Space News

Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space NASA

New York Times • Kenneth Chang

NASA, Katalyst call off rescue mission for aging Swift space telescope

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies canceled an effort to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after persistent attitude-control problems left the rescue spacecraft unable to dock with the telescope and raise its orbit. Swift is now expected to undergo a fiery atmospheric reentry later this year.

orlandosentinel.com • Hunter Robertson, Katalyst Space, Kieran Wilson

Rescue mission is called off for NASA’s aging Swift space telescope

CNA

NASA, Katalyst call off SWIFT rescue mission over issues with rescue craft in space

Also: The Independent, lemonde.fr and mynorthwest.com

7 Sources

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

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

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space 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.

Bloomberg

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Via Satellite

Katalyst Link Mission is Unable to Rescue NASA Swift Observatory

Also: Space.com, Reuters, Aerospace America, douglasmmessier.substack.com, Space Policy Online, NBC News, CNN, The Independent and CBS News

14 Sources

2026-08-19T12:40:44.639330-07:00

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

China Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

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.".

Spaceflight Now

LandSpace becomes first commercial Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster

Scientific American

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

5 Sources

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

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Axios • Alex Fitzpatrick

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

By Axios: It'll burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

1 Source

2026-08-19T12:53:28.557708-07:00

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

Satellite Aerial Firefighting Europe

politico.eu • Pieter Haeck

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

By politico.eu: As summer blazes are again spreading across the continent, satellites can now gather images and data to map damage and detect fires at an early stage.

1 Source

2026-08-19T10:13:35.438491-07:00

NASA, Katalyst call off rescue mission for aging Swift space telescope

Rescue mission is called off for NASA’s aging Swift space telescope

NASA, Katalyst call off SWIFT rescue mission over issues with rescue craft in space

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

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

NASA, Katalyst Call Off Risky Mission to Save Falling Satellite

Katalyst Link Mission is Unable to Rescue NASA Swift Observatory

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

LandSpace becomes first commercial Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster

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

NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

How satellite technology can help Europe battle wildfires

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

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

Moog Inc. Expands METEORITE Satellite Bus Capacity for High-Maneuverability Missions

Orbital Data Centers Become Europe’s Latest Cosmic Challenge

Zeno Power Books its First Nuclear Mission to the Moon

The space industry’s next challenge: supply chain resilience

NASA releases sharpest images yet of crater formed by SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on the Moon

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Satellite connectivity buildout advances with Globalstar deployment, IRIS² milestone, Viasat- Rocket Lab contract and ReOrbit R&

United Launch Alliance Names Mark Peller CEO as Vulcan Faces Program Challenges

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