Space News

Satellite Commercial Space Space Debris & Traffic Management Sustainability & Climate Initiatives

Ars Technica • Scott K. Johnson

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

SpaceX’s proposed orbital data centers would place large-scale computing hardware in space, creating a new end-of-life challenge for electronic equipment beyond Earth. The concept resembles asteroid mining in reverse: instead of extracting material from orbit, operators could leave behind increasingly difficult-to-manage e-waste.

1 Source

2026-08-20T07:05:16.545627-07:00

China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

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

By SpaceNews.com: HELSINKI — China will launch a complex, multi-spacecraft mission late Sunday to study and land near the lunar south pole, including a search for evidence of water-ice.

2 Sources

2026-08-20T06:10:43.208533-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

By Payload: While Thornburg said Portal is expected to take up about half of the fairing with its own spacecraft, it’s working with launch integrator Maverick Space Systems to sell the other half to customers looking for rideshare opportunities in a turbulent market.

Also: SpaceNews.com and GeekWire

3 Sources

2026-08-20T06:05:12.356796-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Bloomberg • Yash Roy

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

By Bloomberg: Satellite startup Muon Space Inc. closed a $250 million funding round, raising capital from Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Salesforce Ventures LLC after launching 11 satellites into orbit and opening a manufacturing facility in California.

1 Source

2026-08-20T03:21:23.284901-07:00

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

By Spaceflight Now: SpaceX is slated to launch its 75th batch of Starlink satellites of the year on a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida late Thursday morning.

3 Sources

2026-08-20T02:13:31.888101-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Asia-Pacific (APAC)

Space.com • Mike Wall

Rocket Lab launches private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video)

By Space.com: Liftoff of "The Lightning God Defends" mission occurred at 9:04 a.m. ET today (Aug. 20).

2 Sources

2026-08-19T21:13:15.176159-07:00

Satellite LEO Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space NASA

New York Times • Kenneth Chang

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

By New York Times: NASA’s Swift Observatory, which studies some of the most powerful explosions in the universe, will soon burn up in the atmosphere.

New Scientist

NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescope

SpaceWatch Global

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

Also: Aviation Week, Economic Times, CNA, The Verge, The Independent and 6 more

23 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

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

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

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

Rocket Lab launches private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video)

NASA’s Attempt to Save the Swift Telescope Has Failed

NASA calls off rescue effort to save doomed telescope

LINK Spacecraft Will Not Attempt to Raise the Swift Observatory

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

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

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

Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market

Muon Space Raises $250 Million With Google, Salesforce Backing

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026

Rocket Lab launches private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video)

Katalyst Space and NASA abandon plans for Swift reboost

Another Chinese Company Successfully Lands a Reusable Rocket Booster

ATMOS Moves Forward with Phoenix 3 as Phoenix 2 Launch Slips

SpaceX Attempted to Acquire AI Coding Startup Cognition

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

SpaceX Plans Three Starlink Launches as China Schedules Reusable-Booster Test and Chang’e 7 Lunar Mission

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

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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