Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   NASA  
Ars Technica • Eric Berger

NASA says thermal-protection research has seen limited investment for decades, underscoring reusability and heat-shield challeng

Despite recent breakthroughs, the path to frequent, rapid reuse—such as SpaceX’s Starship approach—remains constrained by re-entry/thermal protection gaps. NASA indicates thermal protection research has not received substantial investment for decades, raising questions about the technical depth behind next-generation reusability timelines.

2026-07-27T11:38:07.089625-07:00
Space Force   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Defense & Militarization  
Wall Street Journal • Adriano Marchese

Rocket Lab Wins Record $266 Million U.S. Space Force Contract

By Wall Street Journal: Rocket Lab RKLB received a $266 million U.S. Space Force contract, its largest agreement to date, for up to 18 suborbital launches that will support missile defense capabilities.

Also: Defense Daily
2026-07-27T10:21:33.727045-07:00
FCC   Satellite   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Amazon files application for direct-to-device satellite constellation

By SpaceNews.com: Amazon filed plans with the FCC for a constellation of more than 5,100 satellites that would provide direct-to-device services using Globalstar spectrum.

Also: Reuters, Bloomberg, Via Satellite, CBS News, TechCrunch, Seeking Alpha, The Verge, Economic Times and 8 more
2026-07-27T05:06:36.442142-07:00
Space Exploration & Science Missions   NASA  
Universe Today • Andy Tomaswick

How NASA Plans to Build the Habitable Worlds Observatory

By Universe Today: We’ve been covering the journey of the Habitable Worlds Observatory for some time now. Over the past few years, it's gone from a proposal to a relatively fleshed-out plan for how and what the next Great Observatory should do—in this case, look at and characterize potentially habitable exoplanets.

2026-07-27T09:36:45.852099-07:00