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

SpaceX is targeting an April 27 launch of Falcon Heavy from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, marking a return to flight after more than 18 months. The mission is scheduled to place Viasat-3.3 into geosynchronous transfer orbit, with both side boosters slated for landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

2026-04-26T09:20:22.706970-07:00

Space.com

Hayabusa2 sample returns suggest asteroid Ryugu was struck by a swarm of tiny impactors ~1,000 years ago

2026-04-24T12:24:13.174928-07:00

Space Intel Report

FCC authorizes AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation in the US, setting deployment deadlines amid recen

2026-04-22T08:50:31.529068-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Switzerland launches new space command to deliver dual-use capabilities amid contested orbital environment

2026-04-23T01:20:03.519487-07:00

News Timeline

Space.com

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SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus SpaceX is targeting an April 27 launch of Falcon Heavy from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, marking a return to flight after more than 18 months. The mission is scheduled to place Viasat-3.3 into geosynchronous transfer orbit, with both side boosters slated for landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

2026-04-26T09:20:22.706970-07:00

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

Space.com

Hayabusa2 sample returns suggest asteroid Ryugu was struck by a swarm of tiny impactors ~1,000 years ago New analyses of samples returned to Earth by Japan’s Hayabusa2 indicate Ryugu carries scarring consistent with a relatively recent bombardment by swarms of small space rocks. The inferred timing—about 1,000 years ago—points to ongoing resurfacing processes on near-Earth asteroids.

2026-04-24T12:24:13.174928-07:00

Hayabusa2 sample returns suggest asteroid Ryugu was struck by a swarm of tiny impactors ~1,000 years ago

SpaceWatch Global

Switzerland launches new space command to deliver dual-use capabilities amid contested orbital environment Switzerland is creating a new space command focused on dual-use capabilities, European cooperation, and maintaining stability in an increasingly contested orbital environment. The effort—outlined in the context of Space Symposium 2026—centers on aligning national priorities with partner frameworks for space resilience.

2026-04-23T01:20:03.519487-07:00

Switzerland launches new space command to deliver dual-use capabilities amid contested orbital environment

Ars Technica

NASA’s photon-counting approach targets HDTV-quality sensing for Moon landings NASA is working toward Moon landing imaging that can deliver HDTV-class video by “pushing a button” to initiate an automated capture pipeline over roughly three hours. The method emphasizes counting photons—an approach designed to turn faint light into usable onboard imagery for landing workflows.

2026-04-22T12:49:37.136072-07:00

NASA’s photon-counting approach targets HDTV-quality sensing for Moon landings

Space Intel Report

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FCC authorizes AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation in the US, setting deployment deadlines amid recen The FCC has granted AST SpaceMobile commercial authorization for a full 248-satellite non-geostationary orbit constellation, enabling direct-to-smartphone/direct-to-device broadband services using spectrum from its mobile-network-operator (MNO) partners. The approval includes satellite deployment deadlines and requirements for orbital-debris mitigation, collision avoidance, and interference prevention as the company seeks to accelerate ramp-up after a botched launch.

2026-04-22T08:50:31.529068-07:00

FCC authorizes AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation in the US, setting deployment deadlines amid recen

SpaceNews.com

U.S. Commerce budget proposal would halt TraCSS work as office seeks new operating and financial structure The U.S. Department of Commerce is proposing to stop work on its space traffic coordination system (TraCSS) while it develops a “new operating and financial structure.” The move reframes near-term TraCSS execution plans and shifts focus toward governance and funding before further system delivery.

2026-04-22T02:06:34.962150-07:00

U.S. Commerce budget proposal would halt TraCSS work as office seeks new operating and financial structure

SpaceWatch Global

COMSPOC at Space Symposium: scaling space traffic tracking for 35,000 objects—and converting orbital data into decisions COMSPOC used the Space Symposium stage to highlight the growing operational burden of space traffic management, citing the need to track roughly 35,000 objects. It also stressed the “data-to-decision” gap: turning orbital awareness outputs into actionable intelligence for operators.

2026-04-22T01:58:25.029388-07:00

COMSPOC at Space Symposium: scaling space traffic tracking for 35,000 objects—and converting orbital data into decisions

SpaceWatch Global

Atomic-6 space armor and ISS “Orbital Edge” accelerator push in-orbit compute toward scale Atomic-6 CEO Trevor Smith detailed how “space armor” and orbital data-center designs aim to make space-based computing more accessible and scalable, including satellite shielding approaches. Separately, the ISS National Lab launched the 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator to connect early-stage startups with in-orbit validation and private capital.

2026-04-22T01:20:34.641096-07:00

Atomic-6 space armor and ISS “Orbital Edge” accelerator push in-orbit compute toward scale

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Space Debris & Traffic Management News

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

Hayabusa2 sample returns suggest asteroid Ryugu was struck by a swarm of tiny impactors ~1,000 years ago

FCC authorizes AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation in the US, setting deployment deadlines amid recen

Switzerland launches new space command to deliver dual-use capabilities amid contested orbital environment

News Timeline