Space News

LEO Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Voyager seeks more flexibility in NASA’s commercial space station requirements for Starlab

Voyager Technologies remains optimistic about Starlab’s prospects but is seeking changes to NASA’s commercial space station request for proposals. The company wants certain requirements relaxed, highlighting the tension between NASA’s program objectives and industry’s ability to deliver commercially viable orbital infrastructure.

1 Source

2026-08-04T20:14:21.196526-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX to Launch Three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird Direct-to-Cell Satellites on Aug. 5

By Space.com: SpaceX plans to launch three of AST SpaceMobile's huge BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites early on Wednesday morning (Aug. 5), and you can watch the action live.

2 Sources

2026-08-04T15:05:13.387720-07:00

Viasat Satellite L3Harris Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

L3Harris Confirms Successful Deployment for First Perimeter Truss Reflector on ViaSat-3

By Via Satellite: L3Harris Technologies confirmed a successful deployment for its first perimeter truss reflector onboard the ViaSat-3 Flight 3 satellite. SpaceX launched.

2 Sources

2026-08-04T13:45:35.834973-07:00

Satellite LEO Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Endeavor Optical Networks Emerges From Stealth to Build Optical MEO Data Transfer

By Via Satellite: A new startup Endeavor Optical Networks emerged from stealth on Tuesday, with a plan to build an optical satellite network in Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) for space-based data transfer.

1 Source

2026-08-04T13:30:18.229748-07:00

Satellite

Bloomberg • Steven Church

EchoStar’s Hughes Wins Approval to Use Lender Cash in Bankruptcy

By Bloomberg: A judge has allowed Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. to use noteholders’ cash to keep operating for the next four weeks, after a two-day court fight over how the company will pay its bills while in bankruptcy.

1 Source

2026-08-04T13:14:38.916269-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera, Chris Bergin

While SpaceX recovers Ship 40, Ship 41 prepares for testing ahead of Flight 14

By NASA Spaceflight: SpaceX is recovering the intact Ship 40 from the Indian Ocean after its soft landing on Flight 13, while teams are readying Ship 41 for engine testing at Massey’s and continuing Pad 2 work toward a potential Flight 14 as early as late August.

1 Source

2026-08-04T09:30:40.040116-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

NOAA purchases Spire hyperspectral microwave sounder data

By SpaceNews.com: SAN FRANCISCO – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will continue to evaluate data from Spire Global’s Hyperspectral Microwave Sounder (HyMS) under a $3 million contract extension announced Aug.

1 Source

2026-08-04T13:14:46.943874-07:00

Satellite LEO Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Sustainability & Climate Initiatives

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

2026-08-03T21:15:29.391980-07:00

Voyager seeks more flexibility in NASA’s commercial space station requirements for Starlab

SpaceX to Launch Three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird Direct-to-Cell Satellites on Aug. 5

L3Harris Confirms Successful Deployment for First Perimeter Truss Reflector on ViaSat-3

Endeavor Optical Networks Emerges From Stealth to Build Optical MEO Data Transfer

EchoStar’s Hughes Wins Approval to Use Lender Cash in Bankruptcy

While SpaceX recovers Ship 40, Ship 41 prepares for testing ahead of Flight 14

NOAA purchases Spire hyperspectral microwave sounder data

Kreios Space to fly VLEO demonstration in NanoAvionics bus

Kreios Space to Demo Air-breathing Electric Propulsion in VLEO With NanoAvionics

Rubicon ASCENT thruster moves from hot-fire testing to production

Voyager seeks relaxed requirements in NASA commercial space station RFP

SpaceX to Launch Three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird Direct-to-Cell Satellites on Aug. 5

L3Harris Confirms Successful Deployment for First Perimeter Truss Reflector on ViaSat-3

Endeavor Optical Networks Emerges From Stealth to Build Optical MEO Data Transfer

NOAA purchases Spire hyperspectral microwave sounder data

EchoStar’s Hughes Wins Approval to Use Lender Cash in Bankruptcy

Military demand shapes market for satellite propulsion

Future of Crew Dragon weighs on commercial spaceflight industry

Rocketdyne reemerges as standalone space company

SpaceX’s new Starfall program offers validation and competition for reentry startups

SpaceX’s first public earnings report puts Starlink growth, launch capacity and a potential Tesla merger in focus

SpaceX faces first earnings test as insider lockups expire and short interest reaches $23.6 billion

ArianeGroup Keeps MaiaSpace Operating Despite Negative Equity

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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