Space News

Satellite Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

U.S. Space Force awards SpaceX $1.6 billion for military Falcon 9 launches

The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract covering two military launch efforts using Falcon 9 rockets. The award underscores Falcon 9’s role in national-security space access, as SpaceX also prepares to launch three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral.

1 Source

2026-08-04T23:59:13.467761-07:00

Satellite Europe Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation

NEW

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Think tank warns Europe’s orbital compute gap is widening

By SpaceNews.com: Europe risks becoming dependent on foreign orbital computing infrastructure as U.S. companies and China’s government-led push accelerate the development of space-based data centers, according to the European Space Policy Institute.

1 Source

2026-08-05T01:01:22.817719-07:00

Satellite Europe Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Neuraspace raises $18 million to expand sovereign space awareness

By SpaceNews.com: Neuraspace, the Portuguese space traffic management startup, announced around $18 million in fresh funding Aug. 5 to expand European space domain awareness and defense capabilities.

1 Source

2026-08-04T23:14:27.060020-07:00

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

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Voyager seeks relaxed requirements in NASA commercial space station RFP

By SpaceNews.com: Voyager Technologies remains upbeat about the prospects for its Starlab commercial space station but is hoping for some tweaks to NASA’s plans.

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

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

U.S. Space Force awards SpaceX $1.6 billion for military Falcon 9 launches

Think tank warns Europe’s orbital compute gap is widening

Neuraspace raises $18 million to expand sovereign space awareness

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

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

Think tank warns Europe’s orbital compute gap is widening

SpaceX launches 3 AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

Neuraspace raises $18 million to expand sovereign space awareness

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

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

NOAA purchases Spire hyperspectral microwave sounder data

Military demand shapes market for satellite propulsion

Rocketdyne reemerges as standalone space company

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.

More in Space

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

Kreios Space to fly VLEO demonstration in NanoAvionics bus

ESA Astronaut Completes Third Test of EuroSuit Prototype Aboard ISS

Future of Crew Dragon weighs on commercial spaceflight industry

SpaceX posts loss in first report as a public company but less than expected

NASA Selects Lunar Outpost to Advance its 'Starweave' Autonomous Robotic Swarm Software

SpaceX Investors Are Ready to Quiz Musk Over Ever-Closer Ties With Tesla

Launch Preview: Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, and Chinese missions fill launch manifest