Supply Chain   Aircraft Finance & Leasing   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
Via Satellite • Ben Ackman

SDA’s “need for speed” contracting model pushes commercial startups toward rapid delivery

The Space Development Agency is leveraging tight timelines to issue contracts to a wide set of commercial partners at an unusually high pace, aiming to accelerate delivery while lowering costs, industry experts said. The approach underscores SDA’s push to shorten development cycles and drive faster results from the commercial base.

2026-04-24T11:20:31.063372-07:00
Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Defense & Militarization  
Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Astra Targets Golden Dome With Small Rockets, Says CEO Chris Kemp

By Payload: “We’re going to do target practice. We’re going to make the clay-pigeon rocket,” Kemp said. “That’s great, because that will drive scale for us…and allow us to bring our cost down for commercial customers, and other government customers.”.

2026-04-24T08:10:03.259417-07:00
Satellite   Supply Chain   ESA   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
ohb.de • Stephanie von Neuhoff

OHB Reaches Important Milestone for ESA's PLATO Mission: Successful Tests Under Space Conditions Completed

By ohb.de: For weeks, the European Space Agency’s PLATO space telescope endured conditions that mirror the harsh reality of space: searing heat, extreme cold, and near absolute vacuum.

2026-04-23T07:35:14.123038-07:00
Satellite   Space Force   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

SpaceX wins $57 million U.S. military contract for satellite crosslink demo

By SpaceNews.com: GTON — The Space Systems Command, the U.S. Space Force’s acquisition arm, awarded SpaceX a $57 million contract to demonstrate satellite-to-satellite communications using Link-182, a radio-frequency data link standard the Space Force has adopted for its MILNET data relay network.

2026-04-23T14:50:27.221197-07:00