Satellite   Space Force   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

DiskSat: NASA and the U.S. Space Force test pizza‑shaped smallsat bus for unmatched power‑to‑weight

DiskSat is a flat, disk‑shaped smallsat bus that proponents say offers a power‑to‑weight ratio unmatched by traditional aluminum spacecraft. NASA and the U.S. Space Force are testing the design to leverage higher electrical power and surface area for more capable payloads and experiments in low Earth orbit.

2025-12-18T19:21:54.283630-08:00
Mars   China   NBAA-BACE   Satellite   BizAv   Leadership   Moon   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation  
NASA • Jessica Taveau

NASA Welcomes 15th Administrator Jared Isaacman

By NASA: Jared Isaacman was sworn in Thursday as NASA's 15th administrator by District Judge Timothy J. Kelly. The oath was taken during a ceremony held at the.

Also: AeroTime, Spaceflight Now, SpaceWatch Global, Aerospace America, SpaceNews.com, orbitaltoday.com, CBS News, mynews13.com, spaceanddefense.io, spacecoastdaily.com, nss.org, Times of India and 14 more
2025-12-18T10:11:06.248552-08:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation  
Bloomberg • Sana Pashankar; Loren Grush

Trump Signs Executive Order to Protect NASA’s Artemis Program, Directs Plans for Moon Outpost

By Bloomberg: President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to return astronauts to the moon through NASA’s Artemis space program with an eye toward building a permanent lunar presence.

Also: Reuters, Via Satellite, Payload, Space Policy Online, Space Daily, CNA, CTV News and Bloomberg Law
2025-12-18T13:18:46.282079-08:00
Blue Origin   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation  
Bloomberg • Loren Grush; Edward Ludlow

NASA Chief Fuels SpaceX-Blue Origin Rivalry in Moon Push

By Bloomberg: NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, said the agency will pick whichever company builds its moon lander the fastest — whether that be Elon Musk’s SpaceX or Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin — to put humans on the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.

Also: Bloomberg Law
2025-12-18T14:29:38.648297-08:00
Satellite   LEO   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Debris & Traffic Management  
Reuters • Juby Babu

SpaceX loses contact with Starlink satellite after on-orbit anomaly that generated debris

By Reuters: SpaceX's Starlink said one of its satellites experienced an anomaly in space on Wednesday that created a "small number" of debris and cut off communications with the spacecraft at 418 km (259.73 miles) in altitude, a rare kinetic accident in orbit for the satellite internet giant.

Also: PCMag, CNA, techstartups.com and stocktwits.com
2025-12-18T09:55:24.907042-08:00