Space News

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

Ars Technica • Jacek Krywko

Radiation-blocking vest completes lunar round trip, pointing to astronaut-focused protection

A radiation-blocking vest has flown to the Moon and back, demonstrating an alternative to shielding an entire spacecraft. The approach could help protect astronauts from space radiation while reducing the mass and complexity associated with spacecraft-wide shielding, though the article provides no performance metrics or mission details.

1 Source

2026-08-13T06:50:05.248416-07:00

Satellite Policy & Regulation Workforce & Skills Development

SpaceWatch Global • Guest Author

Why Earth Observation Markets Depend on Standards and Jobs, Not Just Satellites

By SpaceWatch Global: Karolina Sarna argues that Earth Observation markets are built around accountable jobs, not industries, and explains why standards—not satellites—determine commercial demand.

1 Source

2026-08-13T01:20:38.622849-07:00

Satellite AI M&A Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Carmen Reinicke

SpaceX Passes First Lockup Expiry Test With $500 Billion Rally

By Bloomberg: Since SpaceX went public in June, Wall Street had been dreading Aug. 6, when the first lockup preventing early investors from selling the stock expired and millions of shares were set to flood the market.

satnews.com

SpaceX Finalizes Regulatory Procedures to Close $60 Billion Acquisition of AI Platform Cursor

Yahoo Finance

Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas lays out how SpaceX can unlock a long-term bullish stock move

Also: Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg Law and Yahoo Finance

6 Sources

2026-08-13T02:21:27.418634-07:00

Moon Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Paragon lays off 70 workers after NASA halts work on lunar Gateway module

By SpaceNews.com: A subcontractor for a module that was being developed for NASA’s lunar Gateway has laid off 70 people after NASA halted work on the program.

1 Source

2026-08-13T03:15:37.701132-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO

By Payload: Astranis found problems with existing SDA tech while operating in GEO—so it built a tool to fix it.

Also: SpaceNews.com, Space.com and intellinews.com

4 Sources

2026-08-13T02:32:17.771666-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027

By SpaceNews.com: Virgin Galactic says it will not start commercial flights of its new suborbital spaceplane until early 2027, a delay of a few months.

2 Sources

2026-08-12T19:35:30.496953-07:00

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Loren Grush, Sana Pashankar

Virgin Galactic Delays Debut of Upgraded Spaceplane, Shares Fall

By Bloomberg: Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. is delaying the debut of its Delta-class spaceplane, pushing the first expected full-power flight of the upgraded tourism vehicle until February of 2027.

collectSPACE

Virgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta-class SpaceShip

Leonard David

Virgin Galactic Raises Price of Seats on Suborbital Spaceflights

Also: Aviation Week, Seeking Alpha, Seeking Alpha and Seeking Alpha

7 Sources

2026-08-12T13:51:01.776355-07:00

Space Force LEO Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Command identifies capabilities it needs for the next space war

By SpaceNews.com: Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, speaks at the 2026 Space & Missile Defense Symposium Aug. 12. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — U.S. Space Command has ranked offensive space capabilities and systems for countering proliferated low Earth orbit constellations as its two highest priority needs for fiscal years 2029 through 2033, signaling where the combatant command sees some of the biggest gaps in preparing for a future conflict in space.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag

2 Sources

2026-08-12T16:10:36.967322-07:00

Radiation-blocking vest completes lunar round trip, pointing to astronaut-focused protection

Why Earth Observation Markets Depend on Standards and Jobs, Not Just Satellites

SpaceX Passes First Lockup Expiry Test With $500 Billion Rally

SpaceX Finalizes Regulatory Procedures to Close $60 Billion Acquisition of AI Platform Cursor

Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas lays out how SpaceX can unlock a long-term bullish stock move

Paragon lays off 70 workers after NASA halts work on lunar Gateway module

Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO

Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027

Virgin Galactic Delays Debut of Upgraded Spaceplane, Shares Fall

Virgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta-class SpaceShip

Virgin Galactic Raises Price of Seats on Suborbital Spaceflights

Space Command identifies capabilities it needs for the next space war

We've flown a radiation-blocking vest to the Moon and back, and it worked

Why Earth Observation Markets Depend on Standards and Jobs, Not Just Satellites

Paragon lays off 70 workers after NASA halts work on lunar Gateway module

Astranis Unveils Perceptor, an SDA Product for GEO

SpaceX Passes First Lockup Expiry Test With $500 Billion Rally

Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027

Amid failure, Wenchang celebrates milestone as China launches AI satellites and prepares for lunar south pole mission

Radiation vest tested on NASA moonshot can cut astronauts' exposure in solar storms, study suggests

AST SpaceMobile: Beta D2D commercial service in US should start this year for half-day coverage, continuous service in 2027

Poland Reignites Dispute With Musk Over Exclusion From Starlink Roaming Zone

Rocket Lab’s Neutron debut faces schedule risk as company unveils GHOST deployable launch system

Vietnam’s VinSpace signs SpaceX launch deal for first satellites in 2027

Rocket Lab unveils deployable GHOST launch system as Neutron’s debut risks slipping to 2027

Japan schedules H3 No. 9 launch of Michibiki 7 navigation satellite

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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Firefly increases vehicle production even as launches lag

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