Space News

China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China’s Chang’e-7 lunar ice-hunting mission set for Sunday launch

China is preparing to launch Chang’e-7 late Sunday on a complex, multi-spacecraft mission to study the lunar south pole and land nearby. The mission will search for evidence of water ice, a resource of significant interest in future lunar exploration and surface operations.

1 Source

2026-08-20T06:10:43.208533-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NEW

Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

By Payload: While Thornburg said Portal is expected to take up about half of the fairing with its own spacecraft, it’s working with launch integrator Maverick Space Systems to sell the other half to customers looking for rideshare opportunities in a turbulent market.

Also: SpaceNews.com

2 Sources

2026-08-20T06:05:12.356796-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Yash Roy

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

By Bloomberg: Satellite startup Muon Space Inc. closed a $250 million funding round, raising capital from Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Salesforce Ventures LLC after launching 11 satellites into orbit and opening a manufacturing facility in California.

1 Source

2026-08-20T03:21:23.284901-07:00

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

By Spaceflight Now: SpaceX is slated to launch its 75th batch of Starlink satellites of the year on a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida late Thursday morning.

3 Sources

2026-08-20T02:13:31.888101-07:00

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space Space Debris & Traffic Management NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

By SpaceNews.com: Katalyst Space and NASA have called off plans to use the company’s Link spacecraft to raise the orbit of the agency’s Swift gamma-ray observatory.

Ars Technica

NASA calls off mission to rescue Swift gamma-ray observatory

Bloomberg

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Also: Via Satellite, Space.com, Reuters, Aerospace America, douglasmmessier.substack.com, Space Policy Online, NBC News, CNN, The Independent and CBS News

15 Sources

2026-08-19T12:40:44.639330-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Space.com • Mike Wall

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit today

By Space.com: Rocket Lab will launch its ninth mission for the Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS this morning (Aug. 20), and you can watch the action live.

2 Sources

2026-08-19T21:13:15.176159-07:00

Satellite LEO Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space NASA

New York Times • Kenneth Chang

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

By New York Times: NASA’s Swift Observatory, which studies some of the most powerful explosions in the universe, will soon burn up in the atmosphere.

New Scientist

NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescope

SpaceWatch Global

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

Also: Aviation Week, Economic Times, CNA, The Verge, The Independent and 6 more

19 Sources

2026-08-19T13:21:09.555648-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Eleanor Day

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

By NASA Spaceflight: While Starship is grabbing headlines, another fully reusable vehicle is advancing towards a potential 2026 debut. Nova, developed by Stoke Space, is a medium-lift vehicle that has reached several key milestones for its maiden launch over the last few weeks, including vehicle mating.

1 Source

2026-08-19T14:05:16.563332-07:00

China’s Chang’e-7 lunar ice-hunting mission set for Sunday launch

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

NASA calls off mission to rescue Swift gamma-ray observatory

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit today

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescope

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

Stoke Space conducts second stage fit checks, completes first stage engines ahead of Nova debut

China's Chang'e-7 lunar ice-hunting mission set for Sunday launch

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

Watch Rocket Lab launch a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit today

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Completes Second Orbital Flight With First-Stage Landing

NASA releases sharpest images yet of crater formed by SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on the Moon

SpaceX Plans Three Starlink Launches as China Schedules Reusable-Booster Test and Chang’e 7 Lunar Mission

Satellite connectivity buildout advances with Globalstar deployment, IRIS² milestone, Viasat- Rocket Lab contract and ReOrbit R&

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

Orbital Data Centers Become Europe’s Latest Cosmic Challenge

Moog Inc. Expands METEORITE Satellite Bus Capacity for High-Maneuverability Missions

Zeno Power Books its First Nuclear Mission to the Moon

Touchdown! Private Chinese rocket aces landing on 2nd-ever flight (video)

The space industry’s next challenge: supply chain resilience

Intuitive Machines purchase of Maxar looks a lot better with 3-satellite order and orbital data center potential

Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon