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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Shenzhou-21 extends by a month as crew completes EVA-3 for Tiangong debris protection and inspection

China’s Shenzhou-21 astronauts—Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang—have completed their third spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station. The mission is being extended by about a month, with the EVA focused on installing debris-protection hardware and inspecting the orbital outpost.

2026-04-17T11:21:17.449783-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

2026-04-16T20:29:50.516542-07:00

Space Intel Report

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp

2026-04-17T06:03:53.843037-07:00

Via Satellite

Slingshot Aerospace unveils “Portal,” an AI analytics platform for satellite operations and anomaly response

2026-04-16T16:02:57.917275-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Shenzhou-21 extends by a month as crew completes EVA-3 for Tiangong debris protection and inspection China’s Shenzhou-21 astronauts—Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang—have completed their third spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station. The mission is being extended by about a month, with the EVA focused on installing debris-protection hardware and inspecting the orbital outpost.

2026-04-17T11:21:17.449783-07:00

Shenzhou-21 extends by a month as crew completes EVA-3 for Tiangong debris protection and inspection

Space Intel Report

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp Space-based space situational awareness provider NorthStar Earth & Space of Canada plans to become publicly traded through a SPAC transaction with Viking Acquisition Corp. The move adds a new public-market path for SSA capacity as demand for orbital awareness and tracking data continues to grow.

2026-04-17T06:03:53.843037-07:00

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp

SpaceWatch Global

Astroscale’s ISSA-J1: world-first commercial multi-orbit satellite inspection mission targeting 2027 rendezvous Astroscale Japan has unveiled its ISSA-J1 mission, planned for launch in 2027. The commercial first will inspect two retired satellites located in different orbits, demonstrating multi-orbit proximity operations as the company pushes space sustainability into a scalable service model.

2026-04-17T01:22:18.226332-07:00

Astroscale’s ISSA-J1: world-first commercial multi-orbit satellite inspection mission targeting 2027 rendezvous

Ars Technica

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NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028 NASA has confirmed its support for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin (ExoMars) mission, selecting SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to launch the European Mars rover in 2028. The decision formalizes a key transatlantic roles mix—NASA backing the mission and SpaceX providing the class-leading heavy-lift ride—after years of program uncertainty.

2026-04-16T20:29:50.516542-07:00

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

Via Satellite

Slingshot Aerospace unveils “Portal,” an AI analytics platform for satellite operations and anomaly response Slingshot Aerospace released Portal, an AI-driven platform that fuses Slingshot data flows with external sources to power satellite data monitoring and analysis. Operators can use the analytics engine to track orbital activity and evaluate maneuvering options in response to anomalies and threats.

2026-04-16T16:02:57.917275-07:00

Slingshot Aerospace unveils “Portal,” an AI analytics platform for satellite operations and anomaly response

Space.com

Japanese ISSA-J1 to rendezvous with two defunct satellites in 2027, demonstrating on-orbit inspection and maneuvering Japan’s ISSA-J1 spacecraft will conduct a 2027 rendezvous with two defunct satellites in separate orbits, using on-orbit inspection and maneuvering to demonstrate proximity operations. The mission is positioned as a testbed for advanced servicing-style capability around uncooperative targets.

2026-04-16T08:11:24.768294-07:00

Japanese ISSA-J1 to rendezvous with two defunct satellites in 2027, demonstrating on-orbit inspection and maneuvering

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

keeptrack.space

SpaceX clears next Starship V3 milestone with full-duration Raptor 3 static fire ahead of Flight 12 SpaceX has conducted a successful full-duration static fire on Starship V3, firing all 33 Raptor 3 engines on the updated vehicle. The test—including upper-stage (Ship) static-fire activity—is framed as a key step toward the next Starship test flight later in May.

2026-04-15T02:14:55.066060-07:00

SpaceX clears next Starship V3 milestone with full-duration Raptor 3 static fire ahead of Flight 12

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Space Debris & Traffic Management News

Shenzhou-21 extends by a month as crew completes EVA-3 for Tiangong debris protection and inspection

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

NorthStar Earth & Space to go public via SPAC Viking Acquisition Corp

Slingshot Aerospace unveils “Portal,” an AI analytics platform for satellite operations and anomaly response

News Timeline