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SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Loft Orbital expands to full-service Earth-observation constellation deals

Loft Orbital is moving beyond delivering satellites to offering full-service constellation partnerships, aligning with a market shift where governments and data/analytics providers outsource Earth-observation build, operations, and access. The emphasis is on faster, analytics-ready data delivery rather than ownership of space and ground infrastructure.

2026-05-05T10:53:13.532350-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Budget proposal clouds Artemis II afterglow as NASA “relaunches” Artemis plans toward Artemis 3

2026-05-05T09:16:30.454487-07:00

European Spaceflight

ESA awards Thales Alenia Space €26.1M Phase 1 contract for LISA optical telescope development

2026-05-05T08:34:37.409747-07:00

Space.com

NASA posts record high-power plasma ion engine tests using lithium-metal vapor propellant for Mars-bound missions

2026-05-05T06:55:51.334053-07:00

News Timeline

Space.com

NASA radar and NISAR satellite confirm Mexico City subsides up to ~25cm/year, with rapid localized sinking NASA’s NISAR radar observations show Mexico City subsides at rates that reach about 25cm (≈10 inches) per year, with some areas dropping more than 0.5 inch monthly. The satellite data indicates damage is already visible across critical infrastructure including the subway, roads and buildings.

2026-05-05T14:54:00.070250-07:00

NASA radar and NISAR satellite confirm Mexico City subsides up to ~25cm/year, with rapid localized sinking

Space.com

Blue Origin completes NASA vacuum test of Endurance MK1 lunar lander ahead of uncrewed South Pole mission Blue Origin says its Endurance MK1 (MK1) lunar lander passed a critical vacuum-simulation test at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The milestone supports an uncrewed mission to the Moon’s South Pole later this year as NASA continues work to enable astronaut lunar returns under Artemis.

2026-05-05T11:30:10.726198-07:00

Blue Origin completes NASA vacuum test of Endurance MK1 lunar lander ahead of uncrewed South Pole mission

SpaceNews.com

Loft Orbital expands to full-service Earth-observation constellation deals Loft Orbital is moving beyond delivering satellites to offering full-service constellation partnerships, aligning with a market shift where governments and data/analytics providers outsource Earth-observation build, operations, and access. The emphasis is on faster, analytics-ready data delivery rather than ownership of space and ground infrastructure.

2026-05-05T10:53:13.532350-07:00

Loft Orbital expands to full-service Earth-observation constellation deals

SpaceNews.com

Budget proposal clouds Artemis II afterglow as NASA “relaunches” Artemis plans toward Artemis 3 Despite Artemis 2’s successful nine-day circumlunar demonstration of Orion’s crew viability and only minor, non-blocking technical issues, a new budget proposal is now dominating the narrative around NASA’s next steps. Separate “ignition relaunch” reporting points to officials resetting Artemis plans for Artemis 3 next year amid policy and funding uncertainty.

2026-05-05T09:16:30.454487-07:00

Budget proposal clouds Artemis II afterglow as NASA “relaunches” Artemis plans toward Artemis 3

European Spaceflight

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ESA awards Thales Alenia Space €26.1M Phase 1 contract for LISA optical telescope development ESA has selected Thales Alenia Space for a €26.1 million Phase 1 contract to develop six optical telescopes for the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) gravitational-wave observatory. The work is focused on the telescope development stage supporting the mission’s transition toward a full implementation phase.

2026-05-05T08:34:37.409747-07:00

ESA awards Thales Alenia Space €26.1M Phase 1 contract for LISA optical telescope development

Space.com

NASA posts record high-power plasma ion engine tests using lithium-metal vapor propellant for Mars-bound missions NASA has completed a new round of tests on a high-power plasma engine fueled by liquid lithium, reporting record performance. A prototype ion engine using lithium metal vapor as a propellant has achieved 25x more power than the ion engine configuration used on the Psyche mission.

2026-05-05T06:55:51.334053-07:00

NASA posts record high-power plasma ion engine tests using lithium-metal vapor propellant for Mars-bound missions

SpaceNews.com

Ireland joins NASA’s Artemis Accords as 66th signatory, pledging peaceful lunar exploration Ireland signed NASA’s Artemis Accords during a signing ceremony hosted by NASA, becoming the 66th country to commit to responsible exploration and use of outer space. The U.S. Department of State publicly welcomed the addition as part of a growing, nation-by-nation framework for peaceful lunar cooperation.

2026-05-05T04:26:49.100609-07:00

Ireland joins NASA’s Artemis Accords as 66th signatory, pledging peaceful lunar exploration

Space.com

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK1 Endurance lands a milestone as NASA positions 2028 crewed lunar landings Blue Origin says its Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander, Endurance, has completed major environmental testing by clearing vacuum testing inside NASA’s Thermal Vacuum Chamber A in Houston. NASA’s post–Artemis II plans hinge on two unproven commercial landers—each facing timeline and technical risk ahead of an astronaut landing target of 2028.

2026-05-05T03:51:16.136752-07:00

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK1 Endurance lands a milestone as NASA positions 2028 crewed lunar landings

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

Loft Orbital expands to full-service Earth-observation constellation deals

Budget proposal clouds Artemis II afterglow as NASA “relaunches” Artemis plans toward Artemis 3

ESA awards Thales Alenia Space €26.1M Phase 1 contract for LISA optical telescope development

NASA posts record high-power plasma ion engine tests using lithium-metal vapor propellant for Mars-bound missions

News Timeline