Space News

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX Sets Falcon 9 Launch-Cadence Record With Two Flights 38.5 Minutes Apart

SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets from Florida and California on Aug. 15, delivering payloads for Globalstar and the U.S. Space Force just 38.5 minutes apart. The milestone comes as SpaceX prepares its 75th Starlink mission of 2026, underscoring the company’s high-tempo launch operations.

3 Sources

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

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.

SpaceWatch Global

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

Aviation Week

NASA Calls Off Swift Telescope Reboost

Also: Economic Times, CNA, The Independent and 5 more

13 Sources

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

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

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

By Ars Technica: We will put the booster back into service for another flight as soon as possible.".

The War Zone

China’s Reusable Space Launch Booster Recoveries Have Major Military Implications

Scientific American

China successfully lands its Zhuque-3 rocket, rivaling Blue Origin and SpaceX

5 Sources

2026-08-19T11:49:53.544687-07:00

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

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

By European Spaceflight: ATMOS Space Cargo has completed an initial study into the development of its Phoenix 3 spacecraft as the inaugural flight of Phoenix 2 slips to 2027.

2 Sources

2026-08-19T12:35:06.281894-07:00

AI M&A Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Edward Ludlow, Natasha Mascarenhas, Rebecca Torrence

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

By Bloomberg: SpaceX approached artificial intelligence coding startup Cognition AI Inc. about a potential acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would have been its second large takeover in recent months to gain ground in the AI race.

Also: Seeking Alpha and Yahoo Finance

3 Sources

2026-08-19T12:21:16.436963-07:00

SpaceX Sets Falcon 9 Launch-Cadence Record With Two Flights 38.5 Minutes Apart

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

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

NASA Calls Off Swift Telescope Reboost

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

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

China’s Reusable Space Launch Booster Recoveries Have Major Military Implications

China successfully lands its Zhuque-3 rocket, rivaling Blue Origin and SpaceX

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

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

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

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

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

Orbital Data Centers Become Europe’s Latest Cosmic Challenge

Zeno Power Books its First Nuclear Mission to the Moon

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.

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