Space News

Satellite Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Yash Roy

Muon Space raises $250 million from Google and Salesforce Ventures after launching 11 satellites

Muon Space has raised $250 million from Alphabet’s Google and Salesforce Ventures after deploying 11 satellites and opening a California manufacturing facility. The funding strengthens the satellite startup’s capital base as it expands from orbital deployments into in-house production capacity.

1 Source

2026-08-20T03:21:23.284901-07:00

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

By Spaceflight Now: SpaceX is slated to launch its 75th batch of Starlink satellites of the year on a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida late Thursday morning.

3 Sources

2026-08-20T02:13:31.888101-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Space.com • Mike Wall

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit today

By Space.com: Rocket Lab will launch its ninth mission for the Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS this morning (Aug. 20), and you can watch the action live.

2 Sources

2026-08-19T21:13:15.176159-07:00

Satellite LEO Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space NASA

New York Times • Kenneth Chang

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

By New York Times: NASA’s Swift Observatory, which studies some of the most powerful explosions in the universe, will soon burn up in the atmosphere.

New Scientist

NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescope

SpaceWatch Global

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

Also: Aviation Week, Economic Times, CNA, The Independent and 6 more

17 Sources

2026-08-19T13:21:09.555648-07:00

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Space Debris & Traffic Management NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

By SpaceNews.com: Katalyst Space and NASA have called off plans to use the company’s Link spacecraft to raise the orbit of the agency’s Swift gamma-ray observatory.

Ars Technica

NASA calls off mission to rescue Swift gamma-ray observatory

Bloomberg

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Also: Via Satellite, Space.com, Reuters, Aerospace America, douglasmmessier.substack.com, Space Policy Online, NBC News, CNN, The Independent and CBS News

15 Sources

2026-08-19T12:40:44.639330-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Eleanor Day

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

By NASA Spaceflight: While Starship is grabbing headlines, another fully reusable vehicle is advancing towards a potential 2026 debut. Nova, developed by Stoke Space, is a medium-lift vehicle that has reached several key milestones for its maiden launch over the last few weeks, including vehicle mating.

1 Source

2026-08-19T14:05:16.563332-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

By European Spaceflight: ATMOS Space Cargo has completed an initial study into the development of its Phoenix 3 spacecraft as the inaugural flight of Phoenix 2 slips to 2027.

2 Sources

2026-08-19T12:35:06.281894-07:00

AI M&A Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Edward Ludlow, Natasha Mascarenhas, Rebecca Torrence

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

By Bloomberg: SpaceX approached artificial intelligence coding startup Cognition AI Inc. about a potential acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would have been its second large takeover in recent months to gain ground in the AI race.

Also: Seeking Alpha and Yahoo Finance

3 Sources

2026-08-19T12:21:16.436963-07:00

Muon Space raises $250 million from Google and Salesforce Ventures after launching 11 satellites

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit today

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescope

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

NASA calls off mission to rescue Swift gamma-ray observatory

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit today

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

Orbital Data Centers Become Europe’s Latest Cosmic Challenge

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Completes Second Orbital Flight With First-Stage Landing

NASA releases sharpest images yet of crater formed by SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on the Moon

SpaceX Plans Three Starlink Launches as China Schedules Reusable-Booster Test and Chang’e 7 Lunar Mission

Satellite connectivity buildout advances with Globalstar deployment, IRIS² milestone, Viasat- Rocket Lab contract and ReOrbit R&

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