Space News

Space Force Space Defense & Militarization

Space.com • Brett Tingley

US military conducts first-ever live orbital dogfighting exercise

The U.S. military has conducted its first “live fly” exercise simulating orbital dogfighting, testing the ability to maneuver persistently and at scale in space. The exercise reflects a shift toward operationalizing space-based maneuver and contesting control of the orbital environment.

1 Source

2026-09-09T08:05:03.628568-07:00

Satellite ArianeGroup Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Policy & International Cooperation

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

ICEYE, Arianespace explore Ariane 6 launches for European missions

By AeroTime: ICEYE and Arianespace signed an MoU to explore Ariane 6 launches for European government missions as ICEYE expands satellite production.

1 Source

2026-09-09T07:05:24.057600-07:00

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

Bloomberg • Christopher Jungstedt

Europe Looks to a Future With Less SpaceX

By Bloomberg: The first orbital launch from continental Europe is helping the drive to reduce reliance on the Americans.

1 Source

2026-09-09T07:21:37.068047-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Besxar Flies Suborbital Semiconductor Demo

By Payload: Besxar recently flew its first mission, demonstrating that its future semiconductor-manufacturing tech works above the Kármán line.

SpaceNews.com

Besxar Tests Semiconductor-Production Hardware on SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

Also: TechCrunch and defence-blog.com

4 Sources

2026-09-09T05:35:12.424730-07:00

Europe ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Andy Tomaswick

BepiColombo Successfully Begins Its Final Descent To Mercury

By Universe Today: The latest mission to the innermost planet in the solar system hit a milestone last week. After an eight year journey, BepiColombo finally separated from its propulsion stage to set itself up for an orbital insertion to Mercury.

Also: ESA

2 Sources

2026-09-09T05:21:18.015103-07:00

Mars China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions

Space.com • Leonard David

China Says Tianwen 3 Mars Sample-Return Mission Remains on Track for 2028 Launch

By Space.com: "China will not only grab the headlines but may be the first to find evidence of life on another planet.".

Also: Leonard David and china-in-space.com

3 Sources

2026-09-09T03:05:35.605486-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Eutelsat Taps Infinite Orbits for GEO Life Extension Mission

By Payload: Eutelsat announced an agreement today tasking the Infinite Orbits with increasing the life span of at least one of its GEO sats.

SpaceNews.com

Eclipse Space unveils three satellite platforms and Gama power partnership

Payload

Eclipse Space Unveils Three Satellite Platforms for Constellations

6 Sources

2026-09-09T02:06:51.046487-07:00

Satellite AI Middle East Commercial Space

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Loft Orbital, Marlan Space to build 50-satellite AI-enabled imaging constellation with $1B from Royal Group of Abu Dhabi

By Space Intel Report: PARIS — Satellite builder Loft Orbital and UAE-based Marlan Space announced a billion-dollar investment by Royal Group of Abu Dhabi into a 50-satellite constellation using AI to deliver optical and radar imaging products to Europe and the United Arab Emirates.

4 Sources

2026-09-09T02:50:36.804852-07:00

US military conducts first-ever live orbital dogfighting exercise

ICEYE, Arianespace explore Ariane 6 launches for European missions

Europe Looks to a Future With Less SpaceX

Besxar Flies Suborbital Semiconductor Demo

Besxar Tests Semiconductor-Production Hardware on SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

BepiColombo Successfully Begins Its Final Descent To Mercury

China Says Tianwen 3 Mars Sample-Return Mission Remains on Track for 2028 Launch

Eutelsat Taps Infinite Orbits for GEO Life Extension Mission

Eclipse Space unveils three satellite platforms and Gama power partnership

Eclipse Space Unveils Three Satellite Platforms for Constellations

Loft Orbital, Marlan Space to build 50-satellite AI-enabled imaging constellation with $1B from Royal Group of Abu Dhabi

US military practices orbital dogfighting in 1st-ever 'live fly' exercise in space

Europe Looks to a Future With Less SpaceX

ICEYE, Arianespace explore Ariane 6 launches for European missions

Besxar Flies Suborbital Semiconductor Demo

BepiColombo Successfully Begins Its Final Descent To Mercury

China Says Tianwen 3 Mars Sample-Return Mission Remains on Track for 2028 Launch

The Exploration Company nabs $450 million to challenge SpaceX

International Space Summit to highlight European and global space issues

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

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

Artemis III SLS stacking advances as Orion results validate trajectory fix

Stoke Space raises $1 billion to scale its fully reusable Nova rocket

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

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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