Space News

defense China Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

U.S. intelligence says China could field orbital directed-energy weapons by late 2020s

U.S. intelligence assesses that China could deploy directed-energy weapons in orbit before the end of the decade. The report points to a potential expansion of military capabilities in space, though the article provides no further details on the systems or timeline.

1 Source

2026-10-26T16:20:39.270261-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Space.com • Michaela Musilova

Analog astronauts: How living underwater can prepare humans for space missions

By Space.com: Analog Astronaut Commander Dr. Musilova and her crew dove down to 22 feet underwater to live and work as aquanauts for several days during a simulated space mission in Florida.

1 Source

2026-10-26T14:05:04.241967-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Flexell Space

Flexell Space Establishes French Subsidiary to Strengthen European Presence

By SpaceNews.com: – Paris-based FLEXELL SPACE FRANCE SAS creates a local business hub in Europe – New entity to support ongoing contract and volume-production discussions with European customers, from technical reviews to supply planning Paris, France – Flexell Space, a space solar solution company, announced the establishment of its French entity, FLEXELL SPACE FRANCE SAS, in Paris to strengthen support for ongoing contract and volume-production discussions with European customers.

1 Source

2026-10-26T13:25:40.045856-07:00

Satellite Middle East

satnews.com

MBSat Selects ST Engineering iDirect Intuition Platform for Ground Infrastructure in Oman

By satnews.com: On Sunday, October 25, 2026, satellite ground communications provider ST Engineering iDirect announced a partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat) to deliver the ground system foundation for satellite gateway and network operations in Oman.

Via Satellite

ST Engineering iDirect to Provide Ground Network for Oman’s MB Sat-1

4 Sources

2026-10-26T09:06:04.289703-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Pentagon backs Stoke Space launch expansion with $150 million loan commitment

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has conditionally committed $150 million in financing to rocket startup Stoke Space to build a second launchpad at Cape Canaveral.

1 Source

2026-10-26T13:25:39.770043-07:00

aviation Satellite PaxEx Airbus Airbus A320 Airlines easyJet

Bloomberg • Kate Duffy

EasyJet Inks Deal to Fit SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi on Fleet

By Bloomberg: EasyJet Plc plans to offer Starlink inflight Wi-Fi connectivity across its fleet of Airbus SE jets, showing how demand for the fast Internet service in the sky is finding its way even into budget-carrier cabins.

Airline Geeks

EasyJet Opts for Starlink Wi-Fi

Skift

Airlines Are Counting on a Starlink Tailwind

Also: AeroTime, PaxEx.Aero, Paddle Your Own Kanoo, Air Data News, Via Satellite, Inflight Online, FlightGlobal, One Mile at a Time, Travel Radar, Simple Flying, Aviation Week, Airline Economics and 14 more

35 Sources

2026-10-26T03:05:15.760139-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

Former Tesla engineers raise $16 million for satellite battery startup

By SpaceNews.com: MP Space has raised $16 million in seed funding to scale production of its standardized satellite power and energy storage systems, the Australian startup founded by two former Tesla engineers announced Oct.

1 Source

2026-10-26T12:16:03.903551-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Universe Today • Andy Tomaswick

Parker Solar Probe Spots Twisted Magnetic Braids Growing in the Solar Wind

By Universe Today: The magnetic environment around the Sun is a jumbled mess of chaotic fields and streams of charged particles. Recently we’ve been getting at least slightly better at mapping out its complexity, thanks in large part to data collected by missions like the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.

1 Source

2026-10-26T09:35:03.263711-07:00

U.S. intelligence says China could field orbital directed-energy weapons by late 2020s

Analog astronauts: How living underwater can prepare humans for space missions

Flexell Space Establishes French Subsidiary to Strengthen European Presence

MBSat Selects ST Engineering iDirect Intuition Platform for Ground Infrastructure in Oman

ST Engineering iDirect to Provide Ground Network for Oman’s MB Sat-1

Pentagon backs Stoke Space launch expansion with $150 million loan commitment

EasyJet Inks Deal to Fit SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi on Fleet

EasyJet Opts for Starlink Wi-Fi

Airlines Are Counting on a Starlink Tailwind

Former Tesla engineers raise $16 million for satellite battery startup

Parker Solar Probe Spots Twisted Magnetic Braids Growing in the Solar Wind

China could field directed-energy weapons in orbit by late 2020s, U.S. intelligence says

Analog astronauts: How living underwater can prepare humans for space missions

Flexell Space Establishes French Subsidiary to Strengthen European Presence

MBSat Selects ST Engineering iDirect Intuition Platform for Ground Infrastructure in Oman

Pentagon backs Stoke Space launch expansion with $150 million loan commitment

Former Tesla engineers raise $16 million for satellite battery startup

Open Cosmos returns to ITU with satellite production data to back request for Connected Cosmos deadline extension

Australia Counters ESA’s Offer for Mission to ISS for Bennell-Pegg

Musk accuses Ukraine of violating Starlink terms with deadly drone strikes

SpaceX ignites giant Super Heavy booster engines ahead of daring Starship launch (video)

Ukraine says Starlink restored after 10-day disruption as allies seek alternatives

Ukraine says Starlink restored after 10-day disruption as allies seek alternatives

Musk says SpaceX closed $40 billion debt deal to buy GPUs for AI ambitions

NASA ends Swift observatory science mission as low orbit and failed reboost effort close out operations

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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