Space News

Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

JAXA’s Hayabusa2 completes first laser-ranging experiment during an asteroid flyby

JAXA says Hayabusa2 achieved the first successful laser-ranging experiment conducted during an asteroid flyby on July 5, 2026. The milestone demonstrates the spacecraft’s ability to use laser measurements while passing an asteroid, extending the mission’s scientific and operational capabilities.

1 Source

2026-09-08T16:16:16.687979-07:00

FCC Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

By SpaceNews.com: The FCC is poised to cement its longstanding practice of excluding constellations from environmental reviews, amid an unprecedented wave of proposals covering more than a million orbital data centers.

1 Source

2026-09-08T13:55:50.108734-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

By Via Satellite: Hyperspectral satellite startup Pixxel completed a $100 million funding raise that Pixxel says will fuel its growth in the U.S. and expansion into sensing.

Also: SpaceQ

2 Sources

2026-09-08T12:35:06.399122-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

By Via Satellite: German launch startup Isar Aerospace achieved the first successful commercial launch from Europe over the weekend, launching payloads on the second flight.

1 Source

2026-09-08T12:35:05.724956-07:00

Viasat Satellite Project Kuiper PaxEx North America Commercial Space Delta Air Lines

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity

By Via Satellite: AT&T Business has furthered its agreement with Amazon’s Amazon Leo constellation to offer “converged connectivity solutions” integrating satellite into fiber and 5G networks for business customers.

newsable.asianetnews.com

Delta’s Amazon Leo In-Flight Wi-Fi Transition Faces Potential Spectrum Dispute Snag

smallsatnews.com

AT&T and Amazon Leo Advance Strategic Fiber-to-Space Alliance to Challenge SpaceX Starlink

5 Sources

2026-09-08T12:35:06.498732-07:00

Europe ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Parsonson

ESA opens call for plant to produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters in Europe

By SpaceNews.com: BURG — The European Space Agency is moving ahead with plans to establish a pilot plant intended to produce sovereign European-manufactured americium-241 radioisotope heater units (RHUs), devices that use heat generated by radioactive decay to keep spacecraft components warm enough to operate, for future exploration missions.

1 Source

2026-09-08T11:00:41.521696-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

White House has lofty space launch ambitions, but experts question price tag

By Breaking Defense: The space industry lauded a new Trump administration 1,000-launches-a-year space policy, but experts told Breaking Defense that the current space infrastructure doesn’t have enough capacity and someone’s going to have to pay, potentially a lot, to change that.

1 Source

2026-09-08T09:20:28.495016-07:00

Satellite Space Debris & Traffic Management

Ars Technica • JENNIFER OUELLETTE

The secret to protecting next-gen spacecraft might be eggshells

By Ars Technica: 3D-printed aluminum eggshell arrays filled with water proved more effective at impact resistance.

1 Source

2026-09-08T09:38:03.319178-07:00

JAXA’s Hayabusa2 completes first laser-ranging experiment during an asteroid flyby

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity

Delta’s Amazon Leo In-Flight Wi-Fi Transition Faces Potential Spectrum Dispute Snag

AT&T and Amazon Leo Advance Strategic Fiber-to-Space Alliance to Challenge SpaceX Starlink

ESA opens call for plant to produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters in Europe

White House has lofty space launch ambitions, but experts question price tag

The secret to protecting next-gen spacecraft might be eggshells

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity

ESA opens call for plant to produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters in Europe

Infinite Orbits’ Marion Andrieux on Its New Toulouse AIT Facility and Satellite Services

Stoke Space Raises $1B Initial Series E Round

Former NGA director Frank Whitworth named president of Satellogic

ESA Set to Discuss Europe's Space Future at the International Space Summit in Paris

Artemis III SLS stacking advances as Orion results validate trajectory fix

SpaceX advances Starbase infrastructure as Flight 14 hardware moves toward the pad

MTG-I2 completes Meteosat Third Generation constellation as India’s EOS-05 begins ascent to geostationary orbit

Five orbital launches planned, including Falcon 9 missions for O3b mPOWER and USSF-153

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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