Space News

Mars Space Exploration & Science Missions

Space.com • Charles Q. Choi

Scientists engineer microbe that could support future Mars settlement

A nonprofit biotechnology research startup says it has engineered a microbe that may one day help support human settlement on Mars. The article provides no details on the organism’s capabilities, development stage or deployment plans, so its potential remains preliminary.

1 Source

2026-10-09T09:05:44.957525-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Parsonson

Poland’s SpaceForest completes fourth flight of suborbital PERUN rocket

By SpaceNews.com: JOHANNESBURG — Polish rocket builder SpaceForest completed the fourth launch of its suborbital PERUN rocket, calling it the vehicle’s most successful test to date.

1 Source

2026-10-09T09:36:05.617749-07:00

Satellite Project Kuiper Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Amazon Leo: We're on track for initial service this year; Vulcan, Ariane 6 launches expected 'within weeks'

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — Amazon Leo said it still expects to begin initial broadband service this year following the company’s first launch on the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket and its third flight on Europe’s Ariane 64 vehicle — both expected “in the coming weeks,” Amazon said.

1 Source

2026-10-09T08:54:43.056955-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Ryan Weber

Ship 40 Returns Home as Ship 42 gets more Cryo Proof Testing

By NASA Spaceflight: Ship 42 for Flight 15 has headed back out to Massey’s for more cryo-proof testing as SpaceX speeds up overall vehicle production. And after 75 days at sea, Ship 40 from Flight 13 has returned home to Texas and is slated to return to the production site.

1 Source

2026-10-09T07:50:39.361053-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

NASA Signs Space Nuclear Pact, Says Moon Base Is Ahead of Schedule

By Payload: Isaacman gave updates on NASA's nuclear and Moon Base efforts during appearances at the White House's “Science: A New Golden Age Summit.".

1 Source

2026-10-09T05:54:57.536086-07:00

ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit

By European Spaceflight: The Italian Space Agency is exploring the possibility of building an orbital platform capable of generating artificial gravity.

1 Source

2026-10-09T07:04:58.697188-07:00

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Exclusive: Kapta Space Raises $24M Series A to Build Moving Target Radar Payload

By Payload: Seattle-based Kapta Space announced a $24M Series A to build next-gen radar payloads designed to track moving targets.

Also: SpaceNews.com

2 Sources

2026-10-09T06:06:16.397116-07:00

defense Space Defense & Militarization

Space.com • Micah Hanks

Did the Soviet Union really fire a cannon from a space station?

By Space.com: According to some reports, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union mounted a rapid-fire cannon aboard a secretive military space station.

1 Source

2026-10-09T08:06:19.237129-07:00

Scientists engineer microbe that could support future Mars settlement

Poland’s SpaceForest completes fourth flight of suborbital PERUN rocket

Amazon Leo: We're on track for initial service this year; Vulcan, Ariane 6 launches expected 'within weeks'

Ship 40 Returns Home as Ship 42 gets more Cryo Proof Testing

NASA Signs Space Nuclear Pact, Says Moon Base Is Ahead of Schedule

Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit

Exclusive: Kapta Space Raises $24M Series A to Build Moving Target Radar Payload

Did the Soviet Union really fire a cannon from a space station?

Poland’s SpaceForest completes fourth flight of suborbital PERUN rocket

Scientists engineer microbe to help humanity settle Mars

Amazon Leo: We're on track for initial service this year; Vulcan, Ariane 6 launches expected 'within weeks'

Did the Soviet Union really fire a cannon from a space station?

Ship 40 Returns Home as Ship 42 gets more Cryo Proof Testing

Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit

The rideshare era is ending. Small satellites need anchor customers for small launch, now.

Russia may turn to nuclear space weapons to counter U.S. missile defenses, report says

Trump awards SpaceX founder Elon Musk National Medal of Science

ESA Releases AI-Powered Earth Virtual Expert (EVE) to Make Earth Observation Knowledge more Accessible

SpaceX acquires nationwide low-band spectrum to expand Starlink into U.S. mobile service

South Korea’s Nuri completes fifth launch, deploying 14 of 15 satellites as Hanwha takes larger role

Musk accuses Indian oligarchs of delaying Starlink as New Delhi defends satellite internet approval process

Margaret Hamilton, whose software helped land Apollo 11 on the moon, dies at 90

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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