Space News

China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Policy & International Cooperation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact NASA

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Former NASA chief warns China’s lunar exploration strategy could establish 21st-century strategic dominance

A former NASA chief is raising concerns that Beijing’s lunar exploration plans extend beyond scientific discovery, describing them as an intended strategy to dominate the “high ground of the twenty-first century.” The warning frames lunar activity as a strategic and geopolitical competition.

1 Source

2026-09-23T10:21:38.169379-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Josh Dinner

SpaceX Starship Flight 14 live updates: Vehicle stacked less than one week until Starship's first orbital launch attempt

By Space.com: Follow live updates as SpaceX prepares its latest Starship rocket for the vehicle's first orbital launch attempt. The company is currently targeting Sept.

Also: Space.com and The Independent

3 Sources

2026-09-23T08:50:03.693369-07:00

AI Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

AstroForge Plans First Fully Autonomous Asteroid-Mining Mission for 2027

By Space.com: AstroForge plans to launch the first-ever totally autonomous space mission in 2027, potentially paving the way for a new era of exploration.

1 Source

2026-09-23T08:05:50.733544-07:00

Moon Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space NASA

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

Vast Announces New Lunar Programs Division

By Payload: The space infrastructure company is establishing a Lunar Programs division to support NASA’s Moon Base ambitions.

SpaceNews.com

Vast Expands Space Station Technology Into Lunar Infrastructure

2 Sources

2026-09-23T06:05:42.292375-07:00

ArianeGroup Europe ESA Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Policy & International Cooperation

Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

EU Commission: EU governments will need 14 Ariane 6 missions in 2031. Production now is 10 per year, so we have a problem

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — European Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius clearly laid out the problem statement: In the coming five years, European government launch demand will exceed Europe’s current launch capacity.

1 Source

2026-09-23T06:56:00.572494-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Sana Pashankar

Startup Hubble Reaches Unicorn Status for Space-Based Bluetooth

By Bloomberg: Satellite startup Hubble Network raised $200 million in a new funding round, taking the company’s valuation to $1.6 billion as it works to enable global Bluetooth connectivity through a network of spacecraft.

Also: GeekWire

2 Sources

2026-09-23T06:20:32.498433-07:00

Commercial Space

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Exclusive: Outpost Launches In-Space Manufacturing Service

By Payload: Outpost will be the first user of the Space Factory platform. The company plans to use the module to produce StarFiber, its next-gen metal fluoride optical fiber, on a mission NET 2028.

1 Source

2026-09-23T06:05:42.263686-07:00

Satellite Europe Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Torsten Kriening

Planet Berlin - Robbie Schingler on Opening Planet's First Satellite Factory Outside California

By SpaceWatch Global: Planet co-founder Robbie Schingler on opening the company's Berlin satellite factory, its first outside California, and his vision of planetary intelligence and large earth models.

1 Source

2026-09-23T05:06:30.634654-07:00

Former NASA chief warns China’s lunar exploration strategy could establish 21st-century strategic dominance

SpaceX Starship Flight 14 live updates: Vehicle stacked less than one week until Starship's first orbital launch attempt

AstroForge Plans First Fully Autonomous Asteroid-Mining Mission for 2027

Vast Announces New Lunar Programs Division

Vast Expands Space Station Technology Into Lunar Infrastructure

EU Commission: EU governments will need 14 Ariane 6 missions in 2031. Production now is 10 per year, so we have a problem

Startup Hubble Reaches Unicorn Status for Space-Based Bluetooth

Exclusive: Outpost Launches In-Space Manufacturing Service

Planet Berlin - Robbie Schingler on Opening Planet's First Satellite Factory Outside California

Former NASA chief sounds alarm on China’s lunar “exploration” plans

SpaceX Starship Flight 14 live updates: Vehicle stacked less than one week until Starship's first orbital launch attempt

AstroForge Plans First Fully Autonomous Asteroid-Mining Mission for 2027

EU Commission: EU governments will need 14 Ariane 6 missions in 2031. Production now is 10 per year, so we have a problem

Startup Hubble Reaches Unicorn Status for Space-Based Bluetooth

Exclusive: Outpost Launches In-Space Manufacturing Service

Exclusive: Astrolab, Interstellar Mapping Hunt Lunar Water

A new report from Europe raises serious alarms about orbital collisions

Chinese launch startup Space Epoch raises $343 million

Italy Commits More Than $5 Billion to NASA Moon Base Program, Administrator Says

SpaceX’s Starship nears first orbital flight as Starfall secures commercial missions for 2028 and 2029

Satellite industry grapples with SpaceX’s planned end of commercial Falcon 9 launches

Rocket Supply Crunch Tightens Access to Space as SpaceX Winds Down Flagship Vehicle

Europe advances sovereign LEO connectivity through OneWeb rail trials, Sateliot’s ESA selection and Axiom partnership

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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