Space News

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Rocket Lab flies fifth Electron in six weeks with Synspective radar satellite launch

Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on Sept. 18, marking the fifth Electron mission in roughly six weeks. The flight underscores the company’s accelerating launch cadence as it supports commercial Earth-observation customers with dedicated small-launch services.

1 Source

2026-09-19T03:06:41.469829-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

DLR’s Suborbital MAPHEUS-17 Mission to Launch as Early as 1 October

By European Spaceflight: DLR’s MAPHEUS-17 suborbital mission is slated to launch from Esrange in Sweden as early as 1 October.

1 Source

2026-09-18T22:05:17.913190-07:00

ISS Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Space.com • Mike Wall

Russia’s Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft to Arrive at International Space Station

By Space.com: Russia's Progress 96 cargo spacecraft will arrive at the International Space Station today (Sept. 19), and you can watch the action live.

1 Source

2026-09-18T23:20:09.436056-07:00

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

Reuters

SpaceX to fly more NASA crews to space station under expanded $5.92 billion deal

By Reuters: NASA said Friday that the agency had given SpaceX a $946 million contract to fly three more astronaut missions to the International Space Station, extending the company's crewed flights to the station ‌through 2030.

Wall Street Journal

NASA Explores New Missions With Boeing’s Troubled Starliner Spacecraft

Space.com

NASA awards SpaceX $946 million for 3 more astronaut missions to the ISS

Also: SpaceNews.com, Reuters, CNBC, Seeking Alpha, Yahoo Finance, newsable.asianetnews.com and 4 more

14 Sources

2026-09-18T10:35:38.220591-07:00

Mars China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions

NASA Spaceflight • Martin Smith

China Advances Mars Sample-Return Plans and Apophis Asteroid Mission

By NASA Spaceflight: As China integrates crewed and robotic missions to further its lunar exploration program, it is also advancing plans to return the first samples collected from Mars.

1 Source

2026-09-18T15:20:28.922398-07:00

Viasat Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Final ViaSat-3 enters service as SES wraps up O3b mPower launch campaign

By SpaceNews.com: The third and final terabit-class ViaSat-3 broadband satellite has entered service over the Americas, the U.S. operator announced Sept. 17, days after SpaceX launched the final three spacecraft for Luxembourg-based SES’ O3b mPower network.

2 Sources

2026-09-18T13:50:39.135752-07:00

ISS Europe ESA Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Space.com • Josh Dinner

Europe's new spacesuit still needs work, French ISS astronaut says: 'We are at the very beginning of its journey'

By Space.com: A new European-designed spacesuit has been tested aboard the International Space Station — and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot says the prototype still has some design kinks to work through.

1 Source

2026-09-18T11:06:01.059322-07:00

Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)

SpaceNews.com • Kelevitch

Record Maritime GPS Jamming Drives Demand for Navigation Resilience Away From Space-Based Systems

By SpaceNews.com: In the first quarter of this year, roughly 978,000 maritime GPS jamming events were recorded worldwide. Ninety-eight percent of them happened in one place: the Middle East Gulf.

1 Source

2026-09-18T08:25:45.093329-07:00

Rocket Lab flies fifth Electron in six weeks with Synspective radar satellite launch

DLR’s Suborbital MAPHEUS-17 Mission to Launch as Early as 1 October

Russia’s Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft to Arrive at International Space Station

SpaceX to fly more NASA crews to space station under expanded $5.92 billion deal

NASA Explores New Missions With Boeing’s Troubled Starliner Spacecraft

NASA awards SpaceX $946 million for 3 more astronaut missions to the ISS

China Advances Mars Sample-Return Plans and Apophis Asteroid Mission

Final ViaSat-3 enters service as SES wraps up O3b mPower launch campaign

Europe's new spacesuit still needs work, French ISS astronaut says: 'We are at the very beginning of its journey'

Record Maritime GPS Jamming Drives Demand for Navigation Resilience Away From Space-Based Systems

Rocket Lab continues high Electron cadence with Synspective launch

DLR’s Suborbital MAPHEUS-17 Mission to Launch as Early as 1 October

Russia’s Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft to Arrive at International Space Station

China Advances Mars Sample-Return Plans and Apophis Asteroid Mission

Final ViaSat-3 enters service as SES wraps up O3b mPower launch campaign

Europe's new spacesuit still needs work, French ISS astronaut says: 'We are at the very beginning of its journey'

Exclusive: Space Cargo Unlimited Booked a Third of its Starfall Capacity

Rocket Report: China wants a Raptor 3 engine; SpaceX set for big Starship test

NigComSat Buys Jupiter Gateway Access from Hughes for Upcoming 2A, 2B Satellites

Opinion: How Europe Can Close Its Space Competitiveness Gap

SpaceX targets Sept. 28 for Starship’s first orbital flight, with 26 V3 Starlink satellites

EnduroSat raises $205M as European NewSpace funding tops €1B in September

Satellite companies pursue alternatives to SpaceX through launch diversification, consolidation and direct-to-device deals

Satellite companies pursue alternatives to SpaceX through launch diversification, consolidation and direct-to-device deals

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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