Space News

Space Force ULA Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force to review Vulcan commercial flights before clearing national security missions

United Launch Alliance is preparing to return Vulcan to flight with an Amazon Leo mission, but the Space Force will conduct a separate review before permitting the rocket to resume national security launches. The process adds an additional gate between Vulcan’s commercial return and military mission certification.

1 Source

2026-09-16T14:25:45.757061-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Associated Press • Marcia Dunn

NASA spacecraft discovers a huge new crater on the moon

By Associated Press: Scientists have discovered a crater on the moon that's bigger than the Roman Colosseum, the result of a powerful impact two years ago.

science.nasa.gov

NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater

newsroom.usra.edu

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Discovers a New 222-m Diameter Lunar Crater

Also: CBS News and 3 more

8 Sources

2026-09-16T14:06:14.464138-07:00

Satellite Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Space Force names GMTI program, selects Northrop Grumman as prime

By Breaking Defense: Separately, the Space Force plans to issue the first operational contracts for space domain awareness to commercial firms “very soon,” according to Space Force Col.

Also: Aviation Week

2 Sources

2026-09-16T13:35:37.587016-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket-landing team gets 1st-ever Neil Armstrong Space Prize

By Space.com: The SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Landing Team received the first-ever Neil Armstrong Space Prize during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night (Sept.

1 Source

2026-09-16T13:05:06.130555-07:00

Satellite Supply Chain Europe North America Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

EnduroSat raises $205 million to accelerate satellite production in US and Europe

By SpaceNews.com: EnduroSat has raised $205 million to ramp up satellite production in Europe and the United States as demand grows for its “constellation-as-a-service” model, the Bulgarian manufacturer announced Sept.

Also: Via Satellite

2 Sources

2026-09-16T12:51:19.317961-07:00

Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Impulse Space raises an additional $308 million

By SpaceNews.com: In-space mobility company Impulse Space has added $308 million to a $500 million funding round the company announced in June.

1 Source

2026-09-16T12:40:43.756978-07:00

Satellite Space Force Space Defense & Militarization

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

SPACECOM needs more capabilities to target space adversaries: Whiting

By Breaking Defense: SPACECOM also is focusing on developing the baseline capabilities, such as space domain awareness and satellite communications, to undertake cislunar operations, said Gen.

1 Source

2026-09-16T12:20:30.641463-07:00

Satellite Europe

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

European MNOs Disagree on the Value of Satellite D2D

By Via Satellite: Connectivity European MNOs Disagree on the Value of Satellite D2D By Rachel Jewett Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Via Satellite archive illustration PARIS — How important will direct-to-device services be to mobile network operator offerings?.

1 Source

2026-09-16T12:55:39.517387-07:00

Space Force to review Vulcan commercial flights before clearing national security missions

NASA spacecraft discovers a huge new crater on the moon

NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Discovers a New 222-m Diameter Lunar Crater

Space Force names GMTI program, selects Northrop Grumman as prime

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket-landing team gets 1st-ever Neil Armstrong Space Prize

EnduroSat raises $205 million to accelerate satellite production in US and Europe

Impulse Space raises an additional $308 million

SPACECOM needs more capabilities to target space adversaries: Whiting

European MNOs Disagree on the Value of Satellite D2D

Space Force to review Vulcan commercial flights before clearing military missions

NASA spacecraft discovers a huge new crater on the moon

Space Force names GMTI program, selects Northrop Grumman as prime

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket-landing team gets 1st-ever Neil Armstrong Space Prize

European MNOs Disagree on the Value of Satellite D2D

EnduroSat raises $205 million to accelerate satellite production in US and Europe

Musk Backer Valor Hands Investors $8.5 Billion of SpaceX (1)

Roman Space Telescope starts waking up as NASA powers on instruments for the 1st time

India’s satcom market is ready for scale as regulation, pricing and use cases align

Satellite Firms Pursue Deals to Compete With SpaceX in Direct-to-Device Connectivity

Avio completes second successful Vega C launch of 2026 with FLEX and Sentinel-3C

Satellite constellation activity accelerates as allies fund military communications and commercial operators expand production

Space-sector announcements span satellite inspection, rapid Earth imagery, direct-to-device connectivity and lunar exploration

SpaceX targets Sept. 22 for Starship’s first orbital test, with 26 Starlink V3 satellites

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Jared Isaacman on NASA’s New Era

Russia launches Progress 96 with 3 tons of cargo to the space station (video)

Isar Aerospace ready to begin commercial Spectrum launches

Space threats prompt Europe to bolster domestic capabilities and strengthen alliances

KSAT Expands Satellite Services through Intuitive Machines and PierSight Collaborations

Nigeria Moves Ahead With Satellite Upgrade as Thales Wins NigComSat-2A Contract

HawkEye 360 Expands European Presence with Leonardo Partnership and Luxembourg Subsidiary

Hydrosat to provide thermal intelligence through commercial data and sovereign satellites