Space News

defense Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Axios • Thomas Novelly

Russian satellite approaches U.S. spacecraft serving Ukraine’s military

A Russian satellite has moved close to a U.S. satellite in a constellation that supports Ukraine’s military, raising concerns about Moscow’s intent. The report provides no further details on the spacecraft, the proximity or any operational effect, leaving the encounter’s immediate consequences unclear.

1 Source

2026-10-17T19:28:25.961773-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

New Research Reveals How Long Stays in Space Affects the Human Genome

By Universe Today: A new study in Science Advances addresses the pressing questions about how long-duration exposure to microgravity affects the human genome.

2 Sources

2026-10-17T16:54:42.715551-07:00

ISS Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space NASA

Space.com • Hanneke Weitering, Robert Z. Pearlman

On this day in space! Oct. 17, 2016: Private Antares rocket returns to flight after catastrophic launch explosion

By Space.com: On Oct. 17, 2016, the Antares rocket now built by Northrop Grumman Space Systems returned to flight to come back from a catastrophic explosion. Here's why it mattered.

Also: Science Daily, newspaceeconomy.ca and scitechdaily.com

4 Sources

2026-10-17T08:05:10.966115-07:00

defense UAV Development & Drone Programs Satellite Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Washington Post • Mary Ilyushina

As Ukraine worries about Starlink access, Russia is developing a system to match it

By Washington Post: Kyiv is pushing President Donald Trump for continued access to the military version of Elon Musk’s satellite internet service.

Bloomberg

SpaceX Starlink Cuts Hobbled Ukraine Before Russian Bombardment

The Hill

Ukraine faces grim question of whether it can take on Russia without US backing

Also: Axios, satnews.com, prm.ua, counteroffensive.news, Live and Let's Fly, Seeking Alpha and 7 more

22 Sources

2026-10-17T02:04:32.003956-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Bruce Dorminey

Enigmatic Mercury Will Remain A Puzzle Until Someone Sends A Lander

By Universe Today: Despite the upcoming Bepi Colombo visit to Mercury, we need a lander mission to fully understand our solar system’s innermost planet.

1 Source

2026-10-17T01:34:51.794248-07:00

Blue Origin Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Blue Origin is going all in on the New Glenn rocket

By Ars Technica: The infrastructure is designed to support multiple flights per week by the end of the decade.

SpaceNews.com

SpaceX proposing sharp increase in Starship launches from Texas

CNBC

Blue Origin plans $330 million Florida expansion to ramp New Glenn launches

Also: Spaceflight Now, Space.com, Reuters, Flying Magazine, Aviation Week, Aero-News, Seeking Alpha, Florida Today, Washington Post, CNN and 17 more

33 Sources

2026-10-16T03:05:19.152591-07:00

defense UAV Development & Drone Programs Satellite Project Kuiper Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The Hill • Alexander Bolton

Tillis calls on Pentagon inspector general to investigate Ukraine’s Starshield loss

By The Hill: Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) says he and his Senate colleagues will ask the Defense Department’s inspector general to investigate Ukraine’s sudden loss of access to the military version of Starlink, known as Starshield, which hampered Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones.

Reuters

EXCLUSIVE: Order to limit Starshield for Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say

Wall Street Journal

Ukraine Says New Limits on Starlink Are Disrupting Its Military Operations

Also: The Atlantic, Washington Post, politico.eu, DefenseNews.com, European Spaceflight, The War Zone, The Telegraph, defence-blog.com, Air Data News, SpaceWatch Global, CNBC, New York Times and 334 more

489 Sources

2026-10-15T05:35:59.640245-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Space.com • Mike Wall

'It really does change you': SpaceX Crew-12 commander wishes we could all see our fragile Earth from space

By Space.com: The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission wish that we could all see Earth as they just did — as a beautiful but fragile outpost of life in a vast void.

1 Source

2026-10-16T15:05:17.807317-07:00

Russian satellite approaches U.S. spacecraft serving Ukraine’s military

New Research Reveals How Long Stays in Space Affects the Human Genome

On this day in space! Oct. 17, 2016: Private Antares rocket returns to flight after catastrophic launch explosion

As Ukraine worries about Starlink access, Russia is developing a system to match it

SpaceX Starlink Cuts Hobbled Ukraine Before Russian Bombardment

Ukraine faces grim question of whether it can take on Russia without US backing

Enigmatic Mercury Will Remain A Puzzle Until Someone Sends A Lander

Blue Origin is going all in on the New Glenn rocket

SpaceX proposing sharp increase in Starship launches from Texas

Blue Origin plans $330 million Florida expansion to ramp New Glenn launches

Tillis calls on Pentagon inspector general to investigate Ukraine’s Starshield loss

EXCLUSIVE: Order to limit Starshield for Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say

Ukraine Says New Limits on Starlink Are Disrupting Its Military Operations

'It really does change you': SpaceX Crew-12 commander wishes we could all see our fragile Earth from space

Russia nears U.S. satellite, raising alarm about intent

New Research Reveals How Long Stays in Space Affects the Human Genome

On this day in space! Oct. 17, 2016: Private Antares rocket returns to flight after catastrophic launch explosion

As Ukraine worries about Starlink access, Russia is developing a system to match it

Enigmatic Mercury Will Remain A Puzzle Until Someone Sends A Lander

'It really does change you': SpaceX Crew-12 commander wishes we could all see our fragile Earth from space

Scientists find 'gemstones' in atmosphere of bizarre, scorching-hot 'marshmallow' exoplanet

A Radio Phoenix Beyond the Zone of Avoidance

Arqiva accelerates Middle East growth with landmark Gulfsat Satellite Services agreement

CesiumAstro to Add Manufacturing Facility in Melbourne, Florida

Ukraine says new Starlink limits are disrupting military drones and exposing reliance on private satellite networks

SpaceX seeks sharply more Starship launches as Blue Origin targets weekly New Glenn flights and Rocket Lab delays Neutron to 202

Gogo Galileo gains FAA approval for Citation jets as PlaneSense selects LEO Wi-Fi for its Pilatus fleet

UK awards ClearSpace $80 million contract for 2029 mission to de-orbit two defunct satellites

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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