Space News

Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Leonard David

Artemis II pilot praises NASA’s trust after hand-flying Orion during crewed lunar mission

Speaking to more than 8,000 people at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug. 3, 2026, the Artemis II crew thanked NASA and its contractors. The mission’s pilot highlighted the responsibility of manually flying Orion, saying he remained “blown away” by the trust placed in him.

2 Sources

2026-08-16T06:05:05.936344-07:00

LEO Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space

NEW

The Hill • Mark R. Whittington

SpaceMD to Use Starfall for Space-Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Mission

By The Hill: SpaceMD’s use of Starfall represents a leap forward toward treatments for everything from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease being created in low Earth orbit.

1 Source

2026-08-16T07:28:42.190800-07:00

Satellite Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

U.S. defense agencies tap three companies for satellite disposal study

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Three companies have been selected to study options for providing satellite deorbiting services to the U.S. government as the Pentagon explores whether disposal of aging spacecraft can be purchased from commercial operators rather than handled through a dedicated government capability.

1 Source

2026-08-16T04:10:37.326689-07:00

China Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Space Policy & International Cooperation

Space.com • Andrew Jones

China’s New Moon Map Signals Ambitions for Space Leadership

By Space.com: New chronology, data about the moon's far side and a homegrown cartographic standard signal China's ambitions for how the solar system gets mapped.

1 Source

2026-08-16T03:05:23.403048-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Space.com • Mike Wall

New record! SpaceX launches 2 Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart (video)

By Space.com: SpaceX launched two of its Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart on Saturday evening (Aug. 15), setting a new spaceflight record.

3 Sources

2026-08-15T20:00:36.196382-07:00

Blue Origin Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera, Chris Bergin

Blue Origin overviews plan for dual pad ops at Cape Canaveral

By NASA Spaceflight: As Blue Origin continues restoring its primary launch pad at LC-36A, the company has released new renders of a second launch complex designed to support its larger New Glenn 9×4 variant.

2 Sources

2026-08-15T16:05:08.529142-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions Commercial Space NASA

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Lunar orbiter among upcoming NASA CLPS task orders

By SpaceNews.com: NASA plans to award three more lunar missions this year through a commercial services program, including an orbiter that would replace LRO.

1 Source

2026-08-15T17:06:13.055030-07:00

Satellite Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Bloomberg • Bloomberg News

2026-08-15T04:35:40.085910-07:00

Artemis II pilot praises NASA’s trust after hand-flying Orion during crewed lunar mission

SpaceMD to Use Starfall for Space-Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Mission

U.S. defense agencies tap three companies for satellite disposal study

China’s New Moon Map Signals Ambitions for Space Leadership

New record! SpaceX launches 2 Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart (video)

Blue Origin overviews plan for dual pad ops at Cape Canaveral

Lunar orbiter among upcoming NASA CLPS task orders

Zelenskyy Claims Ukraine Struck Russian Space Facility in Samara

Ukrainian missiles reportedly strike Russia’s Soyuz rocket producer

Ukraine says it hit Russian rocket centre linked to Starlink-style network

SpaceMD to Use Starfall for Space-Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Mission

Artemis II pilot thanks NASA for letting him fly Orion by hand: 'I'm still blown away by that trust'

U.S. defense agencies tap three companies for satellite disposal study

China’s New Moon Map Signals Ambitions for Space Leadership

New record! SpaceX launches 2 Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart (video)

Lunar orbiter among upcoming NASA CLPS task orders

Alphabet's SpaceX bet grows 100-fold over a decade to $94 billion

Harvard Endowment Discloses $2.2 Billion SpaceX Stake

Nvidia discloses $21 billion stake in SpaceX at end of second quarter

Wallops gears up for an increase in launches

Ukraine says Flamingo missiles struck Russia’s Progress rocket center and military airfield

Stoke Space seeks $1 billion to accelerate development and production of fully reusable Nova rocket

SpaceX completes $60 billion Cursor acquisition as Alphabet’s stake rises to $94 billion

U.S. Space Command Elevates Anti-Satellite Weapons as a Top Priority

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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