Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO

NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver laser communications capabilities for the Artemis III mission using Starlink. The contract supports ship-to-ship communications in low Earth orbit, aiming to improve how Earth-based observers view and monitor planned in-orbit activity in the 2027 timeframe.

2 Sources

2026-07-17T05:58:32.578049-07:00

SpaceNews.com

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

10 Sources

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

Payload

SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes

16 Sources

2026-07-15T05:52:31.043058-07:00

Space.com

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS

1 Source

2026-07-15T15:17:08.358902-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions News Timeline

Payload

2 sources

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver laser communications capabilities for the Artemis III mission using Starlink. The contract supports ship-to-ship communications in low Earth orbit, aiming to improve how Earth-based observers view and monitor planned in-orbit activity in the 2027 timeframe.

2026-07-17T05:58:32.578049-07:00

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO

Space.com

3 sources

Astronomers report the first detected atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like planet in its star’s habitable zone Researchers say they have identified an atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like exoplanet orbiting within its star’s habitable zone—described as the first such detection of its kind. The finding marks a major step toward characterizing potentially habitable worlds beyond the solar system.

2026-07-16T11:56:35.708509-07:00

Astronomers report the first detected atmosphere around a rocky, Earth-like planet in its star’s habitable zone

SpaceNews.com

10 sources

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SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a SWISSto12 closed a $70M Series C to scale “sovereign hardware” for small GEO satellite development. Apex said it raised over $200M and nearly doubled its valuation to $2.3B to ramp productized, configurable satellite bus production. Space Pioneer raised $29M (200M CNY) and Impulse Space secured $500M in a Series D to build in-space mobility infrastructure.

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

Space.com

1 source

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS NASA is ramping up preparations for Artemis III, targeting a 2027 launch of its next crewed moon mission. The flight is planned to ride atop the Space Launch System (SLS), and the agency is stepping up work ahead of the astronaut launch next year.

2026-07-15T15:17:08.358902-07:00

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS

Payload

16 sources

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SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes The Space Development Agency plans to resume launches after a nine-month pause, sending a second (Tranche 1) batch of 21 York Space Systems transport-layer satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California. SDA says it implemented tech fixes to restart momentum for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and secure military/ally communications.

2026-07-15T05:52:31.043058-07:00

SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes

SpaceWatch Global

2 sources

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Artemis II crew visits ESA facilities in the Netherlands, credits Orion’s European Service Module ahead of safe return Four Artemis II astronauts visited ESA technical facilities in the Netherlands and met the teams responsible for the European Service Module that powered Orion’s lunar mission. The crew also praised the module in Bremen, highlighting Orion’s trans-lunar accuracy, degraded-state manual hand-flying, and a vivid reentry experience.

2026-07-15T03:52:58.211636-07:00

Artemis II crew visits ESA facilities in the Netherlands, credits Orion’s European Service Module ahead of safe return

SpaceWatch Global

None source

Artemis II Crew Returns to Bremen to Thank Europe's Service Module Team

2026-07-15T03:52:58.211636-07:00

Artemis II Crew Returns to Bre

Space.com

12 sources

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SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, aiming to deploy first Starlink V3 satellites and validate major Raptor and vehic SpaceX is preparing Starship’s 13th flight test with a launch attempt no earlier than July 16 (a 90-minute window opening at 17:45CT). The mission is planned to deploy the first Starlink V3 satellites, restart a Raptor engine in space, and test key V3-related upgrades as Falcon 9 reaches its 600th booster reuse.

2026-07-15T03:04:57.428538-07:00

SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, aiming to deploy first Starlink V3 satellites and validate major Raptor and vehic

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