China   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
Bloomberg • Pui Gwen Yeung

Hong Kong’s first astronaut joins Shenzhou-23 mission en route to China’s Tiangong space station

Hong Kong’s inaugural astronaut—an ex-police officer with a doctorate in computer forensics—will launch with China’s Shenzhou-23 crew and join the Tiangong space-station mission Sunday, with Chief Executive John Lee calling it a “historic moment.” Separate live reporting at Jiuquan covered press interactions with the Shenzhou-23 crew.

Also: CGTN China and CNA
2026-05-22T22:42:22.261557-07:00
Event   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space  
CNBC • Lora Kolodny

SpaceX launches Starship test flight on second try

By CNBC: SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket on Friday, a day after the company scrubbed plans before takeoff.

Also: Financial Times and startuphub.ai
2026-05-22T15:11:29.205994-07:00
Viasat   Satellite   Space Force   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force awards Viasat, SES $437 million for military satellite network

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded satellite operators Viasat and SES contracts worth a combined $437.6 million to build communications satellites for a new military network designed to withstand jamming and cyber attacks.

Also: Defense Daily, Seeking Alpha and insidedefense.com
2026-05-22T16:31:01.439487-07:00
Space Exploration & Science Missions   Policy & Regulation   NASA  
NASA • Cheryl Warner

NASA to Compete Contract for Jet Propulsion Laboratory Management

By NASA: NASA announced plans Friday to compete the next contract for managing and operating the agency’s federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in Southern California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), to ensure continued accountability and strong value for U.S.

Also: Space.com, nasawatch.com and nasawatch.com
2026-05-22T08:05:08.321587-07:00
Satellite   Policy & Regulation  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Canada, Costa Rica, GSMA struggle with how to regulate D2D using satellite spectrum and avoid 'Wild West' scenario

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — Telecom regulators in Canada and Costa Rica, whose territories include large areas uncovered by terrestrial cellular, said they are grappling with satellite direct-to-device (D2D) service using mobile satellite (MSS) spectrum and how to enforce regulatory compliance by these services.

2026-05-22T12:40:32.605961-07:00