Satellite   Africa  
SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

AMSAF launched in Addis Ababa to expand Africa’s next-generation weather nowcasting

The African Meteorological Satellite Application Facility (AMSAF) has launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a mandate to strengthen nowcasting and weather-based decision-making across African countries using next-generation satellite data. The facility is positioned to improve the timeliness of meteorological products supporting aviation and other operations.

2026-05-19T01:23:41.112927-07:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Workforce & Skills Development  
Wall Street Journal • Micah Maidenberg

Contractor Dies at SpaceX’s Starbase Facility in Texas

By Wall Street Journal: Workplace accident came days before the Elon Musk-led company plans to launch a new version of its Starship rocket.

Also: Bloomberg and TechCrunch
2026-05-18T14:54:56.974199-07:00
Satellite   Europe   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
SpaceNews.com • Mike Gruss

European imaging companies step in to fill warzone gap

By SpaceNews.com: MILAN – As U.S. satellite imagery companies have pulled back from sharing visuals of Iran and the broader area around the Gulf conflict, European Earth-observation firms are moving to fill the vacuum.

2026-05-18T12:45:23.503864-07:00
Satellite   Commercial Space  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Maritime connectivity provider KVH: Starlink, OneWeb now 45% of revenue, vs 30% a year ago; 3,100 units shipped in Q1

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland —Maritime connectivity service provider KVH Industries reported a 27% increase in revenue and a sharply reduced operating loss for the three months ending March 31 and said its business is on the way to being provided mainly by SpaceX Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb LEO services.

2026-05-18T12:10:31.921598-07:00
MRO   Space Force   Supply Chain   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Air Force looks to convert offshore oil rigs into rocket recovery platforms

By DefenseNews.com: An Air Force plan calls for old oil platforms to become Sea-based Recovery Stations for the U.S. Space Force and private spaceflight companies.

Also: AirForceTimes, news.ssbcrack.com and Military Times
2026-05-18T08:53:46.937333-07:00
Europe   ESA   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

ESA, CNES sign off on three-year, $1.16-billion investment in Europe's Guiana Space Center spaceport

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — The European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency, CNES, have signed a three-year commitment to maintain and upgrade Europe’s equatorial Guiana Space Center spaceport with a combined investment of 1 billion euros ($1.16 billion).

2026-05-18T10:23:53.882356-07:00