Space News

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Boeing

The Air Current • Julie Johnsson

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into a Near-Disaster

Thruster failures during Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight in June 2024 made its docking with the orbiting laboratory a high-risk event for astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, exposing serious concerns about propulsion reliability in a pivotal human-spaceflight test.

1 Source

2026-08-20T17:05:40.730308-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

NEW

SpaceNews.com • Debra Werner

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

By SpaceNews.com: SAN FRANCISCO – California startup Elve has qualified its 100-watt millimeter-wave Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier platform for spaceflight.

1 Source

2026-08-20T18:25:41.303113-07:00

Satellite M&A Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Kelcee Griffis, Michelle F Davis, Reshmi Basu

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking to Buy Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

By Bloomberg: SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile Inc. are among the companies that have expressed interest in acquiring a swath of spectrum held by Grain Management LLC that’s valuable for providing wireless phone services directly from space, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Also: Bloomberg Law, newsable.asianetnews.com and techstartups.com

4 Sources

2026-08-20T16:35:38.540100-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Policy & Regulation

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

By SpaceNews.com: The White House released a new space transportation policy Aug. 20 with an emphasis on enabling a sharp increase in the number of launches and reentries.

1 Source

2026-08-20T16:40:40.993658-07:00

ArianeGroup Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

By Ars Technica: Arianespace hasn’t publicly disclosed the cost for an Ariane 6 launch.

1 Source

2026-08-20T14:50:02.232696-07:00

Satellite M&A Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Rocket Lab’s Bold Move to Acquire Iridium: Analysts Break Down the Strategy

By Via Satellite: 2026 continues to be a seismic year for news in the satellite sector. On June 29, in one of the biggest, and maybe even surprising stories of the year, Rocket Lab announced a deal to acquire Iridium and take huge leap forward in terms of building a next-generation space company.

1 Source

2026-08-20T13:35:57.499118-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX will try for 1st Starship tower catch 'in a few months,' Elon Musk says

By Space.com: SpaceX will likely try to make the first-ever catch of its Starship upper stage a few months from now, according to Elon Musk. He had earlier flagged late August as a potential date for the milestone.

1 Source

2026-08-20T13:32:33.743972-07:00

Satellite LEO Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Sypris Electronics Wins Manufacturing Deal to Support LEO Constellation

By Via Satellite: Sypris Electronics has won a major new contract to support an unnamed Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation. The company manufacture power processing units for an unnamed, next-generation satellite constellation.

Also: Seeking Alpha

2 Sources

2026-08-20T14:06:57.193478-07:00

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into a Near-Disaster

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking to Buy Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

Rocket Lab’s Bold Move to Acquire Iridium: Analysts Break Down the Strategy

SpaceX will try for 1st Starship tower catch 'in a few months,' Elon Musk says

Sypris Electronics Wins Manufacturing Deal to Support LEO Constellation

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

Boeing Starliner Thruster Failures Turned First Crewed Docking Into Near-Disaster

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking to Buy Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

Sypris Electronics Wins Manufacturing Deal to Support LEO Constellation

SpaceX Is Racking Up Wins in Washington

Phantom Space Names Worth Wray as COO

ESA Confirms Ariane 6 Block 3 Upgrades Have Been Shelved

Invited media, military members held at gunpoint by Space Force security

LandSpace Recovers Zhuque-3 Booster, Advancing China’s Reusable Orbital Launch Capability

Katalyst Space rescue mission fails, leaving NASA’s Swift observatory on course for reentry

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

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