Event Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Spaceflight Now • Stephen Clark

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

SpaceX is preparing a Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base with a south-southwesterly trajectory and an attempt to complete its 600th Falcon 9 booster landing. The effort underscores the company’s cadence-driven reuse operations and ongoing integration of Starlink flights into that landing-recovery loop.

2026-04-17T23:59:22.130000-07:00

China Satellite Supply Chain

Reuters

Beijing set to launch Satellite Town as China's aerospace industry grows

By Reuters: The core area of Beijing's Satellite Town, designed as a hub for satellite manufacturers and operators, will be completed in the second half of 2026, state-owned media Beijing Daily reported on Saturday.

2026-04-18T00:43:51.940107-07:00

Leadership Workforce & Skills Development NASA

NASA • Jennifer M Dooren

NASA, OPM Announce New NASA Force Website, Open Job Applications

By NASA: NASA and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) launched the NASA Force website on Friday, opening applications for.

Flying Magazine

NASA Force Applications Open

Also: NASA and spacecoastdaily.com

2026-04-17T10:19:26.110140-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Space Debris & Traffic Management Asia-Pacific (APAC)

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete third spacewalk, mission extended by a month

By SpaceNews.com: Shenzhou-21 astronauts complete third spacewalk, mission extended by a month China’s Shenzhou-21 astronauts conducted an extravehicular activity outside the Tiangong space station Thursday, installing debris-protection hardware and inspecting the orbital outpost.

Also: South China Morning Post and china-in-space.com

2026-04-17T11:21:17.449783-07:00

China Satellite LEO Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous tests in orbit

By SpaceNews.com: Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous tests in orbit China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite in a step towards low-cost orbital infrastructure.

2026-04-17T10:14:43.420209-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Mike Wall

Artemis 2's heat shield seems to have aced its trial by fire

By Space.com: "We leaned under and looked at the bottom of that thing, and for four humans just looking at the heat shield, it looked wonderful to us.".

Also: Military.com

2026-04-17T06:14:26.590771-07:00

Satellite Supply Chain Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

investors.rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab Unveils New Electric Propulsion Satellite Thruster to Meet Constellation Demand | Tue, 04/14/2026

By investors.rocketlabcorp.com: LONG BEACH, Calif., April 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today introduced a new electric satellite thruster designed for high-volume production to meet the growing demand for.