Space News

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

NASA Spaceflight • Ryan Weber

SpaceX Ship 42 returns for cryo-proof testing as Ship 40 comes back to Texas

SpaceX has sent Ship 42, assigned to Flight 15, back to Massey’s for additional cryogenic proof testing as it accelerates vehicle production. Ship 40, used on Flight 13, has returned to Texas after 75 days at sea and is expected to go back to the production site.

1 Source

2026-10-09T07:50:39.361053-07:00

ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions Human Spaceflight & Space Stations

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit

By European Spaceflight: The Italian Space Agency is exploring the possibility of building an orbital platform capable of generating artificial gravity.

1 Source

2026-10-09T07:04:58.697188-07:00

Moon Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

NASA Signs Space Nuclear Pact, Says Moon Base Is Ahead of Schedule

By Payload: Isaacman gave updates on NASA's nuclear and Moon Base efforts during appearances at the White House's “Science: A New Golden Age Summit.".

1 Source

2026-10-09T05:54:57.536086-07:00

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Exclusive: Kapta Space Raises $24M Series A to Build Moving Target Radar Payload

By Payload: Seattle-based Kapta Space announced a $24M Series A to build next-gen radar payloads designed to track moving targets.

Also: SpaceNews.com

2 Sources

2026-10-09T06:06:16.397116-07:00

defense Satellite Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Russia may turn to nuclear space weapons to counter U.S. missile defenses, report says

By SpaceNews.com: RUSI study warns that Moscow has incentives to use a nuclear weapon to disable proliferated satellite networks supporting U.S.

1 Source

2026-10-09T06:40:39.238069-07:00

Satellite Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceNews.com • Meidad "Mayday" Pariente

The rideshare era is ending. Small satellites need anchor customers for small launch, now.

By SpaceNews.com: If your small satellite is supposed to fly in 2029, you probably don’t have a ride yet. And the cheapest seat in the business is no longer taking your booking.

2 Sources

2026-10-09T06:05:15.480926-07:00

Commercial Space

Space.com • Mike Wall

Trump awards SpaceX founder Elon Musk National Medal of Science

By Space.com: President Trump just gave Elon Musk and a handful of other tech luminaries the National Medal of Science, the highest honor the U.S. can bestow on a scientist or engineer.

1 Source

2026-10-09T06:06:17.813848-07:00

defense Space Defense & Militarization

NEW

Space.com • Micah Hanks

Did the Soviet Union really fire a cannon from a space station?

By Space.com: According to some reports, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union mounted a rapid-fire cannon aboard a secretive military space station.

1 Source

2026-10-09T08:06:19.237129-07:00

SpaceX Ship 42 returns for cryo-proof testing as Ship 40 comes back to Texas

Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit

NASA Signs Space Nuclear Pact, Says Moon Base Is Ahead of Schedule

Exclusive: Kapta Space Raises $24M Series A to Build Moving Target Radar Payload

Russia may turn to nuclear space weapons to counter U.S. missile defenses, report says

The rideshare era is ending. Small satellites need anchor customers for small launch, now.

Trump awards SpaceX founder Elon Musk National Medal of Science

Did the Soviet Union really fire a cannon from a space station?

Did the Soviet Union really fire a cannon from a space station?

Ship 40 Returns Home as Ship 42 gets more Cryo Proof Testing

Italy Explores Building an Artificial Gravity Research Platform in Orbit

Russia may turn to nuclear space weapons to counter U.S. missile defenses, report says

Exclusive: Kapta Space Raises $24M Series A to Build Moving Target Radar Payload

The rideshare era is ending. Small satellites need anchor customers for small launch, now.

Watch private Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft leave the International Space Station today

ESA Releases AI-Powered Earth Virtual Expert (EVE) to Make Earth Observation Knowledge more Accessible

Rocket Report: A rare Falcon 9 scrub; is it just about Vulcan's time to shine?

Planet addresses sovereign demand and sees promise in large Earth models

SpaceX acquires nationwide low-band spectrum to expand Starlink into U.S. mobile service

South Korea’s Nuri completes fifth launch, deploying 14 of 15 satellites as Hanwha takes larger role

Musk accuses Indian oligarchs of delaying Starlink as New Delhi defends satellite internet approval process

Margaret Hamilton, whose software helped land Apollo 11 on the moon, dies at 90

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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