Space News

Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Bloomberg • Satviki Sanjay

Starlink faces diverging tests in India and Ukraine: rural connectivity pitch meets scrutiny over military drone use

Elon Musk is promoting Starlink as a way to connect India’s underserved rural regions, where more than 11,000 villages reportedly lack 4G, even as the service’s launch remains stalled over security concerns. Separately, Ukrainian officials are seeking approval to use Starlink-equipped drones against Russian ballistic-missile launchers.

Also: The Independent, Economic Times and newsable.asianetnews.com

4 Sources

2026-08-20T23:35:56.089794-07:00

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation 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.

Space Policy Online

White House Releases New Space Transportation Policy

keeptrack.space

SpaceX Reaches 100 Launches as Starlink Tops 11,000 Satellites; Space Force Budget Surges

Also: Seeking Alpha, satelliteprome.com and newsable.asianetnews.com

6 Sources

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

Human Spaceflight & Space Stations Boeing

The Air Current • Julie Johnsson

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

By The Air Current: Thruster failures turned Starliner’s docking with the orbiting lab into a white-knuckle near-disaster for astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams during its first crewed flight in June 2024.

1 Source

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

Satellite Commercial Space

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

FCC Satellite M&A Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

Bloomberg • Kelcee Griffis, Michelle F Davis, Reshmi Basu

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking Grain 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.

techfundingnews.com

Muon Space raises $250 million at $1.5 billion valuation to scale satellite production

newsable.asianetnews.com

AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX Reportedly Pursue Satellite Spectrum Access

Also: Bloomberg Law and techstartups.com

5 Sources

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

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

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

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: "First reflight of the ship will be either end of this year or early next. That will be a fork in the road of history for consciousness reaching the stars.".

1 Source

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

Starlink faces diverging tests in India and Ukraine: rural connectivity pitch meets scrutiny over military drone use

New space transportation policy focuses on increased launch rates

White House Releases New Space Transportation Policy

SpaceX Reaches 100 Launches as Starlink Tops 11,000 Satellites; Space Force Budget Surges

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

Elve qualifies millimeter-wave amplifiers for spaceflight

SpaceX, AST Said Seeking Grain Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

Muon Space raises $250 million at $1.5 billion valuation to scale satellite production

AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX Reportedly Pursue Satellite Spectrum Access

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

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

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

Musk Touts Starlink for India’s Rural Users Amid Stalled Launch

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 Grain Spectrum Valued at $6 Billion

Europe cancels planned upgrades for Ariane 6 rocket

SpaceX Is Racking Up Wins in Washington

Sypris Electronics Wins Manufacturing Deal to Support LEO Constellation

ESA Confirms Ariane 6 Block 3 Upgrades Have Been Shelved

Phantom Space Names Worth Wray as COO

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

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

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

China's Chang'e-7 lunar ice-hunting mission set for Sunday launch

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

SpaceX’s orbital data centers would create a new category of e-waste

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

Last-minute abort stalls Cape Canaveral Starlink mission

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster